NH Bankers Peer Groups

NH Bankers member banks have the opportunity to appoint representatives from their institution to our standing peer groups of discipline. Meetings provide a forum for participants to make valuable connections, learn from their peers on current "hot" topics, as well as offer beneficial input to NH Bankers on issues impacting New Hampshire's banking industry.

Members may request NH Bankers to poll a group on a particular issue, then share the results. Requests for sharing of policies and procedures may also be submitted to NH Bankers for distribution to a peer group. All surveys are conducted anonymously.

Opportunities for requesting and sharing information are one of the primary benefits to joining a NH Bankers Peer Group. For more information and learn how you can become involved, contact Sandy Tracy, SVP/COO, at (603) 224-5373 or [email protected]

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Commercial Lending

Chair: Debra Davis-Thum, VP/Commercial Lending - Bank of New Hampshire

This group provides a forum for commercial bankers to gather for discussion on trends and practices affecting commercial credit in New Hampshire; suggesting changes in laws and regulations for commercial lending at both the state and federal level; and identifying education and training opportunities that NH Bankers may provide to help enhance lending skills and techniques throughout the state for its members.

Compliance

Co-Chair: Wendy Clark, VP/Senior Compliance Officer - New Hampshire Mutual Bancorp

This group provides a forum for bankers to discuss matters of regulatory compliance risk, issues and best practices affecting all areas of compliance in the State of NH. The committee should suggest changes in laws and regulations at both the state and federal level; and identify education and training opportunities that NH Bankers may provide to help enhance those efforts.  The group will serve as an additional resource to other compliance peer groups.

Fraud

Chair: Eric Carter, SVP, Digital Solutions & Innovation Officer, Bank of New Hampshire

This group provides a forum for bankers to discuss debit card fraud and other electronic banking fraud; prevention of such fraud and deterrence of fraud practices. The group will also identify education and training opportunities that NH Bankers may provide to help enhance skills in this area.

Human Resources

Chair: Heidi J. Patten, VP/Human Resource Officer - Sugar River Bank
Vice Chair: Rhonda Caswell, Retail & Human Resources Officer, Woodsville Guaranty Savings Bank

This group among the human resources (HR) professionals within the NH Bankers maintains the highest level of awareness and professionalism when addressing current HR management issues and concerns. It provides a forum for members to discuss timely and relevant topics affecting HR practices in the State of New Hampshire, including state and federal regulations and industry trends. The group will identify training and educational opportunities that NH Bankers may provide to help enhance HR skills and employee relations at its members’ institutions.

Information Technology

Chair: Paul Nee, SVP, Chief Information Officer - Bank of New Hampshire

The Information Technology Peer Group is responsible for identifying current and emerging issues pertaining to technology in an effort to assist member banks in their technology planning processes. In addition, the group provides a forum for the sharing of ideas and experiences designed to improve a bank’s use of technology. Members of the group also identify training and educational opportunities that NH Bankers may provide to help enhance IT professionals’ skills in this area.

Mortgage

Chair: Ann Dow, VP, Residential Loan Officer - Woodsville Guaranty Savings Bank

This peer group provides a forum for bankers to discuss timely and relevant topics affecting mortgage lending in the State of New Hampshire, including state and federal regulations as well as legislation and industry trends. In addition, the group provides suggestions on changes in laws and regulations at both the state and federal level; and assists the NH Bankers with identifying educational and training opportunities to help enhance lending skills and techniques throughout the state to its membership.

Retail

Chair: Sarah Rastello, Senior Vice President of Retail Banking & Business Development, Salem Co-operative Bank

Some topics covered by the Retail Peer Group are Teller/Custer Service staffing models; the account opening process as it relates to OFAC and BSA; cross-selling challenges; launch of new technologies and subsequent training/adoption; branch transformation to cash recyclers and self-serve kiosks; and Safe Deposit.  The peer group serves as a resource for legislative matters, and advises on education and training needs.  

Risk Management

Chair: Joanne Pearce, SVP/Risk Management Officer - NH Mutual Bancorp

 

Trust and Wealth Management

Chair: Valerie Nevel, Senior Financial Advisor - Ledyard Financial Advisors

This peer group provides a forum for bank trust officers and wealth management professionals to discuss trends and practices specific to their business. They also advise NH Bankers on the annual trust conference. Meetings include both discussions and informal presentations by guest speakers. This group is also responsible for suggesting changes in laws and regulations affecting trust services and operations, both federal and state, and identifying important trends and issues affecting trust services in NH and communicating these to leadership at NH Bankers.

Young Bankers

Chair: Taylor Laro, Marketing and Digital Media Specialist - Bank of New Hampshire

This peer group assists NH Bankers with developing strategies to attract the next generation of bankers. This group will help create awareness about the variety of careers in banking and assist with recruitment through networking with peers. This group provides a forum to discuss timely and related topics related to workforce development. This group also champions volunteer activities.