Charles River Bank President & CEO Derek Plourde

The Charles River Bank (CRB) Board of Directors, at the December 21, 2021 meeting, appointed Derek Plourde to the office of President & Chief Executive Officer effective January 1, 2022. Mr. Plourde succeeds John (Jack) Hamilton who will retire as of December 31, 2021, after a 20-year tenure with the Bank.

Prior to this promotion, Plourde served as CRB’s Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer. Plourde joined CRB in 2018 as Senior Vice President/Senior Commercial Lending Officer.

Plourde has more than 25 years of experience in the financial services industry, with extensive knowledge of commercial lending, financial analysis, specialty lending, special assets, and relationship management. He graduated Summa Cum Laude from Bowdoin College in 1994 with degrees in Economics and Government Legal Studies and was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa. Plourde will graduate in 2022 with a degree from the intensive 3-year program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Graduate School of Banking, along with a Certificate of Executive Leadership from the Wisconsin School of Business.

Steven M. Richardson, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Charles River Bank stated, “With his professional experience, industry knowledge, familiarity with our customers and community, and rapport with the entire team, Derek is the best person to lead Charles River Bank. We are confident that Derek can successfully navigate challenges presented by the ever-changing regulatory environment of banking, continual advancements in technology, and the impact of the ongoing global pandemic so that Charles River Bank remains the preeminent community bank in our market area.”

“I am honored and humbled to be selected as Charles River Bank’s President & CEO. I look forward to leading a phenomenal group of talented, seasoned, and dedicated community bankers. Our team will continue to provide exceptional product offerings, creative financial solutions, and personalized service to the individuals, families, and local businesses that are the foundation of our thriving community,” stated Plourde.

Plourde lives in Uxbridge with his wife, Laural, and two sons, Riley and Hayden. He is an active member of the Milford Rotary Club and served on the Board of Directors for the Milford Area Chamber of Commerce. In his free time, Plourde enjoys golfing and martial arts.

Senior Vice President/Senior Commercial Lending Officer Terry Katsaros

Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Derek Plourde, is pleased to announce that Terry Katsaros has joined Charles River Bank (CRB) as Senior Vice President/Senior Commercial Lending Officer. Katsaros will manage CRB’s Commercial Lending Department, including responsibility for portfolio growth, loan quality, loan originations, operations, servicing, and compliance. Katsaros will lead the Commercial Loan Officers and work closely with other CRB experts to help ensure that business customers have the tools and solutions to meet their financial needs and achieve their goals.

Katsaros has over 30 years of experience in the financial services industry, spending the past two decades as First Vice President/Commercial Lending Officer in the Franklin/Milford market area at Rockland Trust and Benjamin Franklin Savings Bank. In addition to his commercial lending experience, Katsaros has held positions in retail banking, branch management, consumer lending, and compliance. He completed the School of Commercial Lending Program at Babson College, studied Business Management at Florida Atlantic University, and earned a degree in Business Administration from Palm Beach Community College.

Katsaros is a Franklin resident and is active in community organizations. He is an active member of the Board of Incorporators of the YMCA, a past President of the Franklin Rotary Club, and served on the Board of Directors of the United Chamber of Commerce. He also served on the Alpha Omega Council and the Board of Saint Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church in Weston, MA.

“Terry has a great reputation as a lender in our market. His extensive lending experience and in-depth knowledge of our region will support the continued expansion of our commercial lending and business banking services. We are excited to have him join our team,” said Charles River Bank EVP & COO, Derek Plourde.

Paul Saia, Vice President/Retail Banking Officer

Charles River Bank is pleased to announce that Paul Saia has joined the Bank as the new Vice President/Retail Banking Officer. With the Bank’s ongoing growth and need to expand within the Retail Banking Team, Saia, a Millis resident, is a great addition to CRB and brings decades of Retail Banking management experience.

In his new role, Saia will be leading and supervising the Bank’s Branch Officers and overseeing all activity within the four branch network. This includes ensuring all Retail Banking goals are achieved, working with Branch Officers and the High School Branch Supervisor to continually improve their coaching and mentoring skills with their teams, actively participating in business development efforts, coordinating training and rollout of all technology and system upgrades that impact the Retail Banking offices, and addressing any procedural, audit, or compliance issues to ensure uniformity across the branch network. Saia’s office will be located in the Main Office in Medway.

Prior to joining Charles River Bank, Saia worked at East Boston Savings Bank (EBSB) as Vice President/Retail Banking Manager, where he was recruited to successfully lead the opening of two new branches in the Burlington and Woburn area. Additionally, he managed EBSB’s mobile banking branch unit. Before Saia’s time at EBSB, he managed 13 branches at Santander Bank as their Vice President/District Executive and led the sales and service activities of 21 branch locations at TD Bank as their Vice President/Retail Market Manager. He also has worked at community banks such as Ben Franklin Bank and Needham Bank. “We’re really excited to add Paul to our team,” stated Hamilton. “As Charles River Bank continues to grow, we’re expanding our level of expertise on our Retail Banking Team and Customer Care Group. With Paul’s guidance of our branch teams, I’m confident our customers will begin to experience an even greater level of customized service.”

Saia comes to CRB with an impressive educational background. He received a Bachelor of Science from Boston College where he majored in Finance. He earned his MBA at Bentley University. Furthermore, he graduated from the Advanced Leadership Development Program at Babson College. When Paul isn’t working, he likes to spend his time landscaping, playing golf, and enjoying time with his friends and family.

Erion Meta, Charles River Bank’s new Medway Branch Operations Manager

Jack Hamilton, President and CEO of Charles River Bank, is pleased to announce that Erion Meta has joined the Customer Care Team in the role of Medway Branch Operations Manager. Meta will work in conjunction with the Medway Market Manager.

Meta’s new role requires supervisory and administrative responsibility for various daily operations, audits, customer service, and compliance functions of Charles River Bank’s Main Office retail branch. His work involves supervision of the Medway office retail banking team, maintaining and growing existing relationships, developing new relationships, and regular participation in community organizations and business events. Meta’s objective is to provide the highest level of service while creating unique solutions for customers’ banking needs.

With over 15 years of retail banking experience, Meta will be a great asset to the team. Prior to joining Charles River Bank, Meta worked at Citizens Bank where he held positions such as Assistant Branch Manager and Branch Operations Manager. He also held positions at Santander, First Data in Boston as a Business Consultant, TD Bank, and Financial Union of Tirana in Tirana, Albania. Aside from his retail banking experience, Meta has a diverse business background and held positions focusing on sales, accounting, customer service, and financial analysis. “We’re always excited to welcome a new multi-talented professional like Erion to our team. He brings a wide variety of experience and expertise, on both a community and global level, and I look forward to seeing what he will accomplish,” said Jack Hamilton.

Meta is a native of Albania and is multilingual. He speaks Albanian, English, Greek, and Italian. He graduated from the University of Tirana in Tirana, Albania. In Meta’s spare time he enjoys fishing and time out by the water.

Mendon Branch Officer, Nancy L. MacLeod

Charles River Bank is pleased to announce that Assistant Vice President Nancy L. MacLeod, has been promoted to Mendon Branch Officer. Nancy has been a long-time member of the Charles River Bank team. In 1999, she joined the Bank as a part-time teller in the Medway office. She later was chosen to run the Medway High School Branch when it opened in 2006, followed by a promotion in 2009 to Assistant Branch Manager working at CRB’s newly opened offices in Bellingham and Mendon. In 2016, Nancy moved back to the Main Office in Medway where she was promoted to AVP/Medway Operation Manager. In addition to decades of banking experience, Nancy has completed the Branch Management Certification Series through the Massachusetts Bankers Association.

Nancy replaces AVP Ann Gonyea, who served as the Mendon Branch Officer since that office opened 11 years ago and is retiring to her vacation home in Virginia. Nancy’s new role requires supervisory and administrative responsibility for sales, service, operations, and security of the retail banking office. She will serve as a coach and leader to achieve strategic branch objectives and exceed service standards while maintaining existing customer relationships and developing new business relationships, customer engagement, and regular participation in community and business networking events. “I look forward to this next challenge in my banking career at Charles River Bank. I’m fortunate to work for such a great company that has given me so many opportunities to advance my career. I’m excited to be working again with the Mendon office team members, customers, and community leaders in my new role,” said Nancy.

“Nancy is the perfect candidate to lead our Mendon office team. She has extensive leadership experience, a calm and engaging demeanor, and dedication to our bank. We’re very fortunate to have her managing our Mendon office and I look forward to seeing her excel in this new role,” confirmed Jack Hamilton, President & CEO.

Ann M. Gonyea

The Directors, Officers, and all team members of Charles River Bank extend best wishes to Ann M. Gonyea, AVP/Mendon Branch Officer, as she embarks on her next, well-deserved, journey – retirement. Gonyea was the first Branch Manager of CRB’s Mendon office and has been leading the branch since its opening in 2010. Ann has shown great devotion and hard work to the Bank in her 12 years of dedicated service.

Ann came to CRB with extensive professional experience and achievements. She began her banking career in 1988 and worked at Benjamin Franklin Bank and Bristol County Savings Bank in Franklin, MA, before joining CRB in 2009. Four short years later, Ann was promoted to Assistant Vice President.

Under Ann’s leadership, the Mendon office deposit base has grown to more than $40 million and expanded the customer base to serve hundreds of individuals, families, and businesses in the community. In addition to her work at CRB, Ann was an active leader and volunteer with many local organizations including the Milford Rotary Club, the Milford Area Chamber of Commerce Connecting Women Leaders group, and was the Treasurer of Friends of Mendon Elders.

Although she will be missed dearly by her colleagues and community, Ann is looking forward to retirement. She will be relocating to what has been her family vacation home in Virginia on Smith Mountain Lake with her husband. She is looking forward to enjoying lake life and continuing her painting hobby while also finding some others. She is exceptionally excited for the motorcycle trips around the Blue Ridge Mountains with her husband in the near future. “I will miss my co-workers that I have had the pleasure of working with over the years. I’m excited for this next chapter of my life where I can kick back and pursue my hobbies. I am ready to relax, “said Ann.

“Ann has contributed 12 years of exceptional service to Charles River Bank and her achievements will not be forgotten. She has been a great mentor to many and her influence has made an incredible impact on everyone at the Bank and the community,” Jack Hamilton stated. “I want to thank Ann for all she’s done over the years. Best wishes to her and her husband during their retirement. We will deeply miss her strong work ethic and commitment to our Bank and community.”

Ann’s last day at Charles River Bank Mendon office is Wednesday, April 14^th.