Lisa Oliver Receives Northeast Women in Banking Award

capeandcoastbk on January 11, 2022

Lisa Oliver 2020 Lisa Oliver, Chair, President and CEO of The Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod, has received a Northeast Women in Banking award from Banking Northeast Magazine.

The award recognizes the growing impact that women have on the banking industry, honoring trailblazers who are leading the way for other women to succeed in financial services careers.

“Banking Northeast Magazine is proud to highlight the outstanding women who were chosen to be recipients of our 2022 Northeast Women in Banking Awards,” said Beverly Bolnick, associate publisher, American Business Media. “These women are an inspiration and should be celebrated for their outstanding achievements in a traditionally male-dominated industry. We can’t wait to see how they will continue to excel and inspire other women to achieve greatness.”

Lisa joined The Coop in 2017, becoming the first female CEO in the bank’s 100-year history. During her tenure, she has driven profitable growth with an increase in assets from $903 million to $1.3 billion today. She was instrumental in the establishment of The Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod Charitable Foundation Trust, which significantly expanded the bank’s philanthropic reach by awarding more than $500,000 in grants to date to local nonprofits addressing needs and challenges of the community.

Lisa has also created an employee work environment to support a culture of collaboration and communication and has achieved 50% gender diversity on the bank’s Board of Directors and on its senior leadership team.

“Throughout my career, I’ve learned from exceptional women in leadership positions and helping develop the next generation of leaders has been an important guiding tenet for me,” said Lisa. “I go to work daily with a goal to foster a culture that offers employees the same equal opportunity to thrive and advance in their careers — regardless of gender, race or identity — that I have been so fortunate to experience.”

An active member of the community, Lisa currently serves as a Board member of the Massachusetts Bankers Association; a Board member and Treasurer of the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce; a Board member, Governance Committee member and leader of the Fund for Women and Girls of the Cape Cod Foundation; Ambassador Committee member of the YMCA of Cape Cod; and committee member for Women United, United Way of Cape Cod.

The Coop Appoints Lisa Driscoll Hyannis Branch Manager, Small Business Specialist

capeandcoastbk on January 4, 2022

professional headshot of Lisa Driscoll, Assistant Vice President, Branch Manager - Small Business Specialist in our Hyannis Branch

Lisa Driscoll, AVP, Branch Manager-Small Business Specialist, may be contacted at ldriscoll@mycapecodbank.com or 508.775.8900.

The Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod has appointed Lisa Driscoll to the position of Assistant Vice President, Hyannis Branch Manager – Small Business Specialist.

“I welcome Lisa to The Coop team and the Hyannis community,” said Lisa Oliver, Chair, President and CEO of The Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod. “Her proven leadership skills, customer service focus and commitment to small businesses development are an ideal fit for The Coop and its mission.”

Driscoll, of Plymouth, is an accomplished retail banking executive who joins The Coop from Citizens Bank, where she served as a branch manager for six years. Driscoll also has more than 17 years of retail experience, serving in a variety of roles, leading sales, and specializing in customer service.

“I’m excited to join the Hyannis team and The Coop,” said Driscoll. “I’m looking forward to working with clients to help them achieve their financial goals and earning their trust as their go-to banker.”

In her new role at The Coop, Driscoll will be responsible for developing and leading the Hyannis branch team to exceed client expectations and cultivate client loyalty while delivering a robust suite of banking services. Driscoll will also be instrumental in developing relationship strategies and partnerships with local organizations, with a strong focus on community outreach and small business banking.

Supporting the Cape’s Small Businesses is a Gift to All of Us This Holiday Season

capeandcoastbk on December 7, 2021

Click here to view an accessible transcript

 

Lisa Oliver 2020The holiday season is upon us, and with it comes the annual quest to find the perfect gifts for family, friends, colleagues and even our beloved pets.

This year, as we slowly begin to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, I urge Cape Cod residents to patronize the region’s abundance of unique small retailers, locally owned restaurants and other independent businesses. It is also important to support our many local BIPOC-owned businesses this holiday season, a comprehensive listing of which has been compiled by Amplify POC Cape Cod and can be found at www.amplifypoccapecod.com/#list

Many of our local merchants struggled to keep their doors open over the last 18 months when emergency restrictions were in effect and they still desperately need our support to stay afloat as they grapple with workforce, supply chain and inflation issues. Money spent with local small businesses this holiday season, unlike national big box stores and global online retailers, primarily stays in our communities to power the regional economy, create jobs and support families here on the Cape.

Love Live Local graphic According to Love Live Local, a Hyannis-based organization dedicated to community advocacy and educating consumers on the importance of shopping local, small businesses with 1-19 employees represent 90% of Cape Cod’s economy and keep 2-4 times as much money in the local economy as their national chain competitors. The organization’s research also shows that if just 10% of spending shifted to local retailers, an additional $112 million would be funneled into the Cape Cod economy annually.

Locally produced and sourced products are also more likely to be featured at Cape small businesses providing a boost to makers and artisans in the community. Further, small independent businesses tend to participate in community events and volunteer or make contributions to nearby charitable nonprofit organizations. Shopping local truly represents an economic domino effect that benefits so many of our neighbors right here on Cape Cod.

It is important to note that shoppers do not have to sacrifice convenience while frequenting local merchants, as many small businesses offer online ordering and shipping. Purchasing gift certificates is also a wonderful way to support local businesses.

During this holiday season, the Cape’s quaint villages and Main Streets from Woods Hole to Provincetown are decked out in their holiday finery. I hope you have the opportunity to shop and dine across our peninsula in the coming weeks.

Shopping locally is just another way we can continue to help and support each other throughout this holiday season – it is a gift for all of us.

Lisa Oliver is Chair, President and CEO of The Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod.

The Coop Foundation Awards $26,000 in Grants to Local Nonprofits

capeandcoastbk on December 3, 2021

The Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod Charitable Foundation Trust (The Coop Foundation) has awarded $26,000 in grants to five nonprofit organizations that enhance quality of life by addressing fundamental needs and challenges of the local community.

During the quarterly meeting of the Board of Trustees, the following grants were awarded:

  • $10,000 to the Falmouth Housing Trust New Projects Fund that enables the organization to quickly respond to opportunities to acquire property; develop affordable housing that meets the needs, character and best interest of the community; and help the Town of Falmouth work toward its 10% affordable housing goal. This grant will specifically support two affordable housing projects in process: Lewis Neck Road and Esker Place in Falmouth. Between the properties, four homes will be added to Falmouth’s affordable housing stock.
  • $5,000 to Lower Cape Leadership Forum to continue a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) training program that began earlier this year. The Forum is a collaboration of six Cape Cod organizations that work to enhance the quality of human services to low- and moderate-income families on the Lower and Outer Cape. Forum members include Cape Cod Children’s Place; Community Development Partnership; The Family Pantry of Cape Cod; Homeless Prevention Council; Helping Our Women; and WE CAN. The organizations each serve diverse populations, underlying the critical need for DEI training to enhance knowledge, skills and actions to improve the quality of services for each agency.
    $4,000 to Camp Lightbulb, one of the first overnight camps for LGBTQ+ youth in the nation. The grant will provide a full scholarship for three local youth for the 2022 three-week summer camp in Provincetown. Camp Lightbulb will give recipients the opportunity to explore their identity, the arts and the outdoors.
  • $4,000 to Duffy Health Center to help fund a part-time consultant for phase two of a medical respite program, established in collaboration with Cape Cod Healthcare and several other health and housing partners. Medical respite care is acute and post-acute medical care for homeless persons who are too ill or frail to recuperate from an illness or injury on the streets, but not ill enough to be hospitalized.
  • $3,000 to Mass Appeal, a volunteer-staffed organization with a mission to provide free clothing to residents of the four towns on the Outer Cape: Eastham, Wellfleet, Truro and Provincetown. The grant will be used to purchase athletic shoes for children. Most items offered at Mass Appeal are donated, but the organization purchases new winter boots and sneakers annually using grant funds.

“Congratulations to the deserving nonprofits that have been recognized in the latest round of The Coop Foundation grant awards,” said Lisa Oliver, President, Chair and CEO of The Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod. “These organizations have a meaningful impactful by providing services to our vulnerable and underserved neighbors. I hope these acts of kindness inspire all of us during this holiday season to support the many charitable causes serving the needs of Cape Cod residents.”

 

How We’re Giving Back: 2021 Holiday Season

capeandcoastbk on December 2, 2021

Click here to view an accessible transcript

 

Stuff A Stocking 2021

Stuff A Stocking Clothing Drive

Thank you to everyone who donated warm children’s clothing to our “Stuff A Stocking Clothing Drive”. Donations were brought to our branches through Dec. 31. The clothing drive benefitted Katelynn’s Closet, a Cape Cod nonprofit organization devoted to providing children in need with clothing, footwear, and basics to help them maintain their dignity and foster self-esteem. Thank you again!

Give Hope through Independence House

We partnered with Independence House – a Cape-based nonprofit that helps survivors of domestic and sexual assault, and their children – this holiday season.

Donations from $15 to $100 helped provide hotline assistance, counseling services, clothing, transportation, and so much more. Donations for Independence House were made directly to the nonprofit at https://independencehouse.org/coop-give-hope-healing/ through Friday, Dec. 31.

#GivingTuesday

We’re proud to continue our #GivingTuesday tradition of supporting local food pantries by donating $1,000 each to 10 different pantries across the Cape.

#PayItForward

The Coop donates to help ME Small students

Our employees helped 12 students this holiday season through the Marguerite E. Small Elementary School’s “Adopt a Family” fundraiser.

In 2021, our employees have raised about $21,000 through employee-managed #PayItForward Program. For the past 12 years, our employees have supported local nonprofit organizations in our community by wearing jeans at work.

Every other Friday, employees donate a minimum of $5, and an organization is designated as the beneficiary. The organizations are nominated by employees and selected by the employee-based Pay It Forward committee. The only criteria for nominations is that the organization be affiliated with Cape Cod and a registered 501(c)3.

This holiday season, our employees worked in teams to use #PayItForward funds for the following holiday community programs:

2021 #PayItForward Additional Awardees:

The Coop Supports Local Food Pantries on Giving Tuesday

capeandcoastbk on December 1, 2021

Giving Tuesday 2021For the eighth consecutive year, The Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod supported local food pantries for Giving Tuesday 2021. The Coop will donate $10,000 to 10 local pantries serving communities from Falmouth to Provincetown.

“Through the generosity of our communities, local food pantries have been able to respond to the increased demand for service during the pandemic,” said Lisa Oliver, Chair, President and CEO of The Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod. “During the past 20 months, a spotlight was placed on our vulnerable neighbors living paycheck to paycheck in a region with high housing and cost of living expenses. We are fortunate to have a vibrant nonprofit and volunteer network on Cape Cod focused on mitigating food insecurity, and The Coop is proud to support them now and in the future.”

The pantries receiving donations are Cape Cod Family Table Collaborative; Cape Cod Military Support Empowerment Center on Joint Base Cape Cod; Falmouth Service Center; Hands of Hope Community Outreach Center and Food Pantry; Helping Our Women; Lower Cape Outreach Council; Sandwich Food Pantry; SKIP Food Pantry; The Family Pantry of Cape Cod; and Yarmouth Food Pantry. Each beneficiary will receive a donation of $1,000.

Giving Tuesday was established in 2012 as a dedicated day during the holiday season to encourage people to do good. Over the past nine years, Giving Tuesday has grown into a global movement that inspires hundreds of millions of people to give, collaborate and celebrate generosity.

Business Toolbox: Financing for Post-Pandemic Prosperity

capeandcoastbk on October 28, 2021

headshot of Allyson Brainson, VP Small Business Relationship Manager with The Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod

Allyson Brainson is a Vice President and Small Business Relationship Manager with The Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod. Contact Allyson at 508.568.1205 or abrainson@mycapecodbank.com.

The pandemic has affected the global economy and our region alike.  Many of our small businesses have faced challenges to their revenue and profitability. They’re worried about covering today’s overhead and expenses, and even more worried about what that means for the ability to finance the business in the future. It’s not all doom and gloom, though.  With some flexible thinking and careful planning, you can position your business for success on the other side of the crisis. Here are three things to consider as we move toward a post-pandemic economy:

Cost of Goods Sold

The COVID-19 pandemic’s disruption to the supply cycle has resulted in increased costs across the board. While minor fluctuations in your cost of goods sold can be expected, this widespread increase may have a significant impact on profitability. Is it time to raise prices for your goods or services?  Do you need to revise your menu or retail selection? This is not “business as usual” time, so do not be afraid to take an unconventional action to ensure profitability.

Staffing

Staffing shortages have hit business owners throughout the COVID-19 public health emergency and are at an all-time high. The employee shortage coincided with the return of travel and tourism resulting in a perfect storm for business owners during the busy summer season. Tough decisions have had to be made, such as reducing hours, closing certain days of the week, or shifting from full-service to a take-out operation. Three years ago, a business owner may have thought the idea of not being open seven days a week during the height of the summer was preposterous. In today’s climate, nothing is off the table.

Financing Through Lean Times

The winter is the right time to get a solid plan in place for financing.  Do you have a plan for paying your overhead, yourself and your staff if needed? Do you need a short-term cash infusion to get through the quiet months?

Look at your books now and project just how much you’ll need to get through the winter. Then talk to your banker, who you ideally already have a strong relationship with. We hear from too many business owners that they didn’t think they’d qualify for a loan, so they didn’t ask.  And oftentimes that’s just not the case. There are myriad options available, even beyond the traditional programs you may be familiar with. You may qualify for a specific program for women-owned businesses, veterans, minority-owned businesses, and others. Tap into your banker’s knowledge of all the options available to you.

Also consider that lenders take a broad view of a business’s credit assessment when reviewing risk. So, for a business seeking help today, a lender will take into consideration 2018 and 2019 numbers, along with current sales figures, which for some have rebounded to near pre-pandemic levels.

As you continue to navigate the challenges ahead, remember that there are no “one size fits all” scenarios. Our Business Banking team at The Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod is here to help you create a custom plan for your business’s success today, and well into the future.

Allyson Brainson is a Vice President and Small Business Relationship Manager with The Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod. Contact Allyson at 508.568.1205 or abrainson@mycapecodbank.com.

This article will be featured in the November edition of Cape and Plymouth Business.

CEO Lisa Oliver to Join National Conference on Gender Diversity

capeandcoastbk on October 19, 2021

Lisa Oliver 2020Lisa Oliver, Chair, President and CEO of The Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod, will be part of a virtual conference hosted by The Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, Bank on Women and The Risk Management Association. The theme of the third annual forum, taking place October 19-21, is “The Business Case for Change: Gender Diversity and Leadership in the Boardroom and C-suite.”

Lisa will join four other executives in a panel titled “Perspectives from Leaders: Strategies to Build a Gender Diverse Board” on October 20 from 2:55 – 3:45 PM.

Lisa was selected to speak due to her success in achieving 50% gender diversity on The Coop’s Board of Directors and across the bank’s senior leadership team. The Coop was recently named by BankDirector Magazine as one of the top 25 bank boards in the country with the highest representation of women.

“Building diverse boards means thinking beyond the traditional executives and CEOs often found on boards,” said Lisa. “Beyond looking at a prospective board members’ work experience, we now look at their life experience and ask how it aligns with our customer base and the community around us. Creating a well-rounded board with diverse viewpoints is a constant and rewarding process that must be a prioritized focus.”

The three-day conference is free to attend and is geared for Board Chairs, Board Members, CEOs and C-Suite Level Executives from the financial services industry. To register, visit https://womeninbanking.cventevents.com/event/0aa138ba-b62c-4a82-94b1-c6a72ace2ad6/summary

The Coop Appoints Nikki Rickard Residential Mortgage Loan Officer

capeandcoastbk on September 29, 2021

professional headshot of Residential Mortgage Loan Officer, Nikki RickardThe Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod today announced the appointment of Nikki Rickard to the position of Residential Mortgage Loan Officer.

Nikki, of Provincetown, is an accomplished finance professional who brings more than three decades of banking and mortgage experience to The Coop. She most recently served as a loan originator at Seamen’s Bank and had previously held the post of managing partner at Mayflower Mortgage LLC.

“We welcome Nikki to The Coop, a well-known and respected mortgage professional on the Outer Cape,” said Lisa Oliver, President, CEO, Chair of The Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod. “Nikki’s knowledge of the residential mortgage market in the region is unparalleled and will further strengthen the bank’s service offerings and presence in Provincetown and surrounding towns.”

The Coop is finalizing plans to open a mortgage office at Whaler’s Wharf, 237 Commercial St. Once open this fall, Nikki will welcome clients by appointment.

Nikki is actively involved with community philanthropic endeavors and local nonprofit organizations including the Provincetown Business Guild and Helping Our Women, a resource center for women living with chronic or life-threatening conditions.

The hiring of Nikki reinforces The Coop’s commitment to serve the unique needs of the Provincetown and Outer Cape communities. The bank has been engaged with the Provincetown community through lending, investments and philanthropic partnerships for decades, and provided $3.3 million in Paycheck Protection Loans to 28 Provincetown businesses, preserving nearly 300 jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, the bank recently funded a $4.5 million project for an inclined elevator to link downtown to the Pilgrim Monument and Provincetown Museum.

Earlier this year, The Coop established an ATM location on Commercial Street after it was awarded a bid from the Provincetown Chamber of Commerce.

Contact Nikki at nrickard@mycapecodbank.com or 617.605.3667.

Scott Kwarta Joins Leadership Council for Big Brothers Big Sisters

capeandcoastbk on March 2, 2021

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Cape Cod & the Islands (BBBSCCI) is pleased to welcome Scott Kwarta, Executive Vice President and Chief Risk Officer for The Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod, to their Cape & Islands Leadership Council to help further the agency’s mission.

professional heaadshot of Scott Kwarta, Executive Vice President and Chief Risk Officer with The Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod“We are extremely pleased that Scott will be joining our Leadership Council,” said JR Mell, Region Director for BBBSCCI. “His background in nonprofit boards, strategic planning and passion for youth causes will be a true asset to furthering our mission through the next strategic plan.”

Kwarta has more than 25 years of experience in senior roles at several leading financial institutions in New England, including Workers Credit Union, UniBank for Savings, BankNewport and Citizens Financial Group. He is passionate about helping others and supports a variety of charitable causes, including financial education and awareness, support for the LGBTQ+ community, and youth development and resources.

“I am excited to join the BBBSCCI Leadership Council,” said Kwarta. “I have respected the work of the organization for a long time and I am looking forward to working with the rest of the Council and the entire team at BBBSCCI.”

Kwarta is a certified public accountant and holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Fordham University. He currently serves as the Treasurer for Franklin Federated Church in Franklin, MA.