The Coop Foundation Announces $55,000 in Grants

capeandcoastbk on December 11, 2019

Left, Jim Kiley, President, Boys & Girls Club of Cape Cod; Right, Paul Bober, Member of the Board of Directors, Boys & Girls Club of Cape Cod.

Lisa Oliver, President and CEO of The Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod, stands with Jim Kiley, left, President of the Boys & Girls Club of Cape Cod, and Paul Bober, member of the Board of Directors for the Boys & Girls Club of Cape Cod, at the Dec. 6 reception for grant awardees.

The Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod Charitable Foundation Trust is pleased to announce $55,000 in grants to local organizations for the final quarter of the year. These grants cap The Coop Foundation’s inaugural year of giving, a year in which The Foundation awarded $180,000 to twenty-two non-profit organizations Cape-wide.

From support to families and children to supporting educational and healthcare opportunities, The Coop Foundation is proud to provide funding to the following organizations:

The Boys & Girls Club of Cape Cod received a grant of $5,000 for their After School Teen Program. The Teen Program served 441 teens in 2018, with an average daily attendance of 47 teens a day in winter, with Friday night’s attendance running between 80 to 200 teens who come for special Friday programs. For every $1 invested in the Boys & Girls Clubs in Massachusetts, $9.60 is created in lifetime economic benefits for our young members, their families, and the wider community due to decreased juvenile crime, teen births, increased graduation and employment rates, and financial support for parents.

Cape Cod Community College Educational Foundation received a grant of $50,000 over 5 years, with $25,000 coming from The Coop Foundation and $25,000 coming from additional funding at The Coop. This grant will go towards the Campaign for a new Science and Engineering Center at Cape Cod Community College. A new state-of-the-art Science and Engineering Center will provide the resources needed to make a significant impact on student outcomes and their job readiness in existing and emerging fields.

Outer Cape Healthcare Services received a grant of $25,000 over 5 years for their Enhancing Spaces, Impacting Lives campaign for their new Harwich Port Health Center. As a community health center, OCHS works to ensure that those who live here year-round have access to quality health care, whether they are working, raising families, or retired. Relocating and expanding the existing undersized Harwich facility a mile away has enabled OCHS to meet the growing healthcare needs of the community by providing new and essential services to more people.

Whelden Memorial Library is local treasure in the West Barnstable community, serving the residents with a safe gathering place for community groups, in-person resources and assistance, access to online resources and CLAMS catalogue, educational events, and a variety of classes. After sustaining significant water damage from winter storms last year, the Library is embarking on a campaign to update the drainage system of the building. The Coop Foundation awarded the library its first community Match Grant and will match funds raised in the community to help restore the building.

Additionally, the Bank donated $1,000 from funds outside of The Coop Foundation to the Takeaway Meal Program and Paper Pantry at St. David’s Episcopal Church. This program is open to all in the community and provides free personal hygiene products not covered by other assistance programs. In addition, patrons of the Paper Pantry receive a free nutritious meal to take home to their families.

“This was a tremendous inaugural year for The Coop Foundation,” said Lisa Oliver, President & CEO of The Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod and Chair of The Coop Foundation Board of Trustees. “On behalf of the board and the entire team at The Coop Foundation, it is our distinct honor to support these local organizations that are working tirelessly to meet the fundamental needs and challenges of our friends and neighbors on the Cape.  We look forward to many more years of helping to cultivate vibrant and thriving communities.”

Launched in December 2018, The Coop Foundation awards grants to 501(c)(3) organizations that enhance quality of life through programs and initiatives that meet the fundamental needs of people in the communities the bank serves. The Foundation’s mission is to cultivate vibrant and thriving communities and seeks to partner with organizations working in the fields of economic development and self-sufficiency, community vitality and sustainability, thriving youth and families, education and learning, and health and human care.

Learn about The Coop Foundation and Apply for Grants

Teach Your Child to be a Savvy Shopper for Back to School

capeandcoastbk on August 21, 2019

Girl in D-Y hat at baseball field

Baseball Days by Addie Doto

We’ll miss the Cape Cod Baseball League games, ice cream and fudge whenever we want, and so much more that comes with summer on the Cape. Now, it’s time for back-to-school shopping! It’s the perfect opportunity to sit down with your children to have the money talk. You can let them take ownership of their budget for school supplies by teaching them about sticking to a plan. Here’s a few tips to get you started:

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

  • Check the classroom list with your school.
  • Take inventory of what school supplies you already have at home and their condition.
  • Discuss the difference between “wants” and “needs.” A new backpack would be cool, but would the one from last year still work?
  • Create a shopping list.
  • Develop a budget and discuss the maximum you will spend on new school supplies. Put your budgeted amount in cash in an envelope for your child to use to shop.

BE A SAVVY SHOPPER

  • Remember to take your supply list and budget. And stick to it!
  • Compare prices. Help your child understand that often the “name brand” costs more than generic. A pencil box is a pencil box, but is it worth it to pay to have your favorite character on it? Guide your child through the process as they decide what to buy.
  • Help your child keep track of your spending as you shop by using good old paper and pencil or make a note on your smartphone.
  • Are any coupons or other discounts available?
  • Let your child do the checking out at the end.

LET’S RECAP

  • Discuss how the shopping trip went. Did you get everything? What tough choices did your child need to make?
  • What did your child learn?
  • How would your child handle it differently next time?

While back-to-school time can be hectic, making the time to talk to your child about finances is worth it. Knowledge is power, and the more your child knows about money the more prepared they’ll be for the “real world.” For more information on budgeting, saving, and best practices, visit any of The Coop’s convenient Cape Cod branch locations.

 

Nichole MacKerronNichole MacKerron, Assistant Vice President and Branch Manager
at Marstons Mills, loves talking through the whys and hows
of money management with her little one. Contact her at
nmackerron@mycapecodbank.com or 508.420.7849.

Digital Banking Features That Make Banking A Breeze

capeandcoastbk on June 20, 2019

A woman checks her account online while at the beach.

Technology continues to make banking easier than ever. Through mobile devices, you can make payments, transfer funds, purchase items, receive real-time alerts, and even pay other people 24/7/365. You may be familiar with the digital banking options provided at large, national banks, but did you know that we provide the same conveniences here at The Coop? Here are six digital offerings you can use today to make your life and banking experience easier and safer.

1. Digital Wallets

The easiest and safest way to pay, digital wallets allow you to pay for purchases with your smartphone instead of cash or taking your debit card out of your wallet. “Google Pay,” “Apple Pay,” and “Samsung Pay” are examples of digital wallets. When you add your Coop debit card to your device’s digital wallet feature, you can pay for your purchases at many stores using your phone. Simply place your phone near a compatible payment terminal and hold your thumb or finger on the fingerprint reader, or make purchases using the app on your device. Digital wallets have numerous benefits, but the most important is security. Because your card details are never shared with the merchant, the transaction is ultra-secure.

2. Mobile Deposits

Depositing checks no longer requires a trip to the branch or ATM.  With the Coop’s mobile banking app, you can deposit checks from the convenience of home or the office 24/7/365. Just snap photos of the check’s front and back, enter the amount of the check, and “click.” You’re done. For businesses, this feature quickens the availability of funds, potentially helping cash flow.

3. Alerts

Alerts make it easy to keep an eye on your money and any potential suspicious activity. Instead of having to log in and manually track when something important happens to your account, you can receive real-time alerts via push notifications (for mobile banking users), text, email, or the online messaging center in online banking. You can choose exactly what activity alerts you want to receive, such as when your debit card was processed, an ATM withdrawal is made or account information is changed. Alerts make keeping tabs on your activity hassle free and most importantly, they provide an extra layer of vigilance against fraud.

4. Instant Balance

Sometimes you want a quick check of your account balance without having to type in a password or log onto your account. The Coop’s mobile banking app gives you that access. You can quickly see your balance at a glance on your smartphone or tablet without having to fully log in.

5. Touch ID for Mobile Banking

Typing passwords on tiny smartphone screens can be clumsy at best, especially with the complex password requirements. Instead, log in by simply touching your thumb or finger to the fingerprint reader. This “biometric” authentication is available for customers with enabled devices. Beyond just being fast and easy, it’s among the most secure ways to access your account. After all, your fingerprint is uniquely yours.

6. Bill Pay

Gone are the days of having to write checks, stuff envelopes and buy stamps. Online bill pay allows you to make those payments – whether it is to the utility company or your credit card company – with a few clicks. You decide how much to pay and when. Or take it a step further and set up recurring payments, which puts payments on autopilot. You can even sync your bills so they are digitally delivered right to your account.  You can set up alerts to notify you when a payment will be debited from your account so you can make any adjustments necessary. With all of your bills managed in our Bill Pay center, paying bills is faster, easier and more efficient than ever.

These digital offerings provide you with safe, easy and convenient ways to bank.  Visit one of our branches or contact me directly eemmel@mycapecodbank.com to learn more.

Eric Emmel is the Digital Banking Product Officer with The Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod.

Apple, Apple Pay, Apple Watch, the Apple logo, and iPhone are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. Android and the Android Logo are trademarks of Google Inc. The Android Robot is reproduced or modified from work created and shared by Google and used according to terms described in the Creative Commons 3.0 Attribution License. Samsung and Samsung Pay are registered trademarks of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

3 Tips for Home Buying

capeandcoastbk on June 13, 2019

An American flag flies from the open porch and gardens surround a small single family home on a Spring afternoon on Cape Cod on the Massachusetts coast.

Buying a home can feel like a daunting task, raising many questions. Paperwork? Finances? Where to begin? Not to worry, Cape & Coast Bank’s experienced loan officers are here to support you. Whether you are a first-time homebuyer or recent retiree, our residential mortgage team will help you buy your dream home.

To get started and in honor of American Housing Month, here are three of our top tips when purchasing a home.

Do your homework

Know exactly how much house you can afford, bearing in mind the monthly principal, interest, property taxes, home owner’s insurance, home maintenance estimates and any association fees. Equally as important, get a pre-approval or a pre-qualification letter from an experienced mortgage lender. You can get started easily with Cape & Coast Bank by clicking HERE.

Be at the ready

The mortgage process has many time-sensitive steps. Attorney, Realtor®, Lender, Insurance Agent and Home Inspector – these are a few of the people you’ll be communicating with on a regular basis.  Being able to respond quickly is critical. Whether that’s by signing an electronic document (eSign), sending an email, or returning a call, timely responses keep the process from grinding to a halt. Fortunately, today much of that process is paperless. If you prefer a more traditional path with paper, pens and office meetings, you always have that option, too.

Expect the unexpected

Things will come up that are out of your control. An issue with a title search from the previous owner, The house doesn’t appraise for the purchase price. Or the closing date is shifted, and you’ve got all of your belongings in a U-Haul sitting in front of your new dream home. The mortgage process is hardly ever perfect, but be patient and take a deep breath. It’s a delay, not a derailment. You’ll be relaxing in your new home soon!

Cape & Coast Bank Announces New Appointments

capeandcoastbk on April 25, 2019

The Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod announced the appointments of John Cooke as Vice President and Marketing Officer and Laurie Maul as Vice President and Human Resources Officer.

Cooke has been with The Coop for four years, most recently as Digital Banking Manager where he oversaw the bank’s digital product development. His earlier career was heavily focused on marketing. Prior to joining The Coop, he managed marketing activities for seven years at a regional bank. Earlier in his career, he owned his own marketing company and worked for ERA Cape Cod as Director of Marketing. Cooke received his BA from Providence College, MBA in Marketing from UMass Dartmouth, and is a graduate of the American Bankers Association School of Marketing and Management. He lives in West Yarmouth with his family and is active in The Rotary Club of Yarmouth, the Robert Cooke Memorial Scholarship and The Cub Scouts.

Maul brings eighteen years of human resources experience to her new post. As a member of the Coop’s Human Resources department for the past eight years, she has focused on talent acquisition, employee relations and the development of robust wellness and benefit programs. She will now assume overall management of the Bank’s Human Resources team including recruitment, compensation and benefits, employee relations and HR administration. Prior to joining the Bank, her HR career included roles in a variety of business sectors including healthcare, higher education, marketing research and employee benefit communication software. Maul received her BA from St. Lawrence University. She’s a Board Member of WE CAN and Women United Member of the Cape and Islands United Way. She resides with her family in East Sandwich.

“We’re thrilled to promote John and Laurie to these newly created leadership roles,” said Lisa Oliver, President and CEO of The Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod. “They’re dynamic leaders who will bring experience and new insight to their respective departments.”

headshot of Laurie Maulheadshot of John Cooke, Vice President & Marketing Officer

Bank On It: Spring 2019 – A Message from Lisa Oliver

capeandcoastbk on April 11, 2019

Coop CEO Lisa Oliver

As I’m writing this, we’re full steam ahead into the spring season – a time of new beginnings and a time of reopenings for many here on Cape Cod.  For us at The Coop, spring also marks a fresh start as we close out our fiscal year and begin a new one.  As we do every year, we spent the last several months planning for the next twelve and developing our strategic plans.  I’d like to share some of what that means for you as a customer and a community member.

For small business owners, we are steadfast in our commitment to being a partner in your growth and success.  As we drive through our communities and see the “open” signs reappearing in seasonal businesses, we know that the Cape presents unique issues for business owners.  Cyclicality, cash flow, employment and housing are ever present challenges.  At the Coop, our commitment to you is to help work through those issues.  That means delivering access to capital and delivering products and services that make banking faster and easier.  It means making decisions locally and quickly. Most importantly, it means providing more than just transactions. We’re here to understand your business, to help identify the next best opportunity, and to help set near and long-term goals.  Please use our knowledge.

For all of our clients, we are committed to being accessible to you wherever you are and whenever you need us. Our strategic plan includes investments in how we provide banking services, both physically and digitally.  Whether you bank through ATMs, on your phone or computer, or in a branch, we’ll continue to provide ease, speed and convenient access for you.

We’re also focused on investing in our people. Our team is the backbone of our organization and we’re continuing to strengthen it with new appointments, promotions and personal growth opportunities.  At our annual meeting to be held on April 25, we will welcome three new board members, five new corporators and elect six officers.  They’re a dynamic group from across Cape Cod, representing a broad spectrum of industries.  I’m excited for the new insight and leadership they’ll provide us as we grow.

Perhaps most importantly, we also focused on investing in our communities, just as we have for the past 98 years. Through The Coop Foundation we recently awarded $75,000 in grants to local non-profits.  Grants were awarded to The Arts Foundation of Cape Cod, Barnstable Land Trust, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Cape Cod and the Islands, Calmer Choice, Habitat for Humanity, Health Imperatives Inc. and Mass Audubon Long Pasture Wildlife Sanctuary.  And that was just one quarter!  We look forward to supporting the work of many additional local organizations in the months ahead.

As we head into the new season and implement our strategic plans, we welcome your feedback.  What could we improve on?  What services could we add?  How can we evolve to meet your changing needs?  Your suggestions make us better, so please feel free to share your feedback directly with me at bankonit@mycapecodbank.com.

Thank you for choosing us as your community bank and we wish you a wonderful spring.

The Coop welcomes Katie Lowery

capeandcoastbk on April 3, 2019

Katie Lowery VP Residential and Consumer LendingThe Coop welcomes Katie Lowrey as Vice President of Residential and Consumer Lending Operations.

Katie brings experience in residential and consumer lending, having spent the past 14 years at a regional credit union, most recently in the role of mortgage operations manager. Originally from the North Shore, Katie earned her bachelor’s degree from New England College of Business in Boston. She has been an active member of the Seacoast Women in Business Networking Group, a former board director of the Saugus Rotary Club, and in 2018, was recognized as a rising star in the industry by the Massachusetts Mortgage Bankers Association.

“Katie brings a proven track record of success, market growth and leadership,” said Jason Sorochinsky, Chief Residential Lending Officer at the Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod. “Even more importantly, she understands the role a community bank plays in helping people achieve their financial goals. She’s a creative problem solver and passionate about relationship banking.”

Katie is a new resident of Yarmouth Port. She can be reached at 508-568-3209 or klowrey@mycapecodbank.com.

 

The Coop & Habitat for Humanity Helping Local Families Secure Homes

capeandcoastbk on March 25, 2019

Helping Local Families Secure Homes

An Important Partnership

The Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod is helping local families secure homes through a partnership with Habitat for Humanity.

The Coop is providing home financing for two families moving into new homes in Marstons Mills. The homes, located on Dickinson Drive, were built by community volunteers, local families and donors from Habitat for Humanity of Cape Cod.

“A home is where families grow, memories are made and possibilities arise. But sadly, not everyone has a safe, healthy place to call home. Instead, many Cape Codders struggling to get by, forced to live in substandard housing,” said Charlotte Green, Residential Mortgage Sales Manager, Officer. “The Coop believes everyone deserves decent, affordable housing on Cape Cod. That’s why Habitat for Humanity of Cape Cod and The Coop are partnering together to provide financing for families in Marstons Mills.”

Added Victoria Goldsmith, Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity of Cape Cod: “We are thrilled to have The Cooperative Bank join us as an important partner to the success of this project. Their participation as mortgage lender increases our capacity to offer the opportunity of affordable home ownership to more local families.”

Home Dedication

A home dedication and open house will be held on April 9th at 4 PM to welcome the families into their new homes. The community is welcome to attend.

 

Help More Local Families Secure Homes on The Cape

The Coop Foundation Announces Grants Totaling $75,000

capeandcoastbk on March 8, 2019

foundation grants collage of signature images representing beneficiary organizations

Seven New Grant Recipients

The Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod Charitable Foundation Trust announced that it will award grants totaling $75,000 to local organizations for the first quarter of the year, with an initial $62,500 to be awarded this month.

Grants for the first quarter of 2019 ($25,000 over two years, and an additional $30,000 in sponsored events over the next 3 years) were awarded to:

Investing in a Thriving Community

“These awardees provide much needed services to the Cape Cod community,” said Lisa Oliver, President and CEO of The Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod, and President of The Coop Foundation Board of Trustees. “We are thrilled to invest in their efforts through the Foundation.”

The Coop Foundation was launched as an extension of the bank’s long-standing charitable giving programs. “We’ve given back to the community throughout the Bank’s 98-year history. Creating the Foundation solidifies our commitment to invest the communities we serve in perpetuity,” added Oliver. “We look forward to supporting the work of numerous local organizations through grants in the years ahead.”

“We are so grateful to The Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod Charitable Foundation Trust for their generous donation to help serve more kids with a mentor,” said JR Mell, Regional Director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Cape Cod & the Islands. “We are honored that the Foundation has invested in our next phase of strategic growth with a multi-year commitment to our mission. This gift enables us a solid foundation to support the next 3 years of defending potential for under-resourced families right here on Cape Cod.”

Added Wendy Cullinan, Director of Resource Development, Habitat for Humanity of Cape Cod: “We are delighted and deeply appreciative that The Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod Charitable Foundation Trust has made such a significant donation to the Rotary’s Campaign to raise $100,000 for Habitat for Humanity of Cape Cod. We rely on the support of our community to serve our mission and this is community at its best.”

About The Coop Foundation Trust

Launched in December of 2018, The Coop Foundation awards grants to 501(c)(3) organizations that enhance quality of life through programs and initiatives that meet the fundamental needs of people in the communities the bank serves. The Foundation identified five core areas of impact that will be considered for grants initially.  They include economic development and self-sufficiency, community vitality and sustainability, thriving youth and families, education and learning, and health and human care.

The Coop Foundation solidifies and formalizes The Coop’s commitment as a mutual bank to give back to the community, earmarking funds for philanthropy that won’t decrease according to the bottom line, but increase as the assets of the Trust grows. The Coop Foundation serves as an extension of the Bank’s current community giving program by enhancing and expanding it.

For more information on the Foundation and how to apply for a grant:

Charitable Giving

30 Guys in 30 Days-Big Brothers Big Sisters of CC&I

capeandcoastbk on March 5, 2019

30 Guys in 30 DaysAfter a successful start last year, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Cape Cod & the Islands is relaunching its “30 Guys in 30 Days” campaign. The agency is seeking to recruit more men on Cape Cod and Martha’s Vineyard to support the high demand for mentors.

JR Mell, the organization’s regional director, said “It is a misconception that being a mentor is a huge commitment. We ask for volunteers to commit to a minimum of a year with a child in the community, meeting them two to three times each month for a few hours each time doing activities that you’d probably already be doing and enjoying. All of the bigs that I have talked to who have come forward and joined find that it’s very, very manageable. They feel like they almost get more out of it than the kids do, but it is a very rewarding volunteer opportunity on both sides.” Even though the minimum commitment for volunteering is one year, Mell says that most matches will continue as a lifetime friendship when the child outgrows the program. Mell volunteered as a big brother for close to ten years and feels that it’s the most rewarding thing that he has ever done.

A need for male ‘bigs’

Finding male mentors continues to be the biggest need for the organization. For every one girl who is referred or signed up for the program there are four boys. On the volunteer side, for every male volunteer who signs up there are four women who become mentors. “We are left with this large imbalance that we are trying to address with this campaign,” Mell said.

Big Brothers Big Sisters currently has 80 youth on a wait list for mentors with 63 percent of them being boys.  The “30 Guys in 30 Days” campaign was started last year as the wait list for boys had really grown. “We found it to be really successful in the community.” The campaign will be promoted across the region through digital videos and in-person events to show men what it means to be a mentor with the organization. The enrollment team, which matches bigs with littles, get to know volunteers as a person and match them with children who have similar interests.

Many other community organizations already come forward to help with the campaign. Barnstable Police Officer and Big Brother Corey Frederickson, Cape Cloth’s Founder Sean Fitzpatrick, and Peter Rice with the Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod and a Big Brother will all be featured in video clips highlighting the need for male volunteers. You can watch Peter’s video below.

Cape Cod Young Professionals and The Entrepreneurial Networking Group of Cape Cod will partner with the agency at their March events to help raise awareness and recruitment opportunities for potential volunteers.

Interested volunteers can learn more at www.bbbsmb.org/cape-cod/.
Groups or organizations who may want to help the agency with the campaign should contact Mell at jrmell@bbbscci.org or by calling 508-771-5150 extension 101.