This article may have been created or edited in return for undisclosed payments, a violation of Wikipedia's terms of use. It may require cleanup to comply with Wikipedia's content policies, particularly neutral point of view. (January 2022)
A Savings Bank branch in the Greenwood district of Wakefield, Massachusetts, in July 2021, showing the clock tower distinctive of Savings Bank branches.
The Savings Bank (formerly Wakefield Savings Bank) is a state-chartered mutual bank, headquartered in Wakefield, Massachusetts and founded in 1869. It is one of the oldest banks in the United States.[2] The Savings Bank has over $780 million in assets, 9 branches, and serving residents of Wakefield, Lynnfield, Andover, Methuen, and North Reading, which make up its surrounding cities and towns.[1] It is a whole owned subsidiary of Wakefield Bancorp, MHC.[3]
History
Postcard showing the Wakefield Savings Bank building at the corner of Main and Chestnut Streets. Year of 1895.
The Savings Bank's heritage started in early 1869 with the idea of Cyrus Wakefield who, along with other business leaders, petitioned for a charter to open a savings bank in Wakefield, Massachusetts.[4] Starting with one physical location in 1869, the bank was chartered as the Wakefield Savings Bank. By 1871, the Wakefield Savings Bank had over $60,000 in deposits and over 500 depositors.[5]
In 1981, The Savings Bank earned national and international recognition[6] with the opening of the first student-operated banking branch in the nation, named the 1st Educational Savings Branch at Wakefield Memorial High School. In 2004, the branch was awarded an honorary certificate of recognition by the U.S. Department of the Treasury for its efforts in teaching financial literacy to high school students.[7]
In 1985, The Savings Bank became FDIC insured and was assigned the FDIC certification number 90291.[8]
In 1989, the bank's name changed to The Savings Bank to reflect its broader geographic footprint.
In 1997, the Trust Department of the bank was established, and the bank expanded its services to include Wealth Management services.
In 2005, The Savings Bank acquired the First Financial Trust, N.A.
In early 2013, The Savings Bank petitioned the Division of Banks (Division) and the Board of Bank Incorporation (Board) pursuant to Massachusetts General Laws chapters 167A and 167H, for permission to reorganize into a mutual holding company.[9] On April 30, 2013, The Savings Bank reorganized into a mutual holding company, Wakefield Bancorp, MHC with a mid-tier holding company, Wakefield Bancorp, Inc.[10]
In 2019, The Savings Bank celebrated its 150th anniversary.[11]
In 2021, The Savings Bank launched its student financial literacy program.[12]
In early 2023, The Savings Bank added an addition adjacent to the Bank's Main Office at 357 Main Street. The two-story expansion houses the bank's Commercial Banking, Human Resources, Training, Facilities, and IT departments.[13]
In June 2023, The Savings Bank changed its website address from www.tsbawake24.com to www.tsbdirect.bank. A domain ending with .bank helps prevent cyberattacks through added layers of protection. Like with .gov or .edu, .bank is a gated domain, but only for verified and authenticated banks. The Savings Bank became a Cybersecurity Pioneer at fTLD[14]
In 1997, The Savings Bank purchased, renovated, and restored the Odd Fellows building, one of Wakefield's landmarks, originally built in 1895, that suffered extensive damage in a devastating fire on January 24, 1997.[15][16]
In 1997, The Savings Bank established the Charitable Foundation, Inc. The foundation supports non-profit organizations whose primary focus is on homeless shelters, family services, the poor, and the elderly.[17]
In 2001, The Savings Bank established the Donald E. Garrant Foundation, Inc. in tribute to the memory of Don Garrant, former President and Chief Executive Officer of The Savings Bank during 1980- 1992.[18] The foundation supports projects in public and private schools, grades K-12, and non-profit organizations that promote financial education in saving, investing, borrowing and credit, and economics.
Since their founding, The Savings Bank Charitable Foundation and the Donald E. Garrant Foundation together have given back more than $1 million to community efforts.[19]
In 2013, The Savings Bank was rated as "high satisfactory" on the Service Test performance under the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA), and "satisfactory" on the Lending and Investment Tests performance, by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, for the bank's efforts in providing financial and personal empowerment through innovative and flexible lending programs designed to meet the credit needs of low and moderate-income borrowers, first-time homebuyers, and small businesses.[20] In 2019, The Savings Bank was rated as "satisfactory" by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for its performance under the CRA.[21]
In 2018 and 2019, The Savings Bank provided a temporary home to the Tall Spire pre-school, previously located in Wakefield's First Baptist Church, that suffered extensive fire damage on October 24, 2018.[22][23] The bank also collected monetary donations to help support the First Baptist Church.[24]
In 2020, The Savings Bank received the Winner #2 Choice award in the category Community Bank / Credit Union in the Wicked Local Reader's Choice Awards.[26]
In 2006, The Savings Bank was presented with a Friend of Public Education Award by The Massachusetts Association of School Committees, based on nominations from the individual School Committees throughout Massachusetts.[27]
