The New Hampshire Bankers Association (NH Bankers) elected Officers and Directors for the coming fiscal year during its Annual Meeting held on June 14, 2024. The meeting was well attended, with over 100 members of the New Hampshire Banking industry featuring Rob Morgan, CEO, USDF Consortium as the keynote speaker and two panel discussions on Banking as a Service and Developments in Housing: Accessory Dwelling Unit Financing.

Kristy Merrill, President of NH Bankers said, “We are thrilled to confirm our new directors and are deeply grateful for their willingness to serve the Association. The decades of combined experience from our board members showcase the strength, depth, and diversity of New Hampshire's banking industry. Their commitment to supporting communities reflects the values our members hold dear, while also having an eye towards the future as the financial landscape continues to evolve.

NH Banker members voted to elect Joan Gile, President & CEO, Piscataqua Savings Bank as Chair of the Board for the coming year. Ms. Gile, who previously served as a Director, is succeeding Linda Lorden, President, Merrimack County Savings Bank.

2024-25 Board:

Chair:          Joan Gile, President & CEO, Piscataqua Savings Bank

Vice Chair:  Jim Brannen, President & CEO, First Seacoast Bank

Treasurer:   Chris Logan, President & CEO, Bank of New Hampshire

Secretary:   G. Frank Teas, President & CEO, Millyard Bank

Directors:    Steven Byrnes, SVP-Regional Vice President-Eastern New Hampshire, TD Bank
         Lloyd Hamm Jr., CEO, River Run Bancorp, MHC and CEO, Newburyport Bank
         Linda Lorden, President, Merrimack County Savings Bank
         Ken Sheldon, NH State President, Bank of America

Rob Morgan, CEO of USDF Consortium spoke about the “tokenized deposit,” which represents an existing bank deposit on a blockchain ledger. By extending the existing banking model onto blockchain they are delivering a modern payments infrastructure while maintaining the numerous protections and benefits that our two-tier banking system provides today.

Attendees also heard from Joseph Mancini, Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer, Bank Prov; Ryan Dumond, Director of Bank-Fintech Partnerships, Bangor Savings Bank; and Meredith Piotti, CPA, CIA, Principal, Wolf & Company, P.C. about Banking as a Service (BaaS), the provision of banking products and services through third-party distributors. They also heard about what banks are doing in terms of accessory swelling unit financing from Ryan Pope, Housing Navigator, City of Dover; Cindy Ward, Loan Officer, First Seacoast Bank; and Matt T. Le, VP, Residential Lending Officer, Kennebunk Savings Bank.

2024-2025 NH Bankers Board Members

L-R: Vice Chair Jim Brannen, President & CEO, First Seacoast Bank; Steve Byrnes, SVP, Regional Vice President, Eastern New Hampshire, TD Bank; Lloyd Hamm Jr., CEO, River Run Bancorp, MHC and CEO, Newburyport Bank; Secretary Frank Teas, President & CEO, Millyard Bank; Linda Lorden, President, Merrimack County Savings Bank; Ken Sheldon, State President, Bank of America; Treasurer Chris Logan, President & CEO, Bank of New Hampshire; Kristy Merrill, President/CEO, NH Bankers Association; and Chair Joan Gile, President & CEO, Piscataqua Savings Bank.