bankESB In The News

Identity Theft Awareness Week is January 26-30, 2026. Resolve to protect your identity this New Year by staying educated on the latest scams so you know what to look out for. According to Experian, AI scams, imposter scams, phishing scams, and romance scams topped the list of scams in 2025. But the methods that fraudsters …

You check your phone while waiting in line for coffee and see an alert for a bank charge you don’t recognize. Your stomach drops. You haven’t lost your card or shared your information. So, how did this happen? For thousands of people each year, identity theft doesn’t start with a dramatic breach of data; it …

bankESB and its employees recently donated $50,000 to the United Way of the Franklin and Hampshire Region. Employees pledged nearly $19,000 of their own funds in the bank’s United Way workplace campaign. Combined with the bank’s dollar-for-dollar match and additional corporate contribution, the campaign total of $50,000 was be donated to the United Way of …

Hometown Financial Group, the multibank holding company for bankESB, bankHometown, and North Shore Bank, and its Abington Bank and Colonial Federal Savings Bank divisions, announced the appointment of H. Scott Sanborn as its new executive vice president, chief commercial banking officer. Sanborn brings 36 years of banking experience to the role, along with a strong …

In 2024, consumers lost nearly $3 billion to imposter scams. An imposter scam occurs when a fraudster pretends to be a representative of an organization you trust and tricks you into sending money, providing sensitive personal information, or allowing remote access to your computer. Scammers can be convincing and may even have some of your …

Matthew S. Sosik, president and CEO of bankESB, announced that the bank’s fifth annual Neighbors Helping Neighbors fundraising drive raised $42,000 for local food pantries. This brings the program’s five-year total to $161,734.92. The appeal is part of bankESB’s charitable giving program, The Giving Tree, which reflects the bank’s commitment to making a difference in …

bankESB is proud to announce a $10,000 donation to Valley Community Development (Valley) to support its critical efforts in fostering affordable housing, economic development, and entrepreneurship in the local community. This contribution is part of a three-year, $30,000 commitment and made through the Community Investment Tax Credit (CITC) program, which allows businesses and individuals to …

The holidays are a time for giving – but don’t give scammers the gift they’re hoping for. In 2024, the FTC reported $228 million lost to gift card scams. Slow down, stay alert, and make sure your generosity doesn’t get re-gifted to a scammer. What is a gift card scam? A gift card scam happens …

bankESB is delighted to announce the promotion of Alison Tower to senior vice president of Enterprise Risk Management and Legal Services. In her new role, Tower will lead enterprise risk management initiatives, ensuring rigorous compliance and legal oversight across all business lines at bankESB and the family of banks that comprises Hometown Financial Group, including …

Hometown Financial Group, parent company of bankESB, is proud to announce it has been recognized as a Financial Services Industry Top Workplaces award winner and has received five additional Top Workplaces Culture Excellence Awards for Fall 2025: Employee Appreciation, Employee Well-Being, Professional Development, Purpose and Values, and Work-Life Flexibility. Hometown Financial Group, Inc. is a …