BRATTLEBORO-"It's so good to be back in Vermont," said Robert Sims, the new president and CEO of Brattleboro Savings & Loan (BS&L). The bank's board officially hired Sims recently after an extensive search.
Sims has been working in local banks for over 30 years. His experience has included various elements of banking, including operations, retail, marketing, and many leadership positions, according to a news release submitted by the bank's personnel.
"To run a bank means to connect with the people-customers and employees-because those people are the bank," said Sims in the news release.
"Robert is exactly what we were looking for as a board and as a locally committed bank," said BS&L Board President Carmen Derby. "He knows that we need to grow deeper while still being agile. Robert is also the kind of open, servant leader that the bank needs right now and into the future."
Sims said a notable time in his career was when he worked for Chittenden Corporation, the holding company for Chittenden Bank and six other banks across New England.
"I've lived in some wonderful places during my career," Sims said, "but Vermont has always been near and dear to my heart, and my family's heart, too. This wonderful state played a big part in why I came here to join BS&L."
Most recently, Sims worked as the senior vice president of retail services at Greylock Federal Credit Union, a $1.6 billion credit union headquartered in Pittsfield, Massachusetts.
"It was hard to leave, even though I'm so excited for this amazing opportunity at BS&L," said Sims. "I have spent a career helping community banks succeed and thrive versus large, out-of-state competitors. Where we bank matters tremendously to the local economy. When we bank locally, 100% of those dollars are reinvested back into our community and become loans that allow our neighbors to buy homes here, run their businesses, and create jobs here."
Brattleboro Savings & Loan was established in 1912 and is a state-chartered mutual savings bank and Certified B Corporation, with branch offices in Brattleboro, Wilmington, and Bondville. For more information, visit brattbank.com.
This Town and Village item was submitted to The Commons.