Berkshire Bank retains key leadership after acquiring Savings Institute
WILLIMANTIC, CT (JULY 25, 2019) – Berkshire Bank has retained key members of Savings Institute Bank & Trust’s senior leadership team, including Gene Michael Deary and Jason White after acquiring the bank in May.
Gene Michael Deary who was SVP, Director of Retail Lending at Savings Institute has accepted the position of SVP, Home Lending, Mortgage Loan Operations under the Berkshire Bank name. In this role, he will provide key insights into home lending throughout the bank’s seven-state footprint and work to enhance Berkshire’s mortgage loan operations through branch-driven community lending that focuses on relationship building. Gene Michael came to Savings Institute in 2014 and was instrumental in growing the consumer and residential lending portfolio. Gene Michael is a figure in the community; he holds the role of President on the board of directors for NOW (Northeast Opportunities for Wellness), sits on the board of directors and Executive Committee for ARC Eastern CT and served as Finance Chair to the Town of Brooklyn for over 13 years. Gene Michael also coaches gymnastics at Deary’s Gymnastics and several local high schools.
“We are excited for Gene Michael to bring his respected leadership, a wealth of local and lending knowledge, and innovative thinking to the Berkshire team,” said Tami Gunsch, Sr. EVP, Director of Relationship Banking.
Also retained was Jason White who acted as VP, Chief Information Officer at Savings Institute. White accepted the role of SVP, Chief Technology Officer at Berkshire Bank and will direct the bank’s technology investments and assets to ensure it meets the changing demands of customers in a digitally-focused banking environment. Jason began his career at Savings Institute in 1999 where he instituted a paperless workplace, streamlined Information Technology, and Operational workflows, implemented a fully virtualized infrastructure, enhanced the overall information security posture and developed an internal CRM by overseeing the Infrastructure, Information Security, Project Management, Business Intelligence, and Risk Management Teams. Jason recently designed and implemented a Digital Roadmap, created to enhance the customer experience via channels such as Online Account Opening and Online/Mobile Banking. Jason holds a variety of certifications from vendors such as Cisco, Novell, and Microsoft.
“Jason holds key knowledge that will support Berkshire in our goal to offer advanced solutions and technology to our customers without losing the one-on-one feel of a true community bank,” stated, President, Sean Gray.
Berkshire Bank is recognized for its entrepreneurial approach, relationship customer experience, and distinctive culture embracing and celebrating the diversity of all customers, employees and, suppliers - as its commitment to diversity continues to grow. With $13.9 billion in assets, Berkshire provides business and consumer banking, mortgage, wealth management, investment and, insurance services through 132 branch offices in New York, Connecticut, Vermont, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts, including Commerce Bank, a division of Berkshire Bank. Berkshire Hills Bancorp (NYSE: BHLB) is the parent of Berkshire Bank. Berkshire Bank was named one of Massachusetts' Most Charitable Companies by the Boston Business Journal in 2018. To learn more, visit www.berkshirebank.com, call 800-773-5601 or follow us on: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and, LinkedIn. Berkshire Bank is the official bank of NESN's Boston Bruins coverage. Life is Exciting. Let us help.®
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