PITTSFIELD, Mass., April 22, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Berkshire
Hills Bancorp, Inc. (NYSE: BHLB), parent of Berkshire Bank,
America's Most Exciting Bank®, has embarked on AMEB
Green, a corporate initiative to become a more environmentally
sustainable company. The program is focused on results that
will impact Berkshire's social,
environmental, and financial performance by engaging employees and
customers in environmentally conscious behaviors.
"Environmentally friendly business delivers value to our
clients, returns for our shareholders, and helps strengthen the
economy," said Richard Marotta,
Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative and Risk Officer.
"AMEB Green was developed by a cross-functional committee of
employees that looked at policies, products, operations and
behaviors to identify goals and key steps to become a more
environmentally sustainable company. I love that this
initiative was spurred by employee suggestions, and has resulted in
Berkshire's renewed commitment to
the environment and our communities."
Berkshire Bank's AMEB Green strategies
include:
- Reduce paper consumption by 10% over the next three
years by utilizing technology, promoting online banking solutions
for our customers, promoting reusable products in our offices, and
engaging employees and customers in behaviors that eliminate
overall paper usage.
- Reduce energy consumption by 10% over the next three
years by implementing energy usage standards, temperature and
thermostat regulation, and non-essential energy usage
reduction.
- Commit 15% of the company's volunteer service to
environmental community causes as well as develop products that
promote green banking options and implement recycling standards
across the enterprise.
- In 2014, Berkshire Bank developed a campaign to move customers
from paper statements to eStatements, in an effort to reduce their
carbon footprint. The company's efforts were recognized by
the New England Financial Marketing Association for the best
"Green" marketing campaign in 2014 for encouraging e-Statement
adoption.
To kick off AMEB Green, Berkshire Bank Foundation, the
charitable arm of Berkshire Bank, made a contribution to the
Arbor Day Foundation to plant one
tree in honor of each of Berkshire's employees to celebrate the launch
of the initiative. Over the next two weeks across their footprint,
Berkshire employees are helping
beautify parks, plant trees and clean up riverfronts to mark the
launch of AMEB Green.
About Berkshire
Berkshire Hills Bancorp (NYSE: BHLB) is the parent of Berkshire
Bank, America's Most Exciting Bank®. The
Company, recognized for its entrepreneurial approach and
distinctive culture, has more than $7
billion in assets and 98 full service branch offices in
Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut, and Vermont providing personal and business
banking, insurance, and wealth management services. In 2014,
Berkshire Bank was named one of Massachusetts Most Charitable
Companies by the Boston Business Journal.
To learn more, visit www.berkshirebank.com or call
800-773-5601. Berkshire Bank is the official bank of the
Boston Bruins coverage on NESN.
Contacts
Investor Relations Contact
Allison O'Rourke; Senior Vice
President, Investor Relations Officer; 413-236-3149
Media Contact
Ray Smith; Assistant Vice President,
Marketing; 413-236-3756
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SOURCE Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc.