Highlights Berkshire's Transformational Efforts to Build
More Equitable and Sustainable Communities
BOSTON, April 26,
2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc.
(NYSE: BHLB), the parent company of Berkshire Bank, a leading
socially responsible community bank with financial centers in New
England and New York, announced the release of its 2022
Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) Report, Purpose
& Performance that Matters. The report highlights the
totality of the Company's environmental, social and governance
activities, its performance as well as its progress on its
$5 billion BEST Community Comeback
program.
"We believe where you bank matters and since our founding in
1846, Berkshire has been at the
forefront of empowering our communities' financial potential,"
stated Gary R. Levante, SVP,
Corporate Responsibility at Berkshire Bank. "The collective actions
of the Company and all our employees are helping build more just
and sustainable communities, creating jobs along our main streets,
putting more people in homes, and supporting a green and equitable
economy."
Berkshire CEO Nitin Mhatre added,
"Our purpose will continue to help power Berkshire on our path toward becoming a
high-performing, leading socially responsible community bank in New
England and beyond. All of Berkshire's collective ESG efforts are
positively contributing to our commercial performance, creating
capacity to invest more in our business, customers, employees,
communities, and shareholders."
Since its first deposit of $25
more than 175 years ago, Berkshire
has provided support, guidance, and financial solutions to help its
customers and communities navigate successfully through all
economic environments. Berkshire
collaborates with local government, nonprofit, private sector, and
individual stakeholders to harness its financial resources,
expertise and operations to help unlock the potential of
communities across its footprint.
Berkshire's accomplishments
over the last year, which are highlighted in the report,
include:
- Issuance of the first Sustainability Bond by a public community
bank holding company with less than $150
billion in assets in the U.S.
- Launch of the Center for Women, Wellness & Wealth.
- Progression on the BEST Community Comeback program, including
more than $1 billion in financing in
low- and moderate-income neighborhoods and lending over
$300 million to support low-carbon
projects.
- Investment of $3.5 million in
community contributions and over 23,000 hours of employee volunteer
time to benefit more than 500 community organizations.
- Inclusion in Bloomberg's Gender Equality Index and Human Rights
Campaign Best Places to Work for LGBTQIA+ Equality.
- Recognition by Newsweek as one of the top 10 most trustworthy
banks in the nation and by the Sustainable Business Network of
Massachusetts as Sustainable Bank
of the Year.
In addition to its commitment to being a leading socially
responsible community bank, Berkshire is known as a strong and secure
steward of its customers finances, above industry credit quality,
and superior suite of financial solutions delivered through robust
technology platforms, dedicated relationship managers and 100
community-based financial centers. The Bank has an A3 deposit
rating from Moody's Investors Service, which was affirmed on
April 21, 2023 and Newsweek named
Berkshire one of the most
trustworthy banks in the nation.
Berkshire's full ESG report is
available online at berkshirebank.com/esg2022.
ABOUT BERKSHIRE HILLS
BANCORP
Headquartered in Boston, Berkshire Hills Bancorp (NYSE:BHLB) is
the parent of Berkshire Bank. Founded in 1846, the Bank's
vision is to be a high-performing leading socially responsible
community bank. It empowers the financial potential of its
stakeholders by making banking available where, when, and how it's
needed through an uncompromising focus on exceptional customer
service, digital banking, and positive community impact. Providing
a wide range of financial solutions through its consumer banking,
commercial banking and wealth management divisions, the Bank has
approximately $12.3 billion in assets
and a community-based footprint of 100 financial centers in
Massachusetts, New York, Vermont, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. Named one of America's Most
Trusted Companies by Newsweek and America's Best Midsize
Employers by Forbes, Berkshire is also listed in the Bloomberg
Gender-Equality Index and a Best Place to Work for LGBTQ+
Equality. To learn more, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram,
and LinkedIn.
Investor Contact
Kevin
Conn
Investor Relations
617.641.9206
KAConn@berkshirebank.com
Media Contact:
Alicia
Jacobs
Corporate Communications
413.242.6540
Ajacobs1@berkshirebank.com
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SOURCE Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc.