BY DANIEL BURKE
NBT Bank is focused on what matters most
to our customers, both individuals and local
businesses, and we believe that the area’s
economic outlook for 2015 is good.
Business borrowing activity is strong and
organizations are borrowing for the right reasons:
expansion, equipment replacement and
upgrades, new projects and capital needed
for growth. And, while business owners and
chief financial officers are always concerned
about costs-especially medical premiums,
energy and taxes-we are seeing balance
sheets and profit margins for our business
customers continue to improve.
Our area’s employment is also improving,
and continued positive national news will
impact us locally. Overall, businesses are
more optimistic about our local economy for
2015 than they have been in years. Pending
any major surprises on the national or world
stages, our region should have a very strong
2015.
As a locally-focused bank committed to the
success of our customers and communities,
NBT Bank offers personal banking, asset
management and business services that
provide financial options to local businesses
and residents. Our team of local bankers is
backed by expert banking professionals prepared
to provide the options our customers
need with their deposit, lending, retirement
planning, investment and cash management
needs.
Our experienced team knows the local
area and is focused on providing customers
with great attention and service. During
2014, NBT Bank has enhanced products and
increased digital service technology to support
customers’ changing needs and wants.
In September, we launched the second
generation of our Mobile Banking platform,
introducing upgrades for personal
and business customers. A new design and
system enhancements improved the overall
user experience, and Mobile Deposit
functionality allows customers to deposit
checks using their smartphone. NBT Bank
is also introducing new technology into our
physical locations to address the changing
needs and wants of customers. Nearby, we
are transforming our office on Wolf Road in
Albany with an updated layout, self-service
teller and other enhancements to allow our
customer service team to focus on the things
that technology can’t replace – personal attention
and individualized financial solutions
to address the challenges businesses face.
For many businesses, those challenges
include financing. NBT Bank has been designated
by the U.S. Small Business Administration
(SBA) as a preferred lender to approve
loans that result in faster service to local
small business owners in need of capital. The
bank has been granted the authority to process,
close and service most SBA-guaranteed
loans, and make credit decisions, without
prior SBA review.
As part of NBT Bank’s commitment to our
local communities, the bank has conducted
more than 300 classroom presentations in
school districts and community groups across
its banking divisions through its financial
education program, Strive®. Strive is a yearround
curriculum that helps kids, teens and
young adults establish a positive relationship
with money early in life and navigate personal
finance as their financial needs mature.
To learn more, visit www.nbtbank.com/strive.
Additionally, in 2014 NBT Bancorp subsidiary Mang Insurance Agency changed
its name to NBT-Mang Insurance Agency to
bring all insurance operations under a single
trade name. Since 2008, the agency had
expanded into new markets and introduced
new trade names to support those efforts.
In the Glens Falls area, the agency served
customers as the NBT Insurance Agency.
Bringing all of the company’s trade names
under the NBT-Mang Insurance brand allows
customers to better identify all its offices
across New York and Vermont.
Most recently, NBT Bank expanded into
a sixth state with the opening of a regional
headquarters in Portland, Maine. This brings
NBT Bank’s total network of banking locations
to 157 in six states, including New York,
Pennsylvania, Vermont, Massachusetts, New
Hampshire and Maine.
NBT Bank remains focused on each community
that we serve, and continues to provide
personal service to all of our customers in
a modern, efficient banking environment. We
are striving to provide the best combination
of personal attention and efficiency to our
customers: offering the services that customers
need, with the convenience they want.
NBT Bank and its parent company, NBT
Bancorp Inc., are headquartered in Norwich,
NY. NBT Bancorp Inc. had assets of $7.9 billion
as of September 30, 2014, and is traded
on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under
the symbol NBTB. Visit www.nbtbank.com
and www.nbtbancorp.com.