Personnel moves: A roundup of new hires and promotions in Maine’s banking industry

Five Maine banks — Machias Savings, Bath Savings Trust Co., KeyBank, Saco & Biddeford Savings and Katahdin Trust — announced significant personnel moves in recent weeks. Several of the new hires are at the front lines of establishing relationships with the business community.

Machias Savings hires relationship manager

Lucie Hannigan, who has more than 30 years of experience in the banking business, has been named the new senior vice president and cash management relationship manager at Machias Savings Bank.

“I was drawn to Machias Savings Bank’s customer-first, community-driven ethos because it aligns with what has always been my own path — a dedication to the state of Maine, our people, and making our economy move,” Hannigan says. “All of my experience to date has led me to this point.”

Hannigan began her banking career as a teller for Casco Northern Bank before the merger with the Bank of Maine. She has worked in cash management and business banking at People’s United, Bangor Savings, and TD Bank. Her most recent position was at Northeast Bank as the director of business banking.

Hannigan holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Southern Maine. She is also certified with the Treasury Professional designation from the Association of Financial Professionals.

She works with business bankers to provide cash management solutions for clients, with a focused, holistic approach to business banking.

She hopes to help as many Maine organizations be more profitable and efficient by getting to know them and providing customized solutions that take advantage of the current rising rates, the right technology, and payment solutions — delivered with fair pricing.

“She has an established reputation for putting customers first throughout her career, and her creativity and enterprising attitude align perfectly with our existing cash management team,” says Jim Edwards, SVP of cash management solutions at Machias Savings Bank.

Machias Savings Bank, founded in 1869, has $2.3 billion in assets, 300 employees and 15 branches from Portland to Caribou. It was ranked No. 8 among the largest market share in the 2022 Mainebiz Book of Lists, based on Maine deposits as of June 30, 2021. Machias Savings Bank also ranked No. 6 among the largest Maine-based banks, based on total assets as of June 30, 2021.

KeyBank turns to DiSotto as Maine market manager

KeyBank named longtime employee and Jay native Tony DiSotto as its new Maine market manager.

He joined KeyBank in March 2006 as a branch manager. The appointment comes a month after KeyBank named Falmouth native Colin March KeyBank’s Maine commercial sales leader. Each steps into roles previously held by market leader Chip Kelley, who is retiring.

“Specifically, as it relates to Key, my career started as a branch manager in Portland,” says DiSotto. “I was looking for a role where I could be engaged with the community while also using my skills (which were also growing) in finance and leadership. The branch manager role was a perfect fit for that. From there, Key provided me with various ways to develop my career, and I took full advantage of each of them — Key is a great place to grow a career.”

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Photo / Courtesy of KeyBank

Anthony DiSotto will lead KeyBank’s Maine market team, stepping in with the retirement of Chip Kelley.

DiSotto will continue to lead KeyBank’s wealth management teams in Maine and Vermont; in addition, he will take on the market president responsibility of overseeing and coordinating KeyBank’s go-to-market strategy across its various lines of business and serve as the face and voice of Key in Maine.

DiSotto will ensure that the organization has the most significant impact in Maine in his new role. He says, “this means that I must ensure that all of the resources that KeyBank has in Maine are working together cohesively — we have outstanding bankers and leaders within our team which make this exciting work, and I am anxious to get started in working with them in this expanded capacity.”

DiSotto held leadership roles within KeyBank’s retail branch network through 2014 before transitioning to a senior business banking relationship manager role that year.

He then rejoined the retail team as senior vice president and regional retail leader overseeing the retail, small business, and mortgage lending teams in Maine and Vermont. In 2019, he was promoted to market leader for Key Private Bank. Before joining Key, DiSotto worked for Bank of America and MBNA America.

“I have been fortunate to have had the opportunity to work in many facets of banking and all of them at Key — branch banking, residential mortgage lending, small business lending, commercial banking, and wealth management,” DiSotto says. “These are also the core parts of our business in Maine. I am hopeful that my experience in understanding how all of these aspects of our business work together can benefit Key and our stakeholders.”

DiSotto holds a bachelor’s degree from Colby College and an MBA from Norwich University in Vermont.

“Chip Kelley and Sterling Kozlowski have laid a great foundation for KeyBank in Maine over the last decade, and I am focused on continuing their outstanding work,” says DiSotto.” KeyBank has been privileged to have a long history in communities throughout our state. My focus, and our continued focus, will be on ensuring that we support those communities to help them thrive.

KeyBank was No. 4 among banks with the largest market share in Maine in the 2022 Mainebiz Book of Lists, trailing TD Bank (No. 1), Bangor Savings Bank (No. 2), and Camden National Bank (No. 3). KeyBank has 36 branches serving 12 counties in Maine. KeyBank is owned by Cleveland-based KeyCorp (NYSE: KEY).

Local team promoted at an Old Orchard savings bank branch

Saco & Biddeford Savings Institution has promoted Old Orchard Beach native Mike Rague to branch manager of his hometown branch.

Rague graduated from Old Orchard Beach High School and Emmanuel College in Boston, where he studied chemistry.

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Photo / Courtesy of Saco & Biddeford Savings

Tyler Lebel (left) and Mike Rague anchor the Old Orchard Beach branch of Saco & Biddeford Savings.

Before the promotion, he held the title of assistant branch manager — a role that will now go to Thornton Academy graduate Tyler Lebel.

As Old Orchard Beach continues to grow, Rague’s goal is to listen to the people, businesses, and organizations as they expand and find ways Saco & Biddeford Savings can help.

“Growing up in Old Orchard, I couldn’t picture myself ever living too far from the beach or my family,” says Rague. “My late mother was a public servant for many years in Old Orchard Beach, and at some point, I realized that Saco & Biddeford Savings presented me with an opportunity to serve the Old Orchard Beach community in my own way. I hope to bring another familiar face to the helm of the branch, new relationships from my connections to the town, and an open-minded approach to the wants and needs of our customers.”

As Old Orchard Beach grows, Rague’s goal is to listen to the people, businesses, and organizations as they expand and find ways the bank can help.

Lebel earned an accounting degree from Merrimack College in Massachusetts after graduating from Thornton Academy in 2015. He joined Saco & Biddeford Savings as a seasonal employee and turned the opportunity into something more permanent when he became a full-time customer relationship associate.

“I have exceptional co-workers, and I’ve had the chance to work in every one of our branches,” says Lebel. “The customers we have in Old Orchard have deep community roots, and that’s what I love most about working in this location.”

“I hope to bring a fresh perspective and a sense of connection to this role,” Lebel says. “A fresh perspective of what we can do to serve the community better. Being from the neighboring towns, I hope to use the knowledge of the area and existing relationships to further help serve the people in it.”

Founded in 1827, Saco & Biddeford Savings is Maine’s oldest bank. It now has $1.14 billion in assets and employs 193 people at seven branches. Saco & Biddeford Savings was ranked No. 13 among the largest Maine-based banks in the 2022 Mainebiz Book of Lists as of June 30, 2021.

Katahdin Trust adds HR chief to senior management team

Katahdin Trust, which is based in Houlton and has 16 branch offices in Maine, announced the promotion of Natasha McCarthy to executive vice president and chief human resources officer.

In her new role, McCarthy will continue to be responsible for developing and implementing human resource policies and procedures to recruit and retain staff members. In addition to overseeing the bank’s benefits package and culture of employee engagement, she now serves as a member of the bank’s senior management team.

“Watching our employees learn, grow, and thrive at work is what I enjoy most about my role in human resources,” says McCarthy. “Their professional development and engagement level are critical to our success. I am proud to be part of a company that offers many different opportunities for a successful career right here in Maine.”

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Photo / Courtesy of Katahdin Trust

Natasha McCarthy, chief HR officer, is added to senior management team at Katahdin Trust.

McCarthy began working at Katahdin Trust as a human resources assistant. In 2014, she was promoted to human resources generalist. In 2016, she was named human resources director and then promoted in 2019 to vice president and human resources director, which was the position she held until this most recent promotion.

“Natasha plays a pivotal role in the success of this company. Whether it be handling personnel decisions, heading up committees, or creating new policies, she has made Katahdin Trust a better place to work,” says Jon Prescott, president, and CEO of Katahdin Trust. “I take great pleasure in seeing our staff grow in their careers here at Katahdin Trust, and Natasha is very deserving of this promotion.”

McCarthy is a graduate of the University of Maine at Presque Isle, Northern New England School of Banking in Durham, N.H., and the Young Professionals Institute in Presque Isle. She recently earned a graduate certificate in human resource management from Husson University.

Katahdin Trust has $966 million in assets and nearly 180 employees. The bank offers financial services to individuals and businesses from 16 branches throughout northern Maine and the greater Bangor and Portland regions.

Katahdin Trust was ranked No. 15 among the largest Maine-based banks in the 2022 Mainebiz Book of Lists ranked on total assets as of June 30, 2021. It was also ranked No. 27 in the 2022 “Best Places to Work in Maine.”

Bath Savings bolsters trust department with promotion

Bath Savings Trust Co. President Tom Whelan promoted Georgetown resident Sarah Grover to trust operations officer.

Grover manages many aspects of the firm’s operations, with roughly $1.5 billion under management for clients throughout the country.

“It is a really good company to work your way up. I started as a teller and moved up, partially because a lot of it I wanted to do and also because I was recognized within the bank. Working for Bath Savings is like working for a nice little community within itself: it is supported, open to employee suggestions, recognizing accomplishments, and giving adequate rewards.”

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Photo / Courtesy of Bath Savings

Sarah Grover, a trust officer with Bath Savings.

Grover began her career at Bath Savings as a teller 21 years ago. She has received numerous teller promotions and then transitioned to Bath Savings’ operations area. Grover was assistant manager for over 12 years and was promoted to operations manager in 2020.

“I am one of those people that stays in a job. I was working from 15 to 21 years old at a small restaurant in Georgetown, and it closed. So, I needed something new, and I thought my family had been banking with Bath Savings forever, and they had an opening for a teller. I thought, why not apply,” she says.

Grover hopes to maintain a cohesive working unit between the operations and the administrative staff, and this is fun, has open communication, and delivers the best customer service possible.

“Sarah’s calm leadership and strong work ethic make her the perfect person to lead the operations team as [Bath Savings] continues to grow,” says Whelan. “We are grateful for Sarah’s many years of service and thrilled to recognize her hard work with this well-deserved promotion.”

Bath Savings has served midcoast and southern Maine since 1852. It has ten full-service banking offices located from Damariscotta to South Portland. Bath Savings was ranked No. 12 among the largest Maine-based banks in the 2022 Mainebiz Book of Lists, based on total assets as of June 30, 2021.