Peoples Heritage Bank Named 'Maine Bank of the Year'

Peoples' Hall Thompson of Cumberland a Dirigo Award Winner

Peoples Heritage Bank was named Maine Bank of the Year by the Finance Authority of Maine (FAME) at the agency's annual meeting Tuesday, November 16. In addition, Hall Thompson, an executive vice president at Peoples Heritage, received a Dirigo Award for Small Business and Commercial Lending.

"We're honored to be recognized in this way by FAME, a financial organization which helps Maine businesses and families in so many ways," said David J. Ott, president and CEO of Peoples Heritage Bank. "We are equally grateful for another recognition á Hall Thompson receiving a Dirigo Award is another great honor."

Thompson, who joined Peoples Heritage in 1985, serves as executive vice president in charge of investments. A resident of Cumberland, Thompson is a 1962 graduate of the University of Vermont and he received a master's in business administration from Boston University in 1971.

The awards are given each year as part of FAME's effort to recognize financial institutions which invest in Maine. The criteria used for the Maine Bank of the Year Award include loan volume, flexibility and innovation in working with Maine businesses.

The Finance Authority of Maine supports the start up, expansion and growth plans of Maine's business community by working with the state's lending community to improve access to capital.

Peoples Heritage Bank is a Maine-based bank with 75 branches throughout the state, five of which operate as Oxford Bank & Trust, a subsidiary of the bank. The bank and its parent company, Peoples Heritage Financial Group, employ more than 2,200 in the state.

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