In 1920, a group of telephone-company workers, seeking to aid their colleagues by providing local banking services, founded the Telephone Workers Credit Union in Providence. Through mergers and expansions, Coastway Community Bank, as you know it today, was born. As we approach our 100th year in business, the original vision of our founding members is still what drives us.
My goal has always been to put our customers first. Any decision we make as a bank is with our customers' needs in mind. I believe as soon as we lose sight of the folks who walk into our offices every day, we've missed the point.
Second, I firmly believe our employees set Coastway apart from other banks. The key to our success is to hire the best people we can find and empower them to make the decisions that fit our customers. We are a major residential mortgage lender and have been named Rhode Island Housing's Lender of the Year for three consecutive years, as well as the No. 1 small-business lender in Rhode Island for three years. This would not be possible without an amazing team.
Finally, I've always sought to give as much to our community as the community has given to us. By year-end, Coastway will have contributed over 4,500 hours of paid volunteer service to Rhode Island-based nonprofits.
Rhode Islanders can be assured that there is a choice in banking, and that Coastway Community Bank will continue its commitment to the success of all who live and work here. •