01/18/2026
Recently, one of our commercial loan officers traveled to visit a customer he had worked with in the past. When he arrived, he learned that the customer had sadly passed away. Instead, he had the opportunity to meet his son, offer his condolences, and spend some time talking.
During their conversation, the son mentioned something small but meaningful: he missed getting pennies for his retail store. He understood why they stopped providing them, but it was something he valued.
Later, as he saved our loan officer’s phone number, he paused and said, “Oh… this is my dad’s phone and he already had your number saved.”
That moment meant everything. It was a reminder that trust doesn’t disappear—it carries forward.
So our loan officer returned with a simple gesture: pennies from The Harvard State Bank, delivered with a business card and a handshake. The look of surprise and appreciation said it all. Not because of the pennies—but because someone listened.
That visit opened the door to a new conversation about financing another retail store and reinforced what we believe every day: relationship banking isn’t about products. It’s about presence, trust, and showing up—generation after generation. 🤝
