Matt Plasse, New England regional president for Community Bank, and bank employees at its first NH branch in Bedford (Photo by Matthew J. Mowry)
New Hampshire continues to attract out-of-state banks to its competitive marketplace. Community Bank, among the country’s 100 largest banks with more than $17 billion in assets and 200 customer facilities across Upstate New York, Northeastern Pennsylvania, Vermont, and Western Massachusetts, opened its first NH branch in Bedford in January.
The 26 South River Road branch is the beginning of Community Bank’s expansion efforts in NH and a continuation of its growth strategy in New England, says Matt Plasse, the bank’s New England regional president. “New Hampshire is going to be a big part of our growth going forward,” he says.
Plasse says the bank will take a similar approach to it strategy in Vermont, where it now has 30 branches across the state. “We are exploring all options,” he says, including opening additional branches and potentially acquiring other banks.
Asked what will differentiate Community Bank, Plasse points out it is part of a group of companies that includes a wealth management group, an insurance brokerage, and a benefit and retirement administration division. “We can operate as a community bank but still [conduct] larger transactions,” Plasse says. “We can offer all these services to our customers.”
Plasse says the bank disbursed a half million dollars to New England nonprofits in 2025 and will be investing in NH nonprofits.
At the ribbon cutting for the Bedford branch in late January, Community Bank presented $10,000 to Waypoint NH and $2,500 to Marguerite’s Place. For every new account opened in the branch through March, the bank will donate $25 (with a minimum donation of $2,500) to Hillsborough Meals on Wheels. For more information, visit cbna.com.
