42 Norway Savings Bank employees have served at bank for over 20 years
NORWAY — For Debbie Ward, the name “Norway Savings Bank” has elicited warm feelings since kindergarten.
“When I was a child, NSB had a school savings program where you could open an account and a person collected deposits each week. Our bus driver at school also worked for the bank collecting the children’s deposits. It was wonderful.”
When she arrived as a teller at NSB in 1981, she discovered the caring, kindhearted reputation of the bank that she had encountered as a youth was well earned and so meaningful that she never left.
“I’ve been a teller, teller supervisor, customer service representative, the first ‘branch manager’ in the Norway office, training coordinator, training manager, and regional operations officer before my current role,” said Ward, who is now regional retail banking manager RVP.
One year to the day after Ward started her professional relationship with NSB, Deb McPhail began her career in banking at Coastal Savings Bank which, ultimately, was acquired by NSB.
“For some reason, they kept me in their employ,” said McPhail, with her trademark delivery of collegial humor.
Now, 42 years later, it’s still looked upon as a great decision for Norway Savings and the start of a fulfilling journey for McPhail, who began as a part-time teller in Freeport, worked as an assistant branch manager and branch manager in several communities, and now serves as SVP, senior deposit operations & BSA officer as well as a member of the senior leadership team at NSB.
“My career path kept moving. I was never bored and each role I took on challenged me,” she said. “After the merger/acquisition, the fact that they retained me, I found myself in a very unique position and was able to make some really great connections with a lot of great people.”
Michele Stevens began as a teller and is now a deposit operations representative II in Norway. She celebrated her 40th year at NSB in April.
“Watching NSB grow from seven branches to 24 branches was a little scary and exciting at the same time,” said Stevens, who grew up in Norway and first worked at two other local banks before arriving at NSB in 1984.
Growth and encouragement from leaders to advance and excel are common threads among the 42 Norway Savings Bank team members who have worked at the bank for over 20 years. It’s an amazing statistic that is easier to understand when you study the NSB culture that has both earned their loyalty and been defined from within.
“The culture is very positive. It’s team-oriented and growth-oriented,” said Sandy Smith, who arrived at NSB in 1988, first as a receptionist and now a mortgage loan closer.
“With hard work, commitment, and the ability to add laughter and fun, the culture is who we are,” said McPhail, who has played a key role in many culture initiatives over the years. “The accessibility to management, the open doors where you can stop in and speak with the president if you are walking by, or the ability to go out into the community and volunteer isn’t a ‘must’ at other banks or other types of companies.”
“The culture certainly seems special,” said Ward. “We are one big family. The commitment to each other, our customers, and the communities we serve provide an amazing NSB culture. I enjoy going to the grocery store and seeing so many of my customers and answering any questions they may have while they shop. Lots of changes during my time, but all have been welcome and knowing that the bank needed to change with the times.”
The longtime team members have in large part “seen it all” in banking. They describe a lot less paper now and technology gradually replacing tasks like manually adding checks twice and counting cash and coins for long lines of people that stretched out the door. Plus, the arrival of now commonplace services like ATMs, direct deposit, online banking, and debit cards have made the branch lines shorter and banking easier for customers.
Through all of the changes and progress, the longevity for so many NSB team members from different backgrounds and places can perhaps be explained by the satisfaction of carrying out the purpose that’s driven the bank since its inception in 1866: to enrich the lives of customers, communities, and colleagues.
“What I have enjoyed most is the people,” said Ward. “The employees that I have worked with and developed great friendships with, even after their retirements, and I continue to connect with as much as I can, and the customers who have been devoted to Norway Savings Bank and helping them with their financial decisions and paths throughout their various life stages. I have enjoyed my career and I don’t regret one day of my 43 years here.”
“We achieve high standards and goals, not by looking to be the biggest, but through our commitment to our employees, customers, and communities,” said McPhail. “NSB can’t be all things to everyone, but what we are is a bank that serves its clientele with the best of who we are.”
Founded in 1866, Norway Savings Bank is a leading mutual banking and financial services company headquartered in Norway, Maine. As of September 30, 2024, Norway Savings Bank had $1.981 billion in total assets; 24 branch locations; and divisions in trust and investment services, personal banking, and business banking. It has received an “Outstanding” rating for three consecutive Community Reinvestment Act Exams from the FDIC. Norway Savings has also received the Best Place for Working Parents designation in 2022, 2023, and 2024, and was recognized with the “Best Wellness Employer – Gold Certification” for the sixth year in a row by Wellness Workdays. BauerFinancial has designated the Bank the “Best of Bauer” for earning and maintaining its highest 5-star rating for 34 continuous years. For more information, visit www.norwaysavings.bank.
