Since Cornerstone Bank holds itself up as a community business dedicated to supporting its neighbors, this decision was a no-brainer. Instead of ordering and sending out holiday greeting cards this year, the bank is putting the money saved toward a $10,000 donation to the Worcester County Food Bank.

“What better way to spread the spirit of the holidays than to help put food on someone’s table,” said Cornerstone Bank CEO Todd Tallman. “Unfortunately, holiday cards often end up in a recycling bin. We would rather invest in something we know will be meaningful.”

The Worcester County Food Bank is one of three Feeding America member food banks in Massachusetts. The organization provides donated food to residents who need it, and advocates for policies and programs to decrease hunger and increase access to healthy options. The food bank says for every dollar it receives in donations, it’s able to distribute four dollars’ worth of food to residents in need.

“We know our partners understand the importance of generosity during the holidays,” said Tallman. “We want our neighbors to eat well and enjoy the warmth of this season of giving.”

Cornerstone Bank recently honored 24 employees for longtime service in 2024. The Years of Service Awards were presented on Friday, December 6, in Sturbridge. Cornerstone employees are honored for every five years of service.

“The longevity of our employees is very important to us,” said CEO of Cornerstone Bank Todd Tallman. “We put a lot of effort into making everyone feel proud, respected and inspired when they come to work every day. This is a testament to our team’s enthusiasm.”

40 years

• Lynne Esposito

30 Years

• Donna Tibbetts

25 Years

• Rachel Briggs
• Marcella Mosio

20 Years

• Katelyn Krikorian

• Jennifer Anderson
• Arthur Breault

15 Years

• Douglas Schmeling
• Randy Webber

10 years

• Eneo Kureta

• Albert Cacciagrani
• Sean Duke

5 Years

• Kristina Bond
• Henrietta Murtagh
• Kevin St. Pierre
• Denee Altiery
• Christopher Mallon
• Elizabeth Dunn
• Paige Grenon
• Cristina Sluhocki
• Cameron Cardoni
• Laila Mhirig
• Cassandra Simpson
• Altaf Ahmed

“Congratulations on this milestone,” said Tallman. “We’re grateful for your unwavering dedication and unmatched service you provide for customers at all our branches. Here’s to your next five years!”

Cornerstone Bank has been named one of the 2024 Best Banks to Work For, creating a positive and supportive environment for employees. The rankings were created by American Banker magazine in partnership with Best Companies Group. The recognition is based on an anonymous employee survey and a thorough review of the benefits and perks offered. Cornerstone was ranked number 40 nationwide.

“We know that a successful business starts with happy employees who feel secure working in a healthy environment,” said Cornerstone Bank CEO Todd Tallman. “We’re grateful for the hard work our team puts into making sure our customers get the highest level of service, and in order for them to bring their best to work every day, they need to feel supported and empowered. It’s an honor to be recognized for this.”

Cornerstone offers employee benefits that are considered outside the usual scope, such as pet insurance and programs to help employees pay down student loans. Tickets to sporting events and theatre productions are given to employees, and the company rewards hard work with service anniversary awards and success-sharing bonuses.

Determining the Best Banks to Work For involves a two-step process. The first focuses on workplace policies, practices and demographics, worth about 25 percent of the total evaluation. The second consists of employee surveys assessing workplace experiences and attitudes, worth approximately 75 percent of the total evaluation. The combined scores determine the final ranking. To be considered for participation, banks must have been in business for at least a year and have 50 employees or more in the U.S.

To spread holiday joy for children, Cornerstone Bank is inviting people to bring new, unwrapped toys to any of its branches between now and Tuesday, December 10.

“Every child deserves to feel the magic of the holidays,” said Cornerstone Bank CEO Todd Tallman. “We want to help make this time of year brighter for our neighbors who may need a little help.”

The toys will go to local organizations that support children and families in need. Cornerstone Bank’s Southbridge Branch will donate its collection to the Southbridge Cops ‘N’ Kids Toy Drive. Collections from all other branches will go to Planting the Seed Foundation in Worcester.

“In the past, we’ve been so impressed with people’s generosity,” said Tallman. “We know the holidays can be a challenging time for many families and hope these toys will put smiles on children’s faces.”

Cornerstone Bank is committed to supporting causes that improve the quality of life for the residents of Central Massachusetts. The bank frequently makes donations of money or goods and services to local schools and civic groups in the communities it serves.

Both school students and senior citizens are benefiting from the latest donation from Cornerstone Bank. The bank contributed $5,000 to the Spencer Exchange Club’s annual fall food festival fundraiser, making it the event’s largest single donation so far this year. Money raised from the festival benefits local youth organizations, including school programs, athletics and a collection of warm clothes for children in need. It also helps fund programs supporting local senior citizens.

“We’re proud to be a part of this fun community-building tradition,” said Cornerstone Bank CEO Todd Tallman. “Every year, we look forward to the fall food festival. Not only is it great to sample food from our favorite local restaurants, but it also feels good to know we’re helping important charities.”

The donation brings the total Cornerstone Bank has given to the Spencer Exchange Club to $26,000 in 2024. Every year, hundreds buy tickets to attend the club’s fall food festival, which features bites of various items from local restaurant menus. This year’s event will be held Saturday, November 16 at the Spencer Country Inn.

The Exchange Club of Spencer has been responsible for many community projects such as beautifying of town parks, restoring the town hall clock, putting up Memorial Day flag displays and supporting the Spencer Little League Association.

Cornerstone Bank made a donation that has the Spencer-East Brookfield Little League scoreboard looking like a field of dreams.

“Little Leagues are part of the fabric of our communities, keeping us connected in such a special way,” said Todd Tallman, CEO of Cornerstone Bank. “When organizers told us their scoreboard was outdated and barely functioning, it was a no-brainer for us to pitch-in for a new one.”

Spencer-East Brookfield Little League (SEBLL) is a non-profit organization run by volunteers whose mission is to provide an opportunity for children to learn T-ball, baseball and softball in a safe and friendly environment. Teams are made up of children from Spencer, East Brookfield, and North Brookfield starting as young as four years old, all the way up to 18 years old. 

Families who visit won’t be able to miss the league’s grand slam display of gratitude. The scoreboard has been officially dedicated to Cornerstone Bank with two bright signs on opposite sides of the facility.

Pictured left to right: President of the Spencer-East Brookfield Little League Mark Poce, Cornerstone Bank CEO Todd Tallman, and Vice President of the Spencer-East Brookfield Little League John Simanski.

Cornerstone Bank announces the upcoming retirement of Senior Vice President, Chief Risk Officer Michael Roy.

“Mike has been an integral part of ensuring our systems are iron-clad and always in compliance with regulations that are constantly changing to keep up with evolving technology,” said Todd Tallman, CEO of Cornerstone Bank. “We are grateful for his thorough work and unwavering commitment to excellence.”

Roy’s career spans 48 years in retail banking, operations and compliance, three of which were spent at Cornerstone. Roy said it’s been rewarding to help the Bank meet the demands of a more tech-savvy customer base.

“Opening an account used to take about 25 minutes. Now it takes three minutes,” he said. “Cornerstone has done a great job of making sure we move along with what modern customers expect.”

In his current role, Roy oversees the Bank’s governance and strategy for risk management and compliance and protects the investments of stakeholders.

“I’m proud of my time at Cornerstone. I don’t think there are too many banks out there that enjoy the reputation we’ve built, and it’s only going to get better,” he said.

The Whitinsville native has a bachelor’s degree from Bryant University in Rhode Island and an MBA from Anna Maria College in Paxton. He is looking forward to spending some well-deserved time off, relaxing and traveling with family.

“I’m going to miss the team I work with, a lot of great mentors and friends,” said Roy. “But I’ve been working at this goal for a long time. Now that it’s finally here, I’m really looking forward to it.”

Cornerstone Bank has donated $2,000 to YOU, Inc., a leading behavioral health and education agency serving at-risk children, adolescents and families across Worcester County for more than five decades. YOU, Inc., is an affiliate of Seven Hills Foundation, aimed at supporting families facing a wide range of challenges.

“We want all children and families to be able to look forward to a bright future even when times are tough,” said Cornerstone Bank CEO Todd Tallman. “We applaud the important work YOU, Inc. and Seven Hills Foundation have done, and we’re proud to support their services.”

This is the second year in a row Cornerstone Bank has donated to YOU, Inc. as part of its holiday gift-giving campaign. The organization runs two Family Resource Centers located in Worcester and Southbridge. They provide multi-cultural parenting programs, support groups, early childhood services, as well as education, vocational and employment programs.

Cornerstone Bank is supporting families navigating the challenges of childhood cancer, as a sponsor in a charity golf event raising money for Why Me. The Worcester-based organization offers resources for families from the moment a child is diagnosed through every step of treatment and beyond.

“We are deeply grateful to be able to support such an important resource for our community,” said Cornerstone Bank CEO Todd Tallman. “The work the staff and volunteers do at Why Me offers families a helping hand as they go through unthinkable experiences. We hope our donation helps ease the burden.”

As a sponsor of the 2024 Why Me Golf Classic, Cornerstone donated $5,000 to the charity. About 120 people who share a passion for the cause gathered for a fun and friendly competition on October 7, raising a total of more than $75,000.

Why Me offers peer support for families with childhood cancer, survivors and those who have lost loved ones. The organization also runs a food pantry and offers meals and financial assistance. Volunteers help families with transportation, hospital and clinic visits, counseling and opportunities for entertainment.

“At Cornerstone, we know childhood cancer has devastating impacts. Our hearts go out to families going through that challenge,” said Tallman. “We salute the important work Why Me does every day.”