June 9, 2010

Aurelia Pruzin, Vice President and Consumer/Mortgage Operations Manager

Joan Beresford, Vice President and Consumer Lending Administrator

Ella Marker, Assistant Treasurer and Consumer/Mortgage Lending Officer

Simsbury Bank announces that it is expanding its mortgage lending capabilities to serve consumers throughout Central Connecticut with a broad range of products.  "While some institutions have reduced consumer and commercial lending during the past 18 months", said Bank President Martin J. Geitz, "Simsbury Bank has consistently grown its loans to households and businesses throughout this period.  We are in a strong position to meet borrowing needs in a larger geographic area and with an enhanced set of mortgages." 

The Bank is pleased to announce three new staff members have joined its mortgage and consumer lending team:  Aurelia Pruzin , Joan Beresford and Ella Marker .  "Each of these individuals brings years of experience and a depth of knowledge grounded in traditional lending values," said Michael Sheahan, Vice President and Head of Consumer & Mortgage Lending.  "They are eager to help our customers achieve their life goals.  With our commitment to customer service excellence, our team is confident that Simsbury Bank will become a mortgage and consumer lender of choice throughout Central Connecticut ."

Aurelia "Re" Pruzin, Vice President and Consumer/Mortgage Operations Manager, leads the day-to-day management of the Bank’s mortgage, home equity and consumer lending including the processing, underwriting and closing of loans.  She has over 20 years of underwriting and process management experience.  Ms. Pruzin holds a Direct Endorsed (DE) designation from HUD.  Ms. Pruzin said, "Simsbury Bank is the type of bank whose underwriters work closely with customers to ensure that the customers’ needs are met whenever possible.  I am happy to be a part of an institution that is helping people achieve their life goals with our financial products."  Most recently, Ms. Pruzin was with GMAC Mortgage as a senior underwriter.  Prior to that, she held senior underwriting positions with Wachovia, Webster, First Union and Centerbank.  Ms. Pruzin began her career at Connecticut National Bank.  She is a graduate of Central Connecticut State University with a B.S. in Business Management.

Joan Beresford , Vice President and Consumer Lending Administrator, has responsibilities including investor agency relations, loan pricing, product and loan origination systems.  Joan brings broad experience in multiple facets of loan operations and will help the Bank establish additional competitive loan products that will benefit our customers.  Ms. Beresford had a long career in loan operations and most recently was with Fiserv.  Prior to that she was with Webster Bank for many years and Suffield Savings Bank.  Ms. Beresford said, "I look forward to working closely with our lending team to enhance our product set and help the consumers that Simsbury Bank serves.  I am very happy to be a part of a local community bank similar to where I started my career."  Ms. Beresford also served as the President of the Connecticut Mortgage Bankers Association for 8 years along with serving on various committees with that group for many years.

Ella Marker , Assistant Treasurer and Consumer/Mortgage Lending Officer, works directly with customers in underwriting their loan requests ranging from mortgages to home equity loans and lines and auto loans.  Ms. Marker brings almost 20 years of underwriting experience to Simsbury Bank.  She has a broad background in consumer lending underwriting and a wealth of experience in providing top notch customer service.  Ms. Marker said, "I am very happy to be a part of the Simsbury Bank team with its focus on customer service and goal of helping even more people achieve their life goals with our loans."  Most recently, Ms. Marker was with GMAC Mortgage as a senior underwriter; prior to that she was with United Guaranty as a senior underwriter, Bank of America and Liberty Bank in consumer loan underwriting and processing capacities.  Ms. Marker earned a Bachelor’s Degree from Queens College .

Simsbury Bank is an independent, local bank for consumers and businesses.  The Bank has approximately $280 million in assets.  The Bank serves customers through full-service offices in Avon, Bloomfield, Granby and Simsbury, Connecticut; a loan production office and ATM in Canton, Connecticut; SBT Online internet banking at simsburybank.com; free ATM transactions at hundreds of machines throughout the northeastern via the SUM program; and 24 hour telephone banking.  The Bank’s wholly-owned subsidiary, SBT Investment Services, Inc., offers securities and insurance products through LPL Financial and its affiliates, Member FINRA/SIPC.  Simsbury Bank is wholly owned by publicly traded SBT Bancorp, Inc. Its stock is traded over-the-counter under the ticker symbol of OTCBB: SBTB.  For more information, visit www.simsburybank.com.