Newtown Savings Bank, with its headquarters on Main Street, is celebrating its 160th anniversary in 2015. This week, The Newtown Bee continues to bring readers a glimpse into this community institution through the eyes of a number of its employees, some who have spent an entire career spanning decades at the bank.

Recently, a number of bank staffers responding to a Bee survey discussed their first and current position with the bank; the biggest changes that occurred in their tenure; offered humorous anecdotes; and related the most important thing they would like Newtowners to know about their employer.

John MartocciChairman / Former President

“I started at the bank in 1993 as the president and COO. Over the years I was privileged to work with many good people who made the bank very successful. Today I chair the Board of Trustees working with management to monitor and guide the bank. But my first experience with the bank occurred before I came to work at the bank as a new audit staff at Ernst & Ernst in 1969. We arrived at closing and balanced the branch.”

“The biggest change at the bank is definitely automation. Back in 1969 many things were posted by hand to machines by people onto ledger cards. Even in 1993 many items were posted manually into the system via a proof environment. All transactions had to be done at the bank or by mail. Now you can do your banking from your computer and your mobil phone! Who’da thunk it!”

“There are many interesting stories over the years. John T[rentacosta] likes to say that it is in the bank’s DNA to help people. It has been that way for a very long time. In the early 90s the bank did not have a drive up and it was difficult for handicapped people to do business at the main office. There were two handicapped customers that would call ahead and Dave Treadwell and others would meet them at the top of the driveway and take their transaction to the teller line for them and bring back the receipt to them. Sometimes they would help them put their car onto the ramp to enter the bank. Thankfully a drive-up window was added to the main office.”

“People should think of the bank as an organization that is focused on making the communities they serve a better place to live.”

Carol Mahoney Newtown Savings Bank Trustee (and Newtown Tax Collector)

“I started with the bank as a teller in the early 1970s, and today I am a trustee on the Board of Directors.”

“When I began as a teller there were only about 35 employees and only three branches — the Main Office, Southbury and Bethel — compared to over 200 employees today and 14 branches.”

“I think Newtown Savings Bank is truly a wonderful community bank — the bank is involved with so many organizations, all of the employees and Board of Directors are volunteers in the community. The bank has helped so many people become homeowners and also owners of their own business.”

“An example of that is a particular friend who was given a chance by the bank when she needed to refinance her home because of a divorce. She was a self-employed single mother and the bank was willing to take a chance with her. To her, Newtown Savings Bank is the true meaning of a community bank. No one else would give her a chance; today she owns her own home free and clear all because of caring and dedicated employees.”

William McCarthySenior Vice President/CFO

“I was hired as a senior financial institutions analyst in 1999. One of my first tasks was to transition the bank ’s investment accounting from a manual process to an automated system.”

“The biggest change since I started is the size of the organization. We are about triple the size in total assets, twice the size in number of branches, with many more employees to handle the larger scope of operations. But despite the fact that the bank is larger, it continues to provide a community bank experience where our employees genuinely care about our customers and understand their needs.”

“During the height of the financial crisis, it was very challenging for big banks and community banks alike. I recall a meeting with our president and CEO, John Trentacosta, where I was sharing an unfavorable financial market update. As I shifted a pile of reports, I knocked into and broke a clock sitting on his desk. With respect to bad news, when it rains it pours. Although the incident was not funny at the time, now I look back and laugh.”

Jackie AmintiAssistant Vice President/Loan Servicing Assistant Manager

“I started as a loan servicing representative in 1996.”

“About ten years ago when loan servicing was on the third floor of the executive building, about five of us worked late because of month end. We had pizza brought in for dinner because we were working late. When we were done, someone brought the leftover pizza down to the second floor lunch room to put it in the fridge and unknowingly set off the alarm. We proceeded to pack up our stuff to leave and to our surprise were greeted by two Newtown Police squad cars. I think they were just as surprised to see such a large group of people as we were to see them.”

James ShpuntLoan Servicing Supervisor

“I joined the bank 15 years ago as a teller at the main office branch on Main Street in Newtown.

“Even though we’ve grown, we are still their community bank. I remember when I was working the drive-up window at the main office when I tried giving a customer his receipt back and the wind took it out of the drawer before the customer could get it. He was using the drive-up because he was injured so I had to chase the receipt almost to the flagpole to get it back for him because he didn’t want his account number blowing around.”

Margaret “Peg” PowersExecutive Vice President/Chief Credit Officer

“When I first came to the bank in 1985 I was hired to be a mortgage assistant. It was my job to obtain credit reports and prepare commitments letters. Keep in mind there was no automation at that time — we obtained credit by calling the credit card company and writing all the verbal information down on paper and typing was on an old manual typewriter with carbon paper. Too many mistakes and you started all over.”

“This has been my home for 30 years and I have always felt a sense of pride in knowing that I have been able to help so many people over the years. We clearly care about our town, and the people. We have a long history of giving back and being a major part of the town. Just think of the number of townspeople who opened their first savings account here at the bank with the entries posted in ink.”

“I opened the Woodbury branch back in 1986. It takes a while to start a new branch in a new town and obtain customers. There was one holiday weekend when we wound the clocks to lock the vault. Imagine our surprise when after the long weekend the clocks were wound for so long they didn’t open for a week. And then there was the time that the key broke in the lock, trapping me between two doors for well over an hour. I had two little children in daycare and I could hear the phone ringing wondering where I was. There wasn’t such a thing as cellphones — finally some nice person stopped and wondered what I was doing!”

Cathy Wojiski Assistant Branch Manager

“When I started with the bank in 1993, I was a full-time teller. I was just returning into the work force and had two small children at home. Today I work at the Sandhill office as the assistant branch manager.”

“My sister-in-law is a business account holder with NSB. About 18 years ago, she sent her brother into the Sand Hill Plaza office to make a deposit for her, telling him that someone worked at the bank that she was sure he would like to see again (we had dated in high school and we both were recently divorced and hadn’t seen each other in 20 years). Well, he came to the office and I was busy helping another customer and didn’t even notice him. Then he came into the office again and said hello. I thought my heart was going to come out of my chest — I was so nervous; I couldn’t even wait on him. A few weeks later, he came to the bank to ask if I would like to have lunch one day. Well, I did and that’s all it took. We have been married for 14 wonderful years!”

Carrie Milks Assistant Branch Manager, Monroe

“The biggest difference between when I started and today is, the children I gave lollipops to at the beginning of my career I am now opening checking accounts for!”

“I remember the day the Monroe branch was flooded by one of our neighbors in the shopping center. When we got to the branch in the morning and opened the door, the water came pouring out. The branch spent the next several days with large exhaust fans attempting to dry out. What really impressed me was that the team jumped in (literally) rolled up their pants and trudged back and fourth in the branch to serve our customers. After a few hours we were able to open the drive-up and provided service to lobby customers by carrying their transactions between the vestibule and the teller line to get the job done. Not one time during the whole process did any employee complain. We all survived the Flood of 2007 and still talk about it today.”

Debbie BojnecCustomer Service Representative II

“I was hired in 1999 as a part-time teller for the Monroe branch.”

“The most heartwarming experience is having the opportunity to form long-lasting relationships with our customers. And having the privilege to be able to open accounts for children that I remember from when they were in car seats who are now getting ready to go off to college.”

“Most of us in the branch and some alumni from the Monroe branch (who have moved on to other positions at the bank) volunteer as a group for several community events (Trumbull/Monroe Relay for Life, Monroe Sprint for Dare, and the Polar Plunge at Wolfe Park). We have participated in these events for several years and enjoy being able to help in the community.”

“The moment that I realized that we are more (MUCH more) than a bank to some. They share their accomplishments, joys, and troubles! They even come to us when they having plumbing issues. Recently one of our regular customers came to us asking if he could borrow a plunger, as his toilet at his house was clogged. He doesn’t even live in the same town as the branch. He borrowed the plunger and brought it back a few hours later! When he left the building with the plunger, I turned to one of my co-workers and said, 'What’s the first thing you think of when your toilet overflows? Is it the bank?’”

Erin VargaCall Center Customer Service Specialist

“I started working at the bank in September of 1997 as a part-time teller in the Sand Hill office. That position quickly became full-time. I was 21 years old and it was my first job in a professional atmosphere — first and only because I’ve been with NSB ever since.”

“When I had my first child and my maternity leave was about to end, I couldn’t imagine coming back full-time and being away from my daughter all day. Newtown Savings Bank allowed me to stay on board as a Saturday-only teller, which also allowed me to spend those precious years at home with my children. I don’t know many employers that would do that for their employees. When my children went to school, I came back part-time at first which then led to full-time again.I am so grateful to NSB for these opportunities.”