Bank stresses 'community' theme

WINSTED — Northwest Community Bank celebrated its 150th anniversary in neighborly style Saturday, Sept. 25, inviting the public to enjoy a barbecue party in the bank’s refurbished parking lot at 86 Main St.

Enjoying sunny skies during the event, Marketing and Public Relations Director Gail Moraski said Northwest Community Bank has always tried to stress the “community� part of its name.

“We wanted to invite the whole town to come together and celebrate with us and just have a free, fun event for everyone to enjoy,� she said.

Highlights included free hot dogs, hamburgers and refreshments, with the Winsted Fire Department on hand with some trucks and a bouncy house for the kids. DJ Shy played music while people had their faces painted and participated in fun and games, all for free.

The bank also celebrated its 150th annivesary earlier this year with the release of a new book, “Two Paths to Community,� which tells the history of the bank, which grew out of a merger between Winsted Savings Bank and Mechanics Savings Bank.

Moraski said she was impressed with the turnout and with DJ Shy’s musical selections.

“I would definitely recommend them [DJ Shy Productions] since they did such an excellent job for us,� she said.

Moraski said numerous volunteers came out to help host Saturday’s party.

“This is a darn good place to work, and we wanted to share that with our customers,� she explained. Participants enjoyed the party from noon until the mid-afternoon, while checking out the bank’s new drive-through area, expanded parking and sidewalks completed this summer.

Northwest Community Bank also sponsored this year’s Bearlieve-It-Or Not fundraising campaign. The “Yogi Beara� bear was displayed proudly throughout the anniversary celebration with lots of employees taking photos with the bear as a souvenir. The bear will be one of dozens of artfully decorated ceramic bears to be auctioned off this fall as a fundraiser for the Northwest Chamber of Commerce.

Moraski said there’s a good chance Northwest Community Bank will come in with the highest bid for “Yogi Beara,� since there is an important Yankee fan at the institution.

“Our bank president, Steve Reilly, is a big Yankee fan and wants to keep the bear when it goes up for auction, so we’d really love to have it stay here with us at the bank.�

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