News & Alerts

Coastal Heritage Bank Establishes
Joseph C. Hayes Community Banker of The Year Award

Inaugural Award Honors Legacy of Leadership, Community Commitment, and Relationship-Based Banking

2026 Recipients left to right, Steve Amico, Susan Rose and Maria Vafiades. Joeseph Hayes. Accepting the award for Brian Madden – posthumously, the CHB residential lending team: Krystin Ruzzano, Jamie Sawtelle, Lisa Santaniello, Nancy Karstunen, Heather Carlisle

Coastal Heritage Bank has established the Joseph C. Hayes Community Banker of the Year Award, a new annual recognition honoring employees who exemplify the values that have guided Joseph C. Hayes throughout his distinguished career in community banking.

The award was formally introduced in May 2026 and recognizes employees who demonstrate strong core values, leadership by example, service to their communities, humility, and a deep commitment to building meaningful relationships. The award celebrates impact both within the communities the Bank serves and among colleagues throughout the organization.

Hayes began his association with Scituate Federal Savings Bank in 1976 as a conveyancing attorney. He later served as President, Chairman, and then Chairman of Coastal Heritage Bank, and most recently Chairman Emeritus, helping guide the institution through decades of growth while maintaining a steadfast commitment to community banking.

“Joe Hayes helped shape not only this institution, but the values that continue to define it,” said Robertl J. Terravecchia, Jr, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Coastal Heritage Bank. “His leadership has always been rooted in integrity, humility, service, and a genuine commitment to people. This award ensures those values continue to be recognized and celebrated for generations to come.”

According to Terravecchia, Hayes’s influence extended far beyond traditional leadership.

“Joe has always understood that community banking is ultimately about relationships,” said Terravecchia. “He consistently elevated those around him, encouraged thoughtful decision-making, and demonstrated that lasting success is built through collaboration, trust, and service.”

Although the award will be presented annually moving forward, Coastal Heritage Bank also presented Hayes with a commemorative award recognizing the lasting impact of his leadership and service to the organization.

Because 2026 marked the inaugural year of the award, the Bank recognized a special class of recipients whose collective contributions reflect the spirit and values the award represents.

The inaugural recipients of the Joseph C. Hayes Community Banker of the Year Award are:

Steve Amico
Brian Madden (posthumously)
Susan Rose
Maria Vafiades

Together, they establish the standard for future recipients and embody the principles Hayes demonstrated throughout his career.

“It is especially meaningful that the first recipients of this award are individuals who reflect the values Joe has instilled throughout our organization,” Terravecchia added. “Their contributions help strengthen our culture, support our communities, and carry forward the legacy of community banking excellence that Joe leaves behind.”

Coastal Heritage Bank Welcomes New Corporators

Coastal Heritage Bank is pleased to announce the election of eight new members to the Bank’s Board of Corporators. The new members were unanimously elected at the Bank’s Annual Meeting in May. Corporators serve in an advisory and advocacy role at the Bank.
The new members are:

Greg Acerra, Braintree MA – President, Fireking Baking Company
Kevin Barbary, Scituate MA – Partner, CMO, Creative Office Resources
Carl Christenson, Scituate MA – Former Chairman/CEO of Altra Industrial Motion
Matt Elder, Scituate MA – Founder & President, Untold Brewing
Melanie Legge, Cohasset MA – President & Owner, Annese Electrical Services, Inc.
Darreck Mitchell, Abington MA – VP, Director of Capital Markets, Sunwealth, Inc.
Robert Murphy, Quincy MA – Founding Partner, Holbrook & Murphy Law
Tim Pesko, Marshfield MA – President, Design Built LLC, Childscapes

Coastal Heritage Bank Announces Retirement of Maria Vafiades

Coastal Heritage Bank announces the retirement of Maria Vafiades, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, effective April 1, 2026.

Ms. Vafiades has been a steadfast and highly respected leader throughout her tenure, bringing exceptional financial expertise and a thoughtful, strategic approach to the Bank. Her ability to clearly communicate complex financial information and long-term financial planning has been invaluable to both the organization and its leadership.

Throughout her distinguished career in community banking, Ms. Vafiades has made significant contributions to the banking community and to Coastal Heritage Bank. Her leadership, professionalism, and dedication have played an important role in the Bank’s continued success.

Coastal Heritage Bank extends its sincere gratitude to Ms. Vafiades for her many contributions and wishes her and her husband, Jay, all the best as they begin this next chapter.

Coastal Heritage Bank Announces Senior Leadership Promotions

Coastal Heritage Bank is pleased to announce the promotions of Scott Ambroceo, Mark A. D’Onofrio, and Jamar Green effective April 1, 2026.

Scott Ambroceo has been appointed Chief Financial Officer/Treasurer & Chief Operating Officer. Mr. Ambroceo previously served as Chief Financial Officer at legacy Weymouth Bank/Equitable Bank prior to the 2019 merger. In his expanded role, he will continue to oversee his current operational responsibilities while assuming leadership of the Bank’s financial functions.

Mark A. D’Onofrio has been promoted to Chief Lending Officer. Previously serving as Senior Vice President of Commercial Lending, Mr. D’Onofrio will now oversee all lending functions across the Bank. His extensive experience and leadership have been instrumental in supporting the Bank’s continued growth and lending excellence.

Jamar Green has been promoted to Senior Vice President and Chief Risk Officer. In his expanded role, Mr. Green will continue to lead the Bank’s Compliance, CRA, and Fair Lending functions, while assuming broader responsibility for enterprise-wide risk management. This includes oversight of regulatory risk, third-party risk management, and continued collaboration with Finance on the Bank’s internal audit program. Since joining Coastal Heritage Bank in 2020, Mr. Green has demonstrated strong leadership, sound judgment, and a deep understanding of the regulatory environment.

“These promotions reflect the strength of our senior leadership team and our continued commitment to supporting the Bank’s growth and long-term success.” said Robert W. Terravecchia, Chairman/CEO of Coastal Heritage Bank.

Coastal Cares

In 2025 Coastal Heritage Bank contributed $115,000 to one-hundred and twelve
schools, non-profits, community groups, special events and local institutions.

Your Bank, Your Community – Growing Together

Abington High School
American Legion
APCSM
ARC of the South Shore
Atlantic Resiliency Innovation Inst. (ARII)
BCNC
Boys & Girls Club of Marshfield
Brant Rock Village
Butterflihh Farm Fund
Caritas Communities
Choral Arts Society
Christmas in Norwell
Church of the Holy Nativity
Dove, Inc.
EB Little League
EBYSA
Ellie Fund
Flutie Foundation
Friends of MHS Hockey
Friends of the Blue Hills
Friendship Home
Grampy’s Charities
Habitat for Humanity Grtr. Plymouth
Hamilton Primary School
Hanson Holiday Committee
Headstrong 5K Road Race
Hingham Nursery School
Hingham Public Library
Hingham Recreation Dept.
Holbrook Little League
Hull Lifesaving Museum
James Library
Kingston Lions Club
Knights of Columbus Scituate
Levitate Foundation
Lincoln-Hancock School
Makayla Fund
Manet Community Health
Manomet
Marshfield Community Christmas
Marshfield Fair
Marshfield Grad Night Live
Marshfield HS DECA
Massasoit Community College Foundation
May Institute
MCRCO
Molly Fund
Music at Sanctuary Hall
My Brother’s Keeper
Nash Primary School
NKH Crusaders
North Quincy High Senior Night
Norwell Arts
Norwell High Grad Night
Norwell Recreation
NSRWA
Old Colony YMCA
Pingree Elementary School
Plymouth Boys & Girls Club
Plymouth Rotary
PMC
Project Trinite
Quincy Friends of Scouting
Quincy Schools Community Partnership CFL
Recovered Souls Foundation
Road to Responsibility
Rotary Club of Quincy
Rotary Club of Weymouth
Sacred Heart School
Saint Bridget School
Scituate Animal Shelter
Scituate Arts Association
Scituate Chamber of Commerce
Scituate Community Christmas
Scituate High Grad Night
Scituate High School
Scituate High School College Tour
Scituate High School Hockey
Scituate Little League
Scituate Rotary Club
Scituate St. Patrick’s Day Parade
South Elementary School
South Shore Children’s Chorus
South Shore Corvette Club
South Shore Food Bank
South Shore Health Foundation
South Shore Peer Recovery
South Shore Stars
South Shore Support Services
SSCA
SSCPS
St. Agatha School
St. Mary of the Nativity
Talking Information Center
The Accord School
Town of Weymouth Summer
Weymouth Cal Ripken Baseball
Weymouth Early Childhood Center
Weymouth Elks
Weymouth Firefighters
Weymouth Food Pantry
Weymouth Girls Basketball
Weymouth High Theatre
Weymouth Holiday Fundraiser
Weymouth HS Robotics
Weymouth Libraries Foundation
Weymouth Little League
Weymouth Robotics
Weymouth Rotary Club
Weymouth Youth Soccer
Woodward School for Girls

The End of an Era: Why the Penny Is Retiring in 2026

After more than 230 years, the United States is preparing to retire the penny. In early 2026, the U.S. Mint will cease production of new one-cent coins. Don’t worry—your existing pennies will remain legal tender and can still be used or deposited, but once they are lost or damaged, they will not be replaced.

When the penny “retires,” it simply means no more will be minted. The final batch of penny blanks was ordered in May 2025, and those will become the last pennies ever produced. With an estimated 114 billion pennies still in circulation—about 700 for every American—it will take years before they completely disappear from daily use.

The penny has a long history as one of the first coins made after the U.S. Mint was established in 1792. Its most notable design change occurred in 1909, when Abraham Lincoln’s image was added, becoming the first U.S. coin to feature a real person.

The decision to stop producing pennies is mainly driven by economics. It now costs about 3.7 cents to make one penny—almost four times its face value. Halting production could save the government around $56 million annually. Meanwhile, fewer Americans are using cash. As card and digital payments become more common, pennies are playing an increasingly minor role in everyday transactions.

The U.S. is following other countries that have retired low-value coins, including Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. These nations round cash transactions to the nearest nickel, while electronic payments remain exact.

Once production ends, the U.S. is expected to implement a similar rounding system for cash transactions. For instance:

$10.02 > $10.00
$10.03 > $10.05
$10.07 > $10.05
$10.08 > $10.10

Sales tax might slightly affect totals, but state and local governments will likely issue rounding guidance.

If you have pennies, you can still use them, exchange them at your bank, or save a few as keepsakes. Pennies made before 1982 are mostly copper and might be worth more than their face value.

Retiring the penny is a practical move toward a modern, efficient monetary system that reflects how people actually pay today. While small change disappears, the value of your money—and its purchasing power—stays exactly the same.

If you have any additional questions about the retirement of the penny, please visit any of our branches or visit us online at coastalheritagebank.com.

Good to Know Before You Apply for a Loan

What is a Trigger Lead? And How to Opt Out.
Have you observed a spike in phone calls from lenders or insurance companies after recently applying for a mortgage loan or car loan? It can feel like an intrusion of privacy, particularly when you’re in the midst of the loan process. Unfortunately, certain entities, such as lenders, credit card companies, and insurance providers, acquire your data from third parties, turning you into what is referred to as a “trigger lead.” If you wish to avoid being bombarded with unwanted offers, follow the steps below to safeguard yourself going forward. Please be assured, at Coastal Heritage Bank we prioritize the protection of your information and NEVER sell your information to third parties.

What is a Trigger Lead?
Upon submitting a loan application, your lender retrieves your credit report, which subsequently acts as a “trigger” for other lenders and companies seeking new customers. These companies acquire these triggers from the major credit bureaus, such as Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Their objective is to promote their own offerings, entice you to choose their services over competitors and secure your business for themselves.

Can you opt out of trigger leads?
While triggers leads may be perceived as unethical by some and it is widely acknowledged that they can be annoying. Despite their intrusive nature, it is important to know they are legal and according to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Consumer Finance Protection Bureau (CFPB), they are used to encourage competition among lenders and other companies. Although it is not possible to completely halt trigger leads, you can adopt a proactive approach and opt out before you start receiving unwelcomed communications.

To prevent the credit bureaus from selling your information as a trigger lead, visit OptOutPreScreen.com and register. The registration process typically takes around five days to complete and will only affect future lead requests, meaning you may still receive some solicitations.

For the elimination of unwanted phone calls, you can register your phone number(s) on the Do Not Call Registry. We recommend initiating this process at least one month before applying for a loan since it can take a few weeks to become effective.
It is important to note that these solicitors do not have access to Personally Identifiable Information (PII). The information they receive from the credit bureaus only indicates that there has been a recent credit inquiry, enabling them to compete for your business.

At Coastal Heritage Bank we value your privacy. We DO NOT SELL customer information to third parties. When you apply for a loan, we request private financial and personal information from you. We value the trust you have placed in us and maintain the utmost confidentiality and accuracy of that information. Our dedicated team at Coastal Heritage Bank is readily available to address any questions or concerns regarding this matter. We are committed to providing you with the guidance and support you need.

Joanne Pompeo named Vice Chair of the Bank

Coastal Heritage Bank officially announces that Joanne Pompeo has been named Vice Chair of the Bank and its subsidiaries effective July 1, 2023.

Ms. Pompeo will serve as Vice Chair for Equitable Bancorp, MHC and Equitable Bancorp, Inc., which are holding companies for the Bank.

Ms. Pompeo also serves on several Bank committees including: Corporate Governance Committee; CRA Committee; Executive Committee; Human Resources/Personnel/Compensation Committee; NDIP Committee; Security (Loan & Investment) Committee; and the Strategy Committee.

Ms. Pompeo assumes the role of Vice Chair from Robert Haley, a long-serving member of the Board who passed away in February of 2023.

Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the Bank, Robert W. Terravecchia, Jr., commented that, “We are fortunate to have a Vice Chair with the depth of knowledge of Joanne and someone who has steadfastly supported the long-term vision and mission of the Bank for many, many years.”‌

Ms. Pompeo is a resident of Hull, MA, and has been a member of the Board of Directors since 1987. She is a graduate of UMASS Amherst. She is presently employed at William Raveis Real Estate in Hingham. Her professional affiliations include National Association of Realtors, Mass Association of Realtors, and South Shore REALTORS®. She also serves as a Member of the Board of Trustees for South Shore Health Systems Foundation.

Thank You, Coastal Crew!

At Coastal Heritage Bank, giving back to our local communities is integral to who we are and what we do.

Thank you to our Coastal Heritage Bank employees who serve as members of our Coastal Crew for stopping by the Neighbor Works Veterans home in Marshfield to spruce up the grounds for its residents. Neighbor Works provides affordable housing solutions and opportunities for individuals and families in need, including veterans, people with disabilities, and those without homes.

We are grateful that we are able to help out and give back in any way that we can. Thank you to the employees at Coastal Heritage Bank for volunteering your time with Neighbor Works and taking part in Coastal Cares!

Thank you to our Coastal Cleanup Crew!

At Coastal Heritage Bank, we prioritize helping others and giving back to our local communities.

We are proud of the work our Coastal Crew accomplished in cleaning up Peggotty Beach on April 15th! Our team, comprised of Coastal Heritage Bank employees, made quick work of removing nearly half a ton of plastic, wood, broken lobster pots, rubber mats, and more from the beach premises.

We cannot thank our staff enough for participating in the beach cleanup, on a weekend no less, and for supporting the Coastal Cares cause.