Merrimack County Savings Bank was founded in 1867 to provide the people of the Concord, NH area with a means of earning interest on their savings, as well as a source from which they could borrow funds to acquire a home. Since then, many other banking services have been added, and today the bank offers an extensive range of personal and business banking products.
Governor Walter Harriman approved the charter of Merrimack County Savings Bank on July 2, 1867. The bank began business on the second floor of a building located on the north side of School Street in Concord, also occupied by Minot and Company, Bankers, which later became the Mechanicks National Bank. In 1899, the two banks moved to the Board of Trade Building at the northwest corner of School and Main Streets, sharing a lobby on the first floor of that building. In 1952, The Merrimack moved into the remodeled Columbian block immediately to the north of the Board of Trade Building. Eventually, as the bank grew and its need for space multiplied, The Merrimack repurchased the Board of Trade Building and today the headquarters and main office occupy a space that was once the two buildings.
Highlights
1867
- New Hampshire governor Walter Harriman approves the charter for Merrimack County Savings Bank.
1870
- The Merrimack receives its first deposit by Isaac A. Hill, Jr. During that same year, G.S. Remick takes out the first residential mortgage loan to purchase a house on Spring Street in Concord.
1899
- Merrimack County Savings Bank and Mechanicks National Bank moves to the Board of Trade Building at the northwest corner of School and Main Streets in Concord, NH, sharing a lobby on the first floor.
1924
- The Merrimack holds its first meeting of the trustees. Deposits reach $1 million.
1959
- The Merrimack outgrows its space and moves to the remodeled Columbian block immediately to the north of the Board of Trade Building. (Eventually, the bank repurchased the Board of Trade Building, and today’s main office occupies both buildings.)
1997
- The Merrimack County Savings Bank Foundation is created with an endowment of $1,000,000.
2001
- Internet banking becomes a new banking channel for The Merrimack.
2006
- Merrimack Bancorp, a shared services organization, is formed, with Merrimack County Savings Bank as its wholly‑owned affiliate.
2007
- Merrimack Bancorp acquires Bow Mills Bank and Trust, which is merged with and into Merrimack County Savings Bank. Bow Mills Bank was a 19 year-old local institution with strong community ties and commitment to customer service– a perfect match for The Merrimack.
2013
- Partnered with Meredith Village Savings Bank under newly created shared services company New Hampshire Mutual Bancorp (NHMB)
2015
- NHTrust joins The Merrimack and MVSB as a third subsidiary of NHMB
- NHMB is Business NH Magazine’s Business of the Year for the Financial Services category
2016
- Complete renovation of first floor of the Main Office
- Recognized by Granite United Way for employee and organization donations
2017
- Celebrated 150th anniversary
- Hooksett branch opens on Londonderry Turnpike
- Silver winner for Best Bank, Readers’ Choice Awards – NH Union Leader
- Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce Pinnacle Award for Business of the Year
- Bank of the Year from the Capital Regional Development Council
2018
- Savings Bank of Walpole joins NHMB
- Presented Housing Hero Award from CATCH Neighborhood Housing
- Named Small Business of the Year by the Hooksett Kiwanis
- Linda Lorden appointed President
2019
- Best Bank for the tenth consecutive time by the Concord Monitor CAPPIES
- Customers can bank at any MVSB branch office
2020
- NHTrust, SBW Wealth Management & The New Hampshire Trust Company merge to become NHTrust
2021
- Linda Lorden wins Citizen of the Year
- Voted Best Bank by Union Leader Readers’ Choice Awards
2022
- Hooksett Office turns 5
- Best Bank for the 13th consecutive time by the Concord Monitor CAPPIES
- Voted Best Bank of the 603 by listeners of Manchester Radio Group
2023
- Nashua Branch turns 20
- 8th location in Windham opens
- CAPPIE Award for Best Bank for the 14th consecutive year
- Best of the 603 Award for Best Bank for the 2nd year in a row
Presidents
1870 – 1909 | Lyman D. Stevens |
1909 – 1913 | John M. Kimball |
1913 – 1917 | Frank P. Andrews |
1917 – 1935 | Henry W. Stevens |
1935 – 1951 | William S. Huntington |
1951 – 1968 | Harry A. Bartlett |
1968 – 1990 | Herbert E. Little |
1990 – 2007 | Ronald A. Wilbur |
2007 – 2015 | Paul C. Rizzi, Jr. |
2016 – 2018 | Philip B. Emma |
2018 – Present | Linda J. Lorden |
Branch Offices
1870 | Initial main office, moved to North Main Street in 1899 |
1899 | Concord, 89 North Main Street |
1999 | Concord, Integra Drive |
2001 | Concord, North State Street |
2003 | Nashua, Broad Street |
2007 | Bow, South Street Contoocook, Kearsarge Avenue |
2017 | Hooksett, Londonderry Turnpike |
2023 | Windham, Wall Street |