Berkshire Bank 2025 Volunteer of the Year donated 400+ hours to supporting communities
Berkshire Bank 2025 Volunteer of the Year
donated 400+ hours to supporting communities
SPRINGFIELD, April 23, 2025 — As we celebrate National Volunteer Week, Berkshire Bank is pleased to announce its 2025 Volunteer of the Year, an employee whose extraordinary dedication to our communities includes donating more than 400 hours last year to volunteering.
Heather Hans, vice president, consumer lending compliance officer, was selected based on the number of hours she volunteered and because she volunteers with a variety of organizations and actively participates in both company-sponsored events as well as personal activities.
Another 19 employees have been named to the company’s 2025 Volunteer Honor Roll for each having volunteered more than 150 hours in 2024.
Collectively, Berkshire employees achieved a remarkable milestone in 2024: 100% volunteered in their communities. That included more than 250 company-sponsored projects with more than 11,500 hours of service across Massachusetts, New York, Vermont, Connecticut and Rhode Island, as well as thousands more hours volunteering as individuals in their hometown communities.
Named for the X in its logo, Berkshire’s XTEAM Employee Volunteer and Giving Program is a central element of its workplace culture, providing employees with an easy way to help the company’s communities realize their full potential.
“Our 2025 Volunteer of the Year is a shining example of Berkshire’s values in action,” said Lori Kiely, managing director of the Berkshire Bank Foundation. “Her commitment to giving back to our communities is what we mean when we say, ‘Where you bank matters.’ Supporting our communities is a key component of our culture across the organization,” she said.
“Helping others doesn’t have to be a big gesture,” said Hans, a resident of Latham, New York, and an active member of Berkshire’s Capital Region Volunteer Council. “I believe it’s the little things that make the difference and Berkshire does, too, which is why I’m so grateful to work at this organization. That’s who we are.”
In appreciation for Hans’ efforts, the Berkshire Bank Foundation will make a $1,000 contribution to the American Cancer Society of the Capital Region of New York, one of the largest beneficiaries of Hans’ time and donations. The foundation will also donate $250 to nonprofits selected by each of the members of Berkshire’s 2025 Volunteer Honor Roll.
About Berkshire Bank
Berkshire Bank is a relationship-driven, community-focused bank that delivers industry-leading financial expertise to clients in New England and New York and is a subsidiary of Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc. (NYSE: BHLB), headquartered in Boston. With $12.3 billion in assets and 83 financial centers, the Bank provides a full suite of tailored banking solutions through its Commercial Banking, Retail Banking, Consumer Lending, Private Banking and Wealth Management divisions. For more than 175 years, Berkshire has delivered strength, stability and trusted advice to empower the financial potential of its clients and communities. Newsweek named Berkshire one of the Most Trustworthy Companies in America and one of America’s Best Regional Banks. To learn more, visit BerkshireBank.com and follow Berkshire on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
Alison Skratt, Corporate Communications
