New southern N.H. bank readied

A new bank that its founders say will focus on financial services for small business, other commercial interests and retail customers, is preparing to open in Manchester and Nashua later this year.

But essentially, Vantage Bank, the new financial institution, will have as its mission to give local businesses a customized approach to help them succeed in a highly competitive marketplace.

“There is a belief that all banks are created equal, that there is little difference among them – and that simply isn’t true,” said James Dunphy, president and chief executive officer of Vantage Bank. “We are not just in the banking business. We are in the business of helping local industry leaders and entrepreneurs achieve every bit of their desired level of success.”

Dunphy served as senior vice president of commercial lending at Ocean National Bank, where he was responsible for his region’s largest commercial lending portfolio. He also managed marketing strategies and customer satisfaction operations at Ocean National Bank and at Granite Bank, where he acted as a controller and senior vice president.

Founding members of the bank, which is expected to open in this summer, are: attorney Robert Dastin, senior partner at the law offices of Sheehan Phinney Bass + Green; John Terravecchia, former president of BayBank NH and Cornerstone Financial Corp.; Alison Pitman Giles, president of Catholic Medical Center in Manchester; attorney Edward Lynch; John Hoben, an independent real estate development consultant and broker; James DelRossi, a private consultant in the financial services industry; Robert Cruess, president and chief executive officer of TFMoran Inc.; Richard Gavegnano, a vice president of A.G. Edwards & Sons Inc.; and Robert Verdonck, president and chief executive officer of East Boston Savings Bank and Meridian Financial Services Inc.