In 1831, Andrew Jackson was president, Nat Turner was arrested for leading a slave revolt and Charles Darwin began his epic journey aboard the HMS Beagle. It also was the year that Laconia Savings Bank was founded by a group of area merchants.
Today, LSB is headed by 50-year-old Laconia resident Linda Normandin, the first woman president and CEO in the bank’s 174-year-old history, who took over the job in January. The fact that she started as a teller some 30 years ago speaks volumes of both the bank and its new president.
As the state’s largest mutual savings bank, with $800 million in assets, over 250 employees and 16 branches covering much of the state, a lot has changed since its inception, but Normandin said certain things have not – its commitment to remaining independent and serving its customers.
Q. Is there a difference in managing a bank that has such history as opposed to a younger establishment?
A. I’m sure there is. We’ve got a strong reputation and some history that goes along with it, as opposed to a new business that’s still building their brand and finding out what they’re all about.
As a mutual organization, we don’t have any stockholders. We can focus on the long-term profitability of the organization, as opposed to short-term, quarterly financial results. That’s been very helpful in determining the progress we want for the bank.
Our philosophy hasn’t changed. It’s still to focus on the customer and the communities we serve. That was the thrust 174 years ago, and it’s still the same today.
Q. Where are you looking to take the bank?
A. Our whole drive is to remain independent and be here for the community so they can thrive and improve.
The plan is to look for those opportunities where we can grow, but we’re not looking to grow for the sake of growing. We’re looking to grow, for one, to offset the cost of doing business, and today, there’s a lot more competition in the financial industry. Other banks are trying to figure out the same thing – where to go and where to grow. We’re just keeping our eye on those kinds of opportunities.
Some of those opportunities come in the way of products and services that fit the needs of the consumer and how things are changing with the Electronic Age. We try and fit those trends, like with online banking. We are offering checking account statements electronically. Soon, we will be offering online bill-paying for businesses. We have it now for the consumer, but this will be a new service for commercial customers.
The only thing that may deter that a little is Internet access. In the North Country, they have less access. They’re not quite there yet on the technology.
Q. Are you looking to put your own stamp on the bank?
A. I think one of the reasons the board selected me is that we had the direction set. I had been working very closely with Bruce Clow (the former president), so there was no need to change the direction of the bank. We were focused on where we were headed, so we didn’t need to bring in somebody new. It’s really more like I’ve taken the baton in the next leg of a relay.
Q. Tell me more about the bank’s Opportunities for Volunteerism program.
A. It’s a very comprehensive directory of volunteer opportunities here in the Lakes Region and in some cases across the state. We’ve always encouraged our employees to give back to the community by way of volunteer service. We give employees a day off to work as volunteers. We also support the United Way’s Day of Caring and allow our employees to take the day and help the organizations that United Way supports.
We try and communicate volunteer opportunities not only to our employees, but for anyone in the community. Part of our annual report shows all of the organizations throughout the state we list on the Opportunities for Volunteerism site, and it’s hundreds.
Q. Check 21 has been out for a little while now. As I understand it, instead of physically moving paper checks from one bank to another, Check 21 allows banks to take a picture of the check along with the associated payment information and transmit this information electronically. What has Check 21’s impact been on you?
A. It really hasn’t impacted us at all. I think it will be a while before everything is passed electronically. We provide image statements for our customers, but we need to be able to transmit images to the Fed. There’s still work to be done on that end, so it will be a while.
For the consumer, things will be apt to clear sooner. You have to recognize that the funds need to be there when you’re writing the checks, which really has been the case all along.
Q. You’ve worked in the industry for a number of years. What is it about the banking industry that excites you? What drives you?
A. Being able to help people. Growing up, I was always helping my brothers and sisters, making sure they were all right, and I seemed to have carried that over to my profession. What a more perfect way to help people than in a bank? Here you can help people to start a business or get their first home or a car loan, save money for a vacation. It’s what I’m all about — trying to help.
Q. When you’re not managing money, what do you do? Do you have a hobby or a factoid about yourself that people might not know?
A. We have a place on Winnisquam, so in the summers we stay locally. The neat thing is that we can enjoy the Lakes Region. So many people go off on vacation in the summertime, but we have the pleasure of staying right here and enjoying our four children and five grandchildren.
As for something people might not know about me, my father-in-law also served as president and CEO of Laconia Savings Bank from 1957 to 1961. His name was Fortunat E. Normandin, and he was also a local attorney. So I am honored to be the second Normandin to hold the position.