Our commitment to community

The Webster Five Foundation

The Webster Five Foundation provides grants to local nonprofit organizations or programs that support expanding or improving access to education, culture and the arts, social services, charitable activities and community development. Since its inception, the foundation has donated more than $3.1 million to a range of organizations.

To learn more about our Foundation and to apply for a grant, click here.

Community reinvestment

The Community Reinvestment Act of 1977 was implemented to encourage financial institutions to help meet the credit needs of all the communities in which they serve, including low- and moderate-income neighborhoods. On our most recent examination, the Massachusetts Division of Banks and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation awarded Webster Five an “Satisfactory” rating for community reinvestment. Webster Five is also a proud recipient of the United Way’s Stoddard Award. This annual award is the highest honor the United Way bestows on an organization, and is in recognition of outstanding leadership through exceptional employees, campaigns and strong volunteer representation. Webster Five is strengthening our commitment to participate in programs that service, improve and revitalize all areas of our community — including those that are underserved or in need. We are also dedicated to meeting the housing needs of all individuals. Here is a sampling of programs we support and/or offer through the bank:

Lending programs

• Massachusetts Save Energy Efficiency Loan Program
• U.S. Small Business Administration Loan (SBA)
• Webster Five First-Time Home Buyer Program
• MHFA Mass Housing Programs
• Title V Homeowners Specific Repair Loan Program
• “Get the Lead Out” Loan Program
• Home Improvement Program
• “First Step” Unsecured Personal Loan
• Counseling services
• MBA Consumer Education Consumer Credit Counseling Service
• NeighborWorks® HomeOwnership Center of Worcester

To learn more about our mortgage lending programs, click here.

Employee volunteerism

Webster Five employees routinely donate their time and energy to civic organizations and committees, social service agencies, religious groups and other efforts that support elderly citizens and other individuals who need help. In recent years, our employees have volunteered to help the following organizations:

• Auburn Chamber of Commerce
• CASA Project of Worcester
• Center for Financial Training Atlantic States, Inc.
• Central Massachusetts Housing Alliance
• Cub Scouts
• Dudley Lions Club
• Dudley Women’s Club
• Edward Street Child Services
• Employers Against Domestic Violence of MA
• Hubbard Health Systems, Inc.
• Massachusetts Department of Children and Family Advisory Board
• Quo Vadis Club of Webster-Dudley
• Rainbow Child Development Center
• The Bridge of Central Massachusetts, Inc.
• The Health Foundation of Central Massachusetts
• The Webster Five Foundation
• Tri-Valley, Inc.
• United Way of Central Massachusetts/United Way of Webster and Dudley
• Visiting Nurses Association of Southern Worcester County
• Webster Dudley Oxford Chamber of Commerce
• Worcester Alliance for Economic Inclusion
• Worcester Community Action Council
• Worcester Community Housing Resources, Inc.
• Worcester County Food Bank
• Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce
• Worcester Regional Research Bureau
• YMCA of Central Massachusetts

Schooling on banking

Webster Five participates in several programs designed to teach children and young adults about banking, saving and being smart with their money. If you are interested in having Webster Five get involved with your youth activities or curriculum, contact your local branch office. Below are some of the programs we’ve supported or offered.

• Community Reading Day The public schools in our community periodically request volunteers to participate as celebrity readers. Webster Five has volunteers who talk about their job and how important reading is to their career. They typically pick a book that ties to banking or the value of money.
• Cub Scout Bank Tours Our Shrewsbury and Auburn branches both hosted bank tours for the local Cub Scouts so they could earn their merit badge. The tours included a discussion on the various jobs in the branch and the safe deposit area. The scouts saw the ATM machines and drive-up windows and were shown how money counters work.
• Massachusetts Treasurer’s Saving Makes Cents Program Saving Makes Cents is a school program developed to teach the ABCs of money management to elementary school children. Local schools and banks work together to teach children basic monetary concepts — from the origins of money to opening a savings account (which children actually do on “banking days”) to various forms of taxation. An educational curriculum is provided by the State Treasurer’s office and is taught by classroom teachers. A bank representative is on hand to open up savings accounts and accept deposits so students can learn through real-life experience the importance of good saving habits.
• Y.O.U., Inc. Y.O.U., Inc., is one of the leading child welfare, behavioral health and education agencies in Massachusetts. Thirty-two different sites in Worcester County offer an array of educational, vocational, therapeutic and residential programs that serve more than 13,000 young people and their families each year. Currently, Y.O.U., Inc. has a budget in excess of $30 million and a staff of more than 600 employees. Webster Five participated in a financial education program for preteens, moms-to-be and girls ages 15-19 to help them become more financially responsible.
• FDIC Money Smart Alliance Webster Five has been a member of the Money Smart Alliance program since 2004. The certificate of membership was presented in recognition of our efforts to improve the personal financial management skills of people in the communities we serve. The educational training programs conducted by Webster Five employees are based upon the FDIC MONEY SMART curriculum.