Savings Bank of Walpole Elects New Chair and Vice Chair of Board

Keene, NH – Savings Bank of Walpole is pleased to announce their board of directors has elected Joseph A. Coneeny as Chairman of the Board and Jason D. Houston as Vice Chairman. Coneeny replaces Sylvia McBeth, who has completed her third one-year term, thus reaching the Bank’s term limit.

Coneeny, a retired corporate executive with extensive banking and business experience has been a trustee since 2013 and a longtime Corporator for the Bank. Additionally, he is also active with SBW’s holding company, New Hampshire Mutual Bancorp (NHMB) and serves on the Compensation, Investment and Audit Committees. Prior to retiring, Coneeny held the position of managing director of media and telecom investment banking at Credit Suisse First Boston in New York and for several years, owned and operated the Windham Hill Inn in West Townsend, VT with his wife Marina.

A resident of Walpole, Coneeny is actively involved in the community, serving as a founding member of the Friends of Hooper Committee and as a director of The Gordon A. Rich Memorial Foundation, a scholarship organization that helps children of those who work in the financial services industry.

Houston has been a Director since 2012 and also serves as a local Corporator for the Bank. He is a certified public accountant and managing partner at John G. Burk and Associates, a public accounting firm located in Keene.  He is responsible for the accounting, audit and tax practice of the firm, as well as hiring, staff training and development. Houston has experience in tax planning, business valuation, business acquisitions, succession planning, financing, and conflict resolution. Prior to joining John G. Burk & Associates in 1998, Mr. Houston was a Controller of Northeast Credit Union and earned his CPA license working for Wolf & Company, a Boston-based regional firm. A longtime Keene resident, Jason is an active member of the community and currently serves on the council of advisers of Cheshire Medical Center/Dartmouth-Hitchcock Keene and has served a number of other community organizations including Keene Downtown Housing Corporation.

“Joseph was unanimously chosen by his peer Directors and we’re extremely honored to welcome him as our new Chairman of the Board,” says Mark Bodin, President for Savings Bank of Walpole. “We’re also pleased to welcome Jason as Vice Chairman and applaud the ongoing commitment and contributions he’s demonstrated for many years on behalf of the Bank.                                           

I’m confident that the Bank will continue to climb to new heights and enjoy ongoing success under their leadership and commitment to our community. Finally, I’d like to thank Sylvia McBeth for serving as Chair over the last three years – we’re grateful for her many contributions and leadership.”

Founded in 1875, Savings Bank of Walpole is headquartered in Walpole and serves the Connecticut River Valley and Monadnock Regions of New Hampshire and Vermont from offices in Walpole and Keene. With assets totaling $460 million, the Bank offers a wide range of financial products, including services to individuals, businesses and organizations.

The Bank is affiliated with NH Mutual Bancorp, further enhancing the quality products and services it provides to customers. The Bank’s SBW Wealth Management division recently became part of the NHTrust brand to better serve customers by providing localized trust and wealth management products and services led by a team of experts with a deep knowledge of trust & estate planning, brokerage, retirement planning and tax and charitable planning. Savings Bank of Walpole is an equal housing lender, and member of the FDIC. For more information visit www.walpolebank.com or call (603) 352-1822.