Use this search box to find articles that have run in our newspapers over the last several years.
Date: 11/30/2022
ENFIELD – Freedom Credit Union has opened a new loan production office in Enfield at 115 Elm St., Unit 214.
This office is dedicated exclusively to mortgage and business lending with both a full-time mortgage loan originator, Jackson Findlay, and a business lender, John Santaniello, on site. Findlay will help guide members through mortgage loan options, prepare and submit mortgage loan applications, and work with prospective homebuyers throughout the process of obtaining a mortgage loan. While Santaniello will work with businesses that are seeking loans including term, small business administration, commercial real estate and commercial vehicle loans.
“We’re very excited about this new location,” said Jeffrey Smith, vice president and chief lending officer at Freedom Credit Union. “Enfield is a big town and we feel based on the number of institutions in that area we have a great niche.” He continued, “It’s primarily a lending office for right now. Our hope is to have a full branching office within the next couple years.”
Freedom Credit Union is a banking institution whose headquarters are in Springfield. They offer all deposit and lending products and have 10 branches throughout the Pioneer Valley. In 2020, they expanded its charter to Hartford and Tolland County in Connecticut. Being so close to Connecticut, Smith said there were many times they would have a member from Connecticut that could do business with them and then others would want to do business with them as well, but for some reason they couldn’t meet their membership criteria, which was at that time you had to live, work or go to school in Western Massachusetts “Expanding to Connecticut is great,” Smith added. “We’re not only reaching out to consumers, but also to businesses in the Connecticut area.”
This office will bring another option for the community as well as the business community. Being a local institution and a credit union, Freedom offers great rates and low fees. They might have some available products residents may not have seen before in their marketplace. Smith told Reminder Publishing they’re looking for growth. They’re looking to make their mark in the Connecticut market. Any new members that they can bring into the credit union prior to opening a full-service branch they feel will be a plus for them and for the community.
“The most rewarding part of this has been the ability to finally enter the Connecticut market,” Smith said. “We’re putting our footprint into Connecticut and allowing membership in Hartford and Tolland County is something we’ve been anxiously waiting for.”
He went on to say, “Now that the opportunity is here, we’re very excited about joining professional organizations down there, meeting people and becoming a community institution in Connecticut rather than just Massachusetts.”
There are no set hours at this time. There will be a representative available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Customers will be able to make appointments after hours or weekends if needed.