MSB Blog

Two longtime Monson locals, Dan Moriarty, Sr. and Michael Rouette lead Monson Savings Bank forward.

Monson Savings Bank’s leadership transition plan announced earlier in 2020 has been a success with the Bank well-prepared for the transition taking place in February 2021. Daniel Moriarty, Sr., the current President and future CEO of Monson Savings Bank will be carrying on the bank’s legacy following the retirement of Steve Lowell, the Bank’s President and CEO for the last 10 years. Michael Rouette will be leading alongside Moriarty as the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.

“Dan is highly qualified for this role. He has an abundance of experience in community banking and has been instrumental in Monson Savings Bank’s success over the last 22 years. He is a true local to area and has a unique understanding of the market we serve,” said Steve Lowell, current CEO of Monson Savings Bank. “He knows and cares about these communities and is passionate about continuing to provide them with the best community banking service and support. We look forward to his leadership and the new successes he will help bring the Bank.”

As of October 2020, Dan Moriarty, Sr. was named President of Monson Savings Bank. He will assume his role of President and CEO of Monson Savings Bank following Steve Lowell’s retirement effective February 14, 2021. 

Moriarty has been with Monson Savings for 22 years. He joined the bank in 1998 as an Accounting Manager, working his way up, and most recently Moriarty served as the bank’s Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer since 2011. “Humbled and honored,” are the words Moriarty used to describe the trust placed in him as the next leader. 

As a lifelong resident of Monson, Moriarty’s in-depth understanding of the bank’s local neighborhoods give him a unique insight into what a community bank means to the area. That along with his experience, knowledge and dedication to community banking made him an optimal successor to fill the role of President and CEO. 

An alumni of Monson High School, he then graduated with honors from both Providence College and the National School of Banking at Fairfield University. He is heavily involved in the local community through outreach efforts including his roles as East of the River Chamber (ERC5) Board of Director, Baystate Health Eastern Region Community Benefit Advisory Council, Community Foundation of Western MA Volunteer Grant/Scholarship Reviewer, Brightside Golf Classic Co-Chair, Pro-Am Shriners Hospital Golf Tournament Co-Chair, Monson Home for Aged Board Member, Finance Committee Member and Confirmation Teacher of St. Patrick’s Church in Monson, and Assistant Varsity Soccer Coach of Monson High School.

“I have deep roots in the communities Monson Savings Bank serves. I was born, raised, went to school here, bought my first home, happily married and raised my children here. I still proudly call Monson and Western Massachusetts my home,” said Moriarty. 

Likewise, Michael Rouette, recently named Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, also has a long local history with Monson and Western, MA. In fact, he and Moriarty grew up together, are longtime friends, both attended Monson High School and then worked alongside one another at Monson Savings Bank for years.

Rouette has been with Monson Savings Bank for over 30 years and began his career at Monson Savings Bank in 1987 as a teller. In addition to being an alumni of Monson High School, he graduated from Old Dominion University, the Massachusetts School for Financial Studies at Babson College and the Graduate School of Banking in Colorado. He is a Board Member of the YMCA of Greater Springfield.

“I am so happy to continue my career with Monson Savings, a local bank truly focused on our customers,” said Michael Rouette, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. “We care about their well-being, their financial health and work hard to continually optimize the way we operate to best serve their banking needs. Both personal and business banking customers can feel confident that when they place their trust in Monson Savings Bank that they will be well taken care of.”

Rouette and Moriarty both appreciate and embrace the values that differentiate Monson Savings Bank from its competitors. A keen focus on customers, providing personalized attention, innovative banking tools and creating a positive work culture for Monson employees being just some of the distinguishing factors.

“Michael is a positive and knowledgeable leader who inspires others to bring their best to the table,” said Steve Lowell, CEO of Monson Savings Bank. “On top of his many years of community banking experience, his local roots and commercial lending background give him a distinctive link with our local business community.”

Lowell continued, “Dan and Michael’s long connection as friends, teammates and colleagues, their local roots, their innovative thinking, and their respected leadership approach are the reasons why they are a perfect and dynamic team to lead Monson Savings Bank forward. Monson Savings Bank is in good hands.”

Steve Lowell has been the President and CEO of Monson Savings Bank for the last 10 years. Following his retirement on February 14, 2021, Lowell will continue to serve Monson Savings Bank in the role of Chairman of the Board. 

At the start of Lowell’s 10 year tenure as President and CEO in 2010, Monson Savings Bank had 5 offices with $237M (or $234M) in assets and 60 employees. Under his leadership the Bank saw immense growth and remained fiscally strong. Monson Savings Bank now has 7 locations, including 5 branches, $510M in assets and 95 employees. Lowell was instrumental in spotting growth opportunities that would allow the bank to provide customers with high quality and convenient service, including the opening of the Loan and Operations Center in Wilbraham and the new branch location in East Longmeadow. Along with Moriarty, Lowell recognized the importance of providing customers with digital banking, online account opening and online application options.

Lowell has been heavily involved in the local community and plans to continue his support and service to the area. His involvement over the years includes the roles of Board Member and Past Chairman of the United Way of Pioneer Valley, a Corporator and Finance Committee member of the Monson Free Library, a Community Benefits Advisory Council Board Member of Wing Memorial Hospital, a Board Member of the Savings Bank Employees Retirement Association, Past Chairman of the Depositor’s Insurance Fund and a Board Member of the Massachusetts Bankers Association. He will continue his service as Chairman of the Board for the Baystate Health Eastern Region, Board Member and Treasurer of the Western Mass EDC, a Finance Committee Member for Baystate Health and as a Board Member of the Depositor’s Insurance Fund.

“All of us at Monson Savings Bank have found Steve’s leadership and support over the years to be invaluable. Monson’s growth and success over the last decade is in large part to his leadership. He developed a culture of respect and teamwork that fostered a positive and productive work environment, allowing every team member to feel invested and happy with their work,” said Dan Moriarty, President of Monson Savings Bank. “I look forward to continuing forward with the culture he has established.”