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DIME IS THERE

DIME IS THERE
OUR MISSION
DIME BANK WILL REMAIN A STRONG, MUTUAL FINANCIAL INSTITUTION
WHERE VALUED EMPLOYEES PROVIDE PERSONALIZED SERVICE THAT
EXCEEDS CUSTOMER AND COMMUNITY EXPECTATIONS.
2014 ANNUAL REPORT TO OUR COMMUNITY

Dear friends and neighbors,
In 2014, Dime Bank proudly celebrated 145 years of reliable community banking.
A milestone such as this inspires us to look back to the principles upon which we
were founded – community accessibility, personal customer service and prudent
financial management.
Dime Bank's strong financial and charitable accomplishments Knowing that our resources will be affected by the higher over the past year are testaments to our core values, which costs of operating in this tightened regulatory environment, prove as vital today as they did when our first dime was diversification, adaptation, and further aligning ourselves with deposited in 1869. And though it brings us great pride to successful businesses in and out of our market area are goals acknowledge our institution's longstanding history, the greatest for Dime Bank in 2015. We also see tremendous opportunity milestones that Dime Bank has ever been a part of are those for efficiency through investment in technology. In 2014 achieved by our valued customers. we began those investments with a mobile banking upgrade, the roll out of user-friendly apps for iPhone and Android Whether it's that moment when you cut the ribbon on your devices, a new ATM located at the Mystic Aquarium, as well own business, the day you're handed the key to your first as an active presence on social media to allow for increased home, or the morning you wake up on the first day of your transparency and improved communication with our customers.
retirement – nothing brings us more joy than to know that LAST YEAR WAS ALSO A BANNER YEAR FOR
COMMUNITY SERVICE AT DIME BANK. THE DIME BANK
It has been a very successful year at Dime Bank. Despite the FOUNDATION GRANTED MORE FUNDS IN 2014 TO LOCAL
rapidly evolving regulatory burdens placed upon us, as well as ORGANIZATIONS THAN EVER IN ITS HISTORY.
our region's continued struggle to join the rest of the nation in its economic recovery, Dime Bank has managed to grow and Dime Bank's famous Blue Crew continued its long tradition maintain stellar capital levels while showing solid bottom line of volunteerism, dedicating hours of community service income for the year.
throughout southeastern Connecticut and Rhode Island.
IN ADDITION, THE BANK SURPASSED A SIGNIFICANT
Dime's charitable efforts were capped off this year by a very BENCHMARK THIS YEAR, GROWING TO MORE THAN
successful Season of Giving – a month-long campaign between $750 MILLION IN ASSETS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN OUR
Thanksgiving and the New Year during which our branches 145-YEAR HISTORY.
held weekly drives for donations of hats and gloves, children's toys, pet food and heating funds for those in need. The Season Loan originations continued to improve over the previous year. of Giving was the exclamation point at the end of another We enhanced our lending team as well as our lending presence impressive year of corporate stewardship and compassionate within our established geographic footprint, and in other community service at Dime Bank. When our neighbors are in regions experiencing more positive economic trends.
need – Dime Is There. In 2014 Dime Bank also saw its largest acquisition of new In conclusion, I want to thank our customers for their loyalty checking customers in several years – healthy growth that can and trust in Dime Bank. I would also like to thank our be attributed to the focused customer service of our employees, employees, directors and corporators for their dedication to as well as a continued commitment to strengthen our our mission. As you saw on the cover, the theme of this year's relationships with local municipalities, businesses and residents. annual report is Dime Is There. To me, this encapsulates the idea that the most important moments of our lives are not We carry this roadmap of smart, deliberate growth into a new simply defined by a goal achieved, an obstacle overcome or a year, which will not be without obstacles. Our preparation dream fulfilled, but they are also defined by those with whom remains ongoing for still more regulations slated to take effect we share those dreams and accomplishments. So as we begin in 2015 – the most impactful of which is a substantial upshift another year, let this report serve as a reminder that when our in the measurement of the bank's capital ratios as prescribed by customers need community-first banking – DIME IS THERE.
Basel III. We are very proactive in our management of the bank's assets and our balance sheet to ensure that we remain a step ahead of these changing regulations. Since 2008 DIME IS THERE our focus on building capital has resulted in us being well
positioned to exceed all of the new regulatory capital thresholds by a significant margin. With pride and best regards,
Nicholas Caplanson, President & Chief Executive Officer 2014 ANNUAL REPORT TO OUR COMMUNITY

"The second loan happened in one day.
In less than 24 hours
– there was our check!" Commercial loan originations since economic recovery (in millions) COMMERCIAL
2014 ANNUAL REPORT TO OUR COMMUNITY
LOVE AT FIRST BITE
A business partnership can be a lot like marriage – partners work
together through good times and bad; in sickness and in health; and together they raise a business and maybe even a family of employees. Some partnerships take years of courtship to ensure proper "Colleen Miller, branch manager of Dime Bank's Ledyard compatibility. But for Erin Morris and Gabriella Withrow, branch called us back into the Bank and she really looked co-owners of Zest Fresh Pastry in Stonington, Connecticut, at our plan. She said she'd have to send it to the commercial it was love at first bite. lending team, but when she looked at the plan she actually got really excited for us." "We had known each other for maybe a month – and we decided it'd be a good idea to start a business together and open Colleen sent the loan to Chris Gauthier, Commercial Loan Officer a business bank account together – it was an instant trust and and Vice President at Dime Bank, and Erin and Gabriella took Chris connection," said Erin.
to see the site of their future bakery. They showed their vision and The pair met in the kitchen of another well-known local bakery, backed it up with their culinary backgrounds, and after a little and before long they were opening a joint business account at kneading, Dime was ready to put its faith in the project.
Dime Bank's Ledyard branch. Two years later, Zest Fresh Pastry is serving up sweets to lines As the two delved into details of their potential partnership, of customers stretching out of the doors of Stonington's historic they found they shared a vision for their bakery business. Velvet Mill. Zest's dynamic duo said they see potential for growth, "Our concept was the same – the idea of using ingredients including ramping up their wedding cake business, and making a that were local, fresh and seasonal," Gabriella said. foray into certified organic sweets. But so far, steady, controlled word-of-mouth growth has been their recipe for success. COMMERCIAL
DIME IS THERE
FOR RISING BUSINESSES "It's traditional with a spin; pure ingredients and tasty In October, Gabriella and flavor combinations."In 2012, the duo branded themselves "Zest" and quickly became Erin returned to Dime fixtures in the local farmers market scene. "We put zest in the cookies and we have a zest for life – we're zesty people!" Bank again for a second Gabriella said.
business loan – this time
Local demand for Zest's pastries immediately outpaced expectations, and the partners built up enough capital to buy to use for expansion.
their own kitchen equipment, after months of baking in rented "The second loan happened in one day. In less than 24 hours Zest's first business loan wasn't much by traditional business – there was our check!" Gabriella said. "Business has been standards, and with both owners coming from backgrounds amazing. It kind of blows our minds. It gets busier every day." as bakers, Erin said they didn't have deep pockets to back their venture.
Gabriella and Erin are grateful to be doing what they love and sharing their culinary talents with the community. All things considered – life is pretty sweet.
2014 ANNUAL REPORT TO OUR COMMUNITY

A DIME AND A DREAM
Dime Bank customer Eltion "LT" Seferi set a goal for himself as a boy
growing up in Albania: Someday he'd move to America like his great-uncle Sul, who had escaped post-World War II Albania in search of a better life.
As a teenager, LT took the first step toward achieving his dream by moving to Italy to attend trade school. When he arrived at "I was very impressed. school in Italy, anxious to start a career, he was discouraged to find he would need another five years of schooling to become I didn't expect to get a a certified electrician. Instead of waiting, LT opted for a carpentry curriculum that allowed him to graduate in just two years. home that fast. It was LT immigrated to New York in 2005, but his transition to the Big Apple was less than easy.
great, and Dime just
Eventually LT adjusted to life in America, started working full made it happen."
time, and met his wife, Viktoriya, who had also immigrated to the city, but from Russia. In 2007, a construction contract "To me, service is very important because that's what I do. brought LT to Groton, Connecticut, and once he finished the job, I service the people the best I can to make them happy – his client recruited him from his brother's company. so I expect the same thing." DIME IS THERE
LT and Viktoriya worked and saved for five years. They had Dime Bank helped LT and his family buy their first home, so LT a daughter, Stella, who is almost 4 now, and in 2012 LT had expanded his relationship with Dime to his business, working enough saved to open his own business – LT Construction.
with John Estelle, Commercial Loan Officer and Vice President LT and Viktoriya had begun to plant their roots in Connecticut – The Seferis were a family, and now they needed a home. "Building a relationship with the bank is a good thing, because LT found the helpful experience he was looking for when it's not like I came here with millions of dollars. I came here he reached out to Dime Bank's mortgage team.
without any money. I started from nothing," LT said.
Today, after a decade of tireless work, LT says he feels like he has achieved his American Dream.
"What I've accomplished so far here – that is the dream that I was hoping for. And I couldn't have accomplished it anywhere else but here because there is opportunity," he said. "My story is the truth about my life from that time until now. And my relationship with Dime Bank is part of my story." RESIDENTIAL & CONSUMER
LOANS ORIGINATED SINCE 2009
Equal Housing Lender 2014 ANNUAL REPORT TO OUR COMMUNITY

"My story is the truth about my life from that time until now. And my relationship with Dime
Bank is part of my story."
DIME IS THERE
2014 ANNUAL REPORT TO OUR COMMUNITY

In 2014 the Blue Crew donated
more than 800 hours to local
events and organizations, and they had a lot of fun doing it.
Dime Bank takes the community part of "Dime Bank has been an outstanding community banking very seriously. Our group corporate funder, a trusted banking partner, and a stalwart supporter of the WARM of dedicated employee volunteers – The Blue Center's work. Whenever we have asked for Crew – is well known throughout southeastern help, Dime has been right there." Connecticut and Rhode Island for the many hours of community service they perform. We encourage Russ Partridge, WARM Center
the community to join us in our service events.
DIME IS THERE FOR OUR COMMUNITY
"Dime Bank's financial support, volunteerism and service have a major impact on our ability to serve others too. Without a generous community partner like Dime, our job would be much more difficult and our mission would be in serious jeopardy." Captain Jerry & Mindy Uttley, The Salvation Army
2014 ANNUAL REPORT TO OUR COMMUNITY

In 2014 the Blue Crew donated
more than 800 hours to local
events and organizations, and they had a lot of fun doing it.
On August 27th, the Blue Crew took part in the social media fundraising phenomenon known as the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. Since 1998, The Dime Foundation has supported our communities through grants for local non-profit organizations, with a focus on basic human needs. Through Dime Bank's commitment to continually grow its charitable impact, the Foundation was able to distribute more grant funds last year than ever before.
DIME IS THERE FOR OUR COMMUNITY
"Because of Dime Bank's efforts in supporting a therapeutic music program, children with disabilities now have an opportunity to experience a health discipline essential in reaching measurable goals for growth and development." Kimberly Wright, Frank Olean Center
2014 ANNUAL REPORT TO OUR COMMUNITY
Can we adjust the size of the dol ar amounts in the triangle? They look a bit off now with the decimal points to follow. Maybe make them a bit larger? More space between the amount and year? WITH HELP FROM DIME, THE PAST HAS A BRIGHT FUTURE
If you live in eastern Connecticut, you may know local business owners Linda
and Roger Phillips. If you don't, you almost certainly know Monty – the 25' tall Tyrannosaurus rex who lords over the small strip of Route 85 where Linda and Roger's business, Nature's Art Village, resides. Monty is so well known, in fact, that Nature's Art Village is The PAST seems to have a known simply as "The Dinosaur Place.""For many, many years we branded ourselves as ‘The Dinosaur bright future ahead of it,
Place' and that was started by customers," Roger Phillips said. "Sometimes we'd hear people talking on their phone saying, but without some help from
‘Where are you? I'm at The Dinosaur Place,' so the customers really gave that the name, and it caught on." Dime Bank, Linda says The
In reality, the experience is bigger than its famous prehistoric personnel – with some help from a Dime Bank commercial loan, PAST could have been history.
the unique destination is moving out of Monty's massive shadow.
DIME IS THERE
WHEN PAST MEETS PRESENT "If you've never been here before to enjoy everything here "Dime made The PAST actually happen. Without them, now in our village, you need close to a full day," Roger said. we couldn't have done it," Linda said. "The good interest rate helped, but more importantly, Dime worked with us and guided In a day at the Village you can cool off at Dinosaur Crossing us through the paperwork – so we are appreciative of Dime Bank Water Park, which is expanding with the addition of an enormous water-wheel that splashes summer patrons with huge 50-gallon buckets of water; you can roll up your sleeves at "Everything we do, we try to have an educational spin on it. Discovery Depot, a one-of-a-kind underground mine shaft where Discovery Depot is all fun, but the kids are learning while they're families can pan for gold, dig for gemstones, forage for fossils doing it, and the kids don't even realize it," Linda said. and watch as their crystal-laden geode stones get cut open to reveal sparkling inner treasures; and you can visit The PAST – as "We love kids, we always have, so the kids and the education in The PAST Antique Market and Gateway Museum, which was go together. They're just natural. So everything is related to get recently honored by Yankee Magazine as "New England's Best society to stop texting and visit something real and have fun doing it – that's the key." Linda and Roger teamed up with Dime Bank's commercial lenders As their business continues to grow through their partnership to make major expansions to The PAST, which gets is name for with Dime Bank, Roger said he and Linda still have the same an acronym Linda coined: Preserve Antiques, Save Technology. focus and vision they did 30 years ago when they invested their life-savings to open their unique business.
A Dime Bank commercial loan has helped The PAST grow into a second building, which houses its impressive new exhibit Engines of Steam and Gas, featuring a Goliath steam-powered engine that spans the entire length of the museum. 2014 ANNUAL REPORT TO OUR COMMUNITY
Can we adjust the size of the dol ar amounts in the triangle? They look a bit off now with the decimal points to follow. Maybe make them a bit larger? More space between the amount and year? "Dime made The PAST actually happen. Without them, we
couldn't have done it."
Commercial loan portfolio since economic recovery (in millions) DIME IS THERE
COMMERCIAL
LOAN
PORTFOLIO
$89GROWTH
WHEN PAST MEETS PRESENT SINCE 2009
2014 ANNUAL REPORT TO OUR COMMUNITY
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Front Row
Linda L. Mariani
Attorney, Senior Partner Mariani & Reck, LLC President & Chief Executive Officer Roland J. Harris
Commercial Realtor Coldwell Banker
Back Row
Robert A. Staley
Retired Managing Director Cornerstone Real Estate Advisers Mark E. Tramontozzi, M.D.
General and Vascular Surgeon The William W. Backus Hospital Steven L. Bokoff
Goldblatt Bokoff, LLC Supervisor of Social Work Norwich Human Services James M. Kirker
James M. Kirker, P.C.
DIME IS THERE
Dr. Sultan Ahamed Ms. Catherine M. Foley Mr. Joseph M. Mastronunzio Mr. William E. Geer Ms. Maria C. Miranda Mr. William R. Allen Mr. Robert C. Giffen Ms. Deborah A. Monahan Dr. Matthew D. Amaro Atty. Glenn M. Gordon Dr. Ricardo Ochoa Mr. Timothy S. Ashburner Ms. Beverly J. Goulet Mr. Todd C. Postler Mr. Stephen M. Greene Mr. Mark H. Powers Mr. Neil H. Blinderman Mr. William J. Griffin IV Mr. Robert P. Reed Mr. Kenneth J. Capano Sr.
Atty. Harry B. Heller The Honorable Linda M. Salafia, Ret.
Atty. Pasquale A. Cavaliere Ms. Sharon H. Hewes Mr. Andrew R. Schilke Mr. Leo M. Chupaska Dr. Tarik Kardestuncer Mr. Edward K. Schilke Ms. Susan Howard Cihocki Ms. Jennifer King Ms. Susan E. Soderberg Atty. George A. Comolli Mr. Bruce A. Kirchner Atty. Karl-Erik Sternlof Mr. John C. D'Amato Jr.
Atty. Thomas J. Liguori Jr. Mr. David A. Whitehead Atty. Donald J. DiFrancesca Atty. Harold M. Lubin Mr. Charles C. Whitty Ms. Carolyn E. Ferrara Mr. John B. Malia Ms. Jenny C. Wronowski Mr. Frederic B. Allyn Jr.
Mr. Ralph G. Fargo Sr.
Atty. Vincent J. Naccarato* Dr. Francis M. Baldino Mr. Paul M. Higgins Jr.* Mr. Jerome T. Rogers* Dr. Michael G. Betten* Mr. Walter W. Juzwic Mr. John M. Smith Mr. Craig F. Bode* Ms. Nancy S. Klotz Ms. Esther B. Williams Ms. Hazel Judith Brown* Mr. Clifford P. Kumpf Sr.
Mr. Francis J. Buckley Jr.* Dr. Leland D. Loose Atty. John A. Cotter Ms. Mary R. Miskiewicz 2014 ANNUAL REPORT TO OUR COMMUNITY
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
ASSISTANT VICE PRESIDENTS
Nicholas Caplanson, President & Chief Executive Officer
John Belanger, Technology Manager
Cheryl Blanchard, Financial Advisor
Linda L. Mariani
Attorney, Senior Partner SENIOR VICE PRESIDENTS
Ted Burrows, Loan Workout & Collections Officer
Mariani & Reck, LLC Retail Banking, Sales & Marketing Norwich Corporate Branch Manager Human Resources & Training Stonington Branch Manager Thomas McAvoy Jr.,
Trust & Investment Services Operations Administration Officer President & Chief Executive Officer Chief Lending Officer New London Branch Manager David Stanland,
Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer Peter Lampasona Jr.,
Chief Credit Officer Retail Operations Manager Lorie Mocek, Norwichtown Branch Manager
Roland J. Harris
Julie O'Connor, Credit Manager
Commercial Realtor Kevin Owren, Westerly Branch Manager
Anthony Antoch, Sr. Commercial Lender
Meg Polubiatko, Residential Lender
Arthur (Chuck) Barton, Sr. Commercial Lender
Deirdre Sullivan, Executive Admin. & Project Mgr.
Robert Buckley, Commercial Lender
Catherine Tiffany, Taftville Branch Manager
Elizabeth D'Amato, Commercial Lender
Mildred Devine, Trust Officer
John Estelle, Commercial Lender
James Burns,
Commercial Lender Financial Advisor Information Security Officer Loan Closing Manager Business Development Manager ShopRite Branch Manager Erica Gee,
Training Officer Director of Marketing Ornet Hines,
Loan Operations Manager Montville Branch Manager Joan Nagle,
Branch Administrator Broadway Branch Manager Shalin Peck,
Deposit Operations & eBanking Manager Ledyard Branch Manager Operations & Facilities Manager Loan Processing Manager Karen Roman,
Sr. Residential Lender Commercial Lender Linda Roberts, Trust Administration Officer
Theresa Salas, East Lyme Branch Manager
Darlene Serra, Benefits & Payroll Manager
Heather Smith, Accounting Supervisor
Phyllis Alexander Christopher DeLucia Michelle Kolodziejczak Mary Anne Bastien Kathleen Strenkowski Brenda Pappagallo Deliela Bettencourt Michelle Boiselle Kathleen Bolton-Kelley Samantha Martinez Catherine Brosnan Michelle Walenczyk DIME IS THERE
Michelle McDonough Mary-Ellen McLaughlin Jennifer Cassella Cheryl Chmielewski 2014 ANNUAL REPORT TO OUR COMMUNITY
DIME IS THERE
WITH FINANCIAL STRENGTH $6.6 million increase from 2013 DEPOSITS GROWTH IN DEPOSITS (IN MILLIONS)
$20.1 milion increase fr TOTAL ASSETS
2014 ASSET GROWTH
GROWTH IN ASSETS (IN MILLIONS)
$3.3 million incr GROWTH IN CAPITAL (IN MILLIONS)
2014 ANNUAL REPORT TO OUR COMMUNITY
DIME IS THERE
DIME IS THERE
WITH FINANCIAL STRENGTH FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE ATM ONLY LOCATIONS
326 Washington Street (Gift Shop & Emergency Department) Fiddleheads Food Co-op Norwich Free Academy (Atrium Building) EAST LYME
NEW LONDON (Shaw's Cove)
18 Chesterfield Road 630 Norwich Avenue NEW LONDON (ShopRite)
744 Colonel Ledyard Hwy.
351 North Frontage Road 115 West Town Street 131 Franklin Street 563 Norwich-NL Turnpike 290 Salem Turnpike 2014 ANNUAL REPORT TO OUR COMMUNITY
Member FDIC Equal Housing Lender

Source: https://dime-bank.com/pdf/DIME_AR_03042015_Final_Web.pdf