News: Spotlights

Cambridge Trust Company

Cambridge Trust Company is an independent Massachusetts chartered full service commercial community bank located in the heart of Harvard Sq. It has a 113 year history in Cambridge, serving its business and residential community with unmatched personal banking service. Over time, Cambridge Trust has brought that high level of personal service into 4 other Mass. communities including Weston, Lincoln, and Beacon Hill. They also expanded to the state of New Hampshire where they offer trust and investment management services in Concord, Exeter, and Peterborough. In 2001, Joseph Roller II became the 11th president & CEO in the banks 113 year history. Roller has over 30 years of banking experience including prior work at U.S. Trust of Boston, where he served as senior vice president, BayBank Inc., Fidelity Union Trust Company in New Jersey, and Irving Trust Company in New York, where he was a senior executive of international services. After receiving his bachelor's degree from Colgate he attended the prestigious Harvard Business School's Management Development and Strategic Marketing Programs. The part of the job that Roller extremely enjoys most is being out in the community. He is on the board of directors for three organizations in Cambridge, Mount Auburn Hospital, the Cambridge Community Foundation, and the Cambridge Center for Adult Education. He also was one of the first speakers at a lecture series, started by Cambridge philanthropist and businessman, Carl Barron for Cambridge College. Roller taught the importance of all the aspects of finance when starting a business for the students of an entrepreneur class. Roller said, "It's not just about writing checks, it's about investing your time in the community as well." One of the many community programs Cambridge Trust participates in, and is extremely proud of, is the work they do for moderate income families in need of affordable housing within the city. It is a "classic private / public" partnership between the Cambridge Trust, the City, Harvard University, Just-A-Start, CASCAP, and others. According to roller, "At the end of the day if you could see the smile on the faces of the people who go into these homes with their families, it is pretty exciting." In an age where banking giants such as Bank of America and Citizens Bank either merge to become larger or buyout smaller community banks, Cambridge Trust and other Cambridge community banks have remained loyal to themselves and more important their clients. When a customer walks into a local branch they still greet you by name and treat you like a member of a family rather then just a number.
MORE FROM Spotlights
Spotlights

The New England Real Estate Journal presents the First Annual Project of the Year Award! Vote today!

The New England Real Estate proud to showcase the remarkable projects that have graced the cover and center spread of NEREJ this year, all made possible by the collaboration of outstanding project teams. Now, it's time to recognize the top project of 2024, and we need your vote!
READ ON THE GO
DIGITAL EDITIONS
Subscribe
Columns and Thought Leadership
Navigating conversations and industrial real estate: Unveiling the intricacies with a dash of dad jokes - by David Skinner

Navigating conversations and industrial real estate: Unveiling the intricacies with a dash of dad jokes - by David Skinner

Here are a few of my favorite topics of conversation: politics, religion, money, and relationships. Other than a below average level of social capability, why do you suppose that those are some of my favorite conversation pieces? Well, I believe that there is a fascinating truth hidden within these realms
CRE market continues to navigate and adjust - by Kristie Russell

CRE market continues to navigate and adjust - by Kristie Russell

The New Hampshire commercial real estate landscape has experienced notable fluctuations in recent years. Within the office sector, there has been a consistent uptick in available space since 2020, attributed to a wave of companies downsizing or closing their New Hampshire operations. However,
Risk-based capital requirements: Impact of rules on commercial real estate loans - by Michael Chase

Risk-based capital requirements: Impact of rules on commercial real estate loans - by Michael Chase

Two popular sources of commercial real estate financing are banks and insurance companies. According to the Mortgage Bankers Association, banks and insurance companies combined hold 54% of the nearly $4.7 trillion in outstanding commercial mortgages as of the end of 2023. Both of these lender groups are subject to regulations
The 2024 CRE markets: “The Ups” (industrial) and “The Downs” (Boston class B/C office) - by Webster Collins

The 2024 CRE markets: “The Ups” (industrial) and “The Downs” (Boston class B/C office) - by Webster Collins

The industrial markets have never been stronger. What has happened is that the build out of Devens with new high-tech biotech manufacturing with housing to service these buildings serves as the connector required to really make the I-495 West market sizzle. Worcester has been the beneficiary