Greenfield Cooperative Bank welcomes new employees
GREENFIELD — Greenfield Cooperative Bank has announced the addition of two new employees. Abby LaValley has been named the assistant vice president and branch manager of the Amherst branch office located at 390 College St. in Amherst, and Jimmy Rosario has been named assistant branch manager of the South Hadley branch, located at 487 Newton St.
LaValley brings more than 20 years of local banking experience to the role, having previously served as an assistant manager at two community banks in the region. A graduate of Isenberg School of Management at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, LaValley holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing. She currently resides in Franklin County.
In her new role, LaValley will oversee daily operations at the Amherst branch while continuing to build meaningful relationships with customers and supporting the financial needs of the community.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Abby to our team,” said Jackie Charron, executive vice president, chief banking officer. “Her extensive experience and strong ties to the community align perfectly with our mission of delivering personal, relationship-focused banking.”
Rosario brings nine years of banking experience to the role, along with a strong commitment to customer service and community engagement. He holds a degree in criminal justice from Springfield Technical Community College. In his new position, Rosario looks forward to developing relationships with customers in South Hadley and supporting their financial goals. Like many members of the local community, Rosario is bilingual in Spanish.
“We are thrilled to welcome Jimmy to the South Hadley team,” said Branch Manager Joanna Czarniecka. “His experience, energy and dedication to building stronger community relationships make him a great fit for our branch and the community we serve.”
MassHire to host Health Occupations Job Fair
GREENFIELD — The MassHire Franklin Hampshire Career Center is hosting a Health Occupations Job Fair at Greenfield Community College in the dining commons on Wednesday, April 29, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
This event will feature 20-plus area employers all with open positions in the health care industry. This event is free to attend and all are welcome. Pre-registration is not required.
For those with questions, email bizteam@masshirefhcareers.org or call 413-774-4361.
Franklin First Federal Credit Union membership approves merger with Greylock Federal
Franklin First Federal Credit Union of Greenfield has received member approval for its proposed merger with Greylock Federal Credit Union headquartered in Pittsfield. The membership vote, which was subject to the approval of the National Credit Union Administration, occurred at Franklin First’s annual meeting held on April 15.
Franklin First membership approval completes the requirements for the merger to move forward. With membership and regulatory approval now in place, the merger is expected to close on June 1, 2026, with a systems conversion scheduled for early 2027.
On Sept. 19, 2025, Franklin First’s Board of Directors agreed to merge with Greylock, with Greylock serving as the surviving credit union. Franklin First will merge into Greylock’s charter and will continue to operate under the Franklin First brand as a division of Greylock for a period of time after the merger is completed.
“Franklin First is thrilled to begin our new chapter as a division of Greylock. The Board of Directors and employees of Franklin First are thankful to our membership for supporting this merger and we look forward to continuing our work for our members and in our community with the strong support from Greylock behind our team here in Franklin County,” said Michelle Dwyer, president and CEO of Franklin First.
“My deepest thanks to the Franklin First membership for their trust, support, and confidence in this momentous next step for Franklin First and Greylock. We are especially grateful to Michelle Dwyer and the Franklin First Board of Directors for their steadfast leadership through the years. As we move forward together, we will continue to build upon this strong foundation of stewardship and will remain committed to serving the people of Franklin County,” said Greylock President and CEO John L. Bissell.
As previously reported, Greylock will assume Franklin First’s $88 million in assets, giving the continuing credit union approximately $1.7 billion in combined assets. Franklin First has approximately 7,400 members and will continue to operate its branch and two remote ATMs in Greenfield.
Dwyer will continue to manage the Franklin County market. Franklin First employees will continue to have roles with the continuing credit union and will operate from the current office in Greenfield.
Greylock currently serves 106,000 members and has full-service branches in branches in Pittsfield, Great Barrington, Lee, Adams, North Adams, Williamstown, Lanesborough and Lenox, as well as in Greenport/Hudson, New York. As part of Greylock’s shared branching network, members have access to a network of 30,000 ATMs and 5,600 branches across the country.