170 Acts of Kindness

Last year, Ulster Savings Bank (USB) celebrated its 170th anniversary. The bank is, and always has been, a leader in community giving. Since our foundation was formed in 2001 to recognize the 150th anniversary, Ulster Savings has given over .5 million back to the communities we serve in Ulster, Dutchess, and Orange counties in NY State. To mark our 170th, we wanted to create something to enhance what we already do. To make a difference in another way. Born from that, was a year-long celebration of random acts of kindness that was especially meaningful after the COVID environment.

To execute the strategy, USB Teammates worked with their business customers and community partners to involve them in random acts of kindness. This enhanced both community and economic impact right after the COVID shutdown. Selected businesses were given bank donations to pay it forward to their own customers. For example, a business customer identified 17 customers who were having difficulty paying their bills. Those customers then received a notice with their next bill saying, this month's bill is paid for by our friends at Ulster Savings Bank. Unexpected and random were the tactics used to result in the most impact.

The results have been so meaningful in highlighting our brand value of a community bank with no stockholders. We exist for the good of customers and community. It has enabled every employee to be involved as well as our business customers and community partners in sharing our 170th anniversary celebration. The goal was not to just mark the day of our founding but to continue the purpose of those who created this community bank in a unique way. After all, without our customers and community, there would be no us!