South Shore Bank - Ambassadors story

South Shore Bank Prioritizes Small Businesses in a Way Other Banks Can’t

At U.S. Bank, we’re committed to positive change. The best way to honor our past and build a brighter future, is by standing up together today.

Over the last two decades, the consolidation of many smaller banks has

resulted in a banking system no longer representative of the needs of individual communities. Banking often feels impersonal and disconnected from the communities they serve. This trend neglects the fact that this country was built on partnerships between small businesses and community banks. These necessary ties foster the relationships that help bind communities together. While banking relationships are seemingly becoming less-personal across the country, they’re very much alive in New England, where South Shore Bank continues to invest in the Greater Boston-area communities it serves. South Shore Bank offers small businesses of all kinds the type of personal service and dedicated support.

Two area restaurants that partnered with South Shore Bank — Cheever Tavern in Norwell and Sullivan’s Castle Island, whose Hanover Crossing location opens this Spring — showcase how advantageous banking with a community bank can be. When the Sullivan family decided to expand their beloved Sullivan’s Castle Island brand to Hanover, they knew partnering with a community bank was the best choice because they’ve been serving their own community since the flagship location opened in 1951.

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From our very first conversation, we knew we were in good hands and making the switch to South Shore Bank was an easy one.”

“From our very first conversation with Heather Wilson, Relationship Manager at South Shore Bank, we knew we were in good hands and making the switch to South Shore Bank was an easy one,” recalls Adrienne Sullivan, owner-operator of Sullivan’s Castle Island and part of the fourth generation of owner-operators of this iconic family restaurant. “Heather actually listened to what our goals were and provided solutions tailored to our needs and not the lip service we were receiving at the larger institutions where they treat businesses like us as a commodity to move around their balance sheet.” Sullivan explains how frustration with global banking institutions led Sullivan’s Castle Island to find a new banking partner. While its partnership with South Shore Bank may be rather new, in South Shore Bank, Sullivan found a community bank reflective of how the company leadership has operated its business for more than seven decades, where customers come first and employees enjoy a supportive working environment.

-Adrienne Sullivan, owner-operator of Sullivan’s Castle Island

“The major philosophical differences between a family-run restaurant business like ours and the franchises are ingrained in Sullivan’s family history,” she explains. “We don’t answer to any other stakeholders other than our employees and guests and are constantly putting our resources back into the business.” Sullivan describes how generous benefit packages and respectful, equitable treatment of employees is part of her goal to stand out in an industry often criticized for poor employer-employee relations. “We like to say we don’t just hire the person; we hire the family. Happy team members create a great environment and turn first time customers into repeat guests.” For the Hanover Crossing location, Sullivan’s Castle Island is embracing a new concept for the 70-year-old business: seating for over 170 guests, with table service and carefully curated food and drink menu. It was a major undertaking for the family-run business, one that required hands-on support from South Shore Bank.

“South Shore Bank has been partnered with us from the initial concept of the Hanover Crossing,” says Sullivan, “from location to construction to keeping us secure in knowing we have the capital to open the doors to the public this Spring. When construction delays due to supply chain issues and the inflationary environment threatened, we’ve had to pivot many times. But once Heather provided us with the full lifecycle of solutions, she backed that up with the full support of every functional area within South Shore Bank, from the local branch managers to the commercial lending department to the CEO of South Shore Bank. They are truly fully committed to the community and success at every level and in every town they do business with.” For Mike Sheehan, former CEO of the Boston Globe who is now the owner-operator of Cheever Tavern, working with South Shore Bank to open the restaurant during COVID was the latest link in a long-term relationship spanning back to a time when his father sat on the bank’s board. His friendly, no-frills approach reflects a life spent building relationships and fostering successful businesses, from his time as CEO of advertising giant Hill Holliday to his new role as restauranter.

“I’ve been a customer of South Shore Bank, and its predecessor, since I was 16,” recalls Sheehan. “My father taught me that it makes a difference who you align yourself with. It’s important to work with a bank that knows and supports the community.”

My father taught me that it makes a difference who you align yourself with. It’s important to work with a bank that knows and supports the community.”

-Mike Sheehan, owner-operator of Cheever Tavern

Located just steps from John Cheever’s final resting place near Norwell’s town square, Sheehan envisioned Cheever Tavern as the community gathering place Norwell was missing since the previous bar at this location closed. “Going to a local restaurant is a communal event,” says Sheehan. “You don’t get that community vibe when you go to a chain restaurant.” Nor, he says, do you get that vibe from a large bank where the service is often impersonal. In contrast, South Shore Bank staff knows its customers intimately and can provide highly tailored financial services and personalized customer service while also having the resources of a major bank to ensure the community they serve thrives. When you partner with a community bank like South Shore Bank, you know your money is being reinvested back into your community. You can’t say the same thing for all banking institutions. In Sheehan’s case, South Shore Bank provided the capital for kitchen equipment that helped Cheever Tavern open at one of the most challenging times for restaurants.

“South Shore Bank is accountable to our community,” says Sheehan, who has been a South Shore Bank Director since 2012, succeeding his father who had served since 1972. “Small businesses that employ 25 to 30 people have a large footprint in a small community like ours. There’s a qualitative aspect to dealing with a community bank — especially one like South Shore Bank that supports a lot of community organizations — that is a profound differentiator between it and large, publicly traded banks.” Both Sullivan and Sheehan agree, community is the reason they’re in business and a big reason why they partner with South Shore Bank. “It’s all about community,” says Sheehan. “It was the impetus of doing the restaurant. It’s only fitting I’d use our community bank.” If you’re looking to banking with an institution whose focus and priorities are on you and your community, South Shore Bank invites you to come partner with a community bank.