April 7, 2013
James Curran: Commercial Regional Leader & Senior Vice President, Berkshire Bank, Westborough
Matt Volpini
James Curran has worked in the Central Massachusetts banking sector for nearly three decades.
Like many longtime bankers, some of the banks he worked for no longer exist, having been acquired by larger institutions over the years.
Most recently a regional commercial lending manager in Worcester and Hartford for Sovereign Bank, Curran's new role is to lead the charge into MetroWest for a bank that, until recently, didn't have a presence here.
Off To A Good Start
Pittsfield-based Berkshire Bank, which opened a lending office in Westborough in late 2011 and will open a retail branch on the Northborough-Westborough line on Route 9 later this year, is targeting a region it sees as desirable. Berkshire is leveraging not only Curran's experience and lending relationships in Central Massachusetts and MetroWest, but those of the team he brought with him from Sovereign's regional headquarters in downtown Worcester.
"There aren't a lot of cohesive teams that have been together for so long, and I consider myself blessed that that's happened to me over the years," Curran said.
The team had a good first full year in Westborough, Curran said.
"I don't want to call it a home run, but we had a very good 2012 and expect to be as successful in 2013 and beyond that," he said.
Loyal Following
Curran describes the MetroWest lending market as very competitive. Berkshire is competing mainly with TD Bank, Bank of America, Citizens Bank and yes, his former employer, Sovereign.
Helping the situation are longtime clients who switched to Berkshire, he said.
Among them is Leaktite Corp. of Leominster, which makes rigid plastic containers. CFO Russ Brillon said his company has banked with Curran since the beginning of his banking career in the early 1980s.
"It was really Jim that drew us to make the change," Brillon said. "He's a professional, he's modest, ethical and has a strength of character that makes you want to do business with his team."
Having golfed several times with Curran, Brillon can also attest to his skills on the course. Curran, a longtime member at Oak Hill Country Club in Fitchburg, said he whittled his handicap down to a two last year. It's information he seems a bit reluctant to share.
"You know what they say: If you're a two, you're not working, if you're a 38, you're a sandbagger," Curran said.
For now, Berkshire's commercial lending team is based out of an office on Lyman Street, but later this year will take space in a former Friendly's restaurant on the westbound side of Route 9, where renovations are expected to begin soon.
Curran hopes the prominent location will send the message that Berkshire is committed to the area.
Curran has seen a lot of changes in banking during his career, from technology to new products and procedures.
He said if he could have his way, the industry would once again fund the training programs that launched him into banking nearly 30 years ago. That means fewer young bankers waiting in the wings.
"I think the model needs to change," he said. "It's another reason you will probably continue to see (industry) consolidation." n
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