Community

Where You Bank Matters

 

Why We Give Back. Without you, there would be no ‘US’! Our long term success would NOT be possible without a vibrant community. Did you know Ulster Savings is 1 of 449 remaining mutual savings banks in the United States? In New York State, we are 1 of only 26 remaining mutual savings banks. What does that mean? Unlike big banks, mutual savings banks have no stockholders, therefore our profits stay local and are reinvested back into the community in a variety of ways

Where We Give. We support non-profit organizations in the communities we serve, with an emphasis on helping causes our employees are directly engaged with. The majority of our management team serves on local non-profit and economic development boards and employees donate their time and effort to various causes throughout the Hudson Valley.

Overall Impact. Ulster Savings is a leader in charitable giving year after year. We give back through the bank’s community donations program and our Charitable Foundation. The bank and it's foundation have donated over $15 million since the foundation's formation in 2001 in honor of the bank's 150th anniversary. 

2024 Community Impact:

  • $810,581 given to our community
  • 5,448 hours volunteered by employees
  • $11,844 donated to Jeans for Charity by employees
  • 454 non-profit organizations heped
  • 250 toys collected for Toy-for-Tots
  • 80 bags of coats collected
  • $45,357,179 in loans approved for firts-time homebuyers
  • $2,846,565 in grants funded for homebuyers
  • $45,000 in credits given to homebuyers
 

Community Matters to US.

With deep roots in the Hudson Valley, we understand the value of caring about the communities we serve. Supporting local is at the heart of everything we do and no local community bank does it better than US. Whether it’s through monetary donations, collecting needed items, or volunteering our time.

Leap of Kindness Day

In the past two months, 500 gift cards totaling $13,000 were given to members of the community to help pay it forward. We’ve heard some heartwarming stories such as cards given out at grocery stores and gas stations. And two cards went to a local student to assist her in attending an aerospace program, helping her achieve her goal of becoming an astronaut! We’re sure there are many untold stories too! Glad to be a part of Leap of Kindness Day.

USB Employees with Pay it Forward envelopes

Financial Literacy Program Graduates

We launched our first community-based Financial Literacy Program in collaboration with the Center for Creative Education and their SPICE program. The program is designed to equip members of the community with the critical knowledge and skills needed to make strong financial decisions. On February 22, 2024, 22 women graduated the inaugural class with a celebration honoring their individual successes which was held at the bank’s main location in Kingston.

Graduates holding certificates

Wrapping Anemones to Help Fundraise

A big thank you too all our employees who volunteered to help the Mental Health Association in Ulster County  wrap anemones to complete fundraiser orders at our Kingston headquarters. We appreciate everything our employees do for our community.

USB employees wrapping anemones

Ulster County Chamber of Commerce Breakfast

We always look forward to starting the year sponsoring the January breakfast with the Ulster County Regional Chamber of Commerce. Every attendee received a special surprise with our "Acts of Kindness" debit card giveaway to pay it forward! Community Matters!

Chamber attendees in front of USB Community Banners

Red Cross Blood Drive

A big thank you to everyone who came out to the blood drive to contribute life-saving donations to the Red Cross earlier this week. Seeing the community come together for such a good cause warms our hearts. We are happy to say that they achieved their donation goal and exceeded it, thanks to your help!

Red Cross Nurse Volunteer

Veterans Luncheon

We hosted our annual Ulster County Veteran Services Agency Veteran’s Luncheon, this Thursday, June 22, 2023, at noon.  As always thanks to all out Ulster Savings volunteers for making our guests feel welcome and appreciated. Thank you to all the members of the military who have served our country honorably, and the families that support them!

Veterans enjoying lunch in Ulster Savings Training Room

Shredding Day

On June 16 we were pleased to welcome our community for a shredding event at our Schwenk Drive, Kingston location. Legal Shred shredded over two tons of paper! In the process, we saved over 35 trees from being cut down and helped the community we serve prevent identity theft. Thank you to everyone who joined us.

Legal Shred Truck

Woodstock Community Appreciation Day

On Friday, June 2 our Woodstock branch held their annual Community Appreciation Day BBQ. We celebrated our community with free hot dogs, hamburgers, and sno cones. Many local vendors and artists joined us for the festivities of the day. Thank you to all our volunteers who made the day a success.

John Finch Flipping Burgers

Blood Drive

On Saturday, May 20 we partnered with the Kingston Rotary for their annual Day of Service and hosted an American Red Cross Blood Drive at our Schwenk Drive location in Kingston.Thank you to community members, USB employees and Kingston Rotarians who donated 30 pints of blood.

Bill Donating Blood

Clean Sweep

On May 8 we were happy to take part in the annual Kingston Clean Sweep hosted by the Friends of Historic Kingston. This non-profit teaches about Kingston's history, by preserving and maintaining its culture and architecture.

USB employees cleaning uptown Kingston

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