Easthampton, Massachusetts - Governor Charlie Baker has appointed Matthew S. Sosik to the board of directors of the Massachusetts Housing Partnership (MHP).

Since 2013, Sosik has been President and Chief Executive Officer of Hometown Financial Group (HFG), a $3.0 billion mutual multi-bank holding company based in Easthampton. Under Sosik’s direction, HFG has grown by nearly 300 percent, executing five merger and acquisitions.

HFG is the parent company of three mutual banks - bankESB (formerly Easthampton Savings Bank), Oxford-based bankHometown, and Abington Bank, a merger that was completed in the spring of 2019 and also included the merger of Pilgrim Bank in Marion and Cohasset. Together, these mutual banks serve towns throughout Massachusetts and northeast Connecticut.

“The Baker-Polito Administration is pleased to have Matthew Sosik join the MHP board of directors,” said Secretary of Housing and Economic Development Mike Kennealy. “His insights and experience will be a valuable resource for MHP and our administration as we work to address the availability and affordability of housing across the Commonwealth.”

A native and lifelong resident of Sturbridge, Sosik has a Bachelor of Science in Economics and Finance from Bentley University. After working as a Bank Examiner for the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation for four years, he was named President of Hometown Bank in Oxford in 1997 at the age of 27.

He remained at Hometown Bank for nearly 17 years, growing the bank by almost 1,000 percent. In 2013, he was named President and Chief Executive Officer at bankESB. In 2015, Sosik oversaw the acquisition of his former mutual bank, Hometown Bank. Hometown Financial Group emerged soon after becoming the parent company of the new mutual multi-bank structure.

“While our mutual bank structure has evolved to now serve customers in eastern, central and western Massachusetts, and northeast Connecticut, one of the common factors in each area is the need for affordable housing,” said Sosik. “I’m honored that Governor Baker has named me to the board of directors of MHP, an organization that continues to do so much to help communities create affordable rental housing and homeownership opportunities for families.”

About MHP: MHP works with communities to create innovative policy and financing solutions that provide affordable homes and better lives for the people of Massachusetts. MHP’s community assistance has reached over 300 communities, its bank funds and other capital sources have provided over $1.4 billion for the financing of 26,000 apartments, and its ONE Mortgage Program has partnered with lenders to provide $3.8 million in below-market mortgage financing to help over 21,000 low- and moderate-income buyers purchase their first home. In 2017, MHP created the Center for Housing Data, which collects, analyzes and shares information to drive better housing policies.

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Hometown Financial Group, Inc. is a $3.0 billion mutual multi-bank holding company headquartered in Easthampton, Massachusetts and is the parent company of bankESB, bankHometown and Abington Bank. These separate and distinct banking franchises offer a complete line of consumer and business deposit and lending products through its 32 branches located throughout Massachusetts and northeastern Connecticut. For more information, visit bankhfg.com.

bankESB was founded in 1869 as Easthampton Savings Bank, bankESB is headquartered in Easthampton, Massachusetts and operates 11 branches throughout western Massachusetts. For more information, visit bankesb.com.

bankHometown was founded in 1889 as Hometown Bank, bankHometown is headquartered in Oxford, Massachusetts and operates 15 branches throughout central Massachusetts and northeastern Connecticut. For more information, visit bankhometown.com.

Abington Bank was founded in 1888 and is headquartered in Abington, Massachusetts. Abington Bank operates five additional branches in Avon, Cohasset, Holbrook and Marion. For more information, visit abingtonbank.com.

For more information, please contact:

Hometown Financial Group
Dena M. Hall
Chief Marketing Officer
(413) 779-2215