Doug the Quahog has made his seasonal beach day prediction, fireworks will soon light up the sky and the song of the cicada is being heard for the first time in 17 years on the Upper Cape. And just like that, it’s summertime on Cape Cod!
As we roll out the welcome mat for visitors from around the globe, The Coop team is working diligently to ensure its customers and business clients have access to world-class banking products and services right here on Cape Cod to make this a memorable – and prosperous – season.
I also hope you’ve met Sandy, The Coop’s new virtual banking assistant, which is available 24/7, just look for Sandy in the bottom right corner of your screen when you’re on our website or logged into online banking. Sandy can help you obtain information about products, services, online and mobile banking, branch locations and more.
Sandy can even connect you to the bank’s Customer Assistance team during business hours. When in doubt, just ask Sandy!.
And later this summer, we’ll be rolling out a reimagined online and mobile banking experience, designed to make managing your finances easier and more intuitive—whether you’re on a phone, tablet, or desktop. The new platform will feature:
- Personalized dashboards and insights
- External account linking (credit cards, loans, etc.)
- Financial wellness tools
- Smart alerts and notifications
- Enhanced security and single sign-on access
Stay tuned—more announcements to come soon!
Beware: Another Scam Making the Rounds
Make no mistake – cybercriminals and scam artists do not take summer vacations; in fact, they are working overtime. Please be vigilant not to become a victim of a relatively new scam that is as troubling as its name – “pig butchering.”
The grotesque name of the fraudulent activity refers to how scammers “fatten up” victims over time. Fraudsters build trust and encourage investments before attempting to take large amounts – if not all – of a victim’s money. It’s a long game designed to build trust before the scammer makes their move. The scam unfolds slowly over weeks or even months. It starts with friendly contact, often via text, dating apps, or social media, and gradually earns a target’s trust. Once a connection is made, the scammer introduces what looks like a legitimate – often cryptocurrency – investment platform they control. Victims often see their account balance grow at first, which encourages them to invest more, only to find they cannot withdraw funds when they want to cash out.
These scams are effective because they appear credible, feel personal, and the scammers take the time to build trust before ever mentioning money. Staying alert is the best defense. Be cautious if someone you don’t know steers the conversation toward investments or pressures you to act. Even if a site looks credible, take the time to verify its legitimacy if something feels off or “just not right.”
Please take a moment to read these informative and eye-opening warnings about pig-butchering from the Office of the Inspector General and American Bankers Association.
Click on Image to Learn More.
And if that wasn’t bad enough, we are experiencing an increase in the prolific iPhone text scam regarding funds owed to the Department/Registry of Motor Vehicles – or sometimes even from banks or credit card companies – in several states. Government agencies will never send text messages to collect a debt.
The FBI recently issued a warning to the more than 150 million iPhone users to be vigilant to this scam, delete any related texts and report the fraud attempt at https://www.ic3.gov/.
Now may also be a good time to familiarize yourself with The Coop’s security and fraud prevention guidance at https://www.thecooperativebankofcapecod.com/resources/your-security/.
As always, please do not hesitate to contact The Coop’s customer service team if you have concerns about suspected fraudulent activity. We can be reached at [email protected] or 508.568.3400.
Springtime Celebrations
Spring is always full of celebrations—graduations, weddings, awards and more—and this year was no exception.
I had the honor of presenting the keynote address at the 63rd annual Cape Cod Community College commencement ceremony at the Melody Tent in late May.
Over 500 graduates walked the stage, and they were a true inspiration. Did you know the average CCCC student is 27 years old? That suggests many of the graduates earned their degree while raising children, working at full-time jobs or returning to school after years away. I was so impressed, not only by the students, but by the school and its staff. The college is an educational lifeline for our region, training business leaders, nurses, dental hygienists, aviation technicians, IT professionals, and future entrepreneurs.
A few weeks later, I spoke to the honorees at the annual Cape & Plymouth Business 40 Under 40 awards – including two of our own: Andrea Merianos and Josh Regan.
I look forward to this event every year as we honor the younger members of our community who are making a great impact in our region. They are emerging and established business executives, nonprofit leaders, entrepreneurs, educators, artists, local government officials and tradespeople who represent the next wave of leaders on Cape Cod, the Islands and South Shore.
Congratulations to all!
Meet Katharine Linehan
Please join me in welcoming Katharine Linehan to The Coop in the role Assistant Vice President, Community Relations Officer.
Katharine will be responsible for leading the bank’s corporate giving initiatives and administering The Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod Charitable Foundation Trust.
She joins The Coop from Boston-based State Street Corporation, where she served in senior management positions for more than 15 years. A resident of Cotuit, Katharine also volunteers with WE CAN, a local nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering women, and serves a scholarship reviewer for the Cape Cod Foundation.
Welcome, Katharine!
Summer College Interns Arrive at The Coop
The next generation of banking industry all-stars has reported for duty for summer internships at The Coop.
Working with summer college interns is a tradition at the bank, and our team welcomes the opportunity to provide an enriching educational experience to students interested in banking and financial services careers.
Joining us this summer are:
- Mackenzie Bernhardt (University of New Hampshire)
- Sean Bigos (Bryant University)
- Emma Coonan (College of the Holy Cross)
- Nils Idman (University of Massachusetts)
- Mike Monopoli (Ithaca College)
- Matt Quan (University of New Hampshire)
- Dylan Smith (Merrimack College)
- Peyton VanDorpe (Dickinson College)
- Michelle Wu (Babson College)
This talented group will be working throughout the bank, including our retail banking, cash management and general operations organizations.
Since joining The Coop nearly eight years ago, I’ve had the opportunity to meet nearly 100 summer college interns, and it is always a pleasure to work with such inspired students and follow their paths to successful and rewarding careers.
To our intern Class of 2025 – enjoy your summer at The Coop and have some fun on Cape Cod, too!
Community Banks as Catalysts
Lee Ann Hesse, The Coop’s Executive Vice President and Chief Engagement Officer, recently wrote an op-ed for Banker & Tradesman, a top industry publication in Massachusetts.
In her piece, Lee Ann explores how true community banks—like The Coop—must be agents of change in the communities they serve, through meaningful relationships, philanthropy, volunteerism, and deep understanding of local needs.
I encourage you to read the article Be the Change You Want to See – Banker & Tradesman.
As my fall retirement approaches, I treasure every opportunity to interact with bank customers and look forward to providing another update in a few weeks.
In the meantime, enjoy all that a traditional Cape Cod summer has to offer and make lots of memories. And, as the Fourth of July weekend approaches, please remember to shop local and support the small business community that powers the regional economy year-round.
Best Regards,
Lisa
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