Adams Community, Co-Op Becoming 'Trailmark Bank'

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ADAMS, Mass. — The combined Adams Community Bank and Pittsfield Cooperative Bank will be known as Trailmark Bank, according to a joint statement issued on Wednesday. 
 
The new logo is the imprint of a hiking boot designed to reflect the unique character of the Berkshires, where a network of trails run throughout the entire county, connecting towns from Adams to Pittsfield to Great Barrington and linking communities across mountains, valleys, and scenic ridgelines. 
 
"The trails that weave through the Berkshires create shared experiences and remind us that every journey begins with a single step," said Julie Fallon Hughes, CEO of the combined institution. "Trailmark Bank reflects both where we come from and where we're headed. We are proud to be a bank built by people who believe in staying the course, investing in our communities, and helping our customers make their mark for years to come."
 
These paths — including the Appalachian Trail and countless local routes — have long served as both physical and symbolic connections across the region. They represent movement, resilience, and the shared experience of navigating forward together.
 
With nearly 300 years of combined service, Trailmark Bank will build on the legacies of Adams Community Bank and Pittsfield Cooperative Bank. The new name honors that shared history while signaling a forward-looking future — one rooted in local decision-making, strong relationships, and continued investment in the communities it serves.
 
"As someone who grew up in the Berkshires, this name resonates deeply," said Gregg Levante, president. "Trailmark Bank reflects the character of this region — hard-working, resilient, and grounded in the outdoors and community. These trails have connected our towns for generations, and in many ways, that's what we’re doing here — bringing people together and helping them navigate their financial journeys."
 
In a message to customers, Adams Community stated there will be no immediate changes to accounts, services, branch locations, online banking, or debit cards. The two banks will continue operating separately until the planned merger later this year. Bank officials say they will communicate any future changes well in advance.
 
"We will continue to be a community-focused bank dedicated to the people, families, businesses, and organizations that make the Berkshires such a special place to live and work,"  Fallon Hughes said in the customer message. 
 
Trailmark Bank will operate as a mutual banking organization with approximately $1.5 billion in assets, nearly 200 employees, and full-service branches serving communities across Berkshire County. The bank will remain locally focused, with decisions made in the Berkshires and a continued commitment to supporting local businesses, families, and nonprofit organizations. Trailmark Bank is a subsidiary of Community Bancorp of the Berkshires, MHC.
 
Additional details including branding, products and materials will be introduced in phases leading up to the completion of the merger, expected later in 2026, pending regulatory approvals. Until that time, both banks will continue to operate independently, with no immediate changes to customer accounts or services.
 
The merger and name are subject to customary state, federal and governance regulatory approvals.

Tags: adams community bank,   logos,   merger,   pittsfield cooperative bank,   

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State, Local Leaders Celebrate Funding Boost For Ashuwillticook Rail Trail Extension

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff

ADAMS, Mass. — State officials and local leaders kicked up their kickstands and took a ride along the final stretch of the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail on Thursday to celebrate new investments in rural communities.

Federal Funds and Infrastructure Office (FFIO) Director Quentin Palfrey joined local leaders, including State Rep. John Barrett III and Berkshire Regional Planning Commission (BRPC) Executive Director Laura Brennan, in Adams to highlight the newest round of FFIO funding. The grant will provide BRPC with $64,700 in state funds to help advance the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail expansion.

"When Governor Healey came into office, one of her big day-one commitments was to make sure that Massachusetts was fighting for every dollar possible coming out of Washington," Palfrey said, speaking about FFIO, a program created in 2023 to help the state aggressively pursue and coordinate federal funding opportunities.

This builds on a $17.3 million federal award secured last year for the project, dubbed the A2A project, which supports the design of a 9.3-mile shared-use path connecting the existing Ashuwillticook Rail Trail to the Williamstown Mohican Path.

"One of the things that she emphasized to me when we set up the Federal Funds and Infrastructure Office was that we need to make sure that these resources not only come into Massachusetts, but benefit all of Massachusetts," Palfrey added.

The additional $64,700 will allow BRPC to gather information about transportation needs in northern Berkshire County to help inform the design of the trail expansion. BRPC will partner with Williams College and Luminary Evaluation, LLC to use the University of Michigan's Transportation Security Index (TSI).

Brennan said BRPC will deploy a 16-question survey that will allow them "to research local and regional perspectives and surface the needs of our neighbors when it comes to transportation in the Berkshires."

"The best-case scenario would be if the survey turned up results that all needs are met and that everyone has access to the places and the things that they need to travel to – but we know that is not true," Brennan said. "We know that folks in Berkshire struggle to get to their place of employment, to be able to access important medical appointments, [and] other engagements. So, the transportation security index is going to help us really hone in on those specific needs, identify pockets of needs or areas where there is a strong concentration or depth of need."

She said FFIO's investment offers a "wonderful augmentation" to BRPC's current plans for the bike trail extension. It's also an investment that will make the region more competitive for other transportation opportunities.

"This is an incredibly multifaceted and valuable investment, and we deeply appreciate it," she said.

Barrett said these investments drive growth in the Berkshires.

"I've always found that if you're going to grow an area, you grow with what you have here to grow. You don't bring something in. We have a natural beauty. We have an environment that's second to none, and that's what we are going to grow on," he said.

Barrett said that in the First Berkshire District alone, 4,000 new people moved to the area.

"We're seeing that migration here. They're going to have activities. They're going to have jobs, and we're going to have a great educational system that goes with it with our two colleges that are here," he said.

Palfrey said it was clear during the initial creation of FFIO that federal funding often went to wealthier and more urban communities with larger planning departments and greater access to consultants. He added that FFIO helps reverse this trend and get projects in rural communities off the ground.

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