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Fidelity Bank continues commitment to fostering inclusion and celebrating differences among colleagues and clients
Bank provides education, employee engagement opportunities to ensure everyone has a voice
(Leominster, Mass.) In a continued commitment to fostering inclusion, celebrating differences, and ensuring everyone has a voice, Fidelity Bank has surpassed new milestones in its inclusion and diversity journey which began when the bank established its Inclusion and Diversity Advisory Board in 2020.
Kara Wiersma, Vice President, Colleague Engagement and Development, Fidelity Bank, said the bank began its inclusion and diversity efforts with a focus internally with colleagues and in the community. Now, as an outcome of recent workshops, the bank’s colleagues can serve its clients with even greater sensitivity and awareness for each individual’s circumstances and perspectives. “The work we are doing is not an add-on at Fidelity Bank, but something that is a part of the values that guide us in all of the work we do,” said Wiersma.
The Inclusion and Diversity Advisory Board consists of bank executives, board members, and members of the community. This gave rise to the formation of an Inclusion and Diversity Employee Council, which is tasked with enhancing the culture through a caring approach to ensure differences celebrated, inclusion and equality is promoted, and all are welcomed and embraced. Roundtable discussions where colleagues are comfortable sharing their unique perspectives and experiences, monthly spotlights on the celebrations of other cultures and communities and learning events for both managers and colleagues to promote a culture of inclusivity, are all part of the inclusion and diversity program.
Fidelity Bank engaged two inclusion and diversity consultants, Angele Goss and Liz Dempsey Lee, to lead colleagues through workshops that provided opportunities to look at banking with cultural humility. “We learned to pause and consider not only each client’s financial perspectives, but why and how these perspectives were formed, before making a recommendation. We want to ensure we are taking into consideration each individual client’s experiences, expectations and needs,” said Wiersma.
“It’s important as we talk about inclusion and diversity that we normalize the conversation, and by having outside consultants who are experts in the field, our colleagues can explore lived experiences in a safe space while learning to enhance our LifeDesign banking approach of providing care, clarity, and confidence in all that we do,” added Wiersma.
In addition to educating colleagues, the bank provides philanthropic support to local non-profit organizations, such as EforAll, Making Opportunity Count, Bottom Line, NoWoCo Pride and the Needham Diversity Initiative, to encourage inclusion and diversity in the communities the bank serves.
“At Fidelity Bank we believe if you value the differences in people, the differences will create value,” said Wiersma. “Whether we are sharing knowledge with our colleagues, caring for our clients or serving our community, all of us at Fidelity Bank are unwavering in our commitment to ensuring all are welcomed and embraced.”
To learn more about the inclusion and diversity efforts at Fidelity Bank, visit www.fidelitybankonline.com/our-people/inclusion-diversity.
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About Fidelity Bank:
Founded in 1888, Fidelity Bank is one of the strongest independent community banks in Central and Eastern Massachusetts. Fidelity Bank’s unique LifeDesign approach to banking provides the care and clarity needed to make informed decisions with confidence. The Bank offers a range of personal and business banking solutions to clients in 13 full-service banking centers in Leominster, Worcester, Fitchburg, Needham, Gardner, Shirley, Barre, Millbury, Paxton, Princeton, and Winchendon. The Bank has consistently earned a “5 Star” rating from BauerFinancial, Inc., the nation’s leading independent bank rating and research firm. Fidelity Bank was the only bank in Central and Western Massachusetts recognized as one of Forbes “America’s Best Banks in Each State 2022,” in addition to being voted Worcester Telegram & Gazette Best Financial Services in Central Massachusetts and placing on the Boston Globe’s Top Places to Work list six times. As of June 30, 2022, the bank had total assets of approximately $1.3 billion. For more information, visit fidelitybankonline.com.
