Manchester, NH-June 6, 2006-St. Mary's Bank is pleased to announce the appointment of Thomas Champagne to director of community outreach.

In his new role, Champagne leads and supports St. Mary's Bank's community outreach programs, events and other marketing initiatives. He manages outreach-related public relations and represents the credit union in the community. One of his primary goals is to work with area businesses and non-profit organizations to further St. Mary's Bank's mission of meeting the financial needs of the underserved in Greater Manchester.

The creation of Champagne's position demonstrates St. Mary's Bank's ongoing commitment to community outreach. The credit union currently offers eight different outreach programs, including home ownership, family emergency and community development loan programs. Last year, St. Mary's bank devoted $9.5 million to its home ownership program alone.

Champagne assumes his new position after almost a year as St. Mary's Bank's director of business development and marketing. Champagne has over 20 years of marketing, sales and business development experience in the financial services and high-technology fields. Prior to joining St. Mary's Bank, Champagne was a marketing manager at Wakefield Thermal Solutions, Inc. He has also held positions as a sales manager at Fleet Bank and as a marketing manager at Bank One NH Asset Management Corp.

Champagne holds a bachelor of science degree from the University of New Hampshire and a master's degree in business administration from Southern New Hampshire University. He is a resident of Bow.