THORA COWPERTHWAITE JOINS ROCKVILLE BANK IN ELLINGTON

William (Bill) H. W. Crawford, IV, President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Rockville Bank and Rockville Financial, Inc. (RCKB) has announced the hiring of Thora Cowperthwaite from New Alliance Bank (now First Niagara). Ms. Cowperthwaite joins Rockville Bank as Assistant Vice President and Branch Manager of the Ellington, Conn. branch at 12 Main Street.

Ms. Cowperthwaite is a well-known, local community banker with more than 25 years in the banking industry. She headed New Alliance Bank’s Vernon, Conn. branch on Talcottville Road for the past 17 years, starting when it still was First Federal Savings & Loan; it was acquired by New Alliance Bank in 2004.

“I’m so excited to be part of a community bank like Rockville Bank, especially after working for 25 years with four different banks due to mergers,” explained Ms. Cowperthwaite. “Rockville Bank really ‘gets it’. They appreciate their customers and employees and it is the right place for me. “I can’t wait to get to know existing Rockville Bank customers and introduce new customers to a happier way to bank,” adds Ms. Cowperthwaite. “I’m excited about visiting local business owners who appreciate this kind of personal service.”

“Ms. Cowperthwaite brings a wealth of banking knowledge and great passion for the communities she serves, and a genuine interest in going the extra mile for her customers,” stated Rockville Bank and Rockville Financial President and CEO William (Bill) H. W. Crawford, IV. “I’m glad that Thora is now part of our Rockville family. Her customers trust and count on her. We are very fortunate to have someone with her talent and experience on our Rockville team.”

Ms. Cowperthwaite is heavily involved in the local community. She is President of the Tolland County Chamber of Commerce and is the first person ever elected to serve a two-year term in that position. A member of the Connecticut Business Network, she also belongs to Rockville Rotary, which serves Rockville, Ellington and Tolland.

A graduate of the Connecticut Bankers Association’s Connecticut School of Finance and Management, Ms. Cowperthwaite has lived in Vernon, Conn. for more than 22 years with her husband, Patrick, and three children.

Rockville Bank is a 21½-branch community bank serving Tolland, Hartford, and New London counties in Connecticut. It provides a convenient banking lifestyle for Colchester, Coventry, East Windsor, Ellington, Enfield, Glastonbury, Manchester, Rockville, Somers, South Glastonbury, South Windsor, Suffield, Vernon, seven days a week in Tolland, and three Big Y supermarket locations. A New Haven County Commercial Banking Office is now open and located at 2319 Whitney Avenue in Hamden, Conn. to provide an array of commercial products and services for businesses located in New Haven County and surrounding areas. For more information about Rockville Bank’s services and products, call (860) 291-3600 or visit www.rockvillebank.com.