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STEVE GURIN OF BAR HARBOR BANK & TRUST RECEIVES SBA AWARD

January 14, 2016

 Ellsworth, Maine – Steve Gurin, SVP & Team Lead/Business Banking, received the first ever STAR (Special Thanks for Achievement Reward) award from the Maine District SBA Office at the SBA Lender Awards Ceremony in Waterville on November 17, 2015.  The SBA Maine District office in conjunction with SCORE Maine hosted the Annual Lender Awards Ceremony to honor Maine’s top performing SBA lenders for fiscal year 2015. 

 “This award was given to Steve for going above and beyond in assisting a company with obtaining SBA Financing. This was an out of the ordinary deal, taking extra effort for loan approval through the use of SBA programs. This loan helped retain a local business, saving local jobs. Steve exhibited tenacity and hard work. He thought outside the box and persisted even when faced with obstacles,” said Marilyn Geroux, Maine’s SBA District Director.

 “The Special Thanks for Achievement Reward (STAR) award was developed to recognize the extra effort it takes at times to get an SBA loan approved, especially those less than ordinary deals, and to recognize an individual who has worked exceptionally hard to help one of our businesses through the use of SBA programs,” said Seth Goodall, SBA’s Region 1 Administrator.

 Steve Gurin worked for more than six months with the Maine District Office, SBA Headquarters in Washington, DC, as well as a multitude of outside resources to figure out a way to structure the loans, which a Maine based company needed.   This financing allowed the employees of the business to buy out an exiting owner and to keep the business operating on the coast of Maine saving jobs that otherwise probably would have moved out of state. 

 In addition to this  one sizable loan, Steve has worked on a multitude of equally important deals with the Business Banking team at Bar Harbor Bank & Trust, producing a 47% annual increase in the number of SBA loans and 145% increase in SBA dollars approved in 2015 as compared to 2014. 

 “Steve’s tenacity and willingness to think outside the standard lending box to get a deal structured in a way that meets the small business’s need while still qualifying for an SBA Guaranty and his ‘never say die’ attitude when faced with some pretty significant obstacles earned him this STAR Award,” said Goodall.

 The Maine District Office thanked Steve for his hard work and willingness to go above and beyond in not only helping GAC Chemical’s transition to an employee owned company through the use of the SBA’s 7(a) Loan Guaranty Program, but also for all the other SBA loans which are  so important to our local small businesses.  

 Steve Gurin, VP/Team Leader of Regional Business Banking joined Bar Harbor Bank & Trust in 2014.  His office is located in the Ellsworth branch at 125 High Street.  With more than 25 years experience in the commercial banking and secured lending industries, Steve is committed to the success of the people and small businesses in the local community.  He has underwritten a broad mix of loan types across a diverse industry base and uses all of this experience to help small business owners reach their goals.  Steve started his career in Philadelphia, participating in PNC Bank’s 18-month credit training program.  He spent the next six years with their small business and asset-based lending divisions.  For the next 10 years Steve worked for finance companies in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, providing financing to the healthcare industry.  About 10 years ago, he moved to Vermont to work for Community National Bank as Regional VP, providing financing to small businesses.   Most recently Steve worked as SVP/Business Banking Sales Leader for Key Bank in Vermont. Steve received his bachelor’s degree in economics from Denison University and his MBA in finance from St. Joseph’s University.  He is a graduate of ABA’s Stonier Graduate School of Banking and the Vermont Leadership Institute.  In the community Steve volunteered with the Central Vermont Economic Development Corporation, Vermont Education and Health Buildings Finance Agency, and Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital Board of Corporators.  A lifelong member of the Downeast summer community, Steve, his wife and their daughter are now living on Mount Desert Island on a year round basis.  In addition to spending time with family, his personal interests include sailing, hiking and skiing.

 Please join us in congratulating Steve Gurin of Bar Harbor Bank & Trust on this well-earned award.

 Bar Harbor Bank & Trust is a true community bank with more than $1.5 billion in assets.  Founded in 1887, the Bank offers a full range of financial services for individuals, businesses, and non-profit organizations throughout Maine with 15 branch locations, from Topsham to Lubec. Bar Harbor Bank & Trust, Member FDIC, is a subsidiary of Bar Harbor Bankshares (NYSE MKT:BHB) and was named one of the 2014 Best Places to Work in Maine and one of the 2015 Top 200 Publicly Traded Community Banks in the nation by American Banker magazine. For more information call 1-888-853-7100 or go to www.bhbt.com.

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