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Cathy Mercado is a long-time resident of Lowell and the Executive Director of the Lowell-based Merrimack Valley Housing Partnership (MVHP). As the leader of MVHP, her mission is to create more home ownership in her community. “Lowell is one of the stepping stones for the migrant community,” she told us. “But we don’t want people to move away. We want them to stay forever.” In addition to providing first-time homebuyer education and advocating for public housing and home ownership for low- and middle-income families, MVHP is actively working with developers to create more affordable housing in Lowell.
“We had been working with a community bank for years,”
Cathy said. "They were very helpful to us and we felt very comfortable with them. I used to just walk in there and sit down with the bank President and chat with him. Then we found out that our community bank was going to merge with a much larger bank and I was afraid of what that might mean for MVHP as well as the larger community. It made everyone feel uncertain and uneasy, so we decided to explore other banking options."
"We had already had some exposure to Northern Bank because one of their Loan Officers, Donna, had partnered with us to host our first-time homebuyer classes and she did an amazing job,"
Cathy explained. "So, when we started thinking about moving our accounts to another bank, we decided to look more closely at Northern Bank."
"One thing we discovered right away is Northern Bank is very much a community bank and that's exactly what we wanted. When they came in to meet with us, the first thing they said was, 'how can we work together and partner together?' Their team has really showed up for our community. They are making connections. They are doing the work. They are meeting people where they are at. Lowell is a city where people take notice if you're not involved. We see Northern Bank at every event supporting our community and local small businesses."
"We have already moved some of our accounts over to Northern Bank, Cathy continued, "and I have to say I love the simplicity of their online banking platform. It is so user friendly."
"The white glove service we get there is exactly what we hoped for. They're not pushy or salesy, just friendly and down to earth. They take the time to listen to us, get to know us and collaborate with us. That makes me feel heard and gives me a sense of security that I can trust them to always have our best interests at heart."
"I tell people that Northern Bank is a bank everyone should look at, because they truly are there whenever you need them and that's what I want as a customer, a bank that makes me feel like part of the family."
Cathy Mercado is passionate about growing the community of Lowell, the city she grew up in and proudly serves. She has worked for the Merrimack Valley Housing Partnership for 11 years, getting her first introduction to the organization as a participant in a first-time home buyers class. Today, she is the Executive Director of MVHP, where she is helping her community thrive by providing programs and services designed to make home ownership affordable and available to all Lowell residents. She also serves on the board of many local organizations in Lowell and partners with the Lowell Housing Authority and other entities in the community.
After 14 years of teaching at Puddle Duck Day School, Brittany Lupo had the opportunity to take over as owner. With her business degree and deep passion for education, she just needed a partner who understands small businesses and the best financing options available to make ownership a reality.
When a 25-year-old entrepreneur walked across the street from his auto repair shop to make daily deposits, he had no idea he was beginning a partnership that would span four decades. Jim Welch's journey from accounting student to successful automotive business owner illustrates how the right banking relationship becomes more than financial support. It becomes the foundation for sustained growth, unwavering trust, and generational success.
When his town's independent bookstore closed, Paul Swydan connected his entrepreneurial roots with his media background to create something new. Within just ten months, The Silver Unicorn Bookstore opened its doors—transforming both Paul's career path and his community's access to literature.
Contact us now to learn more about how Northern Bank can help you realize your goals and dreams.