We are thrilled to announce that HarborOne Bank has signed on as a $5,000 sponsor of the South Boston Street Festival.

HarborOne Bank, located at 14 W. Broadway, opened in May 2021. When the branch became a member of the South Boston Chamber of Commerce, and Alba Shaba, assistant vice president, heard about the Street Festival, she knew the bank had to be part of it. A resident of South Boston since 2007, Alba is proud to call Southie home. “South Boston is all about community.” And so is HarborOne. 

“We want to let people know that we’re here to help them,” Alba said. “We want to help them grow and achieve their financial goals.”

"We welcome HarborOne to South Boston and appreciate their commitment to assisting small businesses in the community through their generous Street Festival partnership, as well as their small business programming," said Donna Brown, executive director of South Boston Neighborhood Development Corporation.

“Giving back is important to HarborOne,” said Alba, who personally volunteers at the Pine Street Inn and with Cradles to Crayons. For more than a century, HarborOne has been committed to its customers, its communities, and its colleagues. 

As an organization HarborOne typically contributes more than $1.5 million a year in local community support and scholarships. “It’s all about the community,” Alba said. “It’s about helping and being a true partner.”

To that end, the newest branch of HarborOne made a $10,000 “Community Promise” to South Boston. For the first 100 new deposit accounts opened at the Southie branch, HarborOne donated $100 (up to $10,000) to “About Fresh,” an organization that operates retrofitted school buses as mobile markets to bring fresh food to neighborhoods across Boston.

HarborOne is holding its “6th Annual Small Business Pitch Contest,” where small business owners and entrepreneurs looking to launch a new product or service, or expand an existing product or service, can pitch their idea for a chance to win $10,000. The first-place winners of the 2020 Pitch Contest happen to be the owners of the popular South Boston eatery LuLu Green on West Broadway.

“HarborOne U,” a division of the bank devoted to financial education, provides a variety of programs, including classes for first-time business owners with topics such as credit, lending, how to start a business, how to build your business. After completing the recorded classes, business owners can apply for a $5,000 line of credit. 

“Most big banks can’t do what we do, unless you’re an established business,” said Alba, noting this mid-sized bank offers all the services as large banks. “I’ve worked in many different banks and the programs and classes we offer truly make us unique. It’s one of the top reasons new customers choose to bank and stay with us.”

The HarborOne Foundation invests in nonprofit organizations that create positive and lasting change in local communities. The HarborOne Caring Crew donates thousands of volunteer hours each year in every market where the bank serves customers. The bank also offers individual $5,000 college scholarships to graduating high school seniors through its OneCommunity Scholarship program.

The South Boston location is the 27th branch of the bank that serves Massachusetts and Rhode Island. HarborOne has been recognized by Forbes for three years as best bank in Massachusetts.

 “I encourage our local residents to check us out. Give us a chance to serve you and assist you with anything you need,” Alba said. The new South Boston branch features state-of-the-art ITM machines, which are like an ATM with additional benefits such as the ability to connect via video screen with a live banker.

“I’ve been in banking for 16 years,” said Alba, who graduated from Northeastern University with a degree in business management and has worked at other banks on Broadway. “It’s amazing to be part of this unique bank and this community.”

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Aug. 31 is the deadline for HarborOne Bank’s 6th Annual Small Business Pitch Contest so get your application in now! Small business owners and entrepreneurs looking to launch a new product or service, or expand an existing product or service, are invited to participate in the contest for a chance to win $10,000.

For more information and to apply, visit https://www.harborone.com/small-business-pitch-contest-ma.