Celebrate 150 Years of Serving You, with Us!
Stop in June 2-7 at any branch to enjoy special offers, sweet treats, and fun giveaways. PLUS, enter a raffle where each branch is giving away a $150 gift card to a local business!
Our History
When Guilford Savings Bank was first established in 1875, one newspaper gave it a fleeting mention, in a list of news briefs that included a 13-year-old boy being the best target shooter in Stamford. It could hardly have been expected that this new institution would endure for a century and a half.
The bank started out in humble accommodations in Guilford, sharing space with the Monroe Store. Beverly Monroe, who ran the store, did double duty as Guilford Savings Bank’s first treasurer and kept a safe in the back for deposits. The building now houses Page Hardware, and the vault is still there!
Our Growth
As we reach our milestone 150th anniversary, the bank has gone through many changes. From that single vault, we’ve grown to eight locations along the Connecticut shoreline. We’ve entered the 21st century with a full range of digital banking products, allowing us to reach customers well beyond our original footprint. We went through a reorganization in 2019 to become a mutual holding company, and rebranded to GSB in 2022.
Our Future
We’re now about to embark on one of our most momentous changes yet. Following a merger with Eastern Connecticut Savings Bank, we’ll be extending our community banking services to even more customers. In recognition of this new chapter in our history, we’ll be adopting a new name — Ascend Bank — to reflect our growth and our goal of helping customers reach new financial heights.
While our name is changing, our commitment to exceptional community banking remains steadfast.
Supporting our Community
Local town figures and business owners, hailing from East Haven and Westbrook and everywhere in between, founded GSB with the idea of ensuring that there would be a safe, trusted institution for people to keep their savings. They wanted a place where businesses and farmers could get the loans they needed to grow and succeed. They knew that if the bank could provide these services, then the whole region would thrive.
Bringing Meaningful Change
Today, GSB continues that proud commitment to giving back to the communities we serve. Through strong partnerships and well-funded endowments, we’ve helped community foundations to meet the most pressing needs in local towns and cities. Our employees have brought their knowledge to students throughout the region, teaching them financial literacy skills that will be crucial for their success later in life. We’ve supported more than 100 local nonprofits through donations and volunteer efforts.
We look forward to expanding our support to new partners in the next 150 years.
This is one of the most important parts of our work, and we’re committed to continuing it!
Disclosure:
*150th Anniversary Week Giveaway – $150 gift card will be raffled at each GSB Branch. The Sweepstakes sponsor is GSB (“Sponsor”), located at One Park Street, Guilford, CT 06437. Must be 18 years or older to participate. Odds of winning are based on the number of sweepstakes participants. A total of one (8) $150 prize will be issued. Individuals may enter two ways: 1. In any Branch: Stop in and ask to be entered, or 2. By Mail – Complete and send in a card or letter stating your full Name, Address, Phone Number and Email between June 2, 2025 and June 7, 2025. Must be received by Monday, June 9th. Mail to Attn: Marketing, 95 Barnes Road, Wallingford, CT 06492. Prizes will be drawn randomly, one random winner per branch, after close of business on Monday June 9, 2025. Winners will be notified by email by Wednesday June 11, 2025. Prize is non-transferable. Winners will be contacted via the email address provided in-branch or by mail, and up to an additional two (2) times via the phone number provided if the initial email contact is unsuccessful. The winners have 10 business days to claim their prize before the prize is forfeited, and an additional winner is selected. Gift cards will be given to winner in-branch at time to be determined, and may be subject to 1099 reporting. The winner is responsible for all applicable taxes. GSB employees are not eligible to win. One entry per person, and entrants may only win one time.