By September 30, 2010, Bancorp Rhode Island, Inc. had grown to $1.6 billion in assets, $1.1 billion in deposits, 18 branches and over 60 ATMs.  The Company traces its beginning to October 1995.  At that time, a group of investors reached an agreement with Fleet Financial Group to purchase the Rhode Island-based Shawmut branches being divested as part of the Fleet/Shawmut merger.  Headed by President & CEO Merrill W. Sherman and Board Chairman Malcolm G. Chace, the group believed that a mid-sized bank with a commercial lending focus and a high-touch retail orientation could thrive in the Providence marketplace.

In March of 1996, Bank Rhode Island opened with 12 branches, $465.0 million in assets and $421.1 million in deposits.  Upon its formation, Bank Rhode Island was the nation’s second largest de novo bank and the fifth largest bank in Rhode Island.

Two years later, Bank Rhode Island broadened its shareholder base through a public offering of 800,000 shares of common stock and began trading on the NASDAQ National Market under the symbol “BARI.”

In September 2001, Bank Rhode Island converted to a holding company structure in order to create greater financial flexibility.  The Bank became a wholly-owned subsidiary of its holding company, Bancorp Rhode Island, Inc.

Throughout the years, Bank Rhode Island kept adding branches, and relocated and consolidated others, all to improve the Bank’s accessibility and reach.  The Bank also kept adding to its products and services.  While it always was a strong commercial lender, the Bank expanded and deepened its cash management staffing and suite of products.  For its retail customers, expanded its investment services, bolstered its consumer lending capacity and recently expanded its first mortgage origination staffing.

The Bank also began offering more complex products and services ranging from interest rate swap arrangements to historic tax credits to small ticket equipment leases.  In May 2005, the Bank completed its first acquisition, that of Macrolease Corporation.  Macrolease was a long-established small ticket equipment lessor.  As a subsidiary of Bank Rhode Island, it is a successful contributor to the Bank’s earnings as well as product offerings.

In April 2005, the Bank executed an additional capital offering of 550,000 shares of common stock, which produced net proceeds of $18.7 million.  The capital infusion was leveraged to further improve Bank Rhode Island’s reach and customer service.

The Bank has performed steadily over the years and admirably withstood the stress of the recession of 2009. By June 30, 2009, the Company’s long-term business strategy of prudent risk-taking complemented by steady returns earned Bancorp Rhode Island, Inc. the distinction of being listed on the Russell 3000 Index.  The Russell 3000 roster includes a number of the nation’s leading corporations such as Exxon-Mobile, Microsoft, Procter & Gamble, AT&T, Apple, IBM and General Electric.

On January 1, 2012 BankRI joined the Brookline Bancorp family based in Brookline Massachusetts.  The combined company represents total assets of $4.8 billion. Brookline Bancorp consists of Brookline Bank, First Ipswich Bank and now BankRI.

We are delighted to say the Bank’s service-oriented approach and sophisticated product mix continues to attract a growing number of personal and business customers.