President

Edward J. Merritt is the President of Mt. Washington Bank, one of the oldest and fastest growing community banking institutions in Boston. Since Merritt's appointment in 1999, Mt. Washington Bank grew into a full service financial institution with over $525 million in total assets and 130 employees. Merritt has overseen the expansion of the bank's infrastructure from a two branch operation to six with the acquisition of the Roxbury Highland Bank of Jamaica Plain.

In 2010, Mt. Washington Bank became a Division of East Boston Savings Bank. As a result of this merger and under Merritt’s leadership, Mt. Washington Bank has added two additional branch locations in 2011, expanding the bank’s reach into the West Roxbury and South End communities. The bank plans to continue future growth throughout the neighborhoods of Boston.

During his tenure, Merritt has created a culture of excellence at Mt. Washington Bank both in the areas of customer service, as well as community service. Based on his business philosophy that to be a great corporate leader you need to be a great corporate citizen, he founded the Mt. Washington Charitable Foundation in 2002 and currently serves as the foundation’s President. Through the Foundation, the bank has donated over $2 million in charitable contributions dedicated to non-profit organizations that support educational, youth and cultural programs in the communities in which it serves.

Prior to his appointment at Mt. Washington Bank, Merritt served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Abington Savings Bank from 1986-1998. After establishing a record of success in the key financial areas of the bank, in 1992 Merritt assumed the additional responsibility of building the bank's brand in the marketplace which he accomplished by strategically improving its marketing, public relations and retail banking operations.

A twenty five year veteran of the banking industry, Merritt is a member of the UMass Boston Board of Visitors and is a frequent contributor to the Patriot Ledger’s Financial Panel of Experts. He also serves on the University of Massachusetts Boston's College of Management's Advisory Committee and is a member of the Board of Directors at Meridian Interstate Bancorp. Merritt earned his bachelor's degree from Salem State College and is a Certified Public Accountant.

Senior Vice President of Residential and Consumer Lending

Laura Dorfman is the Senior Vice President, Residential Mortgage & Consumer Lending. In this capacity, Laura oversees the entire mortgage banking and consumer lending activities for both the Mt. Washington Bank and East Boston Savings Bank mortgage divisions, following East Boston Savings Bank’s acquisition of Mt. Washington Bank in 2010.

Laura joined Mt. Washington Bank in 2002 and was responsible for creating a stand-alone mortgage function and enhancing the bank’s secondary market mortgage activities. In her current position, Laura oversees a staff of twenty (20) loan officers and fifteen (15) support staff in two locations.

Laura has over 25 years of banking experience, specializing in residential mortgage and consumer lending. Prior to joining Mt. Washington Bank, Laura served as the Senior Vice President, Residential Lending for two regional banks, where she was responsible for merging three separate mortgage divisions into one as a result of two acquisitions.

Laura is a member of the Massachusetts Mortgage Bankers Association. She received a graduate degree from Providence College and an MBA from Bentley College.

Senior Vice President of Retail Banking

James Morgan is Senior Vice President of Retail Banking. In this capacity, Jim is responsible for managing all of the bank's branches, which includes three in South Boston, two in Dorchester, one in Jamaica Plain, one in West Roxbury and one in the South End. He is also responsible for the bank's “Ultimate Service” call center. Jim helped establish the Mt. Washington Bank Charitable Foundation in 2003. The Foundation donates to non-profit organizations throughout our market area in support of educational, youth and cultural programs.

A banking veteran with over twenty years of experience, Jim has successfully built a productive and diverse workforce and identified unique opportunities to offer financial services in the neighborhoods of Boston.

Jim joined Mt. Washington Bank in 2002. Before that, he held the position of Director of Retail Banking at BankBoston's First Community Bank, where he started as a branch manager. There he managed a 42 branch network located in low to moderate income urban neighborhoods in southern New England. First Community Bank was nationally recognized as a model for delivering financial services in low to moderate income urban communities. Earlier in his career he held several positions with First Mutual of Boston.

He holds a B.A. degree in Political Science from Boston College. Jim is also very active in all facets of his parish, St. Mary's of Winchester.

Senior Vice President of Operations

Mary Hagen is the Senior Vice President of MWB Operations, with responsibility for the implementation of all strategic initiatives at Mt. Washington Bank. Mary is also responsible for the overall management of the Deposit Operations, Retail Operations, Loan Operations, Project Management and Training departments.

She joined the bank in December of 2005, and recently managed a critical systems conversion project when the bank merged with East Boston Savings Bank in January, 2010. She was promoted to Senior Vice President in 2009.

Prior to joining Mt Washington, Mary served as Assistant Vice President and Risk Officer of Bridgewater Savings Bank. She has over 29 years of banking experience.

Mary is a graduate of Bridgewater State College where she received her Bachelor’s Degree in Management Science.