Laurie Benson has joined Fidelity Bank as senior vice president and head of retail banking. She will lead the consumer banking area, including the branch-office network, branch administration, LifeDesign learning and development, and consumer-product development.

Benson will also work closely with the mortgage and commercial banking teams to help grow consumer and small-business lending respectively, according to bank president Christopher W. McCarthy. In addition, she will also help improve internal bank processes and delivery channels to better serve both clients and employees.

“Laurie is a well-known and respected local retail banking professional with a reputation as a positive and effective leader who consistently delivers growth and exceptional client experience,” McCarthy said. “She has a passion for developing relationships with both clients and her team, which is a great fit for our LifeDesign culture.”

Benson has more than 30 years of banking experience at both community and regional banks. Most recently she served as retail market manager of 19 locations with TD Bank. She previously worked at Merchants National Bank, Bank of Boston, and First Mass Bank/Banknorth.

She is member of the board of directors at the Boys & Girls Club of Fitchburg and Leominster and is an assistant coach for the Oakmont Pop Warner Cheerleading squad. She is also a past president of the Leominster Rotary Club and was its 2007 Rotarian of the Year.

A Fitchburg native, Benson lives in Westminster with her husband and family. She majored in business management at the New England College of Finance and Salem State College.

About Fidelity Bank

Fidelity Bank – one of the oldest and continually growing independent, local community banks in Central Massachusetts – offers a full range of banking, investment, and insurance solutions across 10 full-service offices in Leominster (2), Worcester, Fitchburg, Gardner, Shirley, Barre, Millbury, Paxton, and Princeton.

Fidelity Bank believes that everyone – their clients, employees, and community members – deserve the opportunity to grow, improve, and realize their hopes and dreams. They do this through LifeDesign, their unique way of doing business and the promise they make to be caring, trusted friends and help their clients, employees, and community members get where they want to be.

Since 1888, the bank has continued this commitment to the businesses, families, and individuals in the communities it serves; in turn, loyalty demonstrated by members of these cities and towns has allowed the bank to become one of the strongest financial institutions in the region. As of April 30, 2016, Fidelity Bank has total assets of $775 million. The FDIC and the Share Insurance Fund insure 100% of all deposits. Equal Housing Lender. Member FDIC. Member SIF.

For further information, visit www.fidelitybankonline.com.