BOSTON, Feb. 15, 2006 – Eastern Bank today celebrated the opening of its Natick branch with a check to the town for $8,400, which will pay for the town’s first World War I monument.

Eastern Bank President and Chief Operating Officer Rich Holbrook presented Ed Jolley, president of the Natick Veterans Council, with the donation at a morning ceremony attended by approximately 50 town and bank officials, including Doug Flutie, the bank’s corporate spokesman. The ceremony was held at the bank’s new office, located at 2 South Ave.

“We are pleased and privileged to present this gift in honor of the service and sacrifice of Natick’s World War I veterans,” Holbrook said. “This monument will stand as a testament to generations to come of their valor.”

The monument, which is being engraved by Natick Memorial Works, will be dedicated on Memorial Day this year in the memorial park next to the Eastern Bank branch. This is the town’s first outdoor, full-size monument. There is a bronze plaque honoring World War I veterans inside the town’s library.

“On behalf of the Veterans Council, veterans and their families, thank you,” Jolley said.  “I think this is a great tribute that they have this memorial.”

Located next to the commuter rail station, Eastern’s newest location is managed by Sandy Sawyer of Natick.  The branch’s hours are Monday through Wednesday and Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon.

The branch was designed to reflect downtown Natick’s historic 19^th-century brick architecture with its steep, sloping roof and adjoining tower. There is parking in the rear of the building overlooking the commuter rail tracks.

About Eastern Bank Corporation
Founded in 1818 and based in Boston, Eastern Bank is the largest independent, mutually owned commercial banking franchise in New England.  With more than $6 billion in assets and more than 70 branches stretching from Merrimack Valley to Cape Cod, Eastern offers superior service, convenience and a full range of financial products for consumers, businesses, investors, government agencies and not-for-profit organizations.  Its subsidiaries are Eastern Insurance and Fantini & Gorga, a real estate advisory firm.

For more information, contact Joe Bartolotta, Public Relations Director,
Eastern Bank (781) 596-4411, or e-mail Joe Bartolotta.