Plymouth, Mass., Dec. 24, 2007 – Eastern Bank announced today that its employees raised a company record-breaking $6,475 to benefit Plymouth-area families in need this holiday season through the Salvation Army.

The amount was part of a total $26,680—a new record number—raised by Eastern Bank employees throughout eastern Massachusetts. Eastern is also presenting checks to Salvation Army offices in Quincy and Lynn.

The bank’s Salvation Army fund-raising committee sponsored several employee events this season, including a bake sale, a “jeans day” in which the employees paid money to wear jeans to work, a pie auction, and drawings for theme gift baskets, sports tickets and memorabilia, a handmade afghan from an employee, and days off.

The bank contributed more than $5,980 to match the employees’ “theme gift basket” drawing. In addition, the bank earlier contributed $1,000 to the Salvation Army’s televised auction, bringing the total contribution from Eastern Bank to $26,680.

Prior to Thanksgiving, bank employees also held their first-ever, bank-wide food drive in all branches and offices, giving more than 90 boxes of food to three regional offices of the Salvation Army, including Plymouth, to help eastern Massachusetts families.

The $6,475 donation to the Plymouth-area Salvation Army was recently presented to Captain Daniel Brunelle at Eastern Bank’s downtown Plymouth branch, located at 36 Main Street.

“We appreciate the generosity of Eastern Bank and its employees,” Brunelle said. “The Salvation Army assists many area families during the holiday season, and we couldn’t do it without the help of businesses like Eastern Bank and their employees.”

The Salvation Army fundraising committee was co-led by Teresa Keyes, on the South Shore, and Amy Budrow and Mary Ellen Browne, on the North Shore.

About Eastern Bank Corporation
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: Noelle Graves, Public Relations, Eastern Bank, (781) 598-8528, or or e-mail Noelle Graves.