Innovator Stories
Progress requires investment—MountainOne Bank CEO Bob Fraser knows this well.
“We have a philosophy, especially in the Berkshires where we’re headquartered, that we want to make a difference,” he said.
With Fraser at its helm, MountainOne has invested in several unconventional projects in the Berkshires, from the family-owned Hotel on North in Pittsfield to Moresi and Associates’ Norad Mill in North Adams. The bank has a presence at most community events, and its employees are known to volunteer their time to local causes—both here and on the South Shore, where MountainOne traditionally does the bulk of its commercial real estate lending.
Innovator Stories
Meet Bob Fraser
Progress requires investment—MountainOne Bank CEO Bob Fraser knows this well.
“We have a philosophy, especially in the Berkshires where we’re headquartered, that we want to make a difference,” he said.
With Fraser at its helm, MountainOne has invested in several unconventional projects in the Berkshires, from the family-owned Hotel on North in Pittsfield to Moresi and Associates’ Norad Mill in North Adams. The bank has a presence at most community events, and its employees are known to volunteer their time to local causes—both here and on the South Shore, where MountainOne traditionally does the bulk of its commercial real estate lending.
Fraser started as a bank teller in 1981 after graduating from UMASS Amherst with a degree in political science. He was selected for a loan officer development program to advance his career as a commercial lender. He joined MountainOne in 2007 to lead its bank on Boston’s south shore and then became CEO of MountainOne in 2014 after its three banks had merged to create MountainOne. He’s seen the Commonwealth and the banking industry evolve for decades now, which gives him a unique perspective about the interlocking pieces needed for local growth and development. “One of our key roles is to help spur economic activity,” he said.
That conviction has also inspired MountainOne’s investments in its downtown North Adams next door neighbor, Lever. MountainOne has supported Lever since it was founded, and Fraser sees it as a crucial part of the economic development work needed in Berkshire County alongside tourism, quality housing, education, and other community investments.
“The Lever mission fills a void in the marketplace by supporting innovation and entrepreneurship,” he said. “When you look at the history of the Berkshires, it’s been economically more of a patriarchal structure, driven by larger companies. Entrepreneurialism wasn’t part of the region’s DNA, and that’s why I believe there has been a struggle to recover after losing major employers like GE and Sprague. Lever fills that void by beginning to create the environment where this kind of work thrives.”
MountainOne’s investment in Lever has worked its way to other companies, some through its Challenge programs, some through Lever’s own investment fund. Since its founding, Lever entrepreneurs and innovators have relocated companies to Berkshire County, been acquired by major national brands while keeping local workers remote, and built new products and tech that have helped Massachusetts on its road to recovery from the pandemic, among other notable achievements.
Fraser has made note of this progress and its multiplier effect—something he’s always looking at when it comes to MountainOne’s investments. He’s interested in the longer arc of progress: supporting tourism projects that create a generational affinity for the Berkshires; businesses that can create jobs and retain high-quality workers; and quality housing that’s attractive to career professionals and families.
“A company is a living, breathing entity,” he said. “It has to change, evolve, adapt. It’s been great to see how Lever has matured, and how its companies have matured. Sometimes it’s difficult to initially envision these ideas and projects until they actually take shape right in front of you. The reward of the investment is then there.”
Fraser started as a bank teller in 1981 after graduating from UMASS Amherst with a degree in political science. He was selected for a loan officer development program to advance his career as a commercial lender. He joined MountainOne in 2007 to lead its bank on Boston’s south shore and then became CEO of MountainOne in 2014 after its three banks had merged to create MountainOne. He’s seen the Commonwealth and the banking industry evolve for decades now, which gives him a unique perspective about the interlocking pieces needed for local growth and development. “One of our key roles is to help spur economic activity,” he said.
That conviction has also inspired MountainOne’s investments in its downtown North Adams next door neighbor, Lever. MountainOne has supported Lever since it was founded, and Fraser sees it as a crucial part of the economic development work needed in Berkshire County alongside tourism, quality housing, education, and other community investments.
“The Lever mission fills a void in the marketplace by supporting innovation and entrepreneurship,” he said. “When you look at the history of the Berkshires, it’s been economically more of a patriarchal structure, driven by larger companies. Entrepreneurialism wasn’t part of the region’s DNA, and that’s why I believe there has been a struggle to recover after losing major employers like GE and Sprague. Lever fills that void by beginning to create the environment where this kind of work thrives.”
MountainOne’s investment in Lever has worked its way to other companies, some through its Challenge programs, some through Lever’s own investment fund. Since its founding, Lever entrepreneurs and innovators have relocated companies to Berkshire County, been acquired by major national brands while keeping local workers remote, and built new products and tech that have helped Massachusetts on its road to recovery from the pandemic, among other notable achievements.
Fraser has made note of this progress and its multiplier effect—something he’s always looking at when it comes to MountainOne’s investments. He’s interested in the longer arc of progress: supporting tourism projects that create a generational affinity for the Berkshires; businesses that can create jobs and retain high-quality workers; and quality housing that’s attractive to career professionals and families.
“A company is a living, breathing entity,” he said. “It has to change, evolve, adapt. It’s been great to see how Lever has matured, and how its companies have matured. Sometimes it’s difficult to initially envision these ideas and projects until they actually take shape right in front of you. The reward of the investment is then there.”