How Banks Give Back

Financial institutions of all sizes across New Jersey have a huge impact on the overall economic well-being of our state.

By Andrea Ganzman, Director of Digital Marketing & Creative, NJBankers On Nov 13, 2025

During the holiday season – and throughout the year – New Jersey banks support our communities through charitable giving and volunteer initiatives, donating millions of dollars in support and thousands of hours of service to our state’s non-profit organizations.

“The holidays are a special time of year for everyone, and we try to give back to our communities as much as possible during these months,” says Jaymee Morik, vice president, marketing manager at Woodbridge-based Northfield Bank.

Annually, Northfield Bank hosts a bank-wide food drive for Thanksgiving, along with a holiday toy drive, coat drive, and back to school supply drive. In 2024, the bank provided more than $500,000 in charitable contributions, with employees donating 1,500 volunteer hours.“Giving back to our local communities is part of who we are, and we know how impactful every little bit is,” Morik says.

Since 2019, Fair Lawn-based Columbia Bank has hosted an annual “Week of Giving.” Timed around Thanksgiving, this event rallies nearly 100% of employees to participate in statewide volunteer efforts, creating a meaningful impact in a short time period, explains Minoska Mateo, senior vice president, strategic planning and corporate governance, at Columbia Bank.

Week of Giving volunteer activities include preparing and serving meals, distributing food and school supplies, supporting children affected by poverty with homework or reading, assisting at senior living facilities, building or painting affordable housing, and cleaning up beaches, parks and more. This initiative also includes turkey donations and distributions to families and organizations in need statewide.

Additionally, the bank’s annual Toy Drive is a statewide effort in which employees collect age-specific toys and gift cards for distribution through their nonprofit partners. In 2024, the drive resulted in more than 600 toys and $4,500 in gift cards donated to children across New Jersey.“One of the most memorable aspects of Columbia Bank’s holiday initiatives is the enthusiastic engagement of our employees,” Mateo says. “Each year, team members from across departments eagerly sign up to participate in volunteer events, driven by a shared commitment to giving back. 

These experiences not only allow employees to make a meaningful impact in their communities but also foster a strong sense of unity and camaraderie within the organization.”

Last year, combining the efforts of Columbia Bank and the Columbia Bank Foundation, total charitable contributions were nearly $2.5 million. Approximately $465,000 in sponsorships and donations were distributed through Columbia Bank, while the Columbia Bank Foundation disbursed nearly $2 million through grants, sponsorships, and charitable giving efforts.

During the holiday season, Newark-based Lusitania Savings Bank takes great pride in helping the Community FoodBank of New Jersey (CFBNJ) fight hunger and poverty. The bank organizes a community food drive to collect essential food items for those facing food insecurity. Through these efforts, they provide immediate relief to individuals and families in need while simultaneously raising awareness within the community.

In addition to helping collect food donations, Lusitania Savings Bank team members volunteer their time at the CFBNJ warehouse in Hillside, where volunteers help sort and repack food items for emergency food boxes, family packs and senior boxes.

During the holidays, the bank also hosts a U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots drive at its main office and branch locations, to aid in ensuring children experience the joy and excitement of the gift-giving season.

Throughout the year, Lusitania Savings Bank supports additional organizations such as: Family Service League; Salvation Army; Children’s Aid & Family Services; Friends of Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center; Ann Street School of Newark; and the American Cancer Society. In 2024, it raised and contributed approximately $22,000 and volunteered over 100 hours to support local organizations.

According to Lorraine Oliveira, lending manager, and Diogenes Lourenco, S.O./ I.S.O./retail banking manager: “Lusitania’s holiday-related community programs are not only interactive social undertakings between the bank’s employees and customers, but they are also strategic initiatives designed to fulfill identifiable needs within the community.”

To augment the great work being done by its members and further support those in need across the state, the New Jersey Bankers Association (NJBankers) launched the One Million Meals campaign in 2022. The goal of the campaign is to raise 1 million meals to benefit individuals facing food insecurity and is a partnership with the Community FoodBank of New Jersey. With $1 equaling three meals, NJBankers is currently more than 90%
of the way to raising the $334,000 needed to reach its goal. As part of the campaign, NJBankers also has rallied its members for volunteer initiatives at the Food Bank. In the past, NJBankers has provided breakfast for CFBNJ’s employees and volunteers and has packed food in the warehouse during the holiday season. Additionally, for the first time this year, NJBankers and its member banks came together for a Day of Love and Compassion on Valentine’s Day. More than 100 volunteers visited local food banks to donate their time as part of the One Million Meals Campaign.

“One of the many reasons I’m proud to work in this industry is the way our banks support their neighbors not only during the holidays, but throughout the year,” says Michael Affuso, NJBankers president & CEO. “The work they do strengthens our state’s economy, its communities and its people.”

NJBankers 2025 Community Service Award Winners

• Blue Foundry Bank 
• Columbia Bank 
• First Bank 
• Magyar Bank 
• Manasquan Bank 
• Northfield Bank 
• OceanFirst Bank 
• Peapack Private Bank & Trust 
• Provident Bank 
• Spencer Savings Bank
• Valley Bank 

To access more business news, visit NJB News Now.

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