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Hoosac Bank, Williamstown Savings Bank Offer 0% Energy Home Improvement Loans - May 21, 2008
North Adams - As energy prices soar, many homeowners are trying to find new ways to keep costs down. To assist with this challenge, Hoosac Bank and Williamstown Savings Bank have partnered with MassSAVE to offer 0% energy home improvement loans. Both banks are MountainOne Financial Partners.
These energy home improvement loans are offered through MassSAVE, a public-private partnership. Currently, Hoosac Bank and Williamstown Savings Bank are the only local lenders participating in the MassSAVE program. The HEAT loan program offers no-interest loans of up to $10,000 for energy improvements such as insulation, high efficiency heating systems and water heaters, ENERGY STAR(r) windows, solar hot water systems, and other approved measures. Loan terms are up to seven years, with no prepayment penalties. Applicants must be residential customers of National Grid or Western Massachusetts Electric Company. There are no income restrictions for the program.
To participate in the program, homeowners must receive a Home Energy Assessment - a measurement of the home's current energy efficiency -and will receive a list of ways that efficiency can be improved. Once the homeowner decides which improvements to make, they secure contractor estimates, which are presented to MassSAVE for approval. Once approved by MassSAVE and qualified, Hoosac Bank or Williamstown Savings Bank will lend between $2,500 - $10,000, with 0% interest, for these improvements.
According to MassSAVE, the average New England family spends over $1,800 per year on home energy bills, and the cost of energy continues to rise. However, small changes can make a big difference to home energy costs; ENERGY STAR qualified appliances use 10%-50% less energy and water than standard models. Replacing just 25% of lights in high-use areas with compact fluorescent light bulbs can save about 50% of lighting energy bills.
In the last seven years, the price of home heating oil has nearly tripled. Experts anticipate that energy costs will continue to rise.
For a no-commitment loan pre-approval, contact Cindy Sault at Hoosac Bank, at (413) 662-2132, or Myra Wilk at Williamstown Savings Bank at (413) 458-8720.
MassSAVE is a partnership between Massachusetts electric and gas energy efficiency programs energy efficiency providers, and the Massachusetts Division of Energy Resources. The goal of MassSAVE is to reduce energy consumption, improve environmental impacts, and save consumers money.
Hoosac Bank and Williamstown Savings Bank are wholly owned subsidiaries of MountainOne Financial Partners, headquartered in North Adams. MountainOne has combined assets of nearly $900 million and over 200 employees. Hoosac Bank, Williamstown Savings Bank, and South Coastal Bank provide a broad range of banking services for personal and business customers. Hoosac Bank, established in 1848, has offices in North Adams and Williamstown; Williamstown Savings Bank, founded in 1892, has an office in Williamstown; and, South Coastal Bank, founded in 1868, has offices in Rockland, Braintree, Scituate, and Quincy. Coakley, Pierpan, Dolan & Collins Insurance Agency, founded in 1927 and one of the largest property and casualty insurance agencies in Western Massachusetts, serves personal and business customers through offices in North Adams, Williamstown, and Adams. True North Financial Services, established in 1997, is a registered broker dealer, providing investment, life insurance, retirement planning, and employee benefit services to personal and business customers through offices in North Adams, Williamstown, and Pittsfield. |
| Why are Hoosac and Williamstown banks charging $250 in closing costs when other banks in the program a charging 0 ? | | from: R young | on: 10-03-2008 |
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