Berkshire Bank Appoints New Vice President, Trust Officer

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Remus Preda
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Bank has promoted Remus Preda to vice president, trust officer. Preda was also recently awarded the Certified Trust & Financial Advisor (CTFA) designation from the Institute of Certified Bankers (ICB), a subsidiary of the American Bankers Association, in Washington, D.C.

Preda joined Berkshire Bank in October 2007 as a trust officer in the bank’s Asset Management and Trust Group in Vermont. Prior to joining the company, he worked for Morgan Stanley Trust as a vice president and national liaison manager and has more than 13 years of experience in the trust and investment areas.

"Remus is a fine example of someone who takes the implications of his job very seriously. He will be a valuable asset to our customers in his new position as vice president, trust officer."  Thomas W. Barney, CFP and senior vice president of Berkshire Bank. "The CTFA certification reinforces Remus’ commitment to excellence."

Preda brings considerable business development skills and sound trust and investment decisions to his new role. He earned the ABA’s Certified Trust & Financial Advisor designation after three years of advanced trust training and is one of 9,000 ICB certified members. As a subsidiary of the American Bankers Association, ICB promotes the highest standards of performance in the financial services industry by validating individuals' knowledge and expertise.

Preda is responsible for leading Berkshire Bank’s Asset Management and Trust Group in Vermont.  His team specializes in providing high-net worth individuals and families with tailored investment management, retirement, estate planning, taxation and trust services, with the goal of sustaining and growing long-term wealth. In addition, Preda also works with many of the area’s leading not-for-profits in managing their endowments and planned giving vehicles.

After earning his BA from Union College and a Jurist Doctorate from New England School of Law, Preda sharpened his tax law expertise while working for the Internal Revenue Service in Boston and New York. He then joined Morgan Stanley Trust as a senior tax consultant and vice president.

Based out of Berkshire Bank’s 4912 Main Street, Manchester Center Vermont  headquarters, Preda will serve clients across the Berkshire Bank Vermont footprint and beyond.
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Multiple Departments Respond to Lanesborough Structure Fire

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — Multiple fire departments responded to a structure fire off Narragansett Avenue on Wednesday afternoon. 

The Fire Department received a call from the owner of 6 Bangor St. reporting a smoke and flames at around 1:44 p.m.

Firefighters arriving on scene reported heavy smoke emanating from the the 1940s single-family ranch home in the thickly settle neighborhood.

The blaze was brought under control in less than an hour and there were no civilian or firefighter injuries. 

"The homeowner was outside doing some work, evidently, opened the door when she came back in the house, and there were flames and smoke, so she backed out and called us, and that's all we know right now," Deputy Fire Chief Glen Storie said around 2:35 p.m. 

The fire was out at that time, and first responders observed "quite a bit of damage" to the home. The cause is still under investigation. 

Lanesborough, Cheshire, and Pittsfield departments responded to the scene, and Hancock covered the station during the call. 

"The first crew in knocked the fire right down with the first engine," Storie said. 

Smoke could be seen coming from the back of the home. Part of Narragansett Avenue and Bangor Avenue were blocked off while firefighters battled the blaze. 

 

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