Machias Savings Bank has long been a familiar and trusted presence in the Mount Desert Island community—serving as both a financial institution and a committed supporter of local organizations, including MDI Hospital.
The bank’s Bar Harbor branch is led by Vice President and Branch Manager Matt Horton, who is now in his 20th year with Machias Savings Bank. With more than three decades of experience in banking, he credits the institution’s success to its strong emphasis on relationship banking, customer service, and community involvement.
“At its core, this bank is about taking care of people,” he said. “That means taking care of our customers, taking care of our employees, and making sure we’re giving back to the communities we serve.”
That philosophy extends directly to Machias Savings Bank’s long-standing support of MDI Hospital. While the bank works to support many nonprofits across Mount Desert Island and the surrounding communities, MDI Hospital holds a special place as a vital, hometown institution.
“We’re really proud of the hospital and the work being done there,” he shared. “We’re fortunate to have an independent, hometown hospital, and all of my experiences there—both personal and through the fire department—have been positive.”
From emergency care to family milestones, the hospital has played an important role in his life and in the lives of many local families. He expressed particular excitement about the hospital’s ongoing improvements, including enhancements to the emergency department and the Main Street entrance, noting the meaningful impact these projects will have on patient care and access.
Machias Savings Bank’s approach to charitable giving emphasizes spreading support across many organizations, recognizing the breadth of needs within the community. “There are so many nonprofits on MDI doing important work,” he said. “We try to get our support into as many of those organizations as we can, including the hospital.”
This commitment reflects the bank’s broader mission: investing not just in financial success, but in the long-term health and well-being of the communities it serves. Through sustained partnerships like its support of MDI Hospital, Machias Savings Bank continues to demonstrate that community banking is about far more than numbers—it’s about relationships, trust, and shared responsibility.