Eastern Bank Announces Robert Barnhard to Lead New ABL

EASTERN BANK, a full-service commercial bank headquartered in Boston, announced that Robert "Bob" Barnhard has joined the bank to start and lead an asset-based lending team.

Barnhard, who has previously started three other asset-based lending groups and has managed more than $3.5 billion in loans, was named a senior vice president in Eastern's Commercial Banking division.

"Eastern Bank is excited about the addition of Bob and the beginning of an asset-based lending team," said Eastern Bank'sJoseph Holland, senior vice president, Commercial Banking-Group Head. "Our new team will provide a wide array of solutions for complex financing needs, further strengthening our commercial lending capabilities for our valued clients."

Prior to joining Eastern Bank, Barnhard served as the group head and director of commercial lending at Commerce Bank. Barnhard, who lives in Marshfield, is a frequent panelist on asset-based topics and is a member of the Commercial Finance Association, the Turnaround Management Association, the Association for Corporate Growth, and the National Retail Federation.

About Eastern Bank

Founded in 1818 and based in Boston, Eastern Bank is the largest and oldest mutual bank in the country, with S8.7 billion in assets and more than 90 branches serving communities from the Merrimack Valley to Cape Cod. Eastern Bank offers banking, investments and insurance all under one roof, and prides itself on working harder to understand its customers' needs so it can deliver these services in a committed and personal way. Eastern Bank, which includes Eastern Bank Wealth Management and Eastern Insurance, is a recognized leader in corporate social responsibility and for its advocacy on behalf of a number of social justice causes. For more information, visit: www.easternbank.comwww.facebook.com/easternbank or www.twitter.com/easternbank.