Florence Bank Sponsors the 35th Annual Springfield Puerto Rican Parade 

Over 30 team members march to celebrate Puerto Rican culture and community

FLORENCE—Over 30 team members from Florence Bank marched in the 35th Annual Springfield Puerto Rican Parade in September, and the bank was also a $2,500 Merengue event sponsor.

Two bank vehicles accompanied the marchers on the 1.9-mile route that began at the intersection of Main Street and Wason Avenue and proceeded downtown. The parade drew roughly 4,000 marchers and a crowd of 10,000 spectators.

After the parade, held each year to empower the community by celebrating Puerto Rican culture and preserving its heritage, spectators enjoyed cultural music, food and a variety of vendors. Florence Bank had a presence among the vendors.

“It was a really cool event,” said Paola Sherman, the bank’s community loan originator who has a focus on serving the area’s Latino community. Sherman inspired her colleagues to march in the parade. 

“There was good energy,” she said.

Sherman, who started in her role at Florence Bank a year ago, moved to the region from Argentina 15 years ago as someone who did not speak English.

“I know it’s hard to move here with a different culture and language,” she explained. “I can help with any questions customers who don’t speak English have. I help people through the process.”

President and CEO Matt Garrity said the bank is proud to support community events that celebrate cultural heritage. “We want to be a good neighbor in all the communities we serve and do our best to connect with residents, businesses and nonprofit organizations on a local level,” he said. 

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About Florence Bank

Florence Bank is a mutual savings bank chartered in 1873. Currently, the bank serves the Pioneer Valley through 12 full-service branch locations in Florence, Northampton, Easthampton, Williamsburg, Amherst, Hadley, Belchertown, Granby, Chicopee, West Springfield and Springfield. A Holyoke branch will open in the spring of 2026. Additionally, Florence Bank offers 23 ATMs and a wide range of financial services, including investment management through Florence Financial Group to consumers and businesses.