Sure, yes -- it will be inconvenient, and it's a shame, and if I had to guess the local impact, if no other bank moves in, it is that Donelan's will find itself doing more cash back debit transactions than they'd like, and they will become an ATM.
But in case my larger point was missed, it is this: without any information other than the bank is closing next spring, I think the most we can assume is that they just decided not to renew their lease. Speculating in a public forum, saying "I suspect it is the first shoe to drop. CIVICO will be on the doorstep. A teardown/ redevelopment in our future?"; or tying this to "revenues for land acquisition and the support of staff"; or declaring "there will be no more village" when, as far as I know, the remaining businesses, apart from the USPS, are all locally owned; and making unfounded claims that "we are faced with the potential loss of the retail hub"... It's all just a bit much. Maybe it's not some big conspiracy and the beginning of the end. Maybe something new and exciting will move in, or maybe it will be another bank. Who knows? Lis On Sun, Nov 9, 2025 at 8:35 PM Sara Mattes <[email protected]> wrote: > For many who are not able to hop in a car, or on the onto the internet for > banking, the loss of a bank, any bank, in Lincoln is a real loss and has an > impact on life. > So, the replacement of a bank with another retail business is a loss. > > As to Lincoln’s rural expansive and wonderful look today-you can thank > many visionary people from decades ago-Quincy Adams, Bob Lemire, Perry > Culver (who saved Codman Farm), Warren Flint, Sr., and many many others. > It is worth revisiting this extensive history, beginning with delving into *A > Rich Harvest * by Lincoln Historian Jack MacLean. > > Most of all, we need to recognize the role of town boards who helped > shaped plans and acquisitions, and finally and most important, the voters > and taxpayers of Lincoln who saw the wisdom of the vision of those cited > before. > > Certainly non-profits have played a role-RLF, LLCT, Walden Woods Project, > Historic New England, Mass.Audubon and Drumlin Farm, Friends of MMNP, and > most recently Trustees of the Reservations all have played critical roles > in ensuring we look the way we look and will most likely preserve that for > decades to come. > > But, again, none of that would have happened if it were not for the > collaboration with town officials and support of Lincoln voters and > taxpayers. > > I am forever grateful to all of them, and especially to the town, writ > large. > > On Nov 9, 2025, at 8:17 PM, Lis Herbert <[email protected]> wrote: > > It’s odd (in my admittedly under-informed opinion) to lament the closure > of a multinational bank while saying it means the end of a village… what if > this is just an incredibly boring leasing decision, for all the reasons > Nick Gardner stated, and a small locally owned business moves in? Why, > apart from the closure of a bank branch (which it seems people are somehow > attached to as a fixture of village life??) is this reason to say the sky > is falling? And why would the maneuvers of a bank with (let’s at least be > honest) zero physical investment in town, trump the needs/opinions (and as > yet totally nonexistent maneuvering) of the non-profit organization that is > largely if not entirely — and I mean no offense to past town officials — > responsible for Lincoln looking and feeling so rural, expansive, and > wonderful as it does today? > > Lis > > > Sent from my iPhone > > On Nov 9, 2025, at 7:42 PM, Rachel Marie Schachter < > [email protected]> wrote: > > > Didn't expect to be chiming in here, but for some of us in a lower income > bracket, the fee for depositing cash at the ATM if you don't bank there > really does affect our bottom line. > > I don't expect anyone to rally for East Cambridge Savings Bank (or have > any idea what rallying would actually do), but I do happen to be a customer > and a fan. > > Rachel > > On Sun, Nov 9, 2025 at 7:35 PM Nick Gardner <[email protected]> wrote: > >> I think the broad issue is that even for good banks, there's less and >> less reason to use in person branches. I can deposit cash into the ATM, >> deposit checks on my phone, open and close accounts on my phone, and even >> get loans on my laptop. I've probably had to use a physical bank branch >> half a dozen times in the last decade, and it's why so many physical >> branches are closing. >> >> I would love to see a good bank or credit union come to Lincoln but it's >> an uphill battle these days. >> >> -Nick >> >> On Sun, Nov 9, 2025, 19:31 JMG at Lincolntalk < >> [email protected]> wrote: >> >>> I upvote DCU also. Great rates, plus staff in Lexington, online app, all >>> good. >>> Jennie >>> >>> On Nov 8, 2025, at 3:26 PM, Jennifer Saffran <[email protected]> >>> wrote: >>> >>> We have been using DCU—Digital Federal Credit Union—for many years. >>> >>> On Nov 8, 2025, at 1:22 PM, Bob Kupperstein <[email protected]> wrote: >>> >>> IMO everyone should consider using a credit union rather than a bank - >>> lower or no fees, lower penalties and charges, better service, etc. >>> >>> There are a number of excellent ones in the area and they use convenient >>> ATM networks with no fees. >>> >>> -Bob >>> >>> On Saturday, November 8, 2025, nbergen--- via Lincoln < >>> [email protected]> wrote: >>> >>>> I also use Middlesex Saving Bank and have for years. They are small >>>> and personable and I love it. >>>> >>>> Nan B. >>>> ------------------------------ >>>> *From:* Lincoln <[email protected]> on behalf of Anna >>>> Lombroso <[email protected]> >>>> *Sent:* Saturday, November 8, 2025 11:07 AM >>>> *To:* Anne Sobol <[email protected]> >>>> *Cc:* [email protected] <[email protected]> >>>> *Subject:* Re: [LincolnTalk] Replacing the Bank of America >>>> >>>> Another very satisfied Middlesex Savings Bank customer here, for 30 >>>> years. Close branches in Wayland, W. Concord, Concord and Sudbury. >>>> ACL >>>> >>>> Sent from my iPad >>>> >>>> On Nov 8, 2025, at 10:31 AM, Anne Sobol <[email protected]> wrote: >>>> >>>> >>>> I also use Middlesex Savings Bank, it has lots of branches, and it is a >>>> small bank which doesn't lend to fossil fuel projects, I think it mostly >>>> lends for residential mortgages. >>>> >>>> On Fri, Nov 7, 2025 at 4:38 PM Jeff Eaton via Lincoln < >>>> [email protected]> wrote: >>>> >>>> >>>> Hello Steve- >>>> >>>> For what it's worth, I have been a customer of the Middlesex Savings >>>> Bank (nee "Middlesex Institution for Savings") for over sixty years. >>>> Likely that's more akin to an indication of inertia, but when I've needed >>>> their services they have done well. I also have maintained a Safe Deposit >>>> Box with them for all these years... at their Main Street building, Concord >>>> Village. >>>> >>>> --- Jeff >>>> >>>> Jeff Eaton >>>> 8 Storey Drive >>>> <https://www.google.com/maps/search/8%0D%0A+Storey+Drive+%0D%0ALincoln+MA+01773-2109?entry=gmail&source=g> >>>> Lincoln MA 01773-2109 >>>> <https://www.google.com/maps/search/8%0D%0A+Storey+Drive+%0D%0ALincoln+MA+01773-2109?entry=gmail&source=g> >>>> >>>> Covid booster: October 17, 2025 >>>> >>>> cell: (781) 686-8120 >>>> Land line: (781) 259-0321 >>>> Permanent email address: >>>> [email protected] >>>> >>>> * We are on a highway to climate hell ... with our foot still on >>>> the accelerator.”* >>>> >>>> * - António Guterres, >>>> 11-7-2022* >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> In a message dated 11/7/2025 3:17:33 PM Eastern Standard Time, >>>> [email protected] writes: >>>> >>>> >>>> *Many of us have been notified of the BofA’s plans to leave Lincoln.* >>>> >>>> >>>> *For some of us, it’s good riddance! Terrible hours, horrible customer >>>> service (I was on hold for 40 minutes today waiting to ask a simple >>>> question of the BofA’s national customer service team), interest rates on >>>> deposits that sucked, and fees charged to customers that “blew” (the >>>> opposite of sucked when money flows in the opposite direction!).* >>>> >>>> >>>> *Obviously, the Rural Land Foundation will be working hard to find a >>>> new bank, a better bank—one that is not just “here,” but one that is here >>>> for its customers.* >>>> >>>> >>>> *Right now, there is one thing that all current customers of the >>>> Lincoln BofA branch can do to help the RLF attract a top-notch replacement: >>>> We can continue to rely on Lincoln’s BofA branch for safe deposit box >>>> services. Think of that not as maintaining a relationship with the BofA, >>>> but rather a relationship with the Lincoln Mall and the replacement bank >>>> that the RLF secures.* >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> *In evaluating the desirability of establishing a new branch in >>>> Lincoln, the existence of our large safe deposit box base will be an >>>> important inducement to open a branch here because it means not building a >>>> customer base from scratch.* >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> *For Lincolnites, maintaining a safe deposit box in Lincoln will be an >>>> inducement to keep the rest of our banking business in Lincoln, and that >>>> will help our new bank to succeed here.* >>>> >>>> >>>> Regards, >>>> Steve Low >>>> >>>> -- >>>> The LincolnTalk mailing list. >>>> To post, send mail to [email protected]. >>>> Browse the archives at >>>> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. >>>> <https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/> >>>> Change your subscription settings at >>>> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. >>>> >>>> -- >>>> The LincolnTalk mailing list. >>>> To post, send mail to [email protected]. >>>> Browse the archives at >>>> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. >>>> Change your subscription settings at >>>> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. >>>> >>>> -- >>>> The LincolnTalk mailing list. >>>> To post, send mail to [email protected]. >>>> Browse the archives at >>>> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. >>>> Change your subscription settings at >>>> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. >>>> >>>> -- >>> The LincolnTalk mailing list. >>> To post, send mail to [email protected]. >>> Browse the archives at >>> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. >>> Change your subscription settings at >>> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. >>> >>> >>> -- >>> The LincolnTalk mailing list. >>> To post, send mail to [email protected]. >>> Browse the archives at >>> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. >>> Change your subscription settings at >>> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. >>> >>> -- >>> The LincolnTalk mailing list. >>> To post, send mail to [email protected]. >>> Browse the archives at >>> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. >>> Change your subscription settings at >>> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. >>> >>> -- >> The LincolnTalk mailing list. >> To post, send mail to [email protected]. >> Browse the archives at >> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. >> Change your subscription settings at >> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. >> >> -- > The LincolnTalk mailing list. > To post, send mail to [email protected]. > Browse the archives at https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/ > . > Change your subscription settings at > https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. > > -- > The LincolnTalk mailing list. > To post, send mail to [email protected]. > Browse the archives at https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/ > . > Change your subscription settings at > https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. > > >
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