Page 61 - The History of Watertown Savings Bank_Neat

Bradley T. Clark played a significant role in the Association of Mutual Savings Banks, and the
largest expansion of Watertown Savings Bank’s Mortgage Bankers Association. He earned the
history with the opening of its new headquarters Senior Residential Appraiser designation from
at 111 Clinton Street in 2001. the Society of Real Estates Appraisers, and the
The new headquarters was more than just Member, American Institute designation from
a building to Mr. Clark. It was a significant the American Institute of Real Estate Appraisers
milestone, and served as a strong message to the specializing in commercial, industrial and
community that Watertown Savings Bank was agriculture real estate.
here to stay. Mr. Clark began his banking career in 1967 in
Bradley T. Clark The decision to construct the bank’s current the mortgage department of Jefferson County
Savings Bank. He later joined Watertown Savings
Watertown Savings Bank headquarters had come after much debate about Bank in 1970 as a real estate appraiser, a position
WSB remaining a local bank, or becoming a
President & CEO stock-holder entity subject to future takeovers he held for nearly two years before becoming
assistant vice president of the Western New York
1998 - 2010 from larger institutions. Savings Bank, Buffalo.
At the time the new office was opened, Mr.
Clark had made a point that the Watertown He returned to Watertown Savings Bank in
Savings Bank was not changing its form of 1976 as vice president and mortgage officer.
ownership and was not changing its name. In this position, Mr. Clark was in charge of all
lending at the bank.
“We are committed to serving this community and
our customers for many years to come,” he wrote in a In 1980, he was elected to the WSB board of
public letter. “We now have a facility that will allow trustees. Mr. Clark became Watertown Savings
us to expand our products, add more jobs, and provide Bank president in 1998, and held that position
better service.” until retiring in 2010.
Mr. Clark felt strongly about the benefits of Mr. Clark served on the board of directors for
Watertown Savings Bank staying local, and how Jefferson Community College Foundation Inc.,
the community, customers and employees would Knowlton Specialty Papers Inc., Watertown, and
realize those benefits in the future. also its nonwovens division in Utica, Samaritan
Medical Center Foundation, Children’s Home of
He often looked back to the 1960s and 1970s Jefferson County, Sacred Heart Foundation, and
and reflected on the “sad result” to the community was a member of the New York State Banking
by the loss of other local banks. Development Corp., Albany.

A 1965 graduate of Watertown High School, he In 1999, Mr. Bradley received an Honorary
attended Jefferson Community College and later First Citizen Award from the City of Watertown
completed real estate investment courses at the for his dedicated years of service on the
Wharton School of Finance at the University of Watertown Local Development Corp. board of
Pennsylvania. directors. Mr. Clark was on the agency’s board
Mr. Clark completed programs through from 1982 to 1999, serving as president for nine
the American Institute of Banking, National of those years.

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