Community Involvement

Banking that believes in you. Banking that believes in our community. 

Franklin Savings Bank has been a central part of Maine’s growing and changing communities since 1868, leading with open arms and proactive guidance. Our staff, services and resources are dedicated to growing individual opportunities and making a positive impact.

Franklin Savings Bank Foundation

Franklin Savings Bank is a true Community Bank. We take pride in our generous support of various causes in the community. Franklin Savings Bank donated more than $500,000 to local non-profits in 2023. Initiatives included scholarships for graduating seniors, financial literacy programming for school-age children, promoting conservation and outdoor recreation activities, and funding for local food programs. 

Our largest initiative in 2023, revolved around our strategic contributions to promote food security within the state. To learn more about this project, including the list of 63 pantries and food programs supported, check out the story here. (expand the accordion by clicking the “+” button to see the whole story!)

We do business primarily in Western and Central Maine and have a business office in Ellsworth. Our Main Office is in Farmington and we have branches in Rumford, Rangeley, Skowhegan, Jay, Wilton, and the Mt. Blue High School Campus.

Please note: We do not do business in New Hampshire and are not affiliated with the Franklin Savings Bank that does business in that state.

2023 Food Security Donation

Franklin Savings Bank Commits $106,650 to Support Food Security

In response to Maine’s rising food insecurity rates — the highest in New England — Franklin Savings Bank is contributing $106,650 to enhance food security in the state. This initiative will support 63 pantries and youth food programs that serve food-insecure populations within Franklin, Somerset, Hancock and Oxford counties*.

Recognizing the significance of supporting food security, the Bank’s board of directors made it a priority for the Franklin Savings Bank Community Development Foundation in 2023. This initiative began at the 2023 Annual Meeting, where Franklin Savings Bank Corporators designated $6,300 in donations for local pantries. The next step was establishing a collaboration with the Good Shepherd Food Bank of Maine. By partnering with the Food Bank, Franklin Savings Bank was able to extend the reach and effectiveness of its contribution.

“It is our goal to support food security in our areas. I recently heard a statistic that 1-in-7 Maine children have faced hunger in the last year – it is hard to know that fact and not look for the best ways to help. Our partnership with Good Shepherd Food Bank is key to targeting areas with great need, as identified by the number of families each pantry aids,” said Tim Thompson, president and CEO of Franklin Savings Bank.

The Bank is set to support a total of 63 pantries through this initiative – 37 Good Shepherd Food Bank affiliated pantries and school programs will receive funds through their accounts with the Food Bank. The commitment was also extended to 26 pantries outside the Food Bank’s network, thus widening the safety net for families in need. Additionally, the contribution will provide more than 200,000 nutritious meals for Mainers.

Courtney Austin, marketing director of Franklin Savings Bank, and organizer of this project, added, “Understanding the local impact of food insecurity drives our focused approach. We’re not just donating; we’re investing in the health and stability of our communities.”

Georgia Jenkins, corporate and foundation relations officer from Good Shepherd Food Bank, expressed gratitude for the Bank’s contribution, “Franklin Savings Bank’s donation will have an immediate and significant impact on Maine communities. Their partnership significantly enhances our ability to provide essential support and is a testament to the positive change that can be achieved when we all share a goal for a hunger-free Maine.”

*Percentage of the population experiencing food insecurity per county – Franklin (10.7%), Somerset (14.3%), Hancock (9.7%), and Oxford (12%).


Receiving food pantries and programs include;

Adventist Community Services Soup Kitchen
Andover Food Pantry
Bar Harbor Food Pantry
Bethel Area District Exchange Food Pantry
Canaan Community Food Cupboard
Canaan Elementary
Canton Baptist Church Food Pantry
Care & Share Food Closet
Carrabec Community School
Carrabec High School
CenterPoint Community Church
Clearwater Ministry
Community Table Soup Kitchen
Dixfield Food Pantry
Downeast Community Partners – Food Box Program – Ellsworth
Ellsworth School Department
Emmaus Center Food Pantry
Episcopal Church Food Pantry
Everybody Eats- Free Community Meal
FaithWorks Inc
Food Cupboard of JLLF
H.O.M.E. Co-Op Food Pantry and Meal Site
Hancock Backpack Program
Living Waters Food Pantry
Loaves & Fishes Food Pantry
Madison Junior High School
MaineHealth Food Pantry
MDI Backpack Project
Meroby Elementary
MSAD #44 (Telstar) Funding through Bethel Area District Exchange Pantry (BADEP)
MSAD #58 (Mt. Abram)
Mt Valley High School
Mt Valley Middle School
Old School Food Pantry
People Who Care Food Cupboard
Phillips Area Food Pantry
Rangeley Ecumenical Food Closet
Rangeley Family Medicine
Rangeley Health & Wellness
RSU #56  (Dirigo) Funding through  Servant’s Heart
RSU #58 Food Program
RSU #73 – Spruce Mountain
RSU #78 – Rangeley Lakes
RSU #9 – Mt. Blue
Rumford Elementary
Safe Voices
Servant’s Heart Food Pantry
Shelters By Jesus
Skowhegan Backpack Program
Skowhegan Community Food Cupboard
Solon Elementary
St. Anthony’s Soup Kitchen  (Christ to King is what a check would be made out to)
St. Joseph’s Nutrition Center
St. Peter Thrift Shop & Food Bank
St. Rose Parish Food Assistance
Stratton-Eustis Food Pantry
The Thrifty Beaver (UMF)
The Welcome Table
Tree of Life Food Pantry
UMC – Wilton Area Food Pantry
United Methodist Economic Ministry
What’s For Suppa? Food Pantry
Youth Outreach Ministries

Franklin Scholars – Scholarships for High School Seniors

Each year, Franklin Savings Bank’s Community Development Foundation awards 12 college scholarships, totaling $36,000, to graduates, from 11 local high schools, who are pursuing a career in a business-related field at a 4-year college or university.

  • Mt. Blue High School (two scholarships)
  • Mountain Valley High School
  • Mt. Abram High School
  • Dirigo High School
  • Spruce Mountain High School
  • Madison High School
  • Skowhegan Area High School
  • Rangeley Lakes Regional School
  • Carrabec High School
  • Telstar Regional High School
  • Ellsworth High School

Technical Scholarships

In 2020, Franklin Savings Bank began offering 4 scholarships, totaling $12,000 to seniors from 4 local technical schools. Recipients will be entering a 2 or 4-year accredited certification program or pursuing a degree from a technical/postsecondary vocational school, college or university.

Each award is based largely on academic achievement, but community involvement, extracurricular activities, and financial need are also considered. For more information, please reference the applications below.

  • Foster Career and Technical Education Center
  • Somerset Career and Technical Center
  • Region 9 School of Applied Technology
  • Hancock County Technical Center

Please note, this PDF may be typed online and printed out or printed out and filled in later. In either case, it cannot be submitted online. You must take the application to your school guidance office or technical center administrative office.

These scholarships are available only to graduating seniors enrolled at the above schools. Awards will be determined by the schools and applications should be directed to the guidance office at the school.

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