THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS

Division of Banks

NORTH SHORE BANK, A CO-OPERATIVE BANK, Peabody, Massachusetts (NORTH SHORE BANK) has petitioned the Commissioner of Banks for permission to merge with COLONIAL FEDERAL SAVINGS BANK, Quincy, Massachusetts in a multi-step transaction. Under the terms of an Agreement and Plan of Merger, COLONIAL FEDERAL SAVINGS BANK will merge with and into NORTH SHORE BANK under the charter, by-laws, and name of NORTH SHORE BANK. This multi-step transaction also includes the merger of 15 BEACH, MHC and CFSB BANCORP, INC., the mutual holding company and subsidiary holding company, respectively, for COLONIAL FEDERAL SAVINGS BANK, with and into HOMETOWN FINANCIAL GROUP, MHC and HOMETOWN FINANCIAL GROUP, INC., the mutual holding company and subsidiary holding company, respectively, for NORTH SHORE BANK. The main office of NORTH SHORE BANK would remain the main office of the continuing institution and the banking offices of COLONIAL FEDERAL SAVINGS BANK would be retained as branch offices of NORTH SHORE BANK.

Any objections or comments relative to this proposal must be communicated in writing to the Commissioner of Banks, One Federal Street, Suite 710, Boston, Massachusetts 02110-2012 or via electronic mail to dob.comments@mass.gov no later than September 23, 2025. A public hearing may be held if the response is considered significant or circumstances warrant such a hearing, as determined by the Commissioner. The application and all communications relative to this application are available from the Division by request at dob.rao@mass.gov.

MARY L. GALLAGHER
Commissioner of Banks