Ben Leonard

Ware-based Country Bank, which has branches in Central and Western Massachusetts, will open a new Springfield office later this month for business customers.

The business office will be on the 17th floor of Tower Square in Springfield, and the bank said in a statement that the new location would provide a “bookend” to its eastern office located at 315 Main St. in Worcester.

The new business office will support local businesses and allow the Country Bank team to become ingrained with the companies and non-profits in Springfield, the bank said.

“For more than 171 years, Country Bank has proudly served Western and Central Massachusetts,” the bank said in the statement. “As a mutual savings bank with 16 locations now spanning Springfield to Worcester, it remains deeply rooted in the cities and towns its serves. Country Bank is one of the most highly capitalized community banks in the region; its lending power and local decision-making make Country Bank a great addition to the Springfield market.”

Ben Leonard will lead the Springfield team.

“The team at Country Bank has demonstrated a profound level of commitment to the community and its customers,” Leonard said in the statement. “I knew that I wanted to be a part of a team whose values align with my own. These values are not just statements, but are put into action every day at Country Bank.”

Leonard has 20 years of commercial banking experience, the bank said, and has spent over a decade building relationships in Western Massachusetts with both community and business leaders while he was with Wells Fargo.

“We are thrilled to have Ben join the team to lead our western division. His extensive expertise within the commercial lending space and the Springfield market makes him a great addition to the team. We know that he will be a valuable asset to the Springfield community and Country Bank’s business customers and community leaders”, stated Tom Wolcott, First Senior Vice President of Commercial Lending at Country Bank.

In addition to the two business offices, the $1.7 billion-asset Country Bank has 14 full-service branches in Ware, Palmer, West Brookfield, Brimfield, Belchertown, Wilbraham, Ludlow, Leicester, Paxton, Charlton and Worcester.