New York-based Northeast Community Bancorp Inc., the holding company for Northeast Community Bank, plans to expand its lending operations in Massachusetts, where the bank currently has two branch offices, one of which includes a loan production office.

Northeast Community Bank recently hired additional staff in its Danvers office to support the expansion of its commercial and commercial real estate lending programs. In addition, the bank intends to begin originating residential one- to four- family mortgages throughout eastern Massachusetts, a loan product that the bank currently does not offer in any of its lending markets. To support the expansion of its lending operations in Massachusetts, the bank has hired nine new employees for its operations in Massachusetts, all of whom will be located in Danvers.

The bank has also purchased a new office building in Danvers for its lending operations in Massachusetts. The bank expects to move its loan production services to the additional Danvers office on or about Aug. 1. Northeast Community also operates a location in Plymouth.

"We are very excited about the expansion of our loan products in Massachusetts and are confident in our ability to continue to take advantage of our expertise in commercial, nonresidential real estate lending and residential mortgage lending to expand our customer relationships in the Massachusetts market," said Kenneth A. Martinek, chairman, president and chief executive officer of the company. "Our new Massachusetts employees bring a wealth of experience in lending as well as long term relationships with individuals and businesses in our lending market and are a compliment to our existing banking operations within the commonwealth."