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end, and across the entire employment chain. Dunphy and Pecci stood in the lobbies of Braintree bank branches, personally keeping their finger on the pulse of their client base and giving employees and clients alike the opportunity to approach them with any complaints or concerns. They also brought in ice cream trucks and shared treats as well as conversation at the different branches. Both men were pleased that very few people felt disenfranchised or dissatisfied. Pecci says how rewarding it is to have clients and staff tell them, "It feels good that you come and talk to us." Both banks truly value their dedicated people. Another great concern during the merger was that their employees would have job stability. From the moment of the idea's inception, Pecci and Dunphy were determined that no one would lose a job. Not everyone maintained the exact same position, but no one was terminated or took a backward step in compensation. "We're a community bank," Dunphy says. "Our most important asset is our people. They are the ones who are involved with our clients and are active in the community." Indeed, Dunphy and Pecci squarely give the credit for the merger's success to their employees. "We have a lot of good people. There are a lot of smart people involved," says Dunphy. "Our employees really know what they're doing," adds Pecci. While Dunphy and Pecci resist taking the credit for the execution of South Shore Bank's beneficial merger, it is evident that their excellent working relationship has contributed to its success. Both have a mutual admiration for the other's cache of talents and have a common interest in the clients they serve. They are both rare industry leaders in that they have worked in so many aspects of banking: finance, lending, operations, technology and compliance. This broad-based knowledge and their commitment to the South Shore have given them valuable insight into how today's decisions will best help the bank and its clients in the future. "We really care," says Pecci. This fact is evidenced by how much South Shore Bank and its employees give to the South Shore. "There are employees every day who are doing some level of community activity," says Dunphy, who is the incoming chair for the South Shore Chamber of Commerce. In addition to countless hours of volunteer work, South Shore Bank puts half a million dollars into the community every year. It supports, among other things, the Weymouth Food Pantry, the Atlantic Symphony, South Shore Health Systems, Quincy Asian Resources, Inc., and it just donated a children's reading center at Braintree's Thayer Public Library. In every town where there is a South Shore Bank branch, the bank gives a scholarship to a high school student. It also gives scholarships to 20