Sentinel and Enterprise, 10/18/05
Fidelity, By Aaron Wasserman

LEOMINSTER - Fidelity Bank officials announced Monday that they will
build a new multimillion dollar branch and corporate facility at the
intersection of Mechanic Street and the Leominster Connector - close
to Route 2 and I-190.

The project's centerpiece is a new 47,000 square-foot-building that
will house the branch, a 100-person-capacity conference center,
office space and a center for financial seminars for Fidelity's
clients.

Fidelity's president and CEO Edward F. Manzi Jr. said continued
growth prompted the expansion project, which the bank has been
considering for two years.

"The bank has essentially doubled in size over the past five years,"
Manzi said. "We need a larger space to accommodate our growing staff."
The new facility will be located close to the Mall at Whitney Field,
and the recently opened Orchard Hill Park shopping center.
The bank will hire between seven and 10 new staff members for the
site, according to Vice President Wayne Texeira, who said the bank is
in "growth mode."

Manzi said Fidelity chose the Mechanic Street site because of its
proximity to Route 2 and shopping centers, which provide easy
accessibility for clients and employees.
He also said the bank can expand the complex in the future if it
wants to.

He described the location as a "hub of activity, where people can
look to us as a real valuable resource in their lives."
Groundbreaking is scheduled for later this year, and the facility
will open in late 2006, Manzi said.
Leominster Mayor Dean Mazzarella said he is excited about the
opening, noting there is a "synergy of good things happening in
Leominster."

"We've worked with [Fidelity] over the last six or so months,"
Mazzarella said. "It's in a good location, in an area where we hope
there will be continued development."

Fidelity, whose assets total $334 million, also announced plans to
update its Fitchburg, Gardner and Millbury locations during the next
five years by adding LIFEDESIGN Centers to those branches.
The LIFEDESIGN project, unveiled in early 2004, is an in-branch
financial education center that houses seminars for the bank's
clients.

Fidelity introduced the first two centers at its Worcester and
Shirley branches. The new Leominster branch will house the third.
Maugel Architects, Inc., of Harvard, designed the facility and the
Fitchburg-based Construction Dynamics, Inc., will supervise the
project.


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