BURLINGTON, Vt., March 9, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Merchants Bank partnered with WARMTH again this year to help prevent low-income Vermonters across the state from going without heat this winter. Merchants Bank matched dollar-for-dollar donations raised for WARMTH throughout the month of December. Coupled with the Merchants Bank match of $40,000, the Vermont community raised $107,000.

'When people see that their donation is matched they tend to LEAP on board! Thank you, it truly makes a difference', said Joan White, Development Director at CVOEO.

The $40,000 challenge grant was distributed by CVOEO for use by all five community action agencies statewide for the emergency-based WARMTH program to help offset home heating bills.

Merchants Bank's Community Reinvestment and Compliance Officer, Cheryl Houchens, stated, 'We know that many Vermonters faced the possibility of having a cold home this winter, because they could not pay their fuel or utility bill. Merchants Bank is happy to be able to help support these neighbors with this donation to the WARMTH program.'

About Merchants Bank
A Vermont-chartered commercial bank established in 1849, Merchants Bank is the largest Vermont-based bank. The bank's business, municipal, consumer, and investment customers enjoy personalized relationships, sophisticated online and mobile banking options, with 31 branches in Vermont and 1 location in Massachusetts, operating as NUVO, A division of Merchants Bank. American Banker ranks Merchants Bank a 'Top 200' in America among 851 peers. For more information, go to www.mbvt.com. Where do you want to grow? (Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender, NASDAQ 'MBVT')

About WARMTH
 WARMTH is a statewide emergency-based program that utilizes privately donated funds to help prevent low income households from going without heat during the winter season. The Warmth program, which has existed since 1986, is administered by Community Action Agencies across Vermont; Community Action staff provides advocacy and financial assistance to households in need to help them resolve their home heating emergency. The Warmth program is intended to supplement the state's Seasonal and Crisis Fuel Assistance services.

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SOURCE Merchants Bank

Merchants Bancshares Inc. issued this content on 09 March 2016 and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed by Public, unedited and unaltered, on 09 March 2016 13:54:10 UTC

Original Document: http://www.snl.com/irweblinkx/file.aspx?IID=100353&FID=33301024