Franklin Savings Bank Donates $150,000 to Titcomb Mountain
FARMINGTON, ME – On Morrison Hill, the afternoons are getting darker, the air is taking on that familiar December chill, and Titcomb Mountain is buzzing with pre-season excitement. This year, there’s an extra charge of energy. Crews are working to complete the installation of a brand-new T-Bar, a long-awaited upgrade that will help carry the mountain into its next chapter.
Titcomb has always been more than a ski hill. For generations, it has been a place where winter in Franklin County truly happens. Kids bundled up for Winter Fun Days, volunteer coaches teaching new skiers how to turn, families fitting in a few runs after work, and longtime community members showing up in every kind of weather because that’s what keeps Titcomb going.
Franklin Savings Bank is proud to join many community partners in supporting this story – and the future of Titcomb Mountain – with a $150,000 donation toward the new T-Bar project. The campaign is nearing its goal, and we’re honored to help move it forward at such a pivotal moment.
The bank’s relationship with Titcomb runs deep. “This mountain is part of who we are,” said Tim Thompson, President and CEO of Franklin Savings Bank. Over the years, Franklin Savings Bank has sponsored Free-Ski Days, helped with races, and supported youth programs. Several members of the bank family have taken on leadership roles at the mountain as well. FSB directors Katherine Yardley, Jim Witt, and Rich Smith—along with Board Chairman Peter Judkins and Derek Hayes – have all played meaningful leadership roles on Titcomb’s boards, offering time, insight, and genuine care for the mountain’s future.
And then there are the employees – too many to count – for whom the ongoing support of Titcomb Mountain has been a labor of love. Whether they have found themselves on snowmaking crews, helping on race days, or working behind the counter serving the region’s best french fries. (If you’ve had them, you know.)
For Executive Vice President Derek Hayes, this project is about more than replacing an old lift. “Titcomb is one of those places that pulls a community together,” he said. “It provides kids with new skills and independence, gives families something to look forward to, and it brings people into town all winter long. Helping with this project is really helping our whole region.”
The new T-Bar will replace aging equipment that has served the mountain well for decades. With installation underway, momentum is building – but so is the need. Titcomb is still working to close the gap on its fundraising goal as winter approaches.
For many at the bank, this support is personal. “I learned to ski at Titcomb during Winter Fun Days in elementary school,” said Courtney Austin, Marketing Director. “A lot of us at FSB grew up or raised families here. Titcomb isn’t just a ski area – it’s part of the fabric of Franklin County.”
Franklin Savings Bank remains committed to supporting local traditions, local people, and the places that make this region feel like home. Helping Titcomb move forward is a meaningful piece of that work.
About Franklin Savings Bank
Founded in 1868, Franklin Savings Bank is a community bank with deep roots across Western, Central, and Downeast Maine. In 2024, FSB donated more than $400,000 to 158 nonprofits across the region. Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender. https://www.franklinsavings.bank/
About Titcomb Mountain
Owned and operated by the Farmington Ski Club, Titcomb Mountain offers alpine and Nordic skiing, night skiing, lessons, and year-round outdoor recreation programs. For more than 80 years, it has lived up to its nickname: “The Friendliest Mountain Around.” https://www.titcombmountain.com/