United Bank of Glastonbury, CT announced the hiring of Stephen F. Roche of Glastonbury, Conn. as Senior Vice President and Greater Hartford Commercial Banking Team Leader.

Roche, whose official start date at United Bank is November 9, will be responsible for managing and leading the commercial banking team that covers the Bank's Greater Hartford market area.

Roche, an experienced Commercial & Industrial (C&I) banker and senior leader in the Connecticut market for three decades, comes to United Bank after a nearly 15 year career at TD Bank, where he most recently held the role of Senior Vice President and Regional Manager responsible for managing a team of middle-market bankers in Connecticut. Prior to TD Bank, Roche was Senior Vice President and Commercial Regional Manager for People's United Bank in Hartford.

"Over the last year or so, David Paulson and his team have recruited the best-of-the-best bankers to build upon the high-performing team of commercial bankers we already have in place within our commercial banking franchise, which has helped to deliver two consecutive quarters of strong commercial loan growth," said Crawford. "Steve Roche epitomizes everything we look for when it comes to community banking: deep personal and professional roots in the market he will cover, delivering an exceptional customer experience in all interactions and demonstrating a strong commitment to winning new business and taking care of our current customers. For these reasons and many more, I am confident he will be a great teammate at United."

Roche replaces Robert Kell who has taken on another critical leadership role at United Bank as Senior Vice President and Business Banking Team Leader, where the Bank will leverage his management and credit skills in the implementation of strategies for new business.

He will be based in Glastonbury and will report to David C. Paulson, Executive Vice President and Head of Wholesale Banking.

On April 30, 2014, United Bank (established in 1882) and Rockville Bank (established 1858) completed a transformational merger of equals by bringing together two financially strong, independent-minded institutions to create the premier community bank in New England with 52 branches in two states and over $5.8 billion in assets.