Len Anctil had recently left law school and was without a job when he got the letter from Middlesex Bank: it was time to start paying back his student loans.

“I wrote them back and said, ‘I have no job, but I’d like to pay you back. It occurs to me you may have jobs that I might be qualified for. Can we talk?’” Anctil recalled. “And that’s the way it started.”

From Middlesex Bank – which later became Bay Bank and, after Anctil left, was purchased by Bank Boston – Anctil worked at institutions including Bank of New England, Fleet Bank and Commerce Bank before arriving at Clinton Savings Bank in 2008, where he is currently senior vice president and senior commercial lending officer.

Anctil said his passion for banking stems from his “competitive nature.”

“I love building relationships with referral sources and customers. I love getting opportunities to bring in new pieces of business to our bank,” Anctil said. “That’s what keeps me going.” His competitive nature likely also comes in handy at Boston Sports Club, where he moonlights as a boxing instructor.

As for his success, Anctil credits the mentors who were willing to help him throughout his career, particularly Leo Breitman, former chairman and CEO of Fleet Bank.

“He gave me the opportunity to do things that I had no experience in whatsoever. For example, he called me into his office one day and said, ‘What do you know about real estate syndication loans?’ I looked at him and said, ‘Not a thing.’ … And he told me, ‘Well, you’re going to do them,’” Anctil said. Working with Breitman, “I built up a tremendous amount of experience and with that came confidence. So when I see younger people that are working hard and wanting to get ahead, I try to do for other folks what Leo did for me.”

According to Debra Minor, vice president and credit manager at Clinton Savings Bank and Anctil’s award nominator, Anctil is doing just that. “I’ve been doing this for 25 years; I’ve never encountered somebody more invested in my professional development than Len,” Minor said.

Anctil’s commitment to helping others extends far beyond the bank. In addition to serving as an active member of the Corridor Nine Chamber of Commerce, Anctil is extremely involved with the Ron Burton Training Village, which provides mentorship, as well as spiritual, physical and educational growth opportunities to young adults, many of whom come from disadvantaged backgrounds.

“Len is the embodiment of the class valedictorian,” Minor said. “He’s so invested in everyone else’s interests, whether that is a customer, someone he works with, a kid he’s mentoring through the Ron Burton Training Village or one of his boxing students. He is so committed to making that program, that person – whatever it may be – better and helping them grow into what they want to be.” n

Len Anctil

by Anna Sims time to read: 2 min
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