January 24, 2005

Barabara Johnson, Head Of People's Bank Corporate Community Relations, To Retire

Senior Vice President Parry Spahr Will Assume Johnson's Responsibilities

BRIDGEPORT, CONN. - After nearly 30 years with People's Bank, Barbara Johnson, senior vice president of Corporate Community Relations, has made the decision to retire effective April 29, 2005. Parry Spahr, a senior vice president in People's Marketing and Regional Banking division, who has many years of experience working with nonprofit organizations statewide, will assume Johnson's duties in addition to his current responsibilities.

Johnson joined People's Regional Banking Division in 1975 and took on increasingly responsible positions within the bank. She headed the acquisition and integration team for the bank's insurance subsidiary, RC Knox & Company and Beardsley Brown & Basset, and also led the team that developed the automated telephone banking service that now handles 95 percent of People's customer calls. In addition, Johnson served as manager for the bank's New Haven region where she managed growth and doubled the size of the bank's branch presence in that market. She also led an initiative to redevelop New Haven's Dwight neighborhood and became the first female to lead the Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce.

Active in the community, Johnson, received in 1994 the bank's prestigious Samuel W. Hawley Public Service Award, presented each year to a People's employee for his or her exemplary community service. She was chair of the 2003 Eastern Fairfield County United Way campaign and has also served on the board of directors of numerous organizations throughout the state, including Connecticare, Inc., the Shubert Theatre and the University of New Haven. She is currently president of the Housatonic Community College Foundation and a board member for the International Festival of Arts and Ideas in New Haven.

Johnson is a graduate of the National School of Banking and lives with her husband in the Black Rock section of Bridgeport.

Spahr joined People's Bank in 1970 as a management trainee and held increasingly responsible positions within the bank. He led the Residential Mortgage, Consumer Lending and Credit Card Departments of the bank before moving to Regional Banking where he was senior vice president and region manager for the Stamford, Bridgeport and New Haven markets. He is currently senior vice president, Customer Experience, for People's.

Because of his region management positions, Spahr has been associated with many nonprofit organizations statewide, including Ability Beyond Disability, the New Haven and Stamford Symphonies, and the Fairfield County Nonprofit Loan Fund. He is currently chairman of the board for the Playhouse on the Green and a member of the board of Artsport, both in Bridgeport.

A graduate of the University of Delaware, Spahr resides with his wife in Shelton.

Founded in 1842, People's Bank (peoples.com) is one of Connecticut's largest banks with assets of $11 billion, more than 240 ATMs and 155 branches, 66 of which offer convenient seven-day banking in Super Stop & Shop locations across the state. A diversified financial services company, People's Bank provides consumer, commercial, insurance, retail investment and trust services to personal and business banking customers. People's Bank is the official banking partner of the University of Connecticut Division of Athletics. For more information about People's, its products and services, please call 800-772-1090, visit peoples.com or any of People's branches.