Jeffrey Smith | VP and Chief Lending Officer

jsmith@freedom.coop
(413) 505-5737

With nearly four decades of experience in the financial industry, Jeffrey manages our commercial, residential and consumer lending departments. He graduated from the University of Maine with a bachelor’s degree in business, and earned his master’s degree in finance from Western New England University.

David Chase, Sr. | VP, Commercial Lending

dchase@freedom.coop
(413) 355-5188

With more than three decades of experience, David is our Vice President of Commercial Lending, overseeing the Business Lending department. He attended Westfield State University, Mass Bankers School for Financial Studies at Babson College, and the School of Commercial Lending at Fairfield University. Prior to joining Freedom Credit Union in 2014, he served as the Vice President of Commercial Lending at Hampden Bank.

Charlene Smolkowicz | Assistant VP, Commercial Credit Manager

csmolkowicz@freedom.coop
(413) 505-5820

With nearly two decades of experience, Charlene is our Commercial Credit Manager, overseeing the commercial underwriting process, credit quality and analyst team for C&I commercial mortgage/real estate, and nonprofit borrowers. She earned her bachelor’s degree in business administration at Northeastern University in Boston and graduate certificate in nonprofit management at Bay Path University.

John Santaniello | Assistant VP, Member Business Lending

jsantaniello@freedom.coop
860-698-3607

Based in our Loan Production Office in Enfield, Connecticut, John works with businesses seeking loans including term, SBA (Small Business Administration), commercial real estate, and commercial vehicle loans. A graduate of the University of Massachusetts with a BS in Business Administration and years of experience in banking and commercial lending.