Company Description
Bar Harbor Bankshares (NYSE American: BHB) is a financial holding company in the commercial banking industry and the parent of Bar Harbor Bank & Trust. According to company disclosures, Bar Harbor Bank & Trust is a community bank that has been serving customers for more than 135 years and was founded in 1887. The bank is headquartered in Bar Harbor, Maine and operates office locations across all three Northern New England states of Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont.
Bar Harbor Bankshares is classified in the finance and insurance sector, with a primary focus on commercial banking. The company states that Bar Harbor Bank & Trust provides full-service community banking, and that it offers personal and business banking services. In addition, Bar Harbor Bankshares reports that it provides wealth management services through its subsidiary Bar Harbor Wealth Management.
In regulatory and investor materials, Bar Harbor Bankshares describes itself as the parent of a community bank that serves the financial needs of its clients through a network of branch offices in Northern New England. The bank’s activities include traditional community banking and wealth management, and its operations are supported by a long operating history in its core markets.
Business model and segments
Bar Harbor Bankshares identifies itself as a bank holding company that, together with its subsidiaries, offers financial services. Public descriptions indicate that the company’s activities include community banking through Bar Harbor Bank & Trust and wealth management through Bar Harbor Wealth Management. The company’s loan portfolio, as outlined in public financial information, is organized into categories such as commercial loans, residential real estate loans, and consumer loans, reflecting a diversified community banking focus.
In earlier third-party descriptions, Bar Harbor Bankshares is also described as offering financial services products, brokerage services through third-party brokerage arrangements, and trust and investment management services to individuals, businesses, non-profit organizations, and municipalities. That description also notes reportable loan segments such as commercial construction, commercial real estate (owner-occupied and non-owner-occupied), tax-exempt loans, commercial and industrial loans, residential real estate, home equity, and other consumer loans.
Geographic footprint and community banking focus
Company news releases and background sections consistently state that Bar Harbor Bank & Trust provides full-service community banking with office locations in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. The bank emphasizes its role as a community bank in Northern New England, highlighting its long-standing presence in these markets.
Bar Harbor Bankshares has also used acquisitions to expand within its regional footprint. In a series of announcements and regulatory filings, the company disclosed a merger agreement to acquire Guaranty Bancorp, Inc., the parent of Woodsville Guaranty Savings Bank, and later confirmed the completion of this acquisition. The company reported that this transaction would expand and then did expand its presence in New Hampshire and increase its total assets and branch count across Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont.
Growth through acquisition of Guaranty Bancorp, Inc.
On March 11, 2025, Bar Harbor Bankshares announced that it had signed a definitive merger agreement to acquire Guaranty Bancorp, Inc. in an all-stock transaction. Subsequent news releases reported shareholder approval and receipt of required regulatory approvals. In an 8-K filing dated July 31, 2025, Bar Harbor Bankshares reported that it had completed the acquisition of Guaranty Bancorp, Inc., with Guaranty merging with and into Bar Harbor Bankshares and Woodsville Guaranty Savings Bank merging with and into Bar Harbor Bank & Trust.
Following the closing of the merger, Bar Harbor Bankshares announced that the combined institution would have total assets of approximately $4.8 billion and 62 branches in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. The company also reported that James E. Graham, previously President and Chief Executive Officer of Guaranty and Woodsville Guaranty Savings Bank, was appointed to the Bar Harbor Bankshares Board of Directors and to the Board of Bar Harbor Bank & Trust, in accordance with the merger agreement.
Services and capabilities
Based on public descriptions, Bar Harbor Bank & Trust offers personal and business banking services as part of its full-service community banking model. Bar Harbor Bankshares also states that it provides wealth management services through Bar Harbor Wealth Management. Earlier third-party descriptions add that the company offers products and services such as checking, deposit accounts, cards, mobile banking, online services, loans, merchant services, trust and fiduciary services, investment planning, education funding, and individual retirement planning, as well as brokerage services through third-party arrangements.
Within its loan portfolio, Bar Harbor Bankshares identifies categories including commercial real estate, commercial and industrial loans, tax-exempt loans, residential real estate, home equity, and other consumer loans. These categories are referenced in the company’s financial reports and in third-party summaries of its reportable segments.
Regulatory status and stock listing
Bar Harbor Bankshares is incorporated in Maine and, according to its SEC filings, its common stock is listed on the NYSE American under the trading symbol BHB. The company files periodic and current reports with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including Forms 8-K that describe material events such as quarterly earnings releases, dividend declarations, investor presentations, and the completion of the Guaranty Bancorp, Inc. acquisition.
In multiple 8-K filings, Bar Harbor Bankshares confirms that its common stock has a par value of $2.00 per share and is registered under Section 12(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The company also uses SEC filings to furnish investor presentations and to report quarterly financial results and dividend decisions.
Recognition and community banking positioning
In its earnings news releases, Bar Harbor Bankshares notes that Bar Harbor Bank & Trust has been recognized by external publications. For example, the company reports that Forbes Magazine recognized it as one of America’s "Best-in-State Banks" for multiple consecutive years, and that Newsweek has named it among "America’s Best Regional Banks" and "America’s Best Banks" in prior periods. These recognitions are cited by the company as reflecting customer and community relationships and the performance of its banking operations.
Across its disclosures, Bar Harbor Bankshares emphasizes its identity as a community bank serving Northern New England, combining traditional banking services with wealth management capabilities. Its long operating history, regional branch network, and acquisition of Guaranty Bancorp, Inc. are central elements of its corporate profile.
Frequently asked questions about Bar Harbor Bankshares (BHB)
The following FAQs summarize key points drawn from Bar Harbor Bankshares’ public disclosures and third-party descriptions.
- What is Bar Harbor Bankshares?
Bar Harbor Bankshares is a Maine corporation that serves as the parent company of Bar Harbor Bank & Trust, a community bank founded in 1887. It is classified in the commercial banking industry within the finance and insurance sector. - Where is Bar Harbor Bankshares headquartered?
According to SEC filings and company news releases, Bar Harbor Bankshares is headquartered in Bar Harbor, Maine, and operates through Bar Harbor Bank & Trust in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. - On which exchange does BHB trade?
Bar Harbor Bankshares’ common stock is listed on the NYSE American under the ticker symbol BHB, as stated in its SEC filings. - What banking services does Bar Harbor Bank & Trust provide?
Company background information describes Bar Harbor Bank & Trust as a full-service community bank that offers personal and business banking services. Earlier third-party descriptions also reference products such as checking and deposit accounts, cards, mobile and online services, loans, merchant services, and trust and fiduciary services. - Does Bar Harbor Bankshares offer wealth management?
Yes. Bar Harbor Bankshares states that it offers wealth management services through its subsidiary Bar Harbor Wealth Management, and its earnings releases refer to wealth management income and assets under management. - What are the main types of loans in Bar Harbor Bankshares’ portfolio?
Public financial information and third-party summaries identify loan categories including commercial real estate, commercial and industrial loans, tax-exempt loans, residential real estate, home equity, and other consumer loans. - What regions does Bar Harbor Bank & Trust serve?
Bar Harbor Bank & Trust reports that it operates office locations in all three Northern New England states: Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. - What was the Guaranty Bancorp, Inc. transaction?
Bar Harbor Bankshares announced a definitive merger agreement to acquire Guaranty Bancorp, Inc., the parent of Woodsville Guaranty Savings Bank, and later reported in an 8-K filing that the acquisition was completed on July 31, 2025. Following the transaction, Woodsville Guaranty Savings Bank was merged into Bar Harbor Bank & Trust. - How did the Guaranty acquisition affect Bar Harbor Bankshares’ footprint?
In its news release on the completion of the merger, Bar Harbor Bankshares stated that the combined institution would have total assets of approximately $4.8 billion and 62 branches in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont, expanding its presence in Northern New England. - How long has Bar Harbor Bank & Trust been in operation?
Company background sections state that Bar Harbor Bank & Trust was founded in 1887 and has been serving clients for over 135 years as a community bank.