Purpose & Values
Great companies have an enduring sense of purpose, and ours is to make a difference in people’s lives. We’re driven to help, and we encourage and enable our customers, colleagues and communities to thrive.
Our Purpose
We make a difference in people’s lives. This is our purpose – our reason for being.
Our Values
Our five core values are the foundation of our culture, defining how we work together and show up for our customers and each other.
- Integrity. We treat others with respect. We do the right thing, even when nobody is watching. We trust each other to do what’s best
- Curiosity. We never stop learning. We encourage creativity. We embrace and adapt to change. We are empathetic and listen actively
- Candor. We’re open and honest. We seek and share feedback. We question behavior that doesn’t align with our values
- Ownership: We understand what’s important to our customers and communities. We follow through on commitments. We execute with urgency. We act responsibly to preserve our future
- Collaboration: We work together as one team. We’re transparent and share what we know. We’re inclusive and value diverse perspectives. We celebrate our successes
Making a Difference
Our Communities
At M&T, we understand that when our communities succeed, we all succeed. That’s why we take an active role in our communities. Through our philanthropic arm, The M&T Charitable Foundation, we support a diverse range of civic, cultural, health and human service organizations with financial grants, employee volunteerism and in-kind services.
In 2021, M&T Bank contributed over $33.9 million to more than 3,000 nonprofit organizations across eight states and the District of Columbia to support what is most important in our local communities. We’ve also earned the highest possible Community Reinvestment Act rating on every exam since 1982.
Our Customers
While we’re big enough to deliver the experience, products and resources of a large bank, M&T is a community bank at heart. So we’re able to deliver the personalized service our customers expect and deserve.
We listen carefully to find out what matters most, so we can help guide customers to the financial planning and small business or commercial banking solutions they need. Our commitment to supporting businesses is consistently demonstrated by our national ranking as one of the the top SBA lenders and #1 ranking in many of the markets we serve.
Our Employees
M&T bankers act like they own the place – because they do. More than half of M&T’s employees own stock in the company and are personally invested in the bank’s mission to effectively serve its customers and communities. M&T bankers tend to stick around. On average, our employees have a tenure that’s twice as long as their counterparts at other banks. They are making their careers at M&T a personal investment in the future – part of their long-term plans. And it's easy to see why.
We’ve worked hard to create a culture that is inclusive, progressive and positive because it makes a difference in the way we work together. An environment like this helps inspire a passion and unyielding commitment to doing the right thing – not just for each other, but also for our customers, clients and communities. It's one of the reasons for our success. In addition to fostering a collaborative atmosphere, we make sure our employees know how much we value them. Extra perks like wellness programs and tuition reimbursement, as well as discounts on cultural activities and sporting events reward employee dedication and emphasize the importance of work-life balance.
Our Shareholders
We have always worked to provide our shareholders with easy access to the performance information they need. From web casting shareholder meetings to email alerts, we make it easy to stay involved and informed. More importantly, M&T has consistently delivered profitability, strength and stability.
We’ve been profitable for 170 consecutive quarters – more than 42 straight years. And M&T is one of only three peer banks to report a profit in every quarter during the Great Recession (2008) and the only peer bank not to cut its dividend through the financial crisis. M&T has never needed to issue supplemental shares to raise capital. We also have a track record of well-executed acquisitions, including Wilmington Trust.