Crystal A. Dionne, CPA

President, Chief Executive Officer

Phone: (603) 310-7207

Ms. Dionne currently serves as the President and Chief Executive Officer for Primary Bank. Ms. Dionne joined Primary during its start-up phase in 2015 and prior to her most recent appointment, served as the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Before joining the Bank, she spent more than 20 years in government finance specializing in financial and strategic planning, investment planning and treasury management.  Ms. Dionne is the former president of the NH Government Finance Officer Association (GFOA), former president of the New England GFOA and former Vice Chair of the Budget and Fiscal Policy Committee of the National GFOA. Active in the community, Ms. Dionne is the former president of the Bedford Rotary and serves on multiple non-profit boards and State board of trustees. In addition, she currently serves on the Emerging Leaders Council for the American Bankers Association. Ms. Dionne is a Certified Public Accountant who earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Accountancy from Bentley University and her M.B.A. from Southern NH University.

Renate Wallem

Executive Vice President, Chief Operations Officer

Phone: (603) 310-7203

Ms. Wallem serves as the Executive Vice President of Operations, and Information Security Officer. She is responsible for the management of the Bank's Operation, IT and Compliance/BSA teams. Ms. Wallem has more than 20 years of experience in banking operations, compliance, and risk management. Prior to joining Primary Bank in October 2014, Ms. Wallem was a Senior Vice President, Director of Operations and Information Security Officer at Admirals Bank. Prior to that, Ms. Wallem served as the Senior Vice President of Risk Management at Capital Crossing Bank where she implemented and managed the bank’s risk management, vendor management, business continuity, and security programs. 

 

Thomas Conaton

Executive Vice President, Senior Loan Officer

Phone: (603) 310-7227

A veteran of nearly four decades in the banking industry, Mr. Conaton has served as Primary Bank’s Executive Vice President/Senior Loan Officer since June 2022. Mr. Conaton originally joined the Primary Bank team in 2018 as a Senior Vice President. Prior to joining Primary Bank, he served as a Business Banking Team Leader with Eastern Bank. Mr. Conaton also played a vital role in the growth of Hampshire First Bank prior to its acquisition, and has also served in various capacities in lending and risk management at Sovereign Bank, Granite Bank, Citizens Bank, and BayBank. A native of Lowell, Massachusetts, Mr. Conaton has long been an active member of the community, and currently lives with his family in Bedford, New Hampshire. Mr. Conaton is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts-Lowell with a degree in Finance.