What does it take to turn an entrepreneurial dream into a lasting reality?
For Ben Sholl, owner of Mainers, the journey hasn't been about following a single straight line. Over the past 16 years, it has been about spotting potential, putting in the hard work, and building, growing, and selling local businesses. But as any seasoned entrepreneur knows, turning passion into sustainable growth takes more than just a good idea. It takes a financial partner who sees the bigger picture.
Finding a Partner in the Community
When Ben first set out on his entrepreneurial path, he needed both a residential mortgage to ground his family and a commercial loan to launch his business vision. He approached five different banks, only to hit wall after wall with traditional lenders. That was until he walked through the doors of Saco & Biddeford Savings.
At Saco & Biddeford Savings, Residential Mortgage Loan Officer Denise McIntyre and Commercial Lender Bryan Christoforo took a very different approach. Rather than treating Ben’s request as a cold set of financial metrics, they looked at the whole picture, recognizing a hardworking family with steady momentum and a clear drive.
"When some of the mortgage lenders in the area really struggled to make the numbers work, you were able to look at the whole picture—who we were as a family, working hard, having a good steady job—and get us into our first house and our first business," Ben shares.
Denise agrees that taking a holistic view is simply part of how local banking should work: "We try to think outside the box as often as possible and look at the full picture."
For Bryan, backing entrepreneurs like Ben comes down to recognizing genuine passion and work ethic. "It's great to see that—you are the business," Bryan notes. "You put everything into it."
A Tradition of Trust and Growth
That initial "yes" launched a 16-year partnership that grew right alongside Ben’s ambitions. Over the years, Saco & Biddeford Savings stood by Ben as he bought, expanded, and eventually sold local favorites like The Maine Scoop and Mainely Custard.
For Ben, the true value of a community bank showed up not just in the loan approvals, but in the personal connections built along the way. "One of the highlights of my business ownership was looking out the serving window and seeing the loan officers, the people that made that loan possible, visiting us at the ice cream shop," Ben recalls. "That really motivated us to grow the business."
Today, that same entrepreneurial drive has evolved into Ben’s latest venture, Mainers, a company specializing in basement waterproofing and structural protection across Southern Maine. Transitioning from seasonal treats to essential home repairs was made seamless by having a bank that already understood his track record.
"It literally would not be possible had we not worked with all of you on the last deal," Ben says. "It’s a great opportunity to work with a local team where you can go into a brick-and-mortar location, they know your name, they know your kids' names, they make you feel valued, and your money is growing at the same time."
At Saco & Biddeford Savings, relationships aren't just transactions on a ledger, but the foundation of a stronger local community. Watching local business owners like Ben build, adapt, and succeed through every chapter of their career is why we show up every day, ready to find a way to say "yes."
Watch the interview here
