Meet Norah Boyle, Program Manager for Bank On Boston

A longtime resident of Jamaica Plain and Roslindale, Norah Boyle has spent more than 15 years shaping client experiences in the financial services industry, with a focus on financial literacy, thought leadership, and content development. With early roots in the nonprofit sector, Norah always felt the pull back to mission-driven work.

“It feels like the right time to take the knowledge and skills I’ve gained developing and launching financial literacy programs in the corporate world, and use them to support residents’ financial journeys through the lens of public service and financial empowerment.”

Today, Norah leads Bank On Boston, the city’s local arm of the national Bank On initiative—a program that connects unbanked and underbanked residents to safe, affordable bank accounts as a first step toward long-term financial stability.

“Many of our residents feel excluded from the banking system,” Norah explains. “They may rely on check-cashing services with high fees. We want to change that by connecting them to reliable accounts and helping them feel confident using them.”

Since its inception in 2015, Bank On Boston has built a coalition of local banks, credit unions, and community organizations dedicated to financial inclusion. These partners work to create products and services that meet the national Bank On account standards defined by the Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund (CFE Fund)—a set of criteria ensuring that accounts are safe, affordable, and accessible to everyone.

“We’re working to serve residents of all ages—teens, adults, and seniors—by creating banking options and education that meet people where they are,” Norah says.

What sets Boston’s local Bank On initiative apart is its deep culture of collaboration. Integrated with the City of Boston’s Center for Working Families and its partners, they work together to align financial coaching, tax assistance, and banking access into a unified network of support.

“From leadership to staff, everyone is deeply committed to reaching every resident,” Norah explains. “Here, financial coaching, tax assistance, and Bank On all work together—referring clients, sharing resources, and supporting one another.”

Norah is focused on strengthening banking and community partnerships while expanding outreach citywide.

“Our partners bring deep knowledge and experience in financial literacy and economic empowerment,” she says. “My goal is to build on those relationships, expand access to affordable banking, and share tools that help residents achieve economic mobility.”

Drawing on her financial services background, Norah translates complex financial systems into accessible, practical support. This November, she will join the national Bank On Academy Fall Cohort, joining peers from across the country to deepen Boston’s leadership in financial empowerment.

Outside of work, Norah enjoys life around Boston with her husband, son, and their Boston Terrier, Bobo. You’ll often find her walking in the Arboretum, cheering at Little League games in Jamaica Plain, or visiting the MFA and South End Open Market—with a strong black coffee in hand.

Learn more about Bank On Boston at boston.gov/bankon-boston.