David W. Glidden has led Liberty Bank since 2019 and serves on its board of directors and as president of the Liberty Bank Foundation. Prior to joining Liberty, Glidden was regional president for TD Bank in northern New England and upstate New York, overseeing regional banking operations.
In 2025, Liberty marked its 200th anniversary with yearlong community initiatives, including charitable donations and volunteer efforts. The bank also formally established a mutual holding company structure, which Glidden said will help preserve its mutual status while providing flexibility for growth and diversification.
Liberty reported more than $8.7 billion in assets, $90.1 million in pre-provision net revenue and $84 million in net income for 2025, exceeding budget. The Liberty Bank Foundation awarded $2.3 million to 150 organizations, and employees logged more than 16,500 volunteer hours.
Looking ahead, Glidden cited artificial intelligence as both an opportunity and challenge, along with evolving customer expectations, competition from fintech and neobanks, and geopolitical uncertainty affecting the economy and regulatory landscape.
What qualities are most essential for effective leadership today?
The job of a true leader is not “being in charge” but taking care of teammates “in our charge.”
Culture is king, and if you have no culture, you have no soul. That’s why at Liberty Bank our workplace culture is a top priority. Teammate feedback is a gift, and as a leader you have to not only listen to what your teammates are saying, but take action on what you hear.
Also, a leader must be present to build relationships with teammates; build trust and confidence in your leadership; and inspire teammates to follow your lead.
What do you value most about living or doing business in Connecticut?
The fact is Connecticut is known for delivering a high quality of life — providing our customers and teammates with a great place to live, work and raise families.
We’re home to world-class universities and colleges. There’s easy access to two key metropolitan areas like Boston and New York. Traveling to and from Connecticut is convenient thanks to accessible airports, railways, ports and interstates.
We have a unique and rich history. And residents and visitors to Connecticut benefit from various amenities like recreation, scenery and culture.
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What is one change that would make Connecticut more competitive economically?
While overall Connecticut is doing a good job, there are some critical areas still outstanding where the private sector and government need to work collaboratively, particularly when it comes to making the state more affordable for families and businesses — especially small businesses. This includes driving down the tax burden; addressing rising energy costs; reducing regulatory barriers; and keeping young professionals from leaving Connecticut.
If the state can address these critical areas and others, we will become more competitive compared to our neighboring states and make Connecticut more affordable for families and small businesses.
Book recommendations: “Emotional Intelligence” by Daniel Goleman; “The Hard Thing About Hard Things” by Ben Horowitz; “Good to Great” by Jim Collins; “12 Rules for Life” by Jordan B. Peterson; “How to Win Friends and Influence People” by Dale Carnegie; and “The Bible”
Go-to news media outlets: Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg
Hobby or leisure activity: Spending time with my family, travelling and golf
Favorite podcasts: “The Joe Rogan Experience,” “PBD Podcast” hosted by Patrick Bet-David, “The Victor Davis Hanson Show,” and Liberty Bank’s internal podcast “Let’s Open the Vault”