FITCHBURG — The North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce hires longtime bank executive as new vice president of lending.

Rebecca Beaton is coming to the chamber from Fidelity Cooperative Bank in Gardner, where she most recently served as vice president and small business relationship manager.

According to a Dec. 6 release from the chamber, while at Fidelity, Beaton was responsible for small business lending and led the bank’s paycheck protection program (PPP) loan program during the coronavirus pandemic.

“We are excited to welcome Rebecca to our team,” said Roy Nascimento, the president and CEO of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce.

In her new role, Beaton will manage the lending and technical assistance programs of the North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation, which the chamber calls their “economic development arm.” The NCMDC is a non-profit economic development corporation designed to foster job creation and improve the local economy.

“Rebecca will be a great resource to the business community as we look to expand our programs and help support new and existing small businesses in the region,” Nascimento said.

Prior to working at Fidelity, Beaton worked as a branch administrator and commercial credit officer at Colonial Cooperative Bank, also in Gardner, and as a credit analyst at Clinton Savings Bank and Spencer Savings Bank. She has a master’s in finance from Clark University.