More than 60,000 Maine college students, faculty to receive free local news subscriptions

Bangor Savings Bank to Fund Free Digital News Subscriptions for Maine College Communities

More than 60,000 students, faculty and staff across the state’s higher‑education institutions will gain free, one‑year access to Maine Trust for Local News publications this fall.

Bangor, Maine – In a move aimed at bolstering local news consumption and civic participation, Bangor Savings Bank has announced a new sponsored program that will provide free digital subscriptions to a slate of Maine Trust for Local News outlets. The initiative will cover more than 60,000 individuals connected to the state’s public universities, the Maine Community College System, and a handful of private colleges, including Bates College, Husson University and Thomas College.

What the Program Offers

Participants will receive a one‑year, digital subscription that grants access to the Portland Press Herald, Sun Journal, Morning Sentinel, Kennebec Journal and other Maine Trust publications. Digital delivery means articles can be read on laptops, tablets and smartphones.

The subscription will be available to anyone who registers with a school‑issued email address through a dedicated online portal. Once registered, users will receive a login that works across devices.

Who Is Involved

The program is funded entirely by Bangor Savings Bank, whose senior vice president, community relations manager and public finance officer, Gavin Robinson, explained the bank’s motivations: “Strong communities depend on people who are informed, connected and engaged.” The bank’s sponsorship reflects its longstanding interest in supporting local media and community development.

The universities and colleges participating include:

• Maine’s public universities (University of Maine and its branches)
• The Maine Community College System
• Bates College in Lewiston
• Husson University in Bangor
• Thomas College in Waterville

David Daigler, president of the Maine Community College System, highlighted the benefits for community‑college students: “Maine’s community college students tend to come from — and ultimately stay and work in — their local communities, so having free access to the local news is a real gift.” Daigler also noted that graduates often enter healthcare, emergency response, skilled trades and business fields where staying abreast of local issues can be especially valuable.

A Growing Trend

The new partnership follows a precedent set by three private institutions that already sponsor Maine Trust digital subscriptions for their student bodies. Colby College in Waterville, Bowdoin College, and the Roux Institute at Northeastern University in Portland have each paid for full‑digital access for their campuses.

How to Sign Up

Students, faculty and staff will need to log in with a school email address on the program’s registration page. Once approved, the user will receive a digital subscription that can be activated on any device. The program is slated to begin this fall, with the first wave of registrations opening in September.

The initiative represents a concerted effort by a local financial institution to help keep Maine’s communities informed, connected and engaged through reliable journalism.