INDEPENDENT BANK CORP

At Rockland Trust, Where Each Relationship Matters®, management is fully committed to creating a respectful and inclusive environment where everyone is given the chance to succeed.

Rockland Trust has been named one of the Boston Globe’s Top Places to Work for 16 years running and has continued to be the top-rated bank in its size category since 2015. In addition to the Boston Globe’s ranking, Rockland Trust has been recognized as a “Best Place to Work” for LGBTQ Equality, scoring 100% on the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index since 2016.

As of December 31, 2024, Rockland Trust employed 1,837 total colleagues, 817 of whom are officers of the Bank. The Company’s largest business units, in terms of total headcount, include Retail, Commercial, and Operations, employing 42.4%, 16.7% and 8.3% of colleagues, respectively. Other business units include Audit, Corporate Services, Executive, Executive Administration, Finance, Human Resources, Investment Management Group, Information Technology, Loan Operations, Marketing, Mortgage, and Risk. Rockland Trust’s average full time equivalent was 1,775, as of December 31, 2024.

Colleague Engagement Rockland Trust is committed to a culture of inclusion, respect, teamwork, and employee engagement. Colleagues are provided with competitive compensation, a comprehensive benefits package and an environment that supports a healthy work-life balance. The Company surveys its colleagues quarterly and annually utilizing effective listening and feedback tools to monitor colleague sentiments around the work experience. The Company is frequently recognized for being a top workplace in areas such as employee appreciation, professional development, and work-life flexibility. According to a recent internal survey, 84% of colleagues would recommend working at Rockland Trust.

Rockland Trust’s competitive benefits include medical, dental and vision insurance, long-term disability insurance, life insurance, a 401(k) voluntary savings plan, an additional defined contribution retirement savings plan, paid time off, illness/personal time, paid parental leave, childcare assistance, wellness program RockFit, dedicated Employee Assistance Program, paid volunteer days, supplemental insurance, pet insurance, and more.

Colleagues are also offered a full suite of learning and development programs designed to support professional growth and career advancement. Formal colleague development programs include the Rising Stars Development Program (for entry-level colleague career advancement), Strategies and Tactics for Emerging Professionals, the Commercial Lender Development Program, and the Retail Management Training Program. Career journeys were developed for some of the Company’s major business units, such as Retail, to offer guidance and transparency on the steps needed to advance within the organization. These journeys provide detail on required trainings, promotion guidelines, position descriptions, mentoring opportunities, and talent development opportunities, all designed to help colleagues navigate and grow their careers.

Colleagues are invited to participate in the Company’s online learning offerings and facilitator-led training opportunities. Rockland Trust also offers Tuition Reimbursement through a decades-long partnership with Cambridge College Global and other colleges and universities. The partnership with Cambridge College Global allows part-time and full-time colleagues to earn their degree at discounted tuition rates, making it virtually cost-free. The partnership also includes access to Cambridge College Global professors who facilitate many of our training programs.

Our leadership philosophy is created using Gestalt-based leadership principles, developed by the Gestalt International Study Center (“GISC”). Through this partnership with GISC, the Company’s flagship leadership development program, Principles of Management, was designed to help all Rockland Trust Managers optimize team performance aligned with the Company’s corporate culture, “Where Each Relationship Matters,” while creating a great place to work for colleagues. As of December 31, 2024, 87% of the managers at Rockland Trust have completed this training program with remaining managers, having been newly hired or promoted within the last year, slated to participate in 2025. Throughout the course of the Company’s relationship with GISC, a suite of leadership development programs have been designed to address the specific development needs of both emerging leaders and long-time managers as the organization grows. Topics such as inclusive leadership, managing up, and the creation of alumni networks have all enabled stronger adoption of the Company’s leadership philosophy and principles that support its culture.

The growth and development of future leaders is also supported by a robust succession planning process for senior leaders and critical positions in the organization. This process allows the Company to identify high potential talent, especially in areas like our Commercial Lending and Commercial Credit teams, and accelerate their path to expanding leadership roles while ensuring our future success and sustainability as a growing organization.

Rockland Trust encourages colleagues to continually seek ways to learn and grow. The Company’s Performance Management and Feedback System allows managers to formally recognize colleagues’ achievements and identify goals and areas for improvement. In addition to this annual feedback, colleagues are also periodically spotlighted in many other ways. Colleagues are encouraged to recognize each other’s excellent internal and external customer service through a peer recognition, “You Make a Difference” award, of which 3,541 awards were earned in 2024. Managers are also provided the opportunity to recognize colleagues privately, through “Kudos” awards. In order to celebrate the academic achievements of colleagues, an annual celebration is hosted by the Company’s Chief Executive Officer to honor degree and certification recipients for that year. Colleagues are also recognized for extraordinary efforts through annual “Shining Star” awards and other awards at the annual all employee meeting.

Community Outreach In 2024, the affiliated charitable foundation of Rockland Trust, Rockland Trust Charitable Foundation Inc., donated approximately $2.5 million to over 330 nonprofit organizations throughout the Company’s footprint. In total, the Bank and our affiliated foundation contributed over $4.3 million to over 1,000 local nonprofit and community organizations. In addition, Rockland Trust employees volunteered over 23,000 service hours in our communities in 2024.

Commitment to Relationships At Rockland Trust, management believes each relationship matters, and that statement goes far beyond the Company’s customers. Rockland Trust deliberately nurtures an inclusive workplace so that each employee is valued and respected. The Company believes creating this culture enables the Company to better perform for its customers and the communities in which it operates. The Company is committed to respecting all colleagues as individuals and to be courteous and considerate to each colleague.

There has been an established inclusion program designed to ensure colleagues are valued and respected at the Company for over 19 years, and this program continues to grow and evolve. In 2024, for the second year in a row, the Company invited managers and leaders to participate on a voluntary basis in an “Inclusive Leadership” program designed to offer managers and leaders ideas about new ways to engage, involve, respect, and value the varied perspectives and contributions of all team members.

Rockland Trust strives to ensure colleagues have an opportunity to be heard, valued and engaged. Rockland Trust offers five Employee Resource Groups (“ERGs”) which are open to all employees: Inclusion Network, EmpowHer Alliance, Pride Alliance, Unidos, and The Money Circle. These voluntary, employee-led groups join together to provide opportunities for colleagues to network and engage with one another as well as to get involved in educational and social engagements, including collective charitable works.