September 10, 2026

Board of Trustees

Hometown Financial Group MHC

Boards of Directors

Hometown Financial Group, Inc.

TruNorth Bank

36 Main Street

Easthampton, Massachusetts 01027

 

Re:	Plan of Conversion
	Hometown Financial Group, MHC
	TruNorth Bank

 

Members of the Boards of Trustees and Directors:

All capitalized terms not otherwise defined in this letter have the meanings given such terms in the Plan of Conversion (the “Plan”) adopted by the Boards of Directors of Hometown Financial Group, MHC (the “MHC”), Hometown Financial Group, Inc. and TruNorth Bank. The Plan provides for the conversion of the MHC into the capital stock form of organization. Pursuant to the Plan, a new Maryland stock holding company named Hometown Financial Group, Inc. (the “Company”) has been organized and will sell shares of common stock in a public offering. When the conversion is completed, all of the capital stock of TruNorth Bank will be owned by the Company and all of the common stock of the Company will be owned by public stockholders.

We understand that in accordance with the Plan, subscription rights to purchase shares of common stock in the Company are to be issued to: (1) Eligible Account Holders; (2) Supplemental Eligible Account Holders; (3) Tax-Qualified Plans including the Bank’s employee stock ownership plan (the “ESOP”); and (4) employees, officers, and trustees and directors, as applicable, of Hometown Financial, Hometown MHC, Hometown Financial (Massachusetts) and TruNorth Bank and corporators of Hometown MHC who do not have a higher purchase priority. Based solely upon our observation that the subscription rights will be available to such parties without cost, will be legally non-transferable and of short duration, and will afford such parties the right only to purchase shares of common stock at the same price as will be paid by members of the general public in the community and syndicated community offerings but without undertaking any independent investigation of state or federal law or the position of the Internal Revenue Service with respect to this issue, we are of the belief that, as a factual matter:

Changes in the local and national economy, the legislative and regulatory environment, the stock market, interest rates, and other external forces (such as natural disasters or significant world events) may occur from time to time, often with great unpredictability and may materially impact the value of thrift stocks as a whole or the Company’s value alone. Accordingly, no assurance can be given that persons who subscribe to shares of common stock in the subscription offering will thereafter be able to buy or sell such shares at the same price paid in the subscription offering.

Sincerely,
RP Financial, LC.

/s/ RP Financial, LC.