Press Releases  

For Immediate Release
March 22, 2006
Contact: Denise Lollis
(864) 942-1597

Countybank Expansions Position Organization for New Era of Service

GREENWOOD, SC — Countybank organization announces two corporate initiatives that together, represent an unprecedented level of investment in the organization’s future: its intent to break ground in April 2006 on a new financial center in Greenwood, and its decision to
expand the organization’s Upstate operations by opening a financial center in downtown Greenville in June of this year.

The new Greenwood facility will be located at the corner of Calhoun Road at Hwy 72 Bypass, just down the street from the existing North office. The 5,000–square-foot, state-of-the-art facility will bring together professionals from each of Countybank’s family of financial services, including banking, mortgage, insurance, investments and trust services. The benefit to customers will be the
ability to access these services under one roof.

“We developed this facility based on the unique needs of today’s customers,” said R. Thornwell Dunlap, III, president and CEO. “Its design was inspired by actual focus groups of business and community leaders; they told us they wanted a facility that was approachable, convenient and well organized in terms of the services they could access. We’re confident the whole community will be pleased with the results.”

Located at 201 West McBee Avenue, the Greenville financial center will be anchored by consumer and commercial banking, with the organization’s ancillary financial management services rounding out the organization’s portfolio. Claude Robinson, a 27-year veteran of Countybank, will serve as the organization’s president in the Upstate area.

Robinson will relocate to Greenville this spring to spearhead development of the facility, direct recruiting efforts, and introduce Countybank to the Greenville area. “We’re pleased to bring Countybank’s style of banking and financial services to the Greenville community,” said Robinson. “The rapid economic growth in the area, coupled with our focus on meeting the distinct financial needs of local business owners, entrepreneurs and professionals, makes the Greenville market a natural fit for our organization.”

Staffing development for the Greenwood facility is underway, with 15 to 20 professionals expected to open the new financial center. The majority of Greenville staff is expected to focus on banking, mortgage and insurance services, with investment and trust services to be provided by Greenwood professionals. The Greenville staff will be composed of five professionals from the existing Countybanc Insurance office located in Greer, SC, and six banking professionals.

“The decisions to invest in the new Greenwood facility and to expand into the Greenville market are certainly significant ones for our organization,” said Thornwell Dunlap. “We’re proud of our history here in Greenwood, and we look forward to building on that foundation and applying the knowledge we’ve gained over the years to help more customers in the Upstate meet their financial needs.”