GB&T to operate new bank in Athens

GAINESVILLE - Plans have been announced for a new bank to serve the fast growing Athens-Clarke and Oconee County area.

The Bank of Athens will operate as a division of Gainesville-based GB&T. Longtime Athens banker Scott Wayne will serve as president of the new organization, which will be a full service-banking center.

"We have looked for an opportunity to enter the banking arenas in Athens-Clarke and Oconee Counties for the past several years," notes Michael Whitmire, President of GB&T. "With our company's commitment to hometown banking and exceptional customer service, we know Scott Wayne is the individual to put together a staff and banking center in Athens that will appeal to the growing customer base there. The Athens-Clarke County and Oconee County market is a rapidly growing, diverse and vibrant area of our state with both population demographics and banking opportunities very similar to our home county of Hall."

"We will be completing the application process with the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance within the next few days," Wayne said. "Our initial offices will be located at 110 Trinity Place, just off U.S. 129 and across from the Athens Country Club, where we will offer a full range of deposit and loan products and services, including internet banking with cash management for both business and personal accounts. Our plans are to purchase property and develop plans for the construction of our own bank building next year."

GB&T is the lead bank in the $1 billion community bank holding company, GB&T Bancshares.