BANK OF VALDOSTA

Founded in June 2006, the team at Bank of Valdosta enjoyed the bank’s first full year of business in 2007. In order to handle our growing customer base, we expanded our team to 12 employees, who have more than 100 years of combined banking experience.

Over the past year, the bank has embraced the community much like the community welcomed us when we opened our doors. In 2007, we supported our local farmers and the agricultural industry at the annual Lowndes County Ham and Egg Show. Employees gave several tours of the bank to school children. Two employees are officers with the Rotary Club. We are active with the Lowndes Valdosta Chamber of Commerce, South Georgia Regional Library, Hospice, United Way, LAMP (Lowndes Associated Ministries to People), and the Homebuilders Association. We also supported Special Olympics and have helped out with local youth sports.

In 2007, we began publicizing the bank throughout Valdosta and Lowndes County with an aggressive advertising campaign on the local NBC affiliate television station. This advertising package included 60 commercials a month. The 30-second spots ran Monday through Friday during the Today Show and the local news at noon, 5 pm and 11 pm. The commercials featured bank employees and board members as we introduced our full-service community bank to the viewing public. The first commercial took place inside the bank as we highlighted our commitment to excellent customer service and our products and services. The subsequent commercials were designed as cross marketing vehicles as they showed our team members at some of our customers’ businesses. This is the type of win-win approach that we believe will make our hometown bank successful for many years.

We know the success of our bank will be determined in good part by the success of our community, so our plan is for Bank of Valdosta to grow and prosper with Valdosta and Lowndes County. The future is as bright as a sunny day in our pleasant Southern climate.

— Matthew D. Stanaland, President