Pineland Bank combines a history of local leadership with modern banking capabilities to support customers and businesses across the region.
Pineland Bank is a family-owned community bank that serves southeast Georgia and northeast Florida. It has nine full-service banks covering Alma, Baxley, Douglas, Metter, Kingsland, St. Marys, and Fernandina Beach, Florida. The markets the team banks in are as diverse as the customers they serve, and their commitment to both have helped define the bank as a leading financial service provider in the region for more than 86 years. The bank’s origin and history have provided a foundation of humble service and a legacy of hard work to meet the basic financial needs of all customers that live in the rural areas of the Pineland Bank footprint.
“We were founded during the Great Depression, which was a very tough time for the people here in Alma,” says Paul Bennett, chairman. “All the banks in town had closed. If people or businesses wanted to keep their money safe, the only thing they could do was hide it. There was nowhere to get a loan. There wasn’t even a place to go when they needed to make change.” The town’s fortunes changed thanks to a chance encounter with the president of the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad, who had come to the area to hunt quail. Realizing the town’s desperate need for a bank, he reached out to Georgia’s Commissioner of Banking and Finance, who then met with a group of Alma’s business owners. The group of eight men had $5 each for a total of $40 in capital, hardly enough for a bank, so the Commissioner allowed them to operate as a credit union and gave them checking privileges. They were the only credit union in the United States that offered checking accounts to its customers. Within a few years, the credit union was successful enough to convert to a state-chartered bank. Valene Bennett was one of the original incorporators of the bank, who provided leadership and laid the strong foundation that’s still there. His wife, Olivia, was one of the first female bank presidents in Georgia. That original $40 investment has grown over the years to exceed $56 million in total capital and $570 million in assets.
“We’ve always been very grateful to that commissioner,” Paul says. “Had he not made that decision, there would be no town here today. I’m not sure you could get a regulator to make that kind of decision today.” “We’re a bank that believes personal service creates trust and loyalty that lasts for generations,” says Al Ross, CEO. “We have a time-honored culture that empowers good bankers to make good things happen for our customers. Our commitment to service guides everything we do, and has for more than 85 years.”
Dedicated to Local Business
“We understand the needs of our local businesses, and we’re able to offer them more flexibility than the bigger banks,” says Thomas Bennett, chief credit officer. “We’re not going to turn someone down just because the loan is too small or because their business doesn’t fit neatly into the box.”
Unlike large national and regional banks, Pineland Bank makes all of its decisions locally. There is very little bureaucracy to go through to get an answer, allowing the bank to act quickly and decisively. More importantly, the bank’s leadership understands the value of investing in the communities they serve.
“We live and work in these towns, and we want to help them succeed in any way we can,” Thomas says. “We’re also a familyowned bank, so we don’t think about things in the short term. We’re thinking generationally.”
A Tradition of Customer Service
“It’s always inspiring when one of our customers brings their grandchild into the bank and introduces them to the staff,” says Lawrence Bennett, vice chairman. “These are folks who have been with us for years, and they understand the value that we provide in their lives. They want us to know their family and their families to know us. That only happens when you treat people like you’d like to be treated.”
Pineland Bank’s focus on providing excellent customer service is one of the reasons for its longevity, Al notes. There are no out-of-state call centers or automated phone systems for customers to navigate when they need help.
“When you call one of our branches, you’ll talk to someone at that branch,” says Thomas. “We know how frustrating it can be to jump through hoops just to ask a simple question. When one of our customers calls us with a problem, we’re going to pick up the phone and help them take care of it.”
The bank is also continually investing in new technologies to better serve its customers. Pineland Bank offers the same online and mobile banking tools as its larger competitors, including Zelle payments and remote deposits.
“We’ve been a fast follower in adopting technology,” Thomas says. “We’re not the first to roll out breaking technology, but we’re quick to adopt it once the kinks have been worked out. This allows us to offer our customers the services they expect while still providing the responsiveness and flexibility of a community bank.”
Local Financial Expertise
The bank also offers customers a full range of financial planning resources through Pineland Investment Services. The team helps customers prepare for retirement, manage their investments, and develop strategies for passing wealth to the next generation.
“We realized that a lot of our customers were having to drive out of town just to talk to a financial planner,” explains Lawrence. “They shouldn’t have to do that, but there’s not really a place to do that in a small town like Alma. We decided to offer those services here.”
Managed by licensed and registered financial advisors, Pineland Investment Services provides customers with greater financial well-being by taking the mystery out of investing.
Giving Back
“We’re always looking for ways to make the quality of life better for people in the communities that we serve,” says Lorie Hyers, information security officer. “We’re deeply involved with various nonprofit and charity groups throughout our region.” “We took over Christmas for Kids several years ago,” says Thomas. “We raise money to provide a set of new clothes, warm jackets, toys, and backpacks for underprivileged kids every Christmas. The number of gifts fluctuates every year, because the need changes, but it’s usually around 130 kids in our Alma location alone. It’s a small way for us to give back to the community.”
