Greenville, SC -- October 15, 2007 -- One of South Carolina’s fastest growing companies arrived in the city of Greenville this morning! CommunitySouth Bank & Trust (OTCBB: CBSO) officially opened its Greenville office at 2415 Laurens Road at the corner of Woodruff Road today, its sixth full-service office in the Upstate.
“We are very excited about our entry into the Greenville market, the Upstate’s largest community,” said C. Allan Ducker, III, Chief Executive Officer of CommunitySouth Bank & Trust. “Our goal is to be the community bank of choice in the Upstate, and a strong presence in Greenville is essential to achieving this key initiative.”
Laurens Road, known as the Motor Mile for years, was chosen for a variety of reasons.
“We’ve been surveying potential locations in the Greenville market for months,” said David A. Miller, President of CommunitySouth. “After an analysis of the city’s main thoroughfares, we’ve decided that Laurens Road is the best location for us. Its central location, convenience for both personal and business customers, and its tremendous growth potential were all main reasons for the decision.”
“With the introduction of the International Center for Automotive Research (ICAR) and the new residential and commercial development plans for Verdae Boulevard, we have great hopes and expectations for future growth on Laurens Road,” said Ducker.
While the Bank just opened its office in Greenville, CommunitySouth has had a presence in nearby Mauldin since November 2005 and in Greer since November 2006. It already serves a large number of both personal and business customers in Greenville.
“We already have a number of customers in Greenville that have been serviced through our Mauldin and Greer offices and our free business courier service,” said Miller. “We look forward to providing these customers and the rest of the community with a state-of-the-art local office focused on their needs.”
The new office is staffed with experienced, local bankers. The office is overseen by Vice President and Community Banker Mike Easler, a Greenville native with more than 15 years of banking experience. Another Greenville native, Linda Bindewald, is Branch Operations Manager of the new office, and has over eight years of banking experience.
“We have great expectations for our Greenville office,” said Easler. “We offer many benefits other local banks don’t – nationwide free ATMs, extended hours, free business courier service, and free freshly baked cookies from our signature refreshment center. But what really sets up apart from the bank down the street is our people. When you come to CommunitySouth, we take care of you – not just your money.”
The 4,700 square foot office features state-of-the-art flat screen televisions, a 24-hour ATM, drive-thru, night depository, safe deposit boxes, free business courier service, and the Bank’s signature free refreshment center with free freshly baked cookies, hot coffee, cold soft drinks and spring water. The building also includes offices for commercial banking, the mortgage division and CommunitySouth Investment Services.
The branch is open six days a week with both early morning and late evening hours, Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
For more information on CommunitySouth Bank & Trust, call 864-306-2540 or visit www.communitysouthbankandtrust.com.
About CommunitySouth Bank & Trust:
CommunitySouth Bank & Trust (OTCBB: CBSO) commenced operations in the Upstate of South Carolina on January 18, 2005. After completing what was at the time the largest initial public offering ever to fund a South Carolina-based bank, the Company capitalized with $30 million and has since grown assets to over $340 million. In operation for two and a half years, CommunitySouth is one of the fastest growing and most profitable de novo banks compared to peer banks that also opened during 2005.
CommunitySouth is headquartered in Easley, South Carolina and currently operates full-service offices in Greenville, Spartanburg, Anderson, Greer, Mauldin and Easley. The Company also operates investment, insurance and full-service mortgage divisions.
CommunitySouth offers a complete line of banking products and services, including commercial, consumer and mortgage loans, personal and business checking and savings accounts, free online banking and bill pay, nationwide free ATMs, free business courier service, remote deposit service, courtesy overdraft coverage, and more.
For additional information, please call us at 864-306-2540, toll-free at 866-421-CSBT, or visit: www.communitysouthbankandtrust.com.
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Certain statements in this news release contain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, such as statements relating to future profitability, growth, plans and expectations, and are thus prospective. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors, such as a downturn in the economy, greater than expected non-interest expenses or excessive loan losses, which could cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. For a more detailed description of factors that could cause such differences, please see our filings with the SEC.
Although we believe that the assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements are reasonable, any of the assumptions could prove to be inaccurate. Therefore, we can give no assurance that the results contemplated in the forward-looking statements will be realized. The inclusion of this forward-looking information should not be construed as a representation by our company or any person that the future events, plans, or expectations contemplated by our company will be achieved. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.
