SPOTLIGHT
BUILDING ON THE PAST
LOOKING TO THE FUTURE
100+ YEAR OLD BANKS 100+ Year Old Georgia Banks The Geo. D. Warthen Bank Sandersville | 1871 Ken Bibb Southeastern Bank Darien | 1889 Jay Torbert Bank of Madison Madison | 1890 Charles Haney, III Bank of Camilla Camilla | 1890 Ray Muggridge PrimeSouth Bank Blackshear | 1891 Jim Walker The Peoples Bank of Georgia Talbotton | 1891 Henry Persons Planters First Bank Cordele | 1896 Eli Tinsley
CBA is proud to recognize the 40-plus community banks in Georgia who have been in business for over 100 years. We reached out to these banks, asking how the bank started, how they survived during challenging times, what advice they have for their peers, and of course – what’s next for their bank. Thank you to the bankers who participated in this feature by sharing photos, their rich history and plans for the future. Congratulations on your longevity and serving your communities so well! According to Jay Torbert, President & CEO, Southeastern Bank, Darien, “In 1888, a mere 25 years after the burning of Darien by Union troops during the Civil War, the town was once again a bustling seaport. During this time, Darien was the second-leading port for shipment of yellow pine timber in the world, and a group of business leaders came together to form a local bank to support the town and its booming timber industry. On December 8, 1888, the State of Georgia issued the charter for The Darien Bank. Businessmen Adam Strain, R.H. Knox, August Schmidt, James Walker and Robert G. Erwin comprised the board of directors of the Bank with Strain as its president when the Bank opened its doors for the first time on January
23, 1889 with $25,875 in capital stock. Over the years, the Bank, now known as Southeastern Bank, expanded beyond Darien and McIntosh County and supports communities in eight counties across coastal Georgia and northeast Florida. Today, nearly 135 years later, our charter is one of, if not the oldest, active banking charters issued by the State.”
Bank of Wrightsville Wrightsville | 1897 Richy Everly Century Bank and Trust Milledgeville | 1898 Derek Williams First Bank of Pike Molena | 1899 John Barker The Bank of LaFayette, Georgia La Fayette | July 18, 1899 Henry Gilbert 1 8 | ww w.cbaofga.co m | Summer 2023
The Darien Bank (now Southeastern Bank), Darien