CB&T closing, consolidating several NE Ga. branches

CORNELIA - Community Bank & Trust says it will be closing eight of its branches in Northeast Georgia. CBT market president Jeff Fulp says the move is really more of a consolidation effort and should make banking operations more efficient.

"Six of the eight of those offices are within two miles of another office of Community Bank & Trust," Fulp said Friday.

In addition to consolidating those facilities, Fulp says there are plans to expand "significantly" the CB&T branch on E.E. Butler Parkway in Gainesville. He says this will include additional square footage and expanding services by "bringing mortgage banking and commercial banking units into that office."

Fulp said preliminary drawings "have been done" and it's now just a matter of getting the proper permits from city officials before beginning the work but he gave no timeline for getting started. He said the bank will remain open during the renovation and expansion.

In addition Fulp said CB&T is currently conducting "site searches" in the Athens area as it seeks to expand its presence there. Right now, the only operation in Athens is a Wal-Mart branch.

Fulp gave this breakdown of the branches in northeast Georgia that will be closed or consolidated:

Habersham County: Demorest and Clarkesville Ingle's offices

White County: Cleveland Ingle's office, with staff and services merging into Cleveland's main branch

Hall County: Aviation Boulevard and Oakwood Wal-Mart offices

Jackson County: Commerce Ingle's, Commerce Quality Foods, and Jefferson Bell's Foods offices merging into remaining offices in both Jefferson and Commerce

Fulp said as part of the reorganization process, CB&T will be "adding staff to its remaining offices."

http://accesswdun.com/article/2011/8/241046