The toys we collected will be part of BCM’s Joyous Toys Store, open Monday, Dec. 12 through Friday, Dec. 16 at Peachtree Presbyterian Church. BCM’s toy shop functions as a store, so parents can come in and pick the perfect gift sure to bring a smile to their child’s face. The food will be distributed at BCM’s food pantry.

Buckhead Christian Ministry serves thousands of families in need this time of year and we know the difference one special toy on Christmas morning can make in a child’s life. Thank you to everyone who took the time to donate this year and for making this year’s toy and food drive such a success!

From left to right: LeeHester Rhodes (senior vice president and Buckhead branch manager), Marvin Cosgray (managing director of private banking), Helen Cunningham (executive director of Buckhead Christian Ministry), Judy Lerch (head teller), Alison Spurlock (relationship account manager/teller)

“The acquisition of these two established community banks allows Georgia Commerce Bank to expand our branch network and better serve the communities in the northern metropolitan area of Atlanta,” said Mark Tipton, CEO of Georgia Commerce Bank. “We welcome our new customers and assure them that they will continue to receive the highest level of customer service for their personal and commercial banking needs.”

All of the branches of CreekSide and Patriot Bank will reopen at their regularly scheduled time after the Labor Day holiday on Tuesday, September 6th as branches of Georgia Commerce Bank. Customers will have access to their accounts as usual over the holiday weekend by writing checks, through on-line banking, and ATM’s and debit card transactions. All depositors of both banks will automatically become depositors of Georgia Commerce and deposits will continue to be insured by the FDIC as before. “We want to assure the customers of these banks that their deposits are safe, sound and readily accessible,” Tipton added. “Georgia Commerce Bank is one of the strongest banks in Georgia, with a sound balance sheet and very strong capital ratios.”

If customers should have any questions regarding their accounts or loans, please contact your branch directly at the same telephone number as before: Acworth (770) 975-4400, Cumming (770) 887-9220 and Woodstock (678) 388-5400 or visit www.gacommercebank.com.

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Download 2011 Second Quarter Financial Report [PDF]

Jennifer Waterman joins the Commercial Lending Division at the Cumberland office as vice president and underwriter. In this position, she will support loan officers in credit underwriting, asset monitoring and portfolio management to ensure the bank maintains a loan portfolio at the highest standards possible. Previously, Waterman served as assistant vice president and commercial portfolio specialist at First Citizen Bank & Trust. She has a bachelor’s degree in business from Kennesaw State University, where she majored in finance.

Patsy Hill joins the Loan Operations Department at the Cumberland office as a vice president and loan operations specialist. She will assist with the loan accounting and servicing activities involved in the loan operations department. Hill has more than 17 years of banking experience.

Ann Brown joins the Commercial Lending Division at the Cumberland office as a vice president and commercial lender. In this position, Brown will be responsible for accommodating the overall banking needs of commercial customers and principals, including business and personal financial needs. She will also focus on new business development. Brown earned an undergraduate degree from Vanderbilt University, majoring in French and minoring in economics. She received her Master of Business Administration with a concentration in finance from Owen Graduate School of Management at Vanderbilt University. Following school, she began a 12-year career in banking. Over the past 3 years, she was an in-house accountant for Hemming Enterprises and Stonemont Financial Group.

James Creek joins the bank as assistant vice president and assistant branch manager of the Cumberland branch. His primary focus will include developing new business, servicing accounts, customer relations, and management of the branch and branch staff. Creek graduated from University of West Georgia with a business degree, majoring in real estate, and minoring in marketing. Additionally, Creek holds his series 6 and 63 license. Prior to joining GCB, Creek worked as a licensed personal banker at Wells Fargo.

David Kinney has been promoted to assistant vice president and commercial lender of the Commercial Lending Division at the Cumberland office. His position entails negotiating and establishing commercial loans for corporations, partnerships, sole proprietorships, and nonprofit community organizations as well as developing cross-sell opportunities to principals of the businesses from a personal financial needs standpoint. Kinney graduated from University of Colorado at Boulder with a bachelor’s degree in finance.

Seth Gray, vice president, has been promoted to oversee the Commercial Lending Division at the new Buckhead office. Gray holds a finance degree from Tulane University in New Orleans.

“As Georgia Commerce Bank continues to grow at all three of our branches, we are adding a talented group of people to our team,” said Mark Tipton, CEO of Georgia Commerce Bank. “We are pleased to welcome these new additions and congratulate those who have been promoted to new positions within our organization.”

Mansfield graduated from Hampden-Sydney College in Virginia and received his Master of Business Administration with honors from Oglethorpe University. He currently serves on the boards for both Wilderness Works, an inner-city camp for kids, and Breakthru House (part of Action Ministries), which provides treatment for women with addictions. He is the incoming president of the Kiwanis Club of Buckhead and graduated from the Buckhead Business Association’s Leadership Buckhead program.

Watson attended Tennessee Tech University, holds a Georgia real estate license, and is a lifetime member of the Atlanta Chamber of Commerce.

“At Georgia Commerce Bank, we know how important it is for our clients to have an excellent private banking team on their side,” said Marvin Cosgray, managing director of private banking. “Tripper and Jacki both have many years of experience in the private banking industry and are committed to helping their clients meet their personal and financial goals.”

“We were happy to be a part of the program, but we were also very happy to pay it off,” said Mark Tipton, the chairman and chief executive at Georgia Commerce Bank in Atlanta.

The $395.4 million-asset bank became the first in the state to redeem its preferred shares, paying $9.1 million in mid-February after raising $21 million. The program helped loans at the bank grow by 13%, or $50 million, since February 2009.

To read the full article, visit US Banker’s website.

Erin Darcy has been hired as a vice president and assistant branch manager. In this position, she is responsible for assisting the branch manager with the planning, directing and organizing of the sales and daily operational activities of the assigned branch, including development of new business, servicing accounts, cashiering, customer relations and overall management of the branch staff and operations. Darcy earned her degree from Miami University in Ohio and previously served as a branch manager at State Bank and Trust Company and as branch manager at The Midtown Community Bank, a division of The Buckhead Community Bank.

Christin Nally Viola will serve as a senior mortgage consultant. Viola will originate and close all residential loans for primary residences, second homes or investment properties on both the purchase and refinance sides. Viola earned her bachelor’s degree in business administration at the University of Georgia, where she majored in international finance and minored in Spanish. She has 10 years of experience in residential mortgage. Previously, she served as executive vice president at Capital City Mortgage Corporation, where she managed the company’s largest pipeline of brokered loans and averaged $12 million in loans annually. Prior to mortgage lending, she spent several years in tax consulting with Arthur Andersen LLP in Atlanta.

Alison Spurlock has been named a relationship account manager and teller. In this position, she will handle customers’ daily service and transactional needs. Spurlock has more than 20 years of banking experience and previously worked at SunTrust Bank and Metropolitan Bank in Ohio.

“We are pleased to welcome Erin, Christin and Alison to Georgia Commerce Bank,” said Mark Tipton, chairman and CEO. “They each have unique experiences and expertise that will make them assets to the bank as we continue to expand our Buckhead branch.”

Marvin Cosgray, Managing Director of Private Banking; Rodney Hall, President; LeeHester Rhodes, Senior Vice President and Branch Manager; and Mark Tipton; Chairman and CEO.

More than 500 guests attended the event and enjoyed live music and hors d’oeuvres.

The branch offers commercial, personal and private banking services, and is led by Marvin Cosgray, managing director of private banking, and LeeHester Rhodes, senior vice president and branch manager.

Be sure to stop by our newest branch – we would love to see you.

Kathy Betty, Owner of the Atlanta Dream Professional Women’s Basketball Team

“The Dream had such a thrilling season,” said Betty. “When I bought the team in October 2009, we had five months until the first game. Georgia Commerce Bank made everything so easy by offering us the highest level of personal service and coordinating our banking transactions with our staff and vendors.”

The team, which won the 2010 Eastern Conference championship and went to the WNBA finals, will build on the momentum for the 2011 season, which starts June 5.

For tickets, visit AtlantaDream.net or call (877) 977-7729.