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| Citizens Bank of Blount County |
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History:
Today and Beyond
Organized in September 1973 as an independently owned and locally-headquartered bank, CBBC remains that way today. The Bank continues to strengthen the capacity to meet customers‘ needs for the future while providing them with the latest in quality financial products and services. CBBC offers extended hours at several of our branch locations. One, a non-traditional banking location inside a retail location (the Wal-Mart SuperCenter in Alcoa) offers extended evening and Saturday hours. In addition, the Foothills Mall Branch opens their drive-in window from 7:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. All locations have 24-hour ATMs which are drive-up for added security. In addition to nine locations in Blount County, CBBC has two additional locations in Knox County. The Knox County branches are located in West Knoxville on South Peters Road, and on Chapman Highway. Also, Monroe County can experience hometown banking with a personal touch at the CBBC Vonore Branch. This brings total bank and ATM locations to twelve.
CBBC’s Operation Center is located on East Broadway in downtown Maryville across the street from the Main Office. The Operation Center houses Deposit Operations and Loan Processing with additional space available to expand new customer and product sales and service areas in the future.
Bank management remains optimistic about the continued strong economic outlook for Blount County, and are strategically positioning themselves to take advantage of those opportunities. The continued development in Knox and Monroe counties helps to solidify the bank‘s presence in those areas, as well. In addition to originating fixed-rate home mortgage products for customers, the bank offers adjustable rate mortgage (ARM) products. Seasoned lenders at CBBC specialize in commercial loan products; hotel/motel and church loans to name a few. FREE checking is a popular product that answers the needs of an ever–changing economy.
CBBC continues to offer retirement products, making their community bank a one–stop financial center. "CBBC plans to continue introducing new and innovative products as they are needed in the community." states Bruce, "We remain committed to our fundamental philosophy of quality service to our customers, ongoing financial soundness and safety, and profitability in managing shareholder investment for growth in value."
The bank‘s website brings the bank‘s vision of hometown service and integrity to the entire world! In addition to the marketing of its products and services, CBBC offers Bank OnLine and Express Bill Pay, an online bill payment service. These two products allow the customer 24–hour hands–on access to their CBBC accounts, whether at home or on the road away from home.
The bank continues to make sizable monetary investments in financial software and equipment to upgrade our delivery system capacity, bringing our technology capabilities in line with our changing customer needs." Bruce continued, "Our search for timesaving customer services led us to develop our Fingertip Banking telephone network. Fingertip Banking allows our customers to handle a variety of transactions, including account balances inquiries, merchant check verification and inquiries about CD rates anytime and anywhere, 24 hours a day."
"Same Name, Same Ownership, Same Faces"
CBBC claims bragging rights as the only locally owned and headquartered bank in Blount County since 1973. On September 24, 1973, when CBBC opened its doors, there were two other banks and three savings and loans. Today, only one of those remains with the "same name, same ownership, and same faces," and that is CBBC. "We‘re proud of being hometown and we have every intention of remaining that way," emphasizes Joe Bruce, President and Chief Executive Officer since its inception in 1973.
CBBC opened in 1973 with stockholder‘s equity from the sale of $2.1 million in stock. As a hometown bank, it is only natural that all members of the Board of Directors live in Blount County. Four of the current seven Board members began with the inception of the Bank, and those are John W. Clabough, Joe Downey, Ben Robertson, and Joe Bruce. Coming on the board shortly thereafter was Leon Shields in 1975, with John G. Proffitt and James M. Warren joining the board in 1989. Gaynell Lawson, Bob Carroll, and Al Grubb were added to the Board in August of 2007 rounding out the group at 10. The members of the Board of Directors are all local business and industry professionals who set policy and make decisions according to the needs of our local economy.
CBBC moved into the Main Office at the current Broadway location in downtown Maryville in 1975. Founded by local business leaders, the Bank‘s original team of seven associates has grown to over 90 associates. In early 2009, we completed the renovation of our Main Office facility. Each of our twelve locations have been remodeled in recent years, with two of our branches being totally new structures.
"Continuity and Stability"
As a locally headquartered bank, CBBC is proud of the fact that they have had the same name and ownership since the bank’s inception in 1973! With the same Board of Directors and senior management team since the bank’s early years, CBBC is all about continuity and stability. Because of this experience, they can respond promptly to all customer needs with quick-turnaround time on all decisions including loans and loan closings. Regardless of which location you visit, you will be greeted with the same prompt, courteous, and efficient service that has become synonymous with the CBBC name.
"Highly Involved In The Community"
The bank and its staff members donate time, energy, and dollars to many deserving civic and community projects to help improve the quality of life in the communities they serve. Some of these include Blount County Library Foundation, Blount County United Way, Blount County Red Cross, Alcoa and Maryville Kiwanis Clubs, Boy Scouts of America, North Maryville Lions Club, Alcoa, Maryville and Blount County Schools Education Foundations, Maryville College Fund Drive, Habitat for Humanity, Alzheimers Association, Relay for Life, Blount County Food Pantry, Smoky Mountain Heritage Center, Civic Center at Maryville College, and the 5 area High School Honor banquets. Also members of the Blount County, Knox County and Monroe County Chambers of Commerce, as well as the Knoxville Chamber partnership, the bank participates in the Ambassadors, Volunteers in Progress, and the VIP program of the Blount County Chamber.
"Among Highest Rated Banks in America"
The continuity in the management of CBBC provides an abundance of expertise and hometown wisdom to customers. This is another primary reason for the very consistent and positive results CBBC has recorded over more than thirty-seven years. These are quality folks, who know the importance of the team concept, and have been most instrumental in making it possible to achieve the highest rating from nationally recognized financial rating company Bauer Financial Reports - a Five-Star as of June 30, 2010! This accolade is awarded to banks with exceptional safety, stability and soundness standards. In addition to Bauer, Veribanc, Inc. the nation’s oldest rating service for banks gives CBBC its’ highest star-rating of Green 3-Stars as of June 30, 2010!
"Customers Treated With Courtesy, Respect and Appreciation"
Citizens' Bankers know their customers by first name. As Bruce says, "We pride ourselves on that -- being very friendly when customers come in. They are acknowledged as soon as they walk in the door. We have this motto, 'The most important thing that happens is when we open our doors for business, and the customers come flowing in.' We are in business to serve our customers because profits and growth will come if we give the customers genuinely friendly and efficient service. In fact, we will give you $10.00 if you come in our bank and no one speaks to you, or should we not respond to your request within a reasonable period of time."
"Our Associates are Treated Like Our Customers"
CBBC associates realize that customers wish to be treated with courtesy, respect, and appreciation while receiving a prompt response to their request. CBBC provides our staff with the same genuine courtesy and appreciation. By treating our associates in this caring and responsive manner, we believe associates will repeat this "Blue Ribbon" service for our customers.
We expect a lot from associates when it comes to customer service and productivity. The bank stands behind their commitments whether it is to valued customers or to valued associates.
"All Associates Share in Bank Profits"
Associates are kept abreast of the bank‘s income numbers as well as deposit growth, net loan growth and losses, asset growth, stock value, and numerous other figures through quarterly meetings and an email updates. Associates are interested in these numbers for good reason. Each year all CBBC associates (full– and part–time) participate in a cash profit sharing plan, a yearly bonus based upon current ROAA percentages, and may purchase shares of stock in the Bank‘s stock option program at a discount. Few companies offer their associates such comprehensive incentives for overall achievement.
The cash profit-sharing plan began when the Bank opened in 1973 and has been distributed every year since. The Board of Directors votes annually for each associate to share in the profits of the Bank. Typically, 5% of profits are set aside and distributed among the associates, while another 5% has been approved since 1977 to fund the associates‘ 401(k) retirement program.
A bonus based upon the current year–end return on average assets (ROAA) percentage was introduced in 1994. The ROAA Incentive Program is designed as an encouragement and reward for the associates when the bank performs well. Different levels of incentive pay apply as the ROAA reaches pre–determined benchmarks. |
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