President & CEO Jody Lail announced that Chattahoochee Bank of Georgia will officially open for business on Tuesday, September 16, after obtaining final regulatory approval.  The bank is operating at a temporary office in Townview Plaza in Gainesville and expects to open at its newly constructed permanent branch on E.E. Butler Parkway on October 6.

The privately held bank began its stock offering to prospective investors in late May 2008, and to date, has secured nearly 200 investors and over $21 million in capital investment.  Prospective investors interested in purchasing stock in the new bank can still do so prior to October 30, 2008.

The bank is targeting small to medium businesses, their owners, and professionals in Gainesville-Hall County as well as in northern Gwinnett County. While the bank plans to focus on business banking, it offers a full range of retail banking services for consumers.

Chattahoochee Bank of Georgia’s President & CEO is Jody Lail, who has 20 years of banking experience, including 13 years in the Northeast Georgia market. The bank’s Chief Credit Officer is Stephen Starke, who has 15 years of bank and credit administration experience. Greg Barrett, who has 10 years of banking experience, is the bank’s chief Administrative Officer, and Tom Healan is the bank’s Chief Financial Officer. Healan, who has 17 years of banking experience, previously served as CFO for three other banks. Jay Cooper, formerly of Regions Bank, is Senior Commercial Banker.

The bank is proud to announce the addition of several experienced bankers to its staff, including:

- Michele Piucci, Deposit Business Development Officer

- Abby Branan, Private Banker & Branch Manager

- Emily Reed, Cash Management Officer

- Shelia Williams, Personal Banker

- Elaine Martin, Commercial Loan Processor

- Suzanne Boulware, Head Teller

Piucci, Branan, Reed, Williams and Boulware previously worked at Gainesville Bank & Trust, while Martin was previously with SunTrust Bank.