Historic Macon
An illustrated history of the city of Macon, paired with the histories of companies, families and organizations that make the region great.
An illustrated history of the city of Macon, paired with the histories of companies, families and organizations that make the region great.
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ATLANTIC<br />
SOUTHERN<br />
BANK<br />
❖<br />
Above: Lori Poarch, Tammy Blann,<br />
Mark Stevens and Carol Soto<br />
celebrate the groundbreaking for the<br />
two-story main branch on Forsyth<br />
Road in <strong>Macon</strong>, February 2002.<br />
Below: Board members joining the<br />
bank staff members for the ribbon<br />
cutting at the first branch of New<br />
Southern Bank, December 10, 2001.<br />
In 2000, shortly after leaving his job as<br />
president of a local regional bank, Mark Stevens<br />
began work on an idea that had been<br />
germinating in his mind for some time. It was to<br />
create a new community bank for a fast<br />
growing, diversified <strong>Macon</strong> economy. That was<br />
the genesis of Atlantic Southern Bank.<br />
Realizing running a bank is one thing, but<br />
starting one from scratch is quite another, which<br />
would have a significant impact on not only his<br />
business career but also his family life, Stevens<br />
had serious talks about the venture with his wife,<br />
Deborah. He then had lengthy discussions with<br />
Georgia Banking Commissioner Steve Bridges.<br />
Next, he met with Carol Soto, a long-time<br />
associate with extensive banking experience as a<br />
chief financial officer, to get her feedback.<br />
All agreed the time was right for a<br />
new community bank in <strong>Macon</strong> and that he<br />
had the experience and leadership ability to lead<br />
the effort.<br />
Soto, who was instrumental in organizing the<br />
new bank, recalls, “The organizational period<br />
was a very exciting time. The minimum level of<br />
capital that had to be raised was $7.5 million.<br />
The capital campaign ended on November 9<br />
and $8 million was raised in just ninetynine<br />
days.”<br />
Soto recounts how in a short time, “We<br />
opened on December 10, 2001, in a double<br />
wide modular unit on Forsyth Road. Within<br />
the first ninety days, three more team members<br />
were added: Brandon Mercer was brought on<br />
as a Commercial Lender, Annie Reed was<br />
hired as a Lending Assistant, and Gail Davis<br />
became the bank’s first credit analyst. The<br />
months in the modular unit were a time of<br />
bonding and building of lasting relationships<br />
among each other as we were in very close<br />
quarters! Construction on the permanent facility<br />
began in February 2002, and the building<br />
was completed in late August. We all had<br />
mixed emotions when it came time to move to<br />
66 ✦ HISTORIC MACON
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