News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 5, 2022 (EASTMAN, GEORGIA)— Great Oaks Bank announced that Candace Summerall has joined the bank as a Mortgage Loan Originator. Candace is based at the bank’s Eastman office but will help customers with home financing throughout the middle Georgia area. She has been involved in all aspects of real estate starting in 2000 as a closing specialist with one of the fastest-growing real estate closing attorneys in Atlanta. After earning her real...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 28, 2022 (RICHMOND HILL, GEORGIA)— Great Oaks Bank announced that April Jackson has joined the bank as a Mortgage Loan Originator. April is based at the bank’s Richmond Hill office but will help customers with home financing throughout the coastal area. April brings 19 years of mortgage experience to her new role. She and her family have lived in the Richmond Hill area since 1994. She is a proud mother of Devin (19) and Ashlyn...

(RICHMOND HILL, GEORGIA)— Great Oaks Bank announced that Nicole Sloan has joined the bank as Vice President, Senior Credit Officer. Nicole brings 20 years of banking experience to her new role of leading the bank’s credit administration team. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration degree from Saint Leo University and received her Executive Master of Business Administration from Auburn University. Nicole and her husband, Jim, have three sons, a 10-month-old...

(EASTMAN, GEORGIA)— Great Oaks Bank announced that Leighton “Lee” Lister has joined the bank as Senior Vice President and Middle Georgia Market Executive. Lee is responsible for customer relationships, business development, and growth in middle Georgia, including the Eastman, Cochran, and Rhine offices. He received his Bachelor of Science in Agriculture, with a major in Food Science, and his Master of Agribusiness degrees from the University of Georgia. Lee previously worked in...

(EASTMAN, GEORGIA)— The Board of Directors of Great Oaks Bank announced that the bank’s Eastman office conference room has been designated "The James H. (Jim) Green Conference Room” in honor of its longtime chairman. A resolution honoring Green was presented at the Eastman Dodge Area Chamber Business After Hours event hosted by the bank at its Eastman office yesterday. Green has served as a director of Great Oaks Bank, formerly known as Citizens Bank and Trust Company, since 1986...

(SAVANNAH, GEORGIA)— The Board of Directors of Great Oaks Bank has elected Jessica Murrell to the position of Banking Officer. Since joining the bank in September 2020, Jessica has been instrumental in developing the credit team and helping streamline the credit process for the bank. Jessica is a University of South Carolina graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and works at the bank’s Richmond Hill office. She lives in Springfield with her husband, Jonathan,...

(SAVANNAH, GEORGIA)— The Board of Directors of Great Oaks Bank has elected Luke Bearden as Banking Officer and Portfolio Manager. Luke joined the bank earlier this year after working in the accounting field for several years. He has provided credit analysis support and has also assisted the production team at the Eastman office. A native of Dalton, Ga., Luke received his Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from Dalton State College. He and his wife Kara have two young...

(SAVANNAH, GEORGIA)— Great Oaks Bank announced that Matthew Ambrosy has joined the bank as Banking Officer, Portfolio Manager. Matt will support business development and new loan origination at the newly opened Savannah office. He brings extensive banking experience and is looking forward to developing a commercial portfolio. Originally from upstate New York, Matt holds a Bachelor of Business Science with a major in Business Economics from SUNY Oneonta. He and his wife, Hannah, have a...

(SAVANNAH, GEORGIA)— Great Oaks Bank opened its newest office in Savannah on May 2, 2022. The Savannah office is located at 7426 Hodgson Memorial Drive. The bank also has coastal Georgia offices in Richmond Hill and Pooler. “We are pleased to open our doors to the Savannah community with our newest location at the corner of Hodgson Memorial Drive and Montgomery Crossroads,” states Chief Banking Officer, Jon Seagraves. “We see a need in the greater Savannah area for a local,...

Bank volunteers teach financial lessons to children across the state of Georgia (SAVANNAH, GEORGIA)— Great Oaks Bank celebrated Teach Children to Save Week April 25-29 through local outreach to area schools located near the bank’s six offices. Great Oaks bankers taught savings education to 10 schools across Georgia, reaching 658 first and second graders. Students in Dodge, Bleckley, Effingham, Bryan, and Chatham counties learned the importance of savings and responsible places to keep...

(EASTMAN, GEORGIA)— Cole Stewart has been promoted to Banking Officer at Great Oaks Bank. Cole has demonstrated a passion for building customer relationships since joining Great Oaks in 2021 as a Credit Analyst. A native of Cochran, GA, Stewart holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Georgia College and State University. He and his wife Taylor have one young son, Beau. “Cole’s desire to learn and grow and his commitment to our customers has truly set him apart,” said...

(Richmond Hill, GEORGIA)— Great Oaks Bank is hosting a Free Community Shred Day on Friday, May 6, 2022, from 9-11 am at its Richmond Hill office located at 42 Town Center Drive. As the number of identity theft victims continues to rise, document security and information protection become a higher priority. One of the best ways to protect identity is to securely destroy sensitive documents like old tax returns, bank statements, and canceled checks. “We are happy to help our customers...