RockBridge Commercial Bank is the new metro Atlanta bank that has been organized for the purpose of actively engaging its business clients in building and sustaining their financial success. The catalyst for the formation of the bank has been as a result of the marketplace deficiencies created by bank acquisitions, mergers, and consolidations. This has caused the availability of credit for mid-market size organizations to shrink even though economic conditions have favored the expansion of businesses in this segment.
The vacuum created by these consolidations has spawned a number of newly charted banks; however, these new community banks have not proven to be effective service providers for middle market commercial credit needs.
The business model for RockBridge focuses squarely on providing a banking solution to this underserved and often ignored market segment. The unique characteristics of the bank that respond directly to the needs of this niche and are also a significant differentiation from others include:
- A capitalization of $36+ million, which is significantly higher than typical community banks and provides the legal lending limit necessary to meet the requirements of targeted clients with primary credit needs of $1 – $5 million;
- A focus on small to mid-market size commercial clients … a market that, as noted above, independent research demonstrates is not well served by either traditional community or regional / money center banks;
- Bringing a high-touch community bank level of individualized service to commercial clients;
- Engaging technology to support service quality and enhance the clients’ experience, not as a way to distance the bank from clients;
- Remote deposit capability from the clients’ premises through check imaging and client accessible, real-time image lockbox thus enabling the bank to grow through loan production offices rather than the customary alternative of deposit branch offices;
- Attracting, developing, and retaining high-quality bankers who recognize that understanding and satisfying client financial needs is more important than selling them services.
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