SB&T & Synovus Formalize Leadership Positions
Thursday, July 31st, 2014
On August 1st, Pam Simmons will step into the role of president and CEO of SB&T in Albany, a division of Synovus Bank. Simmons, a 30+ year banking veteran, has worked closely with SB&T President and CEO Mark Lane since early 2012, filling in as he also served as Regional CEO for Synovus with responsibility for the banking operations of seven divisions including SB&T (Albany/Americus, Lee County), Commercial Bank (Thomasville), First Community Bank (Tifton), First State Bank and Trust Company (Valdosta), CB&T of Southeast Alabama (Dothan/Enterprise/Ozark), Coastal Bank and Trust (Pensacola/Valparaiso/Mobile, Alabama) and Tallahassee State Bank. Lane will now assume the regional CEO role full-time.
"This move essentially formalizes how we were operating out of necessity. Moving to Regional CEO full-time and working in our Columbus corporate office will enable me to be more connected to our corporate strategy and to be a more effective voice for the region," Lane said.
"Because I’ve worked so closely with Pam and she has helped run SB&T for the last couple of years, I have full confidence in her leadership ability. Her style will result in the same level of community involvement.”
Deep Knowledge in Lending
Simmons has been with SB&T for 14 years, the last eight years as senior lender over commercial lending. In that role, she has overseen all the loans in the bank's portfolio for Albany/Americus. Loan demand and credit quality in 2014 are up, according to Simmons, reflecting a stronger economy.
"The economy is gaining traction and that leads to more new-home building and small business investment. It all starts with the customer," Simmons said.
“I am looking forward to continuing our tradition of providing excellent customer service and growing our customer base in this region.”
SB&T serves its customers with the full complement of banking technology including mobile banking, Internet banking, and new ATM’s with a host of advanced features. It also has five full-service branches in the Albany/Lee County/Americus markets as well as a drive-thru branch in downtown Albany.
Active Involvement in the Community
As SB&T President and CEO in Albany, Simmons says one of her biggest responsibilities is ensuring the bank gives back to its community. Currently, she is a member of the executive board and board of directors of Darton State College Foundation. Simmons is a past president for Habitat for Humanity, was a member of Leadership Albany, and served as an ambassador and board member of the Albany Area Chamber of Commerce.
Lane is member of the Phoebe Putney Hospital board of directors and chairman of the board of trustees at Deerfield Windsor School, positions he will continue to hold in the future. He is the past chairman of Deerfield Windsor School.
"I'll still be engaged in SB&T and the Albany community. Albany has been my home for eleven years and remains very important to me," Lane said.
“This community has a lot going for it and I am optimistic about the future here.”
More information on SB&T is available at www.sbandtbank.com. More information on Synovus is available at www.synovus.com.
