While the leaders of any financial institution would be quite pleased about things like positive loan growth year over year, or Net Income for 3Q22 increasing 52.1 percent when compared to 3Q21 and 16 percent when compared to the first three quarters of 2021, those at Albany-based AB&T are less focused on impressive raw numbers as they are on the impact that success has on the Albany area community the bank serves.

“We’re proud of the success the Bank has enjoyed through the first three quarters of 2022,” said CEO Perry Revell. “We’ve worked diligently throughout the year to refine our relationship banking and community-focused philosophies that have guided our recent success. Growing our loan portfolio to $177 million is a byproduct of that. But we’re even more excited about what that growth represents for our clients and our community. 

“Numbers like those represent critical things like new jobs generated by a commercial expansion, a farmer expanding into a new crop to better utilize land and resources, a family constructing a mother-in-law suite to adequately care for an elderly relative, or a non-profit like Albany Area Primary Health Care (AAPHC) expanding and bolstering its care network to reach more citizens who vitally need those medical services.

“At the end of the day, those are things that excite us and motivate our dedicated team to answer the call each and every day. This is our community and we are driven to see it thrive.”

That Revell would focus on the importance of community impact is certainly no surprise given AB&T’s track record of community involvement, but his specific mention of AAPHC also illustrates of the kind of partnership AB&T bankers seek to forge with clients.

That relationship-driven philosophy is also precisely why the folks at AAPHC see AB&T as more than just their bank. AB&T is equally invested in the success of the organization.

“It’s been a long-term relationship, which has been awesome,” said AAPHC CEO Shelley Spires of AB&T’s connection to the organization. “I think that we continue to work together toward providing community services through that partnership. And I think what has been nice is knowing that AB&T strives to make sure that they assist us in the best way possible, in a way that’s beneficial, not only to the organization, but also to our community and our partners that we’re involved with. I think ultimately, it’s based around that trust factor.

“I feel like AB&T is going to really look out for the best interests of Albany Area Primary Health Care when we’re trying to make decisions.”

More specifically, Spires spoke glowingly about the organization’s relationship not just with AB&T, but with Gayle Woolard, the SVP and Private Banker that manages the relationship. As Spires sees it, Woolard is an important part of AAPHC’s brain trust and her input often transcends that of a typical banker. 

“It’s just that trust factor as it relates to Gayle’s transparency and honesty,” Spires elaborated. “I think just being at the table to point out what those risk factors are, but at the same time being very supportive when we see a need (in the community), is incredibly valuable. Sometimes when we’re looking to grow service lines, or to create a safety net for our community, from a health care perspective, it’s always nice to have that outsider feedback.”

And that feedback, along with Woolard’s banking prowess and understanding of the Albany market, has had a tremendous impact on AAPHC’s growing ability to service clients over the last decade plus. 

During that span, AAPHC has seen tremendous success expanding a litany of health care services into underserved areas of not only Albany, but the entire Southwest Georgia area the organization serves. 

Spires and Woolard both pointed to a cadre of initiatives they’ve worked on over the years, including the creation of the Northwest Albany Behavioral Health Center; the acquisition and renovation of AAPHC’s Newton Road clinic; the creation and expansion of the organization’s school-based health clinics that serve students, their families and faculty; expansion of health services to include podiatry, dentistry and optometry; and much more.

But for as impactful as Woolard’s business acumen has been in helping bring the aforementioned projects to fruition, it’s another service Woolard provides that truly encapsulates the depth of that relationship.

For the better part of her time working with AAPHC, when the organization is courting a new physician, they will coordinate with Woolard to have her take that prospect around town on a personalized tour of the community. 

“I’m not pushing a house, I’m not pushing the bank; I’m showing them what I consider to be assets of the community,” Woolard explained. “And I unpack it a little differently. Let’s say we know they’re an outdoor person; I try to hit spots that are good for that. I’ll take them to Chehaw. We go walk down to Veterans Park, we walk down to the paved river walk and talk about the marathon. We talk about Fridays on the Flint. We talk about those kinds of things because as they’re looking to picture themselves here, those are things that could bring them joy. 

“I’m trying to paint the picture. I try to help as much as I can. So, it’s not really stuff that’s bank-related, it’s relationship driven.” 

It’s obvious that Woolard cherishes that role for a variety of reasons, but two of those clearly lie at the heart of her motivation—her commitment to the client and her commitment to the local community.

“This is my home and I’m proud of it,” she said. “I love it. And I truly do find tremendous joy and happiness helping people achieve their dreams. And really, it’s easy to work with the folks at Albany Area because of their passion and dedication to what they do. There are some truly amazing people there and they are making a real impact on my community. So I’m just honored I can play some role in that. 

“I don’t ever want to give that up.”