BayFirst National Bank opens full-service center, in Sarasota (PHOTOS)

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BayFirst National Bank celebrated the opening of its 11th full-service banking center, becoming the first full-service financial institution to operate in the Newtown community, in North Sarasota, where it previously operated a loan production office and financial resource center. The opening comes six months after BayFirst purchased the building it had been renting, since 2022, … Read more

Regions Bank announces leadership appointments, including former St. Pete market executive

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Regions Bank has appointed two key leaders who will guide the company’s services for consumers and businesses throughout Mobile, Alabama and along the Gulf Coast of Florida. Bruner Binion will serve as Regions’ new market executive for Mobile, and surrounding communities, and Tina Gilmore was promoted to serve as consumer banking executive for the bank’s … Read more

The importance of going local and supporting small businesses

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By Jon Locklear, wealth Advisor, BT Wealth Advisors | The Bank of Tampa Small businesses are the often-overlooked lifeblood of the community. The Office of Advocacy of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) defines small businesses as independent businesses with fewer than 500 employees. Having 499 employees—or even 25 employees—who live and work together in … Read more

Understanding the Importance of Banking Locally

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In an age where digital technology has revolutionized the way we manage our finances, the idea of banking locally and handling your finances face-to-face might seem outdated. From automated loan underwriting and remote deposit capture to a future that includes artificial intelligence, the way we handle our financial affairs continues to move forward at warp … Read more

Tampa Bay bankers weigh in: The sky is not falling

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An executive at Goldman Sachs told a CNBC reporter that the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank was a “Lehman moment” for the technology industry. A local banking industry source, who spoke with Tampa Bay Business and Wealth, and requested to remain unnamed, called it a “Wildfire.” But no one that TBBW has spoken with on … Read more

Community banking for community-focused businesses

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By Kevin Gilligan, SBA Lending Director at The Bank of Tampa Thanks to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), the Small Business Administration (SBA) has become a household name—at least within the business community. In actuality, the SBA offers business owners so much more than the PPP. Since its inception, the SBA’s primary mission has been … Read more