Chattanooga-based First Volunteer Bank will rebrand to Builtwell Bank in 2022, and will unify the look and feel of the bank’s 24 branches spanning 11 counties in Tennessee and Georgia. This new brand identity underscores the soundness that forms the foundation of its strong community bank, said officials.
In November of 2021, First Volunteer Corporation, the parent company for First Volunteer Bank, acquired Dalton’s FBD Holdings, Inc. and its subsidiary, First Bank. “With this expansion further into Georgia, we realized the need to develop a new name for the bank that reflects our commitment to the communities we serve in both states,” said Patti Steele, chairman and CEO of First Volunteer Corporation. This is the ninth acquisition for First Volunteer Corporation, and is the largest in the history of the company.
“Community banks exist to be the local economic engines for the communities we serve,” said Mrs. Steele. “We’ve been helping our customers save money, buy homes, build businesses, and create jobs since 1904. With Builtwell Bank, we have a brand that signals our commitment to ensuring our communities have a strong financial partner that will be around for another 118 years.”
Because of the strongly aligned philosophy on community banking shared between First Volunteer Bank and First Bank, Mrs. Steele expects a smooth transition to the new name and identity, and staff at local branches are ready to answer questions that existing customers may have.
“As the number of banks in the country continues to decline, we are built to last," said Mrs. Steele. "We’re excited about transitioning to our new brand, but in the end we’re still a local community bank that’s here to reinvest in our communities, and make banking better and easier for our customers."
The Builtwell Bank brand will begin to appear across the region later this year.