Sussex Bancorp is the holding company for Sussex Bank, which operates about 10 branches in Sussex County, New Jersey, and two others in Orange County, New York. Targeting individuals and local businesses, the bank offers such standard retail products as checking and savings accounts, NOW and money market accounts, and certificates of deposit. It also provides trust and financial advisory and insurance services. Lending activities consist primarily of commercial mortgages (more than half of the company's loan portfolio) and residential mortgages (more than 20%). To a lesser extent, the bank also writes construction, land development, business, and consumer loans. Anthony Labozzetta was named CEO in 2010.

Synovus has a nose for community banking. The holding company owns about 30 banks offering deposit accounts and consumer and business loans in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and Tennessee. Through more than 325 locations, the banks and other Synovus subsidiaries provide deposits, loans, credit cards, insurance, and asset management services. It has traditionally maintained separate charters and local boards of directors for its subsidiary banks. However, in 2010 Synovus consolidated all of its charters into one. The change was made in order to reduce complexity and improve efficiency.

Community Bank of the Bay is a community bank that was founded in 1996 with offices in Oakland, Danville and San Jose, California. We believe that business starts with an idea; a dream, a vision of what you want to be. Running a business means you need a smart, capable partner in a bank. We believe our approach works best. Outstanding personal service and forward thinking bank professionals who understand business -- because we are entrepreneurs too.To that end, we've created a bank that is going to change the way you look at banks and banking. It's an unprecedented way to look at the customer/banker relationship. It's a bank where outstanding service isn't just a promise. And we know we have one thing in common -- the desire to achieve success.

A Burdale in the hand may be worth a few bushels full of cash to midsized businesses in the UK and continental Europe. Burdale Financial, which was acquired from Wachovia by Bank of Ireland in 2005, provides comprehensive asset-based lending to businesses looking for growth financing. Burdale Financial shuns what it characterizes as piece-meal approaches (receivables lending, factoring) in favor of comprehensive asset-based financing, which typically sees Burdale lending to manufacturing, retail, or distribution clients undergoing a change, such as management-led buyout or turnaround. Officers Dennis Levine and Brian Gitlin founded Burdale Financial in 1992.

ChoiceOne Bank, which has more than a dozen offices in the western part of Michigan's Lower Peninsula. The bank serves consumers and area businesses, offering checking and savings accounts, CDs, investment planning, and other services. Real estate loans, including residential and commercial mortgages, constitute more than two-thirds of the company's loan portfolio. Agricultural, consumer, and business loans help to round out the bank's lending activities. ChoiceOne Financial Services sells life, health, and disability coverage through its ChoiceOne Insurance Agencies subsidiaries.

First Pioneer Farm Credit helps farmers explore the well charted territory of financing. The financial cooperative is part of the national Farm Credit System founded in 1916 to serve the needs of American farmers. It offers mortgages, seasonal loans, lines of credit, equipment leasing, record keeping, tax planning and preparation, appraisals, business consulting, life insurance, and multi-peril crop insurance to country homeowners and agricultural business owners. Most of its patrons are involved in farming, horticulture, forestry, or commercial fishing. First Pioneer Farm Credit serves some 7,000 customers through 15 offices in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, and Rhode Island.

Brookline Bancorp, Inc. operates as the bank holding company for Brookline Bank, which provides various banking products and services. Brookline Bancorp, Inc. offers various deposit products, such as non-interest-bearing checking accounts and interest-bearing NOW accounts, savings accounts, money market savings accounts, certificate of deposit accounts, and other qualified plan accounts. Its loan portfolio comprises first mortgage loans secured by multi-family, commercial, and one-to-four family residential real estate properties; indirect automobile loans; loans to condominium associations and business entities; and commercial lines of credit, as well as loans to finance equipment used by small businesses. It also offers financing for construction and development projects, home equity and second mortgage loans, and other consumer loans. In addition, it offers finance for coin-operated laundry, dry cleaning, and convenience store equipment and businesses. As of December 31, 2009 it operated 18 full-service banking offices in Brookline, Medford, and adjacent communities in Middlesex County and Norfolk County in Massachusetts. Brookline Bancorp, Inc. was founded in 1871 and is based in Brookline, Massachusetts.

Juniata Valley Financial may be the place for you. The institution is the holding company for Juniata Valley Bank, which serves central Pennsylvania from about a dozen banking locations. The bank offers standard deposit products and services, including checking and savings accounts, money market accounts, IRAs, and CDs. It also provides credit card services and originates a variety of consumer and business loans. Consumer loans make about 70% of its loan portfolio. Additionally, Juniata Valley Bank sells insurance and investment products. Juniata Valley Bank was established in 1867.

BankFinancial Corporation was founded in 1924 and is headquartered in Burr Ridge, Illinois. BankFinancial Corporation operates as the holding company for BankFinancial, F.S.B., which provides commercial, family, and personal banking services in Illinois. It accepts deposit accounts, such as savings accounts, NOW accounts, checking accounts, money market accounts, certificates of deposit, and IRAs and other qualified plan accounts. The company’s loan portfolio consists of investment and business loans, including multi-family, nonresidential real estate, commercial, construction and land loans, and commercial leases, as well as one-to-four family residential mortgage loans comprising home equity loans, lines of credit, and other second mortgage loans. It also provides financial products and services consisting of cash management, funds transfers, bill payment and other online banking transactions, automated teller machines, safe deposit boxes, wealth management, and general insurance agency services. In addition, the company offers investment, financial planning, and other wealth management services; and sells life insurance, fixed annuities, property and casualty insurance, and other insurance products on an agency basis. It provides its products and services through banking offices and an Internet Branch. As of December 31, 2009, it operated 18 full-service banking offices and 3 express branch facilities in Cook, DuPage, Lake, and Will Counties, Illinois.

The year was 1910 when the men in the photograph at left gathered at the Strawberry Market in Mount Olive, North Carolina. Their local bank, The Bank of Mount Olive, was nine years old at the time, and reflected the values of the day. It was a place where their money was safe and earned good interest. A place where they were treated as friends and respected as individuals.

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