Identity Q&A

Some questions you may have about our new look.

Making the decision to update the brand identity of a 68-year-old company does not come lightly. Following are some questions you might have had on why we’ve made this change and what it represents to our company, our community, and most importantly, you.

Q. Why did The County Bank update its look?
A. Our organization is not the same as it was 68 years ago, thanks to the support of the Greenwood community. With loyal customers by our side all these years, we’ve been able to grow and evolve appropriately to stay in step with all that modern banking entails. Today, that means looking beyond merely offering traditional banking products: it means serving you as a financial partner you can trust to handle virtually any financial need you have.

That’s why we’ve put so many changes in place over the last few years: expanding our trust services and mortgage divisions, and developing investment and insurance subsidiaries. We’re more than what you might expect from "The County Bank," and an updated name is a tangible way to convey that we’ve changed to serve you better.

Q. Has Countybank merged with another company? Will people lose their jobs?
A. NO. Nothing affecting the ownership structure of Countybank has changed. We are still locally owned and operated, and we are committed to remaining an independent financial institution. There will be no changes in the management or associate structure of the bank itself or any of its operating subsidiaries like Countybanc Investments, Inc, and Countybanc Insurance, Inc. No one is losing his or her job. We remain the same team, committed to meeting the needs of the Greenwood community, we have always been.

Q. Why did they drop "The" from the name? How does that change the bank?
A. A little word like "the" can be very restrictive. In our case, dropping "the" from our name is like taking us out of a box we’ve been in for years and opening us up to the world. Specifically, we made the decision to drop the article and condense our name into one word because:

1. "The" implies we are a singular entity, one that focuses merely on traditional banking.
2. Dropping the article gives us a much more open tone to our name.
3. It also makes for a faster, smoother read in written and verbal communications. Going from three, separate, plodding words to one is faster, more efficient, and more reflective of our responsiveness and expertise.

Q. Why didn’t the bank change its name dramatically?
A. Our new brand identity was developed based on a significant amount of research conducted in our market several months ago. In that research, we heard loud and clear from people throughout our community that "The County Bank" name has a tremendous amount of name recognition and positive feelings attached to it. It was gratifying for us to have quantifiable evidence of this, and for that reason, we made the deliberate decision to remain anchored in the name that had become synonymous with so many positive attributes in our community.

Q. Will my account numbers change? Will I have to get new checks or credit cards?
A. Nothing affecting your current accounts or relationships with The County Bank will change; you will retain your same account numbers, and you may use your existing checks until it is time to reorder. You will receive a new debit/ATM card and/or credit card to replace your existing cards, but your old cards will remain effective until that time.

Q. Hasn’t the bank had an investment division for some time? Or is Countybanc Investments, Inc. a new service?
A. We have offered investment services since 1995, when we formed TCB Financial Associates, Inc. The name of this subsidiary company has been changed to Countybanc Investments, Inc. to become more closely aligned with the Countybank family of companies. The same investment professionals who have served customers in the Greenwood area with sound financial planning strategies for the past seven years will continue to work for them, just as they always have.

Q. Why is the bank getting into the insurance business?
A. Our organization has actually been in the insurance business since 1999, when we acquired Dantzler Insurance, the oldest independent insurance agency in the Greenwood market. Since that time, we have worked together with these professionals to add insurance to our total portfolio of financial services. They have continued to serve their clients in the same manner for which Dantzler Insurance has always been known, a tradition we are now proud to share. As such, we are equally proud to officially incorporate their new name (Countybanc Insurance, Inc.) into the Countybank family of companies.

Q. Why is "Countybank" spelled "Countybanc" in the investment and insurance divisions?
A. The FDIC prohibits the spelling of "bank" in conjunction with investment and insurance products, in that they are not FDIC-insured. This form of spelling for investment and insurance services is typical in companies such as banks that offer integrated financial services. These companies are freestanding subsidiaries of the bank, evidenced by the "Inc." at the end of their names. This is also a requirement of the FDIC and is standard for the industry.