The End of an Era

For over 30 years (until he retired) my dad worked as Senior Vice President of The Peoples Bank in Winder, GA. I grew up visiting that friendly small town bank on a regular basis. I knew everyone there and they all knew me. I felt important and loved there. I was Mr. Hurley’s daughter after all! My dad was not only an important man at the bank, he was very well-respected and well-loved so it was nice to be related to him. I remember the first time a (new) teller there asked me for my account number. First of all I didn’t even know I had an account number so I was rather stumped. Second of all I was thinking, “Does this girl know who I am!? How dare she ask me questions!” ha! Yes, I kind of felt like I half-owned the place since I was Mr. Hurley’s daughter.

During our growing up years we all worked at the bank. Both my older brothers, my older sister, myself, and my mom have spent time working at the bank. We went to all the bank parties, had our pictures taken in the Garden Room by Olan Mills, and helped out with many bank-organized community events. That bank was a pillar of our community and family.

About a week ago, our beloved Peoples Bank was seized by the FDIC. The Peoples Bank is no more. It has been bought by another bank and will have a new name, new owners, and who knows what other changes. But it isn’t my daddy’s bank anymore- the one that was owned and operated by the Maddox family for three generations. When I heard this news, my heart sank into the pit of my stomach.

My mom sent me some newspaper clippings from my hometown local news. When I carefully unfolded the clippings and read the articles to my husband I desperately choked back tears. One of the articles in particular- an opinion piece presented by The Winder News- was so good, I felt I must share it here…

Barrow County News – September 19, 2010
This One Really Hurts

For decades, behind every good cause and every constructive effort in Barrow County stood The Peoples Bank, one of the business foundations upon which this community has been built.

It would be impossible to name all the groups, organizations, and individuals that have been assisted by the bank and its representatives. Not only the bank, but also the Maddox family, which has been generous and giving for three generations.

Some of their contributions have been recognized publicly, but many have been quietly made in the genuine spirit of giving.

As the news spread Friday night that the bank would be changing ownership, it was met with numbness and disbelief, but the overriding emotion was downright sadness.

When asked for his comments, Tommy Jennings, executive director of the Barrow County Chamber of Commerce, said “Of course The Peoples Bank has meant so much to the community for so many years, and we’ve watched Winder grow and prosper. It’s the end of one era of community banking in Barrow County. I don’t know what the intentions are of the new bank. I only know the intentions of the last 84 years have been for the betterment of Barrow County. We hate to see the change that we’re afraid might happen, however, time marches on. I look forward to the future with our new friends from Carrollton and hope their commitment will rival the commitment of The Peoples Bank to this community.”

Winder Mayor Chip Thompson expressed his personal sadness and the implications for the city. “It breaks my heart,” said Thompson. “They are the backbone of this town and community. There will be no legacy of old established banks anymore. They have made loans to good people and taken care of those people. My heart goes out to Chris and all the stock holders. A lot of people took a bad hit today. It’s an extremely bad sign for the city. They are our anchor. This was and is Winder. The hill has gotten a lot steeper today.”

This newspaper would be negligent if it failed to note the close business and personal relationships that it has enjoyed for decades with the bank and the Maddox family.

As two of the oldest businesses in town, The Peoples Bank and the Barrow County News have a long legacy of working together as both business partners and as community advocates.

Communities do not quickly overcome the loss of such a valuable and trusted friend. The Peoples Bank and the Maddox family have left a legacy that will not end with the changing of the bank’s name. The bank and its governing family will live on through the work and lives of many organizations and people.

The current tough economic times have been especially difficult on some of the nation’s banks. We are certain that for The Peoples Bank, economic woes were a result of being too generous, and trying too hard to help sustain the local economy of Winder and Barrow County.

The business family of our community has lost a beloved member, and all of us who dealt with the Maddox family and the extended family of bank employees on a regular basis will be mourning its loss for years to come.