By Jeff Harrington, Times Staff Writer
Monday, April 2, 2012
For a change, a fast-growing Tampa Bay area bank is changing its name without changing its ownership.
Community Bank & Co., a Manatee County-based institution with 18 branches in southwest Florida, is rebranding itself as C1 Bank, effective May 1. After Community closes on the pending acquisition of Palm Bank, Palm's three branch locations will also operate under the C1 banner.
"We have an absolute dedication to putting our clients first and our community first," bank CEO Trevor Burgess said. "C1 Bank is a simplification of this ideal — and is put into practice each and every day by our 180 dedicated team members who serve the families and businesses of Tampa Bay."
Community Bank has aggressively expanded in the region since its founding in 2008, buying and recapitalizing small, problem banks. To ratchet up its profile, Community Bank signed a five-year marketing agreement last fall to become the official bank of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.