Community & Southern Bank Names Regional Presidents

CARROLLTON, Ga., April 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Patrick M. Frawley, Chief Executive Officer of Community & Southern Bank, a subsidiary of Community & Southern Holdings, Inc., announced that Rocky Lipham will serve as the President of its West Georgia Region and Keith Caudell will serve as the President of its North Georgia Region.

"As we expand our footprint through future acquisitions, we are committed to serving the communities in which we operate with a dedicated staff of officers and employees who are very familiar with the needs of the markets they serve," said Mr. Frawley. "We are delighted that Keith and Rocky have joined our team.  Their experience and talent will further our mission of remaining one of Georgia's strongest and healthiest banks, while continuing substantial growth throughout the State."

North Georgia Region

Keith Caudell is a 30 year veteran of Georgia Banking and has been President and CEO of three community banks during his career.  After graduating from the University of Georgia, Mr. Caudell served Wachovia and its predecessors for ten years. He then served as President and CEO of two Synovus banks in Monroe and Brunswick for 18 years before becoming President and CEO of The Bank of Hiawassee in 2008.  Mr. Caudell is a graduate of the Stonier Graduate School of Banking and the National Commercial Lending Graduate School.  Active in the communities he served, Mr. Caudell has been Chairman of the Walton County Chamber of Commerce and The Brunswick-Glynn County Chamber of Commerce.  He has also served as an executive director of the Southeast Georgia Council of the Boy Scouts of America and was a director of The Southeast Georgia Health System Foundation.  He has served as a commissioner of both the Glynn County Airport Commission and the Brunswick-Glynn County Development Authority.  Mr. Caudell is a graduate of Leadership Georgia and served as the Director of the Georgia Banking School for three years.

"I am very honored to be joining Pat and his executive management team as we build this exciting franchise.  Although Georgia has been hit hard by a real estate driven banking crisis, Community and Southern Bank is uniquely positioned to help restore confidence with a strong community banking model where highly trained bankers will truly become "trusted advisors" for the businesses and individuals they serve," said Mr. Caudell.

West Georgia Region

Mr. Lipham has over 20 years of industry experience and is a long-time resident of west Georgia.  He served with First National Bank of Georgia and its predecessors for the past 16 years, most recently as President and CEO.  Throughout his banking career, he has taken an active role in community and professional organizations. Mr. Lipham currently serves on the Boards of Directors of the Carroll Tomorrow Foundation, the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce, the Tanner Medical Foundation, Oak Mountain Academy, the University of West Georgia Foundation and Alice's House Community Children's Home. He is a former Director of the United Way of Douglas County. He is also 1st Vice President of the Carrollton Lions Club and a member of the Douglas County Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Lipham's professional organization involvement includes prior service on the Board of Directors of the Community Bankers Association of Georgia, as well as a current position on the Political Action Committee Board for the Georgia Bankers Association.

"I look forward to continuing to lead our outstanding team of employees in meeting the needs of individuals and businesses who have banked with us for decades, and to utilizing our strong foundation to develop new banking relationships. I am also excited for the opportunity to serve worthy causes that enhance the quality of life in the community," stated Mr. Lipham.

About Community & Southern Bank

Community & Southern Bank is Georgia's newest bank with total assets of approximately $1.8 billion and 20 locations in 10 counties in west and north Georgia. We are positioned to be one of the strongest and healthiest banks in the State with substantial capital resources and a Georgia-based management team. Community & Southern Bank's philosophy is to operate in a diversified, risk-averse manner, and to offer its customers exemplary customer service and a broad array of products to meet their banking needs. For more information about Community & Southern Bank, log on to www.thecsbank.com.

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SOURCE Community & Southern Bank