Submitted PhotoCommercial Banking Company officials want the new building to have a lodge feel to it. 

VALDOSTA — Commercial Banking Company is constructing a new two-story building.

The new building, located next to the main branch at 3462 North Valdosta Road, will be less than 12,000 square feet, said Daryn Russell, president and chief executive officer of CBC Bank.

It will be a two-story building, he said. The first story will be completed, but the second floor will be left unfinished.

The second floor will be left unfinished so it can be completed later, Russell said. The second floor may be leased out in the future, or used to expand the business.

CBC Bank is constructing the building for three reasons: to expand the capacity of the investment center, centralize the administrative team and to invest in the local community, Russell said.

Currently, the investment center is in rented office space and has approximately 900 square feet of office space, Russell said. The new building will give the investment center approximately 2,200 square feet.

“The investment services of the bank has grown exponentially,” he said. “We wanted to give them space to work with the clientele we have, and compete with our competition.”

The administrative team is currently spread out through the company.

“People that report to me are scattered all over the place, and this would give me an opportunity to bring them all together,” Russell said.

The administrative team is currently in what Russell called “production space,” he said.

Production space is where employees have direct contact with customers, he said. By moving the administrative team, it will open more offices for lenders and room for the bank to grow.

The two changes will allow the company to grow “organically,” Russell said.

“We are not going to be overly aggressive,” he said. “We will expand as we feel like we are ready to bring in some additional headcount.”

The final reason for the new building is to continue its commitment to the area, he said. CBC Bank is one of the few “locally owned and operated” banks in the area.

Russell and his team tried to use as many local subcontractors as possible, he said.

“When we bid the project out we tried to use as many of our subcontractors as we could,” he said. “Several of our subcontractors are located in South Georgia, specifically from the Valdosta and Lowndes county area. … We really do look at this as an investment in the community.”

Construction on the project is expected to be completed sometime in September or October. 

Jason Smith is a reporter at The Valdosta Daily Times. He can be contacted at 229-244-3400 ext.1257.