Category: News

It has been an honor to serve the small business community during this time of urgent need. Citizens Bank & Trust has processed and obtained approval for nearly 700 loans through the SBA’s PPP lending program totaling 90 million dollars. We were able to meet the needs of our customers, as well as many other businesses in our community. Loans began closing Monday, April 13th and will continue to fund over the next several days until all approved applicants have received their proceeds. The SBA is no longer accepting applications for PPP loans, which we hope is only temporary. Rest assured that we stand ready to assist should a second wave of funding become available. Thank you once again for allowing us to serve the financial needs of you and your businesses.

We wish you and your family the very best as we work through these difficult days together.

Citizens Bank & Trust, proud to be your bank.

Greg Littleton
President / CEO

 

A message from our President / CEO, Greg Littleton

 
 

The health, safety and security of our customers and employees is our top priority. Keeping that commitment top of mind, we will be transitioning our branch operations to drive-thru only beginning Monday, March 23rd. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause but assure you will be able to conduct business as usual through our drive-thru lanes.

Moving forward we will meet with customers in our branches by appointment only. Please do not hesitate to contact us directly for your specific needs. Your financial needs continue to be our top priority and we are here for you.

What you can count on.

• Drive-thru lanes are open, fully staffed and ready to handle all of your banking needs.
• ATMs will continue to offer 24-hour access to funds.
• Mobile and online banking allows the opportunity to process payments, view transactions, check balances, make deposits, transfer funds and even apply for loans. It’s easy, safe and convenient.
• Our branches will continue to operate fully staffed and ready to assist you by appointment.
• Access to safe deposit boxes is available by appointment.

Our promise to you.

• We will continue to monitor and evaluate the evolving situation surrounding COVID-19 and the impact to our community.
• Customer touch points such as ATMs and drive-thru canisters will be cleaned multiple times throughout the day.
• We will do everything to ensure your safety, while we continue to provide the financial services you expect and deserve.

For more information, please contact your branch, personal banker, lender, trust or investment officer.

Also, here is a link to questions frequently asked by banking customers effected by Covid-19. https://www.fdic.gov/coronavirus/faq-customer.pdf

Thank you for your patience and understanding during this global health crisis.

We wish the very best for you and your family as we get through this trying time together.  Please take every precaution to keep yourself safe and healthy.

Citizens Bank & Trust…Proud to be Your Bank!!

Just like many of you, we are also closely monitoring new developments regarding COVID-19 (coronavirus disease). The health and safety of our customers, employees and communities are of the utmost importance.

While we are open for business as usual and are ready to serve your financial needs, we do have additional safety procedures now in place.  We want to assure you that we are committed to doing everything possible to make each Citizens Bank & Trust office as clean and safe as possible. Therefore, we have raised our usual standards of cleanliness and health safety to a higher level.

What We Are Doing:

We have implemented several new policies and procedures.

We are in constant communication with our employees to reinforce our sanitization safety procedures in both customer-facing and back-office areas. We are sanitizing high-traffic areas at an increased frequency.

• Customer touch points such as handrails, teller lines, door handles, ATMs and drive-thru canisters are cleaned multiple times throughout the day.
• Surfaces such as desks, counters and pens are wiped regularly.
• We have temporarily suspended our cookie sharing and Friday birthday cake celebrations surrounding our 100-year anniversary celebration.
• All departments have implemented hand washing and sanitizing procedures to take place multiple times during each employee’s shift.
• All employees are educated on correct hand sanitizing procedures.
• Employees are instructed to wash hands before and after eating as well as before returning to a work area.
• Customer service employees are instructed to wash hands frequently throughout the day and after each break.
• Proper procedures are posted in all back-office areas.

Again, the health, safety and well-being of our customers, associates and communities are critical.

Citizens Bank & Trust will operate business as usual with bank operations and hours but, rest assured we will monitor this quickly evolving situation. We will continue to do all that is necessary to be here and ready to assist our customers as needed.

With that in mind, we understand that some customers may be concerned with public interactions or unable to visit one of our offices in person. In those instances, we strongly encourage you to visit us at Citizens-Bank.com where you have 24/7 account access. By accessing your accounts online or by using the Citizens Bank & Trust mobile app, you have everything available to you at your convenience. You can make payments, view transactions, check balances, make deposits, transfer funds, and even apply for loans. It’s easy, safe and convenient.

If you’re not currently enrolled with online access you can Enroll Now, it only takes a few minutes.

Should you have further financial questions or need assistance please do not hesitate to contact your local office. For one hundred years and counting, we have appreciated your trust in us and are sincerely proud and grateful to be your bank.

LAKE WALES, FL – Citizens Bank & Trust is pleased to announce the hiring of Brian Yates as Senior Vice President and Small Business Director.
As Small Business Director, Brian will be responsible for helping to establish and implement a small business lending unit for the bank. Brian will be responsible for managing business development and production of this new and very important line of business for the bank.

Mr. Yates has been a community banker in Central Florida for 18 years and currently serves as a Winter Haven City Commissioner elected in 2019. A Winter Haven native and 7th generation Floridian, Brian graduated from Winter Haven High School, attended Polk State College and graduated from the Florida School of Banking. Brian is the commission liaison to the Planning Commission, MainStreet Winter Haven, Polk Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) (seat 2), Ritz Theatre and Ridge League of Cities (alternate). Brian is a past member of the Florence Villa CRA Advisory Committee. He is also a member and past President of the Rotary Club of Winter Haven.

“We could not be happier to have Brian join our Citizens Bank & Trust family,” said Citizens Bank & Trust President Greg Littleton. “He is a leader and true asset to the Winter Haven Community.”

Citizens Bank & Trust is celebrating its 100th year of financial stability in Polk County. Founded in 1920 in Frostproof, CB&T is a full-service financial institution providing personal and commercial banking deposit and loan products, along with Trust & Investment services.Branches are located in Auburndale, Bartow, Dundee, Frostproof, Ft. Meade, Haines City, Lake Wales, Lakeland and Winter Haven.

Lakeland, FL – Citizens Bank & Trust, is excited to announce the newest members recently added to the Lakeland Advisory Board

“Citizens Bank & Trust is fortunate to have this outstanding group of Lakeland Business Leaders join our team. We are truly thankful for the knowledge and experience that they each offer our bank as we work together meet and exceed the financial needs of the community.” Said, Citizens Bank & Trust President Greg Littleton.

The New Lakeland Advisory Board Members are:

Jackie Robb Britt – Co-Owner of Rubber & Accessories, Inc.
Rubber & Accessories, Inc., a second-generation fabricator and supplier of industrial products co founded by her Father and his business partner in 1972.  The Rubber & Accessories corporate office is located in Lakeland, FL with a branch in Tucker, Ga, providing Conveyor Belt, Hose and Gasket solutions to customers in the Southeast.

Brandon Clark – The Ruthvens
Brandon joined The Ruthvens in 2018 as Vice President. In this role, he has responsibility for The Ruthvens’ construction and development activities, leasing, finance and operations. Prior to joining The Ruthvens, Brandon was a Vice President Corporate Banker with J.P. Morgan for eight years. In this role, he had responsibility for companies headquartered in Florida with revenue or market cap over $1 billion. Before joining J.P. Morgan, Brandon was a member of SunTrust Robinson Humphrey’s Financial Services and Technology group in Atlanta, GA.

Gasper Kovack Jr. – Retired
Former Assistant to the Executive Vice President, Container Division, Union-Camp Corporation, Wayne, New Jersey, 1970-1972. Former Manufacturing Manager, Union-Camp Corporation, Corrugated Container Plant, Lakeland, Florida, 1972-1976. Former Chief Executive Officer, Highland-Exchange Service Cooperative (HESCO), Waverly, Florida, 1976-2016. Professionally retired, March 2016. Current Board of Directors Member: Boys and Girls Clubs of Polk County, Polk PACE for Girls, FCBI Workers Compensation Insurance Company, Gasparilla Island Water Association.

Dennis A. Ross – Retired U.S. Congressman
Dennis graduated from Auburn University in 1981, where he then attended law school at the Cumberland School of Law at Samford University.   In 1989 Dennis started his own law practice, formerly known as Ross Vecchio, PA.  While running his law practice, Dennis also served in the Florida State House of Representatives for eight years.  In 2010, Dennis ran for and was elected to the United States House of Representatives, where he served Florida’s 15^th Congressional District for eight years.  After retiring from Congress, Dennis joined Southeastern University in January of 2019, where he now serves as the Director of the American Center for Political Leadership.

David Touchton – ServePro Bartow/Lakeland Highlands
In addition, David Touchton will also be joining the Lakeland Advisory board following his January 2018 retirement from the Citizen Bank & Trust Board of Directors. Mr. Touchton served as a member of the board of directors for 9 years.

These new members join the current Lakeland Advisory Board that includes; David Curry, Gene Engle, Corey Miller and Chris McLaughlin.

Citizens Bank & Trust is a full-service financial institution that has served Polk County since 1920. In addition to business checking and savings plans, they also offer a wide range of loan products, as well as trust and investment services. As Polk County’s oldest community bank still in existence, Citizens continues to provide customers with high quality financial products and superior customer service.

For more information on Citizens Bank & Trust visit www.citizens-bank.com; or contact Donovan Tinsley at Tinsley Creative, email: donovan@tinsleycreative.com; phone: 863-583-0081.