One of the charming aspects of Tucker’s Main Street is the abundance of small, locally owned businesses. That has long been epitomized by mainstays like Matthews Cafeteria and Cofer Bros., but the tradition has continued in recent years with additions like Local 7 and The Garden Enthusiast.
You can add another locally owned business to the list, as Tandem Bank is now open at the corner of Main Street and First Avenue. Founded by former Resurgens Bank CEO Charles DeWitt, Tandem is a full-service bank offering service to area residents and small business owners.
“Anyone who’s driven down Main Street knows how interesting and unique Tucker is,” said DeWitt. “The fact that you can be this close to Atlanta, yet it feels like a separate, successful, welcoming community is remarkable. When we realized we could establish our flagship location at the corner of First Avenue and Main Street, we knew we had something special.”
DeWitt operated Resurgens, then located on Lavista Road in the Northlake Festival Shopping Center, during the financial crisis of the late 2000’s. It was at that time that financiers stopped opening local banks. Now, with the economy stronger and the stock market at record highs, Tandem becomes the first local bank to open in Georgia in more than a decade.
“The formation of this new state bank is further evidence that community banking in Georgia has recovered from the depths of the financial crisis,” Georgia Department of Banking and Finance Commissioner Kevin Hagler said in a statement.
According to state officials, state-chartered banks provide two-thirds of the banking industry’s loans to farms and about half of the banking industry’s small loans to businesses.
“At heart we are entrepreneurs, just like many of our customers. So, our success is all about leveraging a good idea, in this case a new type of community bank, into a lasting enterprise that makes a difference in people’s lives,” DeWitt explains. “We believe local banking is a sign of community strength. Our growth will be fueled by investing in the community and creating a positive customer experience at every turn that inspires people to do business with us.”
Tandem Bank is open weekdays from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. It is located at 2356 Main Street and can be found online at www.tandem.bank.
