Southern Independent Bank will break ground in Opp today on a 4,800 square foot operations center.

The facility will be located behind the bank’s Opp branch, located at 503 Main St. The operations center will house all of the bank’s “back room activities” including deposit operations, loan operations, and information technology personnel. Initial plans are for nine full time employees to relocate to the operations center upon completion. The new operations center is being designed to accommodate future growth.

“We have completely outgrown parts of our facilities,” said Brett Ballard, senior vice president.

The opening of the 4,800 square foot center will ease the overcrowding of employees at the current bank locations in Opp and Andalusia, SIB President and CEO Buddy Wilkes said. Wilkes said the new center will free up much needed space in the current locations for customer related activities such as making loans and taking deposits. Personnel from both locations will work together in Opp once the building is complete, he said.

“The Operations Center is not designed for customer related activities,” Wilkes said. “Any issues or needs that our customers may have will be addressed by our professionals located at our current offices in Opp and Andalusia.

“This is an exciting time for Southern Independent Bank and Covington County,” Wilkes said. “Our board of directors, officers and employees are committed to investing in our community and serving the banking needs of the citizens of our entire county.”

At present, the bank has a total of 31 employees at its two locations, Ballard said.

 

The projected is expected to be completed in August, 2016.