GAINESVILLE, Ga., Nov. 9, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- GB&T Bancshares, Inc. (Nasdaq:GBTB) has announced the appointment of Sid J. Sims, a twenty-eight year banking veteran, to the newly created position of Executive Vice President and Chief Credit Officer. The announcement was made today by Richard A. Hunt, President and CEO of GB&T Bancshares.
"With the exceptional growth our company has experienced in the past several years, we started looking earlier this year for a senior level person who could assume the responsibility of managing asset quality throughout our holding company," Hunt said. He added that "previously the chief credit officer for our lead bank handled the responsibility of overseeing credit for that bank and the other affiliate banks."
Hunt also noted, "We first started discussing this position with Sid Sims several months ago and it quickly became apparent to me that he was the right person to ensure that our lending culture and our company objectives in growth, profitability and customer service are achieved throughout the organization." He added that Sims would be working closely with the presidents at each of the company's seven community banks, providing underwriting support and guidance as requested for larger and more complex loan requests.
Sims started his banking career with the First National Bank of Atlanta. He then held senior level positions with Deposit Guaranty Bank and First American Corporation in Jackson, Mississippi. Prior to joining GB&T Bancshares, Sims served as Senior Vice President and Senior Credit Officer at AmSouth Bank in Jackson, Mississippi.
A graduate of the University of Mississippi, Sims completed his MBA at the Colgate Darden Graduate School of Business at the University of Virginia. He has been active in civic affairs in Jackson, Mississippi. He has served as Treasurer of the Mississippi Diabetes Foundation, a member of the Mississippi Higher Education Assistance Corporation, Finance Committee Chair of the St. Dominic Memorial Hospital, and as Chairman of the YMCA of Metropolitan Jackson.
About GB&T Bancshares, Inc.
Based in Gainesville, Georgia, GB&T Bancshares, Inc. is a multi-bank holding company operating seven community banks: Gainesville Bank & Trust, United Bank & Trust, Community Trust Bank, HomeTown Bank of Villa Rica, First National Bank of the South, First National Bank of Gwinnett and Mountain State Bank. As of September 30, 2006, GB&T Bancshares had total assets of $1.9 billion, with 31 banking offices located in fourteen Georgia counties. GB&T Bancshares' common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol "GBTB." Visit the company's website www.gbtbancshares.com for additional information.