Our annual report this year asks: “Why Us?” My answer is, since 1981 we have strategically expanded our presence into six states and developed a broad base of financial products and services for individuals and businesses. Our assets have grown from $166 million in 1981 to nearly $12 billion in 2000. We acquired 57 community banks along the way, integrating them and our technology systems into a structure that contributes to corporate synergies and efficiencies, while encouraging local control over customer relationships. We’ve met our long-term goal of establishing a strong banking presence in substantially diverse, both geographically and demographically, markets. I firmly believe that market diversity affords us protection during economic downturns.

The year 2001 marks our 20th anniversary, and we have become what we set out to be – a 21st century financial services institution which is concentrated on understanding and meeting our customers’ banking and investment needs.

Focus on People
One quality, more than any other, has helped us “weather the ups and downs” of this business. It is our employees’ ability to focus on their customers’ success and to form long-lasting relationships. Quite frankly, I believe those relationships form the foundation of our strong loan portfolio and growing deposit base. Our relationship approach to business has served us well in the past and will serve us even better as we go forward in an environment that is becoming more competitive every day. In fact, we actually are a local bank in the eyes of our customers, even though we are a bank holding company with 239 offices spread throughout six states. More important, the empowered men and women of Colonial have the skills to make decisions at their local level. Because markets and communities differ widely, customers require different answers and solutions to their financial needs.