South Atlantic Bank
Coastal Banking Done Right
story by ERIN WALLACE photos by JOHN WOLLWERTH
What if you were to combine coastal living and coastal banking? You would get the South Atlantic Bank (SAB), of course! Last month, South Atlantic Bank found a home in Beaufort, right by the new Publix off of Robert Smalls Parkway. SAB is a committed bank who for years has been incrementally servicing more of the South Carolina coast and have finally arrived in Beaufort. Until recently, the closest branch options were out in Hilton Head and Bluffton. Now that they are here, SAB is able to care for our community so much better!
This bank offers commercial and consumer loans, business and personal checking/money market accounts, as well as any kind of account security that one desires. Overall, SAB’s goal is to have a product tailor-made for each customer, making banking more personal while reflecting the tight community of Beaufort. SAB is no stranger to the South as this is their twelfth branch so far with their headquarters located in Myrtle Beach and with plans to keep growing. Fun fact: as mentioned briefly above, all the cities that SAB resides in are coastal markets and that is what sets them apart as they personally know what the unique coastal market demands and what the customer directly requires.
President and Commercial
Relationship Manager
That being said, the customer service cannot be matched at SAB as they intentionally hire bankers who live locally around their branches. SAB began in 2007 in Myrtle Beach, and it wasn’t until 7 years later in 2018 that a branch was opened nearby in Bluffton. SAB was very excited to expand into the Beaufort County market and are even more elated that they are now here in Beaufort proper! Christian Kata, Senior Vice President and Commercial Relationship Manager at SAB says that all their branches have “an identical coastal atmosphere,” so head on over to 11-E Robert Smalls Parkway and wear some sunscreen while you’re at it!
Kata states, “It says a lot about a community when a bank is making an investment to move into a market,” and I couldn’t agree more as this doesn’t happen often. In addition to Christian, who lives here, there are four other faces that will represent this branch: Jose Vergara, Bryan Newton, Caitlynn Stafford and Sarah Tejera. Jose is SAB’s Vice President as well as Branch Manager/Retail Development Officer and Bryan is a Commercial Lender while Caitlynn and Sarah are Relationship Bankers and will be in Beaufort full-time as well.
The Bank is currently working on plans to build a permanent branch. South Atlantic Bank wants our tight-knit town to know that they support community related events and truly desire to invest in this community, whatever it takes. Keep them in mind for sponsorships and participation in community events! All in all, the people who work for this branch take on their civic duty with much care and thought. If you have been searching for a bank with intentionality written on their heart, this coastal South Atlantic Bank is here to stay.
