Bank loss 'is a blow' to Winder

For more than 80 years, The Peoples Bank in Winder - which closed for good Friday - was one of the pillars of Barrow County's economy and a source of stability through boom times and bust.

County residents are left wondering if Community & Southern Bank, which took over the bank's assets and liabilities, will be able to fill the void left by The Peoples Bank.

"Certainly losing the bank with the biggest market share in Barrow County is a blow to the community both personally and professionally," said Tommy Jennings, president of the Barrow County Chamber of Commerce.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. took control of the bank Friday, selling it to Carrollton-based Community & Southern Bank. Community & Southern also took over First Commerce Community in Douglasville and the Bank of Ellijay in Ellijay.

The Peoples Bank has been the largest bank in Barrow County since 1996, holding 43 percent of all bank deposits in the county.

President and CEO Chris Maddox was the third generation of Maddoxes to run the bank, and every generation pumped charitable donations and volunteer hours into Winder, said Beth Barton, secretary of the Barrow County Historical Society.

"They have done more good for this community than any other business in the county," Barton said.

So far, there have been no layoffs at bank, and none of its 14 branches have closed. Customers' accounts have been transitioned to Community & Southern Bank accounts without incident, according to the FDIC.

Maddox, who spoke with bank employees Friday, h

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