Hamilton State Bank is pleased to announce that it has assumed all of the deposits and acquired certain assets of Bartow County Bank.  It is our pleasure to welcome these new customers and employees to our growing family.

Your first question may be: “are my funds on deposit safe?”  You can rest assured that your deposits are safe, sound and readily accessible.  Your accounts with Hamilton State Bank are insured to the maximum coverage provided by the FDIC.

Business will continue as usual while we are making a few upgrades to streamline operational processes.  We don’t expect this transition to inconvenience you in any way and we appreciate your continued business.  We will keep you apprised of key information as we move through this integration process in the coming weeks.

You may be wondering about your bank’s new name.  Hamilton State Bank is a state charted bank founded in 2004.  We operate branch locations in Braselton, Hoschton, Jefferson, Oakwood, Cumming and Gainesville, Georgia.  Over the past several years we have enjoyed growing our branch network and are pleased to have the opportunity to expand into your neighborhood. You can count on Hamilton State Bank to provide safety and soundness as well as competitive products and superior service. 

We value the relationship you have established with Bartow County Bank and trust that you will give Hamilton State Bank the opportunity to continue and surpass the level of service you have come to expect.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Frequently Asked Questions:

Q:  Will my accounts remain FDIC insured?
A:  Hamilton State Bank accounts are insured to the maximum limits allowed by the FDIC.  If you have concerns about your FDIC coverage you should contact your local branch or visit www.fdic.gov.

Q:  Are my funds currently on deposit “safe?”
A:  We believe this acquisition is a very positive development for our new customers given our capital strength and solid financial condition.  You can rest assured that you are dealing with a financial institution that values safety and soundness and works hard to meet and exceed all applicable regulatory requirements.  In addition, all Hamilton State Bank deposits are insured by the FDIC to its maximum limits.

Q:  Will the staff at my bank remain the same?
A:  Hamilton State Bank wants to provide customers with the best service possible.  We warmly welcome the staff you are familiar with in your local branch.  We consider these staff members an integral key to our success and are happy to have them as part of our team.

Q:  What do customers need to do now?
A:  Hamilton State Bank will make every effort to have a seamless conversion that does not interrupt any banking activities. Customers will be notified by mail of any changes or necessary actions well in advance.

Checks: Until you receive new checks you should continue to use the checks you have. The Bartow County Bank routing number will continue to be processed for Hamilton State Bank.

Debit Card and ATM Card: New debit cards and ATM cards will be mailed to customers in mid-August. Customers should use these new cards beginning Monday, August 29, 2011. Previous Bartow County Bank debit and ATM cards will be de-activated on Monday, August 29, 2011.

Online Banking & Bill Payment: Beginning Monday, August 29, 2011 customers should use Hamilton State Bank's online banking system to access online banking. Your Access ID is the same Online Banking ID as previously used except it should be entered using all lower case letters. Also, if you used spaces in your previous ID they should be omitted. For example if your previous Online Banking ID was Jcustomer 123, it should be entered into the Access ID box as jcustomer123. Many customers are using a series of numbers that begin with 91XXXXX for their Access ID.

Loans: Loan customers continue to be bound by the terms of their existing loan agreements and should continue to make payments accordingly. Loan customers will begin receiving statements in the mail from Hamilton State Bank at a later date.

Q:  Will my branch remain open and operate with the same hours?
A:  Yes.  At this time the former branches of Bartow County Bank will continue daily operations as they have in the past.  You will receive notification should any changes occur in the future.

Q:  What will happen with direct deposit and automatic debits?
A:  Customers will not be required to do anything for direct deposit or automatic debit transactions.  Hamilton State Bank will send a “Notice of Change” to all companies who initiate direct deposits or automatic debits.  The notice will contain the information needed for the company to adjust their records to continue the transactions.  This should be a seamless transition for you.

Q:  Will I continue to earn the same rate of interest on my deposit accounts?
A:  At this time all interest rates on deposit account will continue to accrue at your existing contractual rate.

Q:  Why did Hamilton State Bank purchase my bank?
A:  Hamilton State Bank is committed to serving communities in Georgia and views the acquisition of these offices as a great opportunity for expansion.  In addition, Hamilton State Bank is pleased with the quality staff members in these branches and is eager to see them continue to serve their established customers.  Our goal is to not only retain your current business but earn more of it over the coming months.

Q:  Is Hamilton State Bank a “strong” bank?
A:  Hamilton State Bank is well capitalized and meets the approval of bank regulators.  We were highly scrutinized by examiners before we were allowed to participate in acquisitions. We strive to reach a standard of excellence in our management, bookkeeping and daily operations.  Our senior management team has a wealth of knowledge and is involved in all operations of the bank. 

Q:  Who should I contact if I have questions concerning my account?
A:  You should continue to contact the same people and/or branch you have in the past with any issues you may have concerning your accounts.

The FDIC has assembled useful information regarding your relationship with Bartow County Bank. Besides a checking account, you may have Certificates of Deposit, a business checking account, a Social Security direct deposit, and other relationships with the institution.

Please select the link below to read more about this event:

FDIC Bank Closing Information for Bartow County Bank