Florida Banking July 2023

live there when they returned to Key West. They later sold the unit and made enough money for the down payments on their future homes. “There’s no way any traditional bank would have given us that loan. Thanks to First State Bank’s relationships within the community — particularly with my father and the developer — the bank took a chance on us and said, ‘we’re going to give them that loan.’ So if it weren’t for community banks, I don’t know that Jeff and I would be here right now,” Batty said. “In the same way, we want to pay it forward within our local community; I want to see my kids and their friends have the opportunity to come back and live here in Key West one day.” Looking forward, Gulf Atlantic Bank has plans to diversify by opening a branch in Ocala in the third quarter of 2023. “If banking has taught me anything, it’s patience. I’ve learned to understand that it takes time. The board said, ‘Let’s get profitable first, and we’ll go from there,’” Batty said. “Ocala is our big dream. As it has with everything else that’s happened in our lives, we believe that things work out the way they’re supposed to, so we keep open minds. If we have to fight or force something through, it doesn’t necessarily make sense for us. We have to follow where the community, our investors, and our customers lead us. We’re excited about our future.”

Gulf Atlantic Bank, Continued from page 9

ultimately decided to move to Key West. Gulf Atlantic Bank is Robinson’s fourth de novo . “We all work well together. Our personalities complement each other,” Robinson said. “We just want to get things done and take care of our clients.” It was Igler who helped connect Batty and Searcy with experienced veterans like Robinson. Rounding out the senior management team are Vice-Chairman Kenneth “Casey” Compton, Chief Loan Officer Adam Woods, Senior Loan Officer Shane Briening, and CFO Jon Eckstein. “Jeff and I have always believed that if something is going to work out, it will progress naturally. That doesn’t mean you won’t have to work hard. But you shouldn’t have to fight for something to fit. It shouldn’t feel like fitting a round peg in a square hole,” Batty said. Batty and Searcy also received support and encouragement from family friend Jack Spottswood, chairman of First State Bank of the Florida Keys, the first community bank on the island. Batty’s respect and appreciation for the community banking model goes back to his college days, when First State Bank granted him and his sister a loan to buy a house in Key West. Purchasing the workforce housing unit was a great opportunity for the young siblings, who were able to rent it out while they were in school but also

Gulf Atlantic Bank senior management team, from left: Senior Loan Officer Shane Briening, Vice-Chairman Kenneth “Casey” Compton, Chairman Peter Batty, President and CEO Bryan Robinson, Co-Founder Jeff Searcy, and CLO Adam Woods.

10 — FLORIDA BANKING THE VOICE OF FLORIDA BANKING