Florida Banking September 2023

Resilience in the Face of Challenges Sanibel Captiva Community Bank:

S anibel Captiva Community Bank celebrates its 20th anniversary this year; since its founding in 2003, the bank has weathered many storms (literally!) but grown significantly, serving customers on and off Sanibel and Captiva Islands. This year also marked the completion of a two-year leadership transition naming Kyle DeCicco as president and CEO. DeCicco has worked at the bank for eight years and was mentored by bank founder and former CEO Craig Albert. “It was important to the board to have that succession from within. It was never the plan to bring in somebody from the outside who didn’t know our company culture,” DeCicco said. “Culture is very

which it believes is vital in connecting the bank with the local community. “Our marketing is not about our products and services; rather, it’s about what we do in the community, and why we do it. We showcase the organizations we support,” DeCicco said. Sanibel Captiva Community Bank supports more than 350 not-for-profit community causes through a combination of donations and volunteerism. The bank recently donated $275,000 to Fort Myers High School to fulfill its $1 million track and field renovation. DeCicco and his team are focused on building long term, loyal relationships in the local market. The bank’s commitment to and pride in its community is evidenced

important to us; that’s the way Craig built this place. He was known as the CEO who sat in the lobby with the tellers.” Albert, who will remain in a leadership role as chair of the board, founded the bank to serve the community on Sanibel and Captiva Islands. As the story goes, Albert and the founding shareholders raised the capital in just one weekend — a testament to the true need for the bank and the support from the island community. Over the last seven years, the bank has experienced explosive growth doubling

not only by its outreach but by the local art on display in each of the bank’s branches — beautifully engraved glass by local artist Lucas Century, and paintings and prints of local scenes by Rachel Pierce. Over the last year, the bank has stepped up to help its community rebuild in the wake of Hurricane Ian, the devastating Category 4 storm which made landfall in Southwest Florida in September 2022. “Our community is resilient. Very few people have thrown in the towel or moved away. Everybody wants to rebuild,” DeCicco

“OUR MARKETING IS NOT ABOUT OUR PRODUCTS AND

SERVICES; RATHER, IT’S ABOUT WHAT WE DO IN THE COMMUNITY, AND WHY WE DO IT.”

- KYLE DECICCO

said. “Our customers want to open their restaurants and gift shops again. As a facilitator of capital, we’re here to help that process.” In the days and weeks following the storm, the bank ran multiple boat trips to Sanibel Island each day, transporting supplies, cash and people. The team rode bicycles three miles each way to reach the bank’s main office, which incurred water damage. Less than two weeks after the storm, the bank reopened its main branch on Sanibel using the parking lot to service customers, providing cash services, access to safe deposit boxes, and serving hot dogs and hamburgers. The bank’s boardroom later served as a temporary branch while the rest of the building underwent renovations. The Sanibel main office was not fully operational until June 2023. Approximately 10 percent of the bank’s employees were displaced from their homes. The bank quickly Sanibel Captiva Community Bank, Continued on page 10

its number of branches in Lee County. Today, the bank has eight locations with total assets of more than $850 million. “Our focus is on the people. When we take care of our customers, employees, and shareholders, the numbers take care of themselves,” DeCicco said. “Our No. 1 goal is to remain independent; it is not to sell, to merge, or to become something we’re not. We know who we are. I’m grateful that we have a board of directors that understands that.” CCO Brian Terrell added, “We have three former community bank presidents on our board, which makes us unique; they understand community banking.” DeCicco describes the team’s ethos as “give first, then receive.” The bank’s marketing strategy reflects that ethos. Rather than placing all marketing dollars into traditional channels, the team puts half of its marketing budget into community outreach activities

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