CertusBank, National Association, Easley, South Carolina, Assumes All of the Deposits of Hometown Community Bank, Braselton, Georgia

Press Release

CertusBank, National Association, Easley, South Carolina, Assumes All of the Deposits of Hometown Community Bank, Braselton, Georgia

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 16, 2012

Media Contact: Greg Hernandez (202) 898-6984 Cell: (202) 340-4922 Email: ghernandez@fdic.gov

 

Hometown Community Bank, Braselton, Georgia, was closed today by the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance, which appointed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) as receiver. To protect the depositors, the FDIC entered into a purchase and assumption agreement with CertusBank, National Association, Easley, South Carolina, to assume all of the deposits of Hometown Community Bank.

The two branches of Hometown Community Bank will reopen on Saturday as branches of CertusBank, N.A. Depositors of Hometown Community Bank will automatically become depositors of CertusBank, N.A. Deposits will continue to be insured by the FDIC, so there is no need for customers to change their banking relationship in order to retain their deposit insurance coverage up to applicable limits. Customers of Hometown Community Bank should continue to use their existing branch until they receive notice from CertusBank, N.A. that it has completed systems changes to allow other CertusBank, N.A. branches to process their accounts as well.

This evening and over the weekend, depositors of Hometown Community Bank can access their money by writing checks or using ATM or debit cards. Checks drawn on the bank will continue to be processed. Loan customers should continue to make their payments as usual.

As of September 30, 2012, Hometown Community Bank had approximately $124.6 million in total assets and $108.9 million in total deposits. In addition to assuming all of the deposits of the failed bank, CertusBank, N.A. agreed to purchase essentially all of the assets.

Customers with questions about today's transaction should call the FDIC toll-free at 1-800-830-4725. The phone number will be operational this evening until 9:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time (EST); on Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., EST; on Sunday from noon to 6:00 p.m., EST; on Monday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., EST; and thereafter from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., EST. Interested parties also can visit the FDIC's Web site at http://www.fdic.gov/bank/individual/failed/hometown.html.

The FDIC estimates that the cost to the Deposit Insurance Fund (DIF) will be $36.7 million. Compared to other alternatives, CertusBank, N.A.'s acquisition was the least costly resolution for the FDIC's DIF. Hometown Community Bank is the 50th FDIC-insured institution to fail in the nation this year, and the tenth in Georgia. The last FDIC-insured institution closed in the state was Jasper Banking Company, Jasper, on July 27, 2012.

# # #

Congress created the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation in 1933 to restore public confidence in the nation's banking system. The FDIC insures deposits at the nation's 7,246 banks and savings associations, and it promotes the safety and soundness of these institutions by identifying, monitoring and addressing risks to which they are exposed. The FDIC receives no federal tax dollars — insured financial institutions fund its operations.

FDIC press releases and other information are available on the Internet at www.fdic.gov, by subscription electronically (go to www.fdic.gov/about/subscriptions/index.html) and may also be obtained through the FDIC's Public Information Center (877-275-3342 or 703-562-2200). PR-134-2012

The FDIC does not send unsolicited e-mail. If this publication has reached you in error, or if you no longer wish to receive this service, please unsubscribe.