Thursday March 28th, 2024 3:55AM

Consolidation closing banking centers in Baldwin, Winder

UNDATED - Banking center consolidations will close two South State Bank locations in north Georgia over the next few months.

Speaking by telephone Tuesday, Northeast Georgia Regional President Scott Wayne discussed plans to close a banking office each in Baldwin and Winder, in favor of consolidation with another South State Bank location within two miles.

"One of those offices is our Winder Walmart location, which is 1.2 miles from our Winder Mimosa location," Wayne said. "That office is scheduled to close on May 7."

The other is located in Habersham County and is the only financial institution in Baldwin.

"The second location is our Baldwin office, which is 1.7 miles from our Cornelia Main office, and that's scheduled to close in July," Wayne said.

Baldwin Mayor Jerry Neace said the city hates to lose the bank.

"We understand that the bank is a business and that they have to run it efficiently and at a profit, but it is sad that we're losing a bank - again," Neace said.

"We wish them the best of luck and hope this helps with their consolidation, but at the same time it hurts that the city's losing it, and the inconvenience factor for our citizens having to drive a little bit farther - they're going to have to drive to Cornelia to go to the bank," Neace said. "It's sad."

Asked about future plans for the Baldwin office, located on U.S. 441, Wayne said, "Right now there's not been any decision made on that location. We're just concentrating on serving the customers and getting that location to July. There's been no decisions made."

Asked about changes in the number of employees as a result of the consolidation, Wayne said officials are hopeful any job losses will be minimal.

"We've added some positions in other offices in those markets, so they're eligible to apply for those, and then also during the timeframe up until closing any positions that come available, they will be considered to be placed in these other offices," Wayne said. "We're hoping to place as many as we can."

The Baldwin office closure means five of Habersham County's seven municipalities will not have banking institutions inside their city or town limits. Others include Alto, Demorest, Mt. Airy and Tallulah Falls.
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