JCB expanding its operations

Jackson County Bank is expanding staff and offices.

JCB President and CEO David Geis an-nounced plans this week to expand its commercial lending staff in its Seymour office. It's also expanding into new office space at Tipton and Chestnut streets.

"In response to the bank's growth in the size and number of commercial clients seeking business loans and related services, JCB is adding both a commercial loan officer and a support staff," Geis said. "New commercial opportunities in our home market of Jackson County have also contributed to our need to add staff."

While Geis said he has seen a growing market with Bloomfield State Bank coming to town in 2007 and Dupont State Bank preparing to move into Jackson County, the expansion is a result of JCB's growth both in and outside Jackson County.

JCB has had continued success in its Bartho-lomew and Lawrence counties markets and has extended commercial services to the Decatur County area as well.

JCB supports business loan referrals from its locations in Jennings, Scott and Washington counties as well.

"Our calling markets to our commercial areas have extended beyond our current geographic footprint, which consists of six south central Indiana counties, Jackson, Bartho-lomew, Lawrence, Jennings, Scott and Washington counties," Geis said.

The move will help JCB make and develop business relationships extending beyond those counties, "to the next tier of counties beyond the original six," Geis said.

Plans call for the addition of an experienced commercial lender during 2009 who will call on clients and prospects in multiple markets serviced by JCB.

The bank plans to lease and renovate 1,500 square feet of space across the street from its main office in the former Greemann Real Estate building at Tipton and Chestnut streets.

Tom Greemann of Greemann Real Estate said his firm will move to an undisclosed location in Seymour. He said his agency is moving away from residential real estate to focus on commercial real estate.

The former Greemann building will house a retail loan staff to support JCB's consumer, mortgage and home equity lending team for all of its southern Indiana markets. It will house about 10 employees and is expected to result in improved efficiency, communications and coordination within its support staff, a news release said.

JCB expects to take occupancy of the former Greemann building by the end of September.