Wauchula Branch

A seventh-generation Arcadian, Justin earned an associate of arts degree from Santa Fe College in Gainesville. He then attended the University of Florida, College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, earning a Bachelor of Science in agricultural education and communication with a specialization in communications and leadership development, and minors in management, sales of agribusiness, and leadership. While at UF, he was inducted into Alpha Tau Alpha, a nationally recognized professional honorary agricultural education organization. He has worked in commercial lending, financial management and marketing.

A graduate of Leadership DeSoto, Justin is a DeSoto County Chamber of Commerce board member, serving on the Membership, Annual Meeting and Leadership DeSoto Committees. He is also a member of the Inaugural Randy Bateman Memorial Fund Fundraiser Committee, which raises funds to provide scholarship opportunities for students seeking a career in the power generation industry. In addition, he actively supports local 4H and FFA students with their beef projects, volunteers at Arcadia Rodeo events and serves on the Rodeo advertising committee. He is a member of Mt. Ephraim Baptist Church.

In his spare time, Justin enjoys spending time with family and friends, riding around to check on his families’ cows and hay fields, traveling and spending time on both the salt and freshwater of Southwest Florida.

NMLS #803383

Christy is a fifth-generation Floridian who has remained in the Heartland area. She began her banking career with the Bank in 1990. Christy was an active member of the Kiwanis Club of Sebring for many years, serving as Treasurer. She is currently involved with the Bartow and Wauchula Chamber of Commerce. She recently joined the board for the Big Brother Big Sisters Hardee County Club. She enjoys the outdoors, including hunting and fishing, and spending time with her family.

Ben started his career in the Navy as a cryptologist with Naval Intelligence during the Afghan and Iraq Wars. He held a Top Secret (TS/SCI) clearance and served aboard two amphibious assault ships (USS Ponce and Nashville), a Destroyer (USS Cole), and a Los Angeles-class submarine (USS Annapolis).

After the Navy, Ben served as Operations Manager for a boat manufacturing plant while getting his MBA (Master of Business Administration) from Western Governors University. He entered banking in 2008 and served as a Senior Credit Analyst with the Bank from 2014 to 2021, specializing in multiple industries, including investment real estate, agriculture, and owner-operated businesses across Central Florida. He transitioned to a Commercial Banker in 2021 and is passionate about meeting his customers’ commercial needs.

In his spare time, he is an avid painter, astronomer, and family man with his wife and three children.

NMLS #2403357

Marilyn started at the Bank in 1983 and worked for over 3 years before becoming a stay-at-home mom for her son. She returned in 2000, working first as a teller, a personal banker and then was promoted to branch operations manager.

In 2020, she was promoted to Retail Banking Officer. In this role she is responsible for the customer service management of the branch office. She is familiar with all retail, business and electronic banking products and services the bank offers and has the experience and capability to function in any branch team position if needed.

Marilyn is a life-long Floridian who enjoys spending time with her husband, Marvin, of over 40 years, and her family.

NMLS #2400823

Although Debbie’s roots are in West Virginia's Hardy County, she has called Florida home for over 30 years and currently resides in Zolfo Springs. Her banking career began in 1991 when she moved to Florida, and since 1999 she has been a part of our team, transitioning from a personal banker to a Business Relationship Banker.

While attending high school, she also attended South Branch Vocational Center during her junior and senior years, graduating with her high school diploma and her diploma in Business from SBVC.

Debbie is a member of the Hardee Country Chamber of Commerce and serves as their Executive Board Secretary. In 2021, Debbie was honored as the Hardee County Chamber of Commerce Ambassador of the Year, as recognition to her contributions to the community.

Debbie has been happily married to her high school sweetheart for over 35 years and they have two wonderful children, a daughter, and a son.

In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family, going on cruises and walking.

NMLS# 1960172

A Florida native and lifelong resident of Winter Haven, Patty began her career in banking as soon as she graduated from Winter Haven High School, joining the Bank in 1994, after working for another financial institution for several years. She started out as a loan secretary before moving into Retail and Business Banking and serving as Branch Manager of the former Zolfo Springs office. She returned to the Wauchula office in late 2019 as a Consumer Lender, while also continuing to serve as a Personal Banker and working with the bank’s Loan Profit Centers. Patty has recently taken a new position as a Business Relationship Banker in our Bowling Green office.  She assists small businesses to grow utilizing our services such as commercial loans, deposit accounts, cash management services and merchant services.

She is heavily involved with the Wauchula Lions Club, helping her fellow club members in fighting blindness, caring for the environment, feeding the hungry, aiding seniors and the disabled, has recently become a Big Sister with Big Brothers and Big Sisters of the Sun Coast – Hardee County as well as other community projects.

Patty and her husband, Roger, have two daughters and three grandchildren. When not at work, she enjoys reading and spending time with the grandkids.

NMSL #803380

A native Floridian born and raised in Fort Meade, Nettie earned a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from Southeastern University and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from Warner University. She joined the Bank in 2006 and continued her education, completing the Florida School of Banking. Nettie has worked in various positions at the bank, including customer service, as well as working with Financial Services. Nettie has recently taken a new position as a Business Relationship Bank in our Wauchula office.  She assists small businesses to grow utilizing our services such as commercial loans, deposit accounts, cash management services and merchant services.

Nettie is an active member of the Kiwanis Club of Wauchula, serving as president, vice president and secretary. She is highly involved in the annual Kiwanis Clay Shoot, helping raise funds for the children in her community.

Nettie resides in Wauchula with her husband and children. In her spare time, she prefers to be 120 feet below the ocean surface spearfishing alongside her husband.