Colony Bank is pleased to announce the opening of a mortgage loan origination office in LaGrange, Georgia, which will serve the LaGrange and Newnan markets.  The new office will be located in leased space inside the LaGrange Branch of Calumet Bank, which Colony is currently in the process of acquiring, pending customary shareholder and regulatory approval.

In connection with this expansion, Colony has recruited The Whatley Team to lead this office.  Led by mother and son Susan and Alex Whatley, The Whatley Team is one of the area's most experienced mortgage lending teams.  Together, these actions enhance the capabilities of Colony Bank, extend its reach to this new market in anticipation of the second quarter 2019 closing of the Calumet Bank acquisition, and continue to draw extensive professional skills and strong talent to the Colony team.

Commenting on the additions, T. Heath Fountain, Colony Bank's President and Chief Executive Officer, said, "We are excited about the new opportunities for this new loan production office and our ability to attract the Whatleys – a highly successful family team with deep roots in the community – to our mortgage banking operations.  These initiatives plant new capabilities in the LaGrange market previously not offered by Calumet and, thus, will add momentum to our expansion into Western Georgia and subsequent growth across new markets."

Susan Whatley, a Troup County native, has worked in the banking industry since 1981 and has been in mortgage banking since 1988.  She is the recipient of several awards from the Mortgage Bankers Association of Georgia and received the prestigious Platinum Award in 2008 for closing $56 million in mortgages.  The mother of two, daughter Jenna and son Alex, she is a proud grandmother of three grandsons, Hayden, Hutson and Lucas.  She enjoys cooking and crafts, among other hobbies.  She graduated from LaGrange High School and attended Georgia Southern University.  She is a member of Big Springs United Methodist Church, where she serves as Treasurer.

Alex Whatley, also a Troup County native, has more than 20 years of experience in the mortgage banking industry.  Since 2008, he has been a top-producing mortgage banker in the Coweta and Troup County markets. He and his wife, Whitney, have a son, Lucas, and are expecting a daughter soon.  In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with family and friends, hunting and fishing, and many other outdoor activities.  He graduated from Callaway High School and Southern Union Community College.