Carolina First’s new branch opening
Posted by The Skyliner on February 11th, 2009Kaelyn Pfenning
Copy Editor
Left to right: Michael Batchelor, president of Travelers Rest area business management, President James Epting, James Wilson, branch manager and Scott Sribbrsan, president of Carolina First. Feb. 5 was the officially the grand opening of the Carolina First bank branch at North Greenville University’s Village at Tigerville. (Photo by Jenny Farnham / The Skyliner)
Fifteen months after the groundbreaking, Carolina First performed a ribbon cutting ceremony on Thursday, Feb. 5. The cutting of the ribbon solidified the soft opening of the business one month prior and publicly announced the beginning of the business.
“We have a long history with the university over the years,” Scott Frierson, president of Carolina First, said. “We’re glad now to be culminating that with a new branch right here to serve the university.”
Frierson, one of the speakers, and others gathered in the bank, the bagel shop, and the white tent, set up next to the bagel shop, to await the ceremony. Blue ribbons with one dollar bills attached to them decorated two posts outside the door of the bank.
To begin the ceremony, Miller Howard, the event coordinator, ushered the speakers and the audience outside. After Dr. Jimmy Epting, president of North Greenville University, gained the audience’s attention, Frierson opened with a word of thanks as the bells in Hayes Ministry Center rang the hour.
“Opening a bank is all about a partnership,” Frierson said.
Frierson also stated how the new branch became the 181st branch for Carolina First, which owns 180 other banks throughout North Carolina, South Carolina and Florida. He continued by introducing Epting, who began with a prayer. Epting proceeded to express his appreciation and to share his vision for Carolina First along with the surrounding buildings.
“You can start to see the vision of the village,” Epting said.
Epting gave a brief synopsis of the aid offered by Carolina First during the years North Greenville University floundered as a junior college. He also thanked those who stood by the college at that time and echoed Frierson’s sentiment, “It is a partnership.”
Michael Batchelor, president of the Travelers Rest Area Business Association, made a few remarks after Epting.
“It’s a great day to be here on this campus,” Batchelor said.
The sun shone brightly in a clear, blue sky as a gentle breeze held a chill in the air. Viewers, most in formal dress, gathered around the brick wall outside of Carolina First to listen to the speakers and to watch the ribbon cutting.
Amidst cheering from a car in the intersection nearby, James Wilson, branch manager of Carolina First, brought out two tellers and thanked them. Frierson concluded the remarks.
“Through Christ, great things really do happen,” Frierson said.
Proceeding to the ribbon cutting,the others elected Wilson to cut the ribbon. As he prepared to cut the ribbon, a member of the audience warned him to cut between the dollar bills. He successfully completed the task; though, President Epting pretended to hide the money on the ribbon in his suit pocket.
Completing the formal ceremony, Frierson announced the reception sponsored by Aramark. Samples outside of Einstein’s Bagel Shop and a couple of tables under the white tent offered food and drinks for viewers as they mingled.
Sandie Arledge, a member of the community, signed up for an account with Carolina First about one week ago and attended the ceremony.
“I just thought it’d be a good time to meet these people,” Arledge said.
Along with members of the community, representatives for Carolina First, personnel from NGU, Miss NGU and the new branch’s first business customer participated in the ceremony.
As the reception commenced, the smell of coffee filled the air and casual conversation flowed freely. As the afternoon faded to evening, the crowd slowly dispersed. Carolina First is now officially open for business.