JARRETT GOODMAN
Staff Writer
Headquartered in the heart of Marion County in Jasper is among one of Middle and Southeastern Tennessee’s most prominent and local banks.
Tower Community Bank kicked off in 1970, when Robert Thomas and a few other individuals banded together to establish proper banking services within the community, especially for those who were unable to bank anywhere else. Over the course of four decades, Tower Community quickly grew and expanded into a $400 million banking asset, with multiple locations spread out in different cities within Middle and Southeastern Tennessee, as well as in northern Alabama and Georgia.
David Abbot, Bank President of Tower Community and county commissioner for Marion County, explained the bank encompasses a large and triangular area of the Tennessee Valley, known as the “Tower Triangle.” The area stretches as far north as Nashville all the way to as far south as Huntsville, Alabama.
Abbot has worked under the Tower Community umbrella for 18 years, recently becoming the bank president back in July. His career in the banking industry began upon graduating from high school, where he landed a part-time job in Scottsboro, Alabama for First National Bank. There, while working under the leadership of John Newman of First National Bank, Abbot was given the opportunity to develop his skills and knowledge within the world of banking, skills and knowledge which led him to develop a passion for helping individuals with their banking needs.
“The great opportunity and the great thing that I have each day when I come to work, is that I have the opportunity to help someone. And so that’s what drives me into the role and what’s driven me into banking for this many years,” said Abbot.
Tower Community offers different banking services, ranging from helping clientele with check deposits and account setups to loan provisions and property financing. Among one of its standout features is its ITMs (Interactive Teller Machine), an advanced iteration of the ATM device in which clients and bank personnel can digitally interact with one another as ATM services are conducted. According to David, the bank serves as one of, if not the first bank in Tennessee to introduce the device within the state market, first being implemented in 2017. All branches of Tower Community have an ITM machine installed, which not only provides additional verification upon clients seeking cash withdrawals, but also an additional layer of interactivity between personnel and clientele.
Tower Community also takes strides to be as involved within the community as possible, being a major partner and member of the Marion County Chamber of Commerce and serving as a sponsor for various events and projects, including the Jasper Gulch subdivision currently in construction, as well as the annual National Cornbread Festival in South Pittsburg.
“We want to be very involved because we live and we work, and we raise our families here as well. So we’re proud to be a part of this community, as well as our surrounding amenities,” said David.
To this day, Tower Community Bank prides itself on serving all who reside in Marion County and beyond with their banking needs, taking strides to stay relevant with the times and current technologies, while also committed to looking ahead for growth and financial prosperity within the region.