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Exchange Bank Redesigns Gadsden Branch
Renovated facility by IBT features express service, separate business and consumer banking areas

ATLANTA and GADSDEN, AL - June 27, 2007 - Exchange Bank, established in 1909 and run by the Ray family since 1959, today operates five full-service branches. The Gadsden branch, built in 1979, serves as the bank's financial center and also houses XBA Financial Services, Gadsden Mortgage Services and corporate offices.

An expansion of the financial center several years earlier left the retail branch untouched. Exchange Bank chose to update the look and feel of the Gadsden branch as well as make the space more inviting and customer-service oriented. Exchange Bank selected design/build firm IBT Enterprises for the project.

While Exchange Bank's customers are predominately individual consumers, the proximity of XBA Financial Services, Gadsden Mortgage Services and local businesses to the branch results in a larger percentage of business customers. The renovated branch needed to cater to both consumer and commercial customers, all the while ushering traffic through the facility.

"Clients like Exchange Bank are looking for ways to more efficiently serve their customers without compromising the banking experience," says Mylle Mangum, CEO of IBT. "Speed and accuracy of transactions are banking benchmarks that our design services and technology integration help to bolster. Our work is focused on improving the entire customer experience, which often times is achieved by moving customers through the branch and onto the other tasks they need to complete on a given day."

IBT redesigned the branch with separate consumer and business banking areas, each with its own seating lounge and coffee bar. A member of the bank staff greets customers from a concierge station as they enter the bank, offering assistance. Additionally, "EXB Connect," a separate area for customers to conduct online banking, was designed with private stations for employees to assist customers.

As a service to all customers, especially those looking for quick transactions, IBT created "EXB Express," in the central atrium. EXB Express includes an express deposit drop, a coin exchange, and a full service ATM that accepts deposits, offers currency withdrawals and sells stamps. The branch also features plasma television screens to incorporate digital merchandising and communicate relevant information to customers.

In concert with the facility redesign, Exchange Bank decided to also redesign its logo. Exchange Bank wanted a logo that was exciting, innovative and lasting. The new logo consists of the green color which has been associated with the bank for many years, and a new platinum color representing the bank's dedication to the highest level of service. The intersection of the green and platinum illustrate a blend of the bank's history and commitment to customer service, reinforcing the bank's tagline of "Strength. Growth. Vision."

One of the biggest windfalls of the renovation is the increased open space. IBT was able to achieve this by guiding the facility layout to a window that faces a large outdoor courtyard. The design allows for more natural light and creates a more cohesive transition to the atrium and the addition. The new feel also enhances the customer experience, a primary objective of the renovation project.

"IBT helped us create an environment that is welcoming, engaging and distinctive," said Ricky Ray, CEO of Exchange Bank. "The feedback from our customers about the redesigned branch has been very positive and we are pleased to offer our community an exceptional banking experience."

Facility closures and unsightly surroundings were unacceptable. IBT minimized customer impact by following a work schedule that kept the bank open during its normal operating hours for the duration of the project. All heavy work was completed on bank holidays when the branch was closed, leaving only minor work to be completed while customers would be in the branch.

The transition has drastically updated the branch and helped transform the space from simply a banking facility to one that is inviting and takes the customer and their specific needs into account. It has also been exciting for customers who have been wowed by the updates and changes that have been made throughout the process.