Cristi Donahue, EVP Chief Retail Officer, shares a glimpse into the journey behind our new OSB Corporate Headquarters.

Over three decades ago, our founders at Oconee State Bank had a vision for our future, which included building a corporate headquarters to sit atop the hill, nestled up beside our Main Office.  Over two years ago, we began the journey to bring this dream to reality.  Over a week ago, the movers carried in the last box to bring our team home to Watkinsville.  Just now, I walked through the new building, engaging with our team in a whole new way, sharing the excitement about our new space, relishing the views of beautiful downtown Watkinsville, while sending up extra special prayers of thanks for our founders, our board of directors, our team, and our community.

It has been such an honor to hold the reins of this important project for Oconee State Bank.  Every single square inch of the building was a decision to be made, one that took countless hours, meetings, site visits, and tremendous collaboration amongst an extraordinary team.  When we broke ground on August 17, 2020, I set three personal goals in my heart for this project.  First, I wanted this building to honor our founders, those who cast a vision for our Oconee State Bank campus, who built a strong foundation for our future growth and success.  Secondly, I wanted this building to be a place each member of our team would be proud to work.  Finally, I wanted to create something special for our community, not just a bank corporate headquarters, but a facility all would be proud of and use to create their own remarkable story.  This project has, by far, been a highlight of my career.

For me and hopefully many others, this building has united our history, our heritage, and our future in a profound and visual way.  From the history hallway that adorns the main corridor, to the use of our iconic cupola throughout the building, to reiteration of our vision, mission, and core values, our corporate headquarters will be a beacon of light to our team, our stakeholders, and all we have the distinct pleasure to serve, for years to come.

It is such a pleasure to walk through our new space with visitors and tell our story of how we are building Georgia’s most remarkable community bank, and we hope you’ll be a part of the story by joining us for our upcoming Grand Opening event on Tuesday, June 15!

Cristi Donahue
EVP | Chief Retail Officer