by Miranda G. McLeod
Staff Writer
First Bank of Jacksonville has expanded its operations to the Baymeadows area.
“It’s a homecoming of sorts,” said Harry R. Trevett, chairman of the bank’s board of directors. “We have strong ties to this community. (This area) has been our family’s home since 1990. It’s only natural for this to be the first site of expansion.”
Many members of the bank’s board of directors live in the nearby gated Deerwood community, making the move convenient for them as well as business clients and other customers in the community.
Trevett bought the bank, along with Jay Mock in 2003; the bank was founded in 1989. Both are principals of Trevett-Mock, Inc., a real estate investment, development and management firm in Florida and Georgia.
The bank recently hit a landmark with more than $100 million in total assets; 15 years ago the bank had only $20 million.
The Baymeadows location is First Bank of Jacksonville’s first branch office. The bank is headquartered in Mandarin with loan offices in Fernandina and Gainesville.
The new facility is located at 9802 Old Baymeadows Way and formerly was the location of two other banks. President and CEO of First Jacksonville Bank Cindy Delaparte said taking an older, vacant building nestled between commercial business and residential homes is something she and the her staff are proud of.
“We rehabilitated part of the infrastructure we already had here (in Baymeadows),” she said. “We take great pride in turning this old building into something positive and new for the community.”
The bank has sofas, a plasma screen TV and a saltwater aquarium. The aquarium is a detail that will be included at other future branch expansions. In a summer newsletter to clients, Delaparte said the bank is in the planning and design phase of an Atlantic Boulevard and San Pablo Road office, as well as a new Lakewood office at San Jose Boulevard.
The expansions are expected in early spring and late fall of 2007.
photo by Miranda G. McLeod