Daily Record Financial News &
Thursday, June 23, 2016
Vol. 103, No. 159 • One Section
35¢ www.jaxdailyrecord.com
Ameris Bank’s Downtown branches are taking a nontraditional — maybe a better term is new-traditional — turn. Executives walked guests through the Southbank space Tuesday on the lobby floor of Riverplace Tower during an event to celebrate the bank’s move of its executive offices to the 28-story building. While the celebration showcased the executive offices on the 26th floor, the lobby space it leases was vacant in preparation for development of a different kind of branch office that should open this summer. Called a “universal branch,” there will be no traditional tellers but plenty of technology and an open floorplan. Instead of teller lines, there will be desks and the branch will be staffed by at least two associates, under the direction of a manager, to guide customers through whatever service they need. The bank considers them customeremployee engagement centers. Ameris Bank President Andy Cheney said Tuesday the bank will pilot the universal branch at the Southbank office and then open another at a new Northbank branch. “They are not a new thing, but they are new to us,” he said. Associates still provide one-on-one assistance. They also can teach customers how to bank electronically on their personal technology, such as mobile banking. “The employees that are there can help the customers with the technology, but also each person there can do whatever transaction is necessary for a customer,” Cheney said. He describes the universal employee as a highly skilled private, concierge banker who can take care of a customer’s branch needs. Also, universal branch bankers can meet customers at their offices and bring the Mathis
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Photos by Fran Ruchalski
Ameris to pilot ‘universal branches’
The Mayor’s Budget Review Committee approved $250,000 for Friends of Hemming Park, with another $250,000 for the group after it raises the same amount.
Want more money? Raise more
Committee counters Friends of Hemming Park’s funding request
By David Chapman Staff Writer Friends of Hemming Park went into the Mayor’s Budget Review Committee on Wednesday seeking enough money to get through another year of operating the Downtown venue. Instead, the group received a “prove it” counter. The ask: $375,000 from the city, which would kick in another $125,000 when Friends raises the same amount. In all, the group would raise $300,000, bumping its total annual budget to $800,000. The counter: $250,000 from the city and a $250,000 match when the group raises that amount. Or
Vince Cavin, executive director of the nonprofit that manages the park, makes his case for city funding.
just the $375,000 with no match. Mike Weinstein, Mayor Lenny Curry’s chief financial officer, made the suggestions as a way to entice the group to fundraise instead of relying solely on city dollars for the year. “I know which one I would pick,” said Weinstein after asking Friends board member Bill Prescott which option he preferred. Prescott didn’t answer Weinstein’s question, but said the higher city commitment of $375,000 would help show the community the organization was on steady ground and thus increase fundraising opportunities. Friends continued on Page A-4
Council members back affordable housing pilot By Max Marbut Staff Writer One manufacturer of pre-engineered buildings that wants to expand into the Southeast market plus one Southeast city that has a need for the company’s product equals an opportunity for Jacksonville possibly to have a new type of affordable housing. City Council members Bill Gulliford, Reggie Gaffney and John Crescimbeni met Wednesday with representatives of Kairos Development International Inc. and Energy Panel Structures Inc.
Public
to consider whether homes built in a factory in Graettinger, Iowa, then shipped to Jacksonville and assembled on-site could be a way to provide more people the opportunity to own a home. Also present at the first public meeting on the subject were representatives from the city Neighborhoods Department, Ability Housing and LISC Jacksonville, the local affiliate of a national organization that specializes in restoring challenged neighborhoods. The council members will introduce legislation Tuesday to trans-
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fer abandoned property owned by the city to Kairos, which intends to facilitate a relationship between the city and EPS. The plan is a pilot project in which prefabricated homes would be assembled on three sites in council District 7, which is represented by Gaffney. The sites are on East Third, Spearing and Van Buren streets in East Jacksonville. “There is a tremendous need (for affordable housing) in my district,” said Gaffney. Gulliford said the city owns Housing continued on Page A-4
Photo from epsbuildings.com
Company considering Jacksonville for factory
Energy Panel Structures Inc. manufactures homes in a factory that are assembled on-site. The company is involved in a proposed affordable housing pilot project in Jacksonville.
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