Plant City Observer
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VOLUME 6, NO. 138
FREE • THURSDAY, MARCH 25, 2021
. YO UR NEWS PAP ER . HILLSBORO BANK ANNOUNCES
MERGER WITH THE BANK OF TAMPA Plant City’s local Hillsboro Bank announced it would be merging with The Bank of Tampa last week. Though the announcement comes with changes, the CEOs of both bank promise a smooth transition.
BREANNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER
Hillsboro Bank has announced it will merge into The Bank of Tampa and its holding company, The Tampa Bay Banking Company. The proposed merger was approved by both institutions’ boards of directors and is now in the closing process. Despite the big announcement, Mike Ward, president and CEO of Hillsboro Bank, as well as Bill West, CEO of The Bank
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of Tampa, said not much will change at the Hillsboro branches. West said the character of both companies are quite similar and thus the pairing acts as a “perfect match.” Ward agreed and said that the local bank has been approached many times over the years by those interested in acquiring it, but none seemed like the right fit until The Bank of Tampa came along.
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TIMES AROUND THE SUN
Gladys Lefler’s family threw a big drive-through parade on Sunday afternoon to celebrate her milestone birthday.
SEE PAGE 3