Financial/Investing

B2B Stories

$how them the money!

Financial education has been linked to lower debt levels, higher savings, and higher credit scores as children mature into adulthood. That’s why Security Federal Bank (SFB) is helping young children learn the importance of saving. The bank is rolling out the next generation of its longtime program, formerly called the Looney Tunes Kids account. $uper $avings is the new branding and features the $uper $avings Bunny. “Our youth savings program has helped generations of local kids start strong with smart saving habits,” said Phil Wahl, President at SFB, in announcing

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B2B Stories

$2 billion financial firm opens office in the CSRA

1280 Financial Partners has opened a location in North Augusta as part of a group overseeing around $2 billion in client assets. What began in Ft. Myers, Florida, and Sandusky, Ohio, under the umbrella of United Bank of Switzerland (UBS), the firm also has offices in Miami and in North Augusta at the West Martintown Business Complex at 1315 W. Martintown Road. In May, 1280 Financial Partners left UBS to join independent broker-dealer and advisory firm Sanctuary Wealth Management, which includes more than 120 partner firms overseeing approximately $50 billion

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B2B Stories

Finding financial backing for women entrepreneurs

A recent speaker to an Aiken and national audience said women own 14 million businesses in the U.S., which is about 39% of all businesses, a mixture of independent companies and franchises. They employ than 11 million and generate two and a half trillion dollars in income. In 2024, women launched 49% of all new businesses. The challenge is locating a funding source. The unique challenges facing women small business owners looking for funding were the focus of a recent webinar. Offered by Greater Aiken SCORE, the webinar was led

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B2B Stories

USCA alumni establish $25,000 scholarship

A pair of graduates from USC Aiken created a scholarship at the School of Business Administration for students who want to “invest” in their future. Jason Crane and Gerry Owen, co-founders and owners of Crane & Owen Financial Solutions in Aiken, pledged $25,000 to start the Jason K. Crane and Gerry L. Owen Endowed Business Scholarship for students majoring in accounting or finance. “We look in our industry and in accounting, and there’s a growing need. There are a lot of folks in financial fields that are closer to retirement

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B2B Stories

New bank opens to the public

Summerville officially has its third banking option for customers in the CSRA. South Georgia Bank opened its branch on 2839 Central Avenue(next to Dairy Queen) in phases. “While the commercial lending arm of the bank opened earlier this year, today’s Grand Opening marks day one of South Georgia Bank offering personal banking services to our friends and neighbors across the CSRA,” said Market President Branford Thompson, a longtime banker with deep roots in the CSRA. South Georgia Bank was founded nearly 40 years ago and has five locations across the

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B2B Stories

Local Wealth Management Team Recognized Best in Georgia

Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS) announced that the Nautilas Group, based in Augusta, has been named to Forbes Magazine’s 2025 list of America’s Best-In-State Wealth Management Teams. “I am pleased that the Nautilas Group is representing Morgan Stanley,” commented Lisa Novelo, Branch Manager of Morgan Stanley’s Augusta office. “To be named to this list recognizes Brian Keith (pictured above left) and Jeremy Wilson (pictured above right) and their professionalism and dedication to the needs of their valued clients.” Keith is a Senior VP and Financial Planning Specialist and has spent 20

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B2B Stories

Bank with 115 Georgia branches to add six to the CSRA

It was standing room only at a new bustling bank in National Hills at 2805 Washington Road. National and local leaders from the Chase Bank came to the city to celebrate the opening and to announce plans to open up to six branches in the region over the next three years. A Chase executive told ABD at the event that the next two branches to open will be in Aiken and South Augusta. CSRA Chamber and political leaders joined the lunchtime ribbon-cutting and took a tour of the Chase bank,

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B2B Stories

Pacer $mart Program Unveiled

SRP Federal Credit Union and the University of South Carolina Aiken gathered recently to showcase the newly designed classroom and hallway dedicated to financial education at the university. The new learning space will host Pacer $mart, a financial education program created in partnership between SRP and USCA’s School of Business Administration. Designed to equip college and high school students with financial knowledge, the program covers key personal finance topics, including budgeting, saving, credit, investing, insurance, taxes, and economics. “The Pacer $mart program is a testament to the power of partnership

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B2B Stories

College & Credit Union partner to help students prepare for real-world

SRP Federal Credit Union is partnering with Augusta Technical College to launch the SRP Cougar $mart Program, an initiative designed to cultivate financial literacy and success for students! This innovative program will: ✅ Enhance financial literacy training in classrooms. ✅ Be included in the new “Introduction to College and Computers” course for first-semester students. ✅ Support personal finance courses and extracurricular learning opportunities for college students, Dual Enrollment high schoolers, and adult education participants. Together, SRP and Augusta Tech are preparing students for sustainable careers and brighter financial futures. More

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B2B Stories

Augusta businesses poised for continued long-term growth

Augusta remains one of Georgia’s economic success stories, having steady population growth, strong employment numbers, and a sturdy real estate market. Alongside this, a robust private sector and a prominent government presence in Fort Eisenhower contribute to the area’s success. The local business scene continues to thrive post-pandemic thanks to growth in private industry, government, and healthcare. While there is much to be optimistic about in and around Augusta, business owners are keeping an eye on a few trends that might impact their businesses in the coming months. Based on

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