Capital City Bank

Financing Tallahassee for 130 years

Before automobiles or even electricity existed in Tallahassee, there was Capital City Bank, which first opened its doors on April 1, 1895, to service a population of 3,000 people. After weathering two World Wars, the Great Depression, and the Great Recession of 2008, Capital City Bank has become a pillar of fortitude and stability within the region.

According to the Social Security Administration, more than 9,000 banks failed during the 1930s. As a point of scale, 567 banks closed from 2001 to 2024. During all this time, Capital City Bank expanded operations. As the institution’s 130th anniversary approaches, there are more than 50 locations across Florida and into South Georgia and Eastern Alabama. Most recently, they have opened a new location on North Florida’s Emerald Coast.

“We already had a small presence there with our Chipley office over in Washington County and Port St. Joe in Gulf County,” explained Beth Corum, Capital City Bank’s COO, “but Panama City, Destin—that area had not been as high on the radar.”

In 2017 and 2018, the Panama City-based St. Joe Company made the area much more attractive to financial institutions. The real estate developer and asset company owns, sells, develops, and manages a broad and expansive portfolio of real estate and properties across the Emerald Coast. In 2023 alone, the company sold 1,704 residential properties in Northwest Florida and opened 5 new hotels, totaling 646 rooms.

“Any time you see the type of growth that occurs in a market like that,” Corum said, “you not only can bring in new consumers, but you also have all the ancillary pieces. You’ve got the businesses that pop up, and you’ve got all of the construction that goes on, whether it’s homes or office buildings. And because we have offerings for all those different verticals, it just made a really good opportunity for us.”

Capital City Bank opened its first office in Bay County in 2020 at Breakfast Point, the Watersound office in South Walton County in January 2023, and the Bay County branch in the Panama City/Lynn Haven area this year. Early next year, there will be another ribbon cutting at the Latitude Margaritaville mega-development in West Bay.

Capital City Bank takes pride in its customer loyalty. Despite steep competition in financial markets, they maintain a strong base and marketing strategy specific to Florida’s demographic. In terms of knowing how to keep its customers, Stephen Stabler, Capital City Bank’s regional market executive for the Emerald Coast, pointed to the institution’s long and lucrative history.

“What has made us so successful is the personalized approach that we have,” Stabler said. “Relationship banking has been a cornerstone for us, and it’s what has enabled us to keep our name on the door for 129-plus years. When people see that star on our building, they know what we’re about—a bank of choice for individuals and businesses seeking a financial partnership. When you come in and meet our people, you’ll know that we make a difference, and any client will quickly see that the knowledge and guidance provided by our associates is what sets us apart.”

Corum agreed, saying, “We have always operated with the philosophy that we can ‘out-product’ a smaller bank, and we can ‘out-service’ a larger bank.” Meaning, their staff makes the effort to provide a personalized touch to every customer coming into their branches, from managing assets and succession to setting up a child’s first account or planning for college.

“We want to assist our clients in building secure futures because we really believe whether it’s an individual, or a small business, or a large company,” Stabler said, “if they’re successful, the community will be successful. So, we like to play a part in all of that.”

Another policy that sets the bank apart from competitors is that the Capital City Bank Foundation supports local nonprofits and encourages their associates to volunteer within their communities. One of the bank’s fundamental principles lies in the notion that building a strong community will create a strong bank.

Corum and Stabler are optimistic about the bank’s future on the coast.

“We have operated in North Florida for 129 years,” Corum stated, “and I think that gives us a little bit of a competitive edge at times because I think we understand what North Florida looks like. Obviously, the Emerald Coast complexion is a little different, but at its core, it is still North Florida, and we think we can put together a successful franchise in that area that’s complementary to what we have done for the last 129 years.”

Stabler agreed, adding, “This area continues to experience strong growth, and we believe these communities embrace our approach to banking. The counties have grown tremendously, and we believe they will continue to grow, which creates great opportunities for us on the banking side to grow with them.”