Service, Soundness, and Community
North Atlanta National Banks' Business Philosophy

By Jimmy Walker, North Atlanta National Bank

In January, The Greater North Fulton Chamber held its 26^th Annual Membership Gala.  By all accounts, it was a very successful evening.  As Chairman and CEO of North Atlanta National Bank, I am proud of our support for the Chamber and this event.  To our customers, employees and board of directors, the bank's leading sponsorship of the gala had a deeper significance than having its name on the program.  It signified through action, North Atlanta National Bank's commitment and support for the Chamber's leadership role in shaping and preserving the economic health of our community.

Community is very important to all of us associated with the bank.  To us, the word community is more than an adjective that describes the type of bank we are or the area we serve.  Community, along with Service and Soundness form the three pillars of our business philosophy.  These three important concepts when combined, point to a new direction in banking that North Atlanta National Bank provides to our customers, the small business community in North Fulton County.

At North Atlanta National Bank, "Service" recognizes that the fundamental basis of human activity is service to one another.  The mutual understanding of service is tied to the concept of trade, the offering of a product or service that is perceived to have value.  Together, service and trade form the building blocks of civilization. In our free enterprise society, banks are the primary institutions that make the economic system work.  Besides processing financial transactions, banks perform a financial service that is critical to the allocation of capital between those having a surplus and those requiring additional funding.  At North Atlanta National Bank, we will provide financial resources for small businesses including owner-operated or family-owned businesses, small to medium-sized companies, professional service firms and individuals living or doing business in North Fulton County who wish to expand their business.

"Soundness" recognizes that a service has value.  When one provides a service, it is expected that both the buyer and seller will receive value.  In our free enterprise system, providing a successful business service leads to a sound financial condition.  It means dependability to customers, rewards for employees and good returns for shareholders.  To fulfill its important role, a bank must be financially sound.  In banking, soundness means more than the financial integrity.  It is represented by the principles and values that characterize the organization.  At North Atlanta National Bank, soundness means a culture that promotes the highest levels of customer service delivered by caring bankers who understand the nature of the client's business.  North Atlanta National Bank will both give and receive value by delivering exceptional service to the small business community.

"Community" recognizes that as human beings living in a civilized world, we each have a responsibility to the maintenance and improvement of our society.  The concept of community forces us to look beyond our own individual needs.  Communities can be global in size or narrowed to smaller geographic areas or groups with common interests.  For North Atlanta National Bank, this means that we will align ourselves with our chosen communities and work to support their success.  The North Fulton County community has an abundance of challenges and opportunities.  Today more than ever before, we all need to work together to insure the continuance of the excellent quality of life that we enjoy.  This is why we support the small business community through the sponsorship of the Greater North Fulton Chamber's activities.  The Chamber is the unifying voice that represents the small business community in North Fulton County.

At North Atlanta National Bank, "Service, Soundness and Community" is more than words, it's our motto.  It is the philosophical foundation for how we at the bank conduct our business and the compass for providing a new direction in banking to the small business community in North Fulton.

Jimmy Walker is the Chairman and CEO of the North Atlanta National Bank and also serves on the Board of Directors for the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce.   North Atlanta National Bank is located at 10595 Old Alabama Road Connector, Suite 21, in Alpharetta, GA.  For more information, call 678.277.8400 or visit the bank's web site at www.nanb.com.

** This article was originally published on February 22^nd, 1999 in the "North Fulton Insider", a publication of the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce.