What does it take to launch a brand-new community bank in today’s world of mega-banks and endless bureaucracy?

Summary

In this episode of The Small Business Safari, we sit down with Steve Beecham and Bob Koncerak, the founders behind First City Bank of Georgia, to unpack what it really takes to launch a new community bank in Alpharetta.

With the number of banks in the U.S. shrinking from more than 10,000 to roughly 4,300, many small businesses have lost access to local decision-makers who understand their needs. Steve and Bob explain why that service gap creates an opportunity for relationship-driven community banks to step back in.

We explore how Alpharetta’s evolution from bedroom community to thriving tech and business hub made it the perfect location, and how modern technology allows smaller banks to match the digital features of the big institutions while delivering faster decisions and real relationships.

They also share the unique de novo-plus-merger strategy they’re using to launch the bank faster and with less cost—opening the doors with live deposits, loans, and experienced lenders already in place.

For entrepreneurs, the conversation highlights the difference between chasing the lowest rate and building a banking relationship that actually helps you grow.

If you’re a founder, investor, or business owner frustrated with big-bank bureaucracy, this episode explains why community banking may be making a comeback.

🎥 Watch the full episode on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@TheSmallBusinessSafari

💡 GOLD NUGGETS

• Why the U.S. banking system shrank from 10,000 to 4,300 banks and the service gap it created
• How Alpharetta became one of the Southeast’s fastest-growing tech hubs
• Why small banks can now match big-bank technology and digital tools
• The de novo + merger strategy that saves time and millions in startup costs
• How local lending decisions help entrepreneurs move faster
• Why value and advice matter more than just interest rates for growing companies
• Raising capital from accredited investors and aligning incentives with founder capital
• Recruiting veteran lenders and building an operator-led advisory board
• Financial education plans aimed at younger customers and families
• Hard lessons about projections, conviction, and risk when starting a bank

🔗 Guest Links

• Website: https://firstcitybankga.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-beecham-1958733

https://www.linkedin.com/in/rdkoncerak

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