Bank Independent announces promotions

SHEFFIELD – Bank Independent announced the promotions of team members Tim Singleton, Stacy Suggs, Janice Pride and Samantha Hayes.

“We’re proud to recognize the promotion of these team members who exemplify servant leadership, help us achieve our mission of making a positive difference in people’s lives and fulfill our vision to be the bank of choice in the communities we serve,” Rick Wardlaw, CEO of Bank Independent said. “Each of them are committed to fostering strong relationships with both customers and team members, while also deeply caring about making a difference in the community.

“I’m delighted to see them continuing to expand their careers within Bank Independent.”

Singleton has been promoted to executive vice president and will continue to serve as Eastern Region president and senior commercial lender. He joined Bank Independent in 2014 as area president serving Huntsville and Madison County. He has been significantly responsible for building and promoting the bank’s presence in the Huntsville market. He is active in the local community through numerous organizations and volunteers as a Court Appointed Juvenile Advocate to advocate for abused and neglected children who enter the juvenile court system.

Suggs has also been promoted to executive vice president and will continue to serve as Chief Operations Officer. She was appointed COO in 2017 but her career with Bank Independent spans three decades beginning in 1988 as a proof operator. From that initial role, she moved into auditing, credit analysis, regulatory compliance, information security, and into her previous role as senior vice president of risk management, which she held from 2006 to 2017. She serves as president of the board to Safe Place, the only comprehensive domestic violence program offered in North Alabama.

Pride has been promoted to senior vice president – team member care. She came to Bank Independent in 2013 as the employee assistance manager with human resources before developing the bank’s focus on professional and personal development with team member care. Pride serves on the board for the Shoals Chamber of Commerce which promotes positive economic growth and to enhance the quality of life for all Shoals citizens.

Hayes has been promoted to accounting officer. She began her career with Bank Independent as a roving, part-time teller in 2011 before moving to accounting. Her previous role was accounting manager. She received her master’s in business administration in 2019 from the University of North Alabama.