SAVANNAH, Ga., Nov. 19, 2008 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Savannah Bancorp, Inc. (Nasdaq:SAVB) announced today that the Company reached a significant milestone in November by attaining the $1 billion asset mark. "Our employees have worked very hard to grow and retain our customer base. This is a rewarding threshold for all of us and is a true testament to the commitment and vision of our founding directors and employees," said John C. Helmken II, President and Chief Executive Officer of The Savannah Bancorp.
The Board of Directors is pleased to announce the promotion of Holden T. Hayes to President of The Savannah Bank, NA. Hayes joined the Bank in 2007 as Executive Vice President. He is a graduate of The University of Georgia, where he earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance. In addition, he earned a Master of Business Administration degree from Georgia Southern University. He is an extremely active member in the Savannah community, holding various leadership positions in both civic and community organizations, including Hospice Savannah, Greater Savannah Sports Council, St. John's Church, and Senior Citizens, Inc. He is a graduate of Leadership Savannah and a member of The Downtown Rotary Club.
Michael W. Harden was named Chief Financial Officer of The Savannah Bancorp. Harden has been with the Company since 2005 as Vice President of Accounting. In June 2008, he became Interim Chief Financial Officer. Before joining the Company, Harden was a senior accountant with Savannah Electric & Power Company, a subsidiary of the Southern Company. He also was a manager with Elliott, Davis, LLC, a regional public accounting firm in Greenville, South Carolina, where he focused on audits of community banks. Harden began his career with a large community bank in Macon, Georgia. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration from Lee University and his Master of Business Administration degree from The University of Georgia. Harden is a certified public accountant and is active in the Institute of Management Accountants, the CFO Council and Coastal Cathedral Church of God.
"Holden and Mike have demonstrated extraordinary leadership during unprecedented times. They have been and will continue to be key factors in the success of our Banks and Company. I am excited to see them promoted to this level of management and excited about the direction our team is moving our company. Holden's experience in banking and wealth management serves our entire company well. His focus on maintaining, building and expanding relationships is central to our culture of high-touch community banking. His community involvement and leadership demonstrate values and a willingness to do what it takes to be a great community leader and banker. Mike's ability to manage complex issues in a difficult environment is evident. It is tough to beat experience, commitment and focus, all of which are skills that Mike brings to our leadership team," said John Helmken.