Longtime banker Harry H. Shearouse has been elected interim president and CEO of Citizens Bank of Effingham. The Springfield native, who has been chairman of the board at Citizens since 2003, helped organize the bank in 1997 and served as president/CEO for four years.

 

Shearouse will succeed Michael Lee, who has accepted a position as senior vice president with Ameris Bank based in Moultrie. Both appointments are effective Jan. 10.

 

“I am certainly familiar with the bank and our community so this should be a smooth transition,” said Shearouse, who has more than 42 years of banking experience. “These are challenging times for the banking industry but we are working diligently to strengthen our capital position and improve our balance sheet.

 

For the complete story, see Friday's Jan. 7 print edition of the Effingham Herald.