SAVANNAH — The Coastal Bank headquartered in Savannah, recently hired Wayne Kessler as a vice president and credit officer. In his new position, he is responsible for managing the bank’s credit and underwriting services.

A banking professional with extensive industry knowledge and strong analytical skills, Kessler served as the group vice president and credit support unit manager for SunTrust’s Georgia and coastal South Carolina region before joining The Coastal Bank. During his tenure at SunTrust, he was responsible for implementing, staffing, training and managing one of the bank’s largest credit support units. Over the years, he also served as a loan review officer and senior underwriter for Regions bank in Gainesville.

He received his B.B.A. in finance from Georgia Southern University in Statesboro and graduated from the University of Georgia School of Banking in Athens. He has taught accounting and business classes through the American Institute of Banking and is credit risk certified by the Risk Management Association.  

Kessler has lived in Rincon since 1982 and is an active community volunteer. He has volunteered with a number of local organizations including Junior Achievement, the Cub Scouts, Rebuilding Together and Christmas in April.
The Coastal Bank is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Coastal Bankshares, Inc., the 25th largest one bank holding company based on asset size in the state.

The Coastal Bank and its subsidiaries have offices in Savannah, Pooler, Rincon, Hinesville and Hilton Head Island, S.C.

For more information about The Coastal Bank, please visit www.thecoastalbank.com online.