October 25, 2005

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:     John D. Bramblett, President and CEO
                        770-887-9220

Like (Great Grand) Father… Like (Great Grand) Son…

Cumming, GA – What goes around comes around.  Great grandson of Ben P. Roper, former organizing director and majority shareholder of the Bank of Cumming is continuing the family tradition.  “In 1904, my great grandfather fulfilled his vision to start the Bank of Cumming to serve the financial needs of the community.  He served as President of the bank from 1924 – 1935.  After several subsequent mergers and acquisitions, the bank is still in operation today in Cumming as a branch of Bank of America” said great grandson, John D. Bramblett.  Recently Mr. Bramblett and his organizing directors filed an application with the State Banking Department of Georgia and the FDIC to establish a new community bank in Cumming, Georgia.  John is a 19 year banking veteran in the Forsyth/North Fulton area and the proposed President/CEO of Patriot Bank of Georgia (in organization).

Mr. Bramblett and his organizing directors are bringing back the hometown philosophy to banking.  Together with his six organizing directors, five of whom are either natives of the Forsyth County area or currently have business practices in the county, the proposed Board believes in serving the community and completely understanding the financial needs of the bank’s clients.

In addition to Mr. Bramblett, other organizing directors include Renee D.T. Beaudin, Dr. J. Clay Copher, Dr. Mike McLaughlin, Matthew H. Sosebee, Gordon M. Telford, Jr. and Gene Tuggle.  Renee D.T. Beaudin is a partner with the law firm of Boling, Rice, McGruder, Barron and Beaudin, LLC, the oldest law firm in Forsyth County.  Dr. J. Clay Copher is a partner with Chattahoochee Surgical Group, LLP in Cumming and serves as Chief of Surgery at Northside Hospital – Forsyth in Cumming.  Dr. Mike McLaughlin owns and operates a veterinarian practice, Animal Medical Center of Cumming.  Matthew H. Sosebee is the owner of Auto Craze Car Wash in north Forsyth and is a managing partner of Heritage Property Development, LLC, a real estate development and investment company in Forsyth County.  Mr. Sosebee also has over 11 years in the banking industry, previously working with both regional and community banks in the area.  Gordon M. Telford, Jr. is a real estate investor and consultant to First Citizens Bank.  He is the former Chairman, President and CEO of two community banks in north Georgia.  Gene Tuggle is a real estate professional who has founded several real estate related companies.  Due to his passion for excellence, Mr. Tuggle has established himself as one of the most recognized real estate professionals in Forsyth County.  He is President of Tuggle Residential Properties and has built over 300 custom homes in Cherokee, Forsyth and Gwinnett Counties.  Mr. Tuggle will serve as Chairman of the proposed Bank.

“With the Board’s business practices and collective knowledge of the Forsyth County area, the Bank will have greater flexibility in serving the financial needs of the community” stated John Kline of Kline & Associates, a financial institution consulting firm.  Mr. Bramblett added, “This is a time of tremendous growth for Forsyth and the surrounding counties.  Patriot Bank of Georgia will be a positive impact of the continued growth for generations to come.”  The establishment of Patriot Bank of Georgia is truly a vision in terms of service.