Pinnacle Bank Breaks Ground on Athens Branch

ATLANTA, Dec. 10, 2007 - LEVEL5, a consulting and facilities development firm specializing in financial institutions, announced today that construction began on Elberton, Ga.- based Pinnacle Bank's newest branch in the dynamic city of Athens, Ga. The branch is being built at 3140 Lexington Avenue and completion of the 6,100 square feet retail and commercial project is slated for the spring of 2008.

Pinnacle Bank, with more than $520 million in assets and 9 locations, recently acquired Social Circle, Ga.-based Georgia Central Bank, gaining three additional branches. Through LEVEL5's strategic growth consulting work and the bank's planning resources, Pinnacle saw a potential market in one of the strongest economic markets in Georgia. With this opportunity in mind, Pinnacle worked with LEVEL5 to locate its newest branch in Athens. The team decided on Athens because it is a market with a population growth rate that is above the national average, and compliments Pinnacle's existing footprint. Additionally, Clarke County is experiencing positive job growth in all employment sectors, and it will provide Pinnacle a good opportunity for future retail branches.

"After reviewing LEVEL5's suggestions we found that Athens is the perfect community to introduce our enhanced methods of banking," said Jackson McConnell, Jr., president and CEO of Pinnacle Bank. "The new Athens branch will provide our customers high quality personal service in a new and improved environment. Our banking experience is being transformed through our work with LEVEL5."

"With banking competition in Georgia continuing to escalate, we find our banking clients are looking for new ways to differentiate themselves from their competitors," said J. F. Kassler, LEVEL5 CEO and president. "LEVEL5's end-to-end approach has enabled Pinnacle Bank to respond to these changing market conditions in the most efficient and effective way possible. We have worked extensively with Pinnacle to streamline our ideas with the bank's long-term business plans to produce innovative physical solutions that will deliver the highest possible return on investment."

About LEVEL5

Headquartered in Atlanta, with other offices strategically located to best serve its clients, LEVEL5 is a consulting and facilities development firm that works exclusively with financial institutions across the United States. The company assists those institutions in the development and implementation of growth strategies through its unique services that include consulting, real estate, integrated design, construction management and branding. For more information about LEVEL5 call 404.761.0008.

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