Friends,
It was three months ago that I arrived in Alabama to begin making documentaries about banking that portray the industry as I see it: A colorful, multidimensional landscape populated by hard-working people, each with a story to tell.
The story you’ll find here is no exception. It is the story of J. Chad Jones and First Bank of Alabama — the oldest continuously operating bank in the state, tracing its roots back to 1848, when a local merchant, James Isbell, began providing banking services.
This story has the added benefit of taking place in Talladega, a town known for its 2.66-mile superspeedway, “the biggest baddest racetrack on the Nascar circuit.” It’s only fitting that branding is a priority at First Bank of Alabama. It is “the imperative foundation for profit,” says Chad.
I hope you enjoy the story.
Till next time,
John
PS Thank you to my new and old friends in Alabama — John Ramage, Brad Bolton, Chad Jones and Dave Hedges — as well as those in Louisiana — Ken Hale, Mark Marionneaux, Preston Kennedy and Scott Gaudin — who have been along for the ride. “Friendship isn’t about whom you’ve known the longest,” I once read. “It’s about who walked into your life, said ‘I’m here for you,’ and proved it.”
