With a new branch at 120 Drayton Street, Ameris Bank celebrated more than a ribbon cutting. The morning became a reflection of Savannah’s continued growth, long-standing relationships, and the kind of community connection that still values face-to-face conversation.
The conversations started long before the ribbon was cut.
Inside the newly opened Ameris Bank branch at 120 Drayton Street, guests moved naturally between clusters of conversation, drinks, and handshakes as downtown Savannah slowly came alive outside the windows. Business leaders, nonprofit representatives, city officials, longtime customers, and community members filled the space, many greeting each other less like attendees at a formal opening and more like neighbors reconnecting.
Near the center of the room, a beautifully arranged spread of pastries, fresh fruit, charcuterie, desserts, and breakfast bites became its own gathering place. People lingered there between conversations while staff welcomed guests into the new location that Ameris leaders say represents years of growth and long-term investment in Savannah.
Outside beneath a red, white, and blue balloon arch, the atmosphere carried the energy of both celebration and momentum. And for many in attendance, this opening felt about far more than banking.
It felt personal.
Some of the most memorable moments weren’t part of the speeches at all. As one man stood holding a microphone above the speakers for what turned into well over 20 minutes, I joked with him about whether his arms were holding up. He laughed and simply replied, “I’m used to it.”
A Downtown Vision Years in the Making
For Market President Greg Marini, the location itself carries deep meaning.
Marini shared that he has worked within a two-block radius of the building for roughly 25 years and has passed the location twice a day for decades, always believing it would make the perfect home for Ameris Bank.
Now fully open, the branch replaces Ameris’ previous downtown location just a few blocks away and adds expanded conveniences including two drive-through lanes, a drive-up ATM, night drop access, and passenger loading access designed to better serve customers moving through downtown Savannah.
But throughout the event, the repeated message from leadership was clear:
this move was never only about the building itself.
Again and again, speakers returned to one central idea:
relationships.
Marini repeatedly emphasized the phrase “One Bank, One Team,” describing a culture built around collaboration, long-term trust, and personal service rather than transactional banking.
At one point during his remarks, he paused to thank the customers who helped make the expansion possible.
“Without our customer or our client, we would not have any of this,” he told the crowd.
That appreciation appeared genuine throughout the morning. Many of the people attending were not simply clients. They were longtime relationships built over decades in Savannah’s business community.
A Celebration Rooted in Community
One of the strongest moments of the event came during a $10,000 check presentation to Habitat for Humanity of the Coastal Empire.
As cameras gathered beneath the balloon arch in the drive-thru, Ameris leaders presented the oversized check while community members applauded nearby. The moment shifted the event from a traditional grand opening into something more connected to the broader community around it.
The gathering also brought together a cross-section of Savannah leadership.
Mayor Van Johnson addressed attendees during the ceremony, speaking about the importance of accessibility, relationships, and maintaining spaces where people can still walk in and talk face-to-face in an increasingly digital world.
Standing just steps from the new branch entrance, the mayor reflected on how often he had personally walked past the building over the years while working nearby downtown.
“Savannah, location is everything,” he said with a smile before praising the branch’s downtown accessibility and reinvestment into the city.
That local emphasis continued throughout the morning as business leaders discussed regional growth, long-standing partnerships, and the continued expansion happening throughout Savannah and the Coastal Empire.
Several speakers referenced not just Savannah itself, but the broader region’s momentum and interconnected future.
The Atmosphere Felt More Like a Gathering Than a Corporate Event
What stood out most throughout the event was how naturally the space seemed to encourage connection.
People moved easily between indoor conversations and the covered Drive-Thru area. Community leaders greeted each other casually. Guests stopped to talk around the food tables. Conversations stretched well beyond formal speeches.
At times, it felt less like a corporate opening and more like a community reception.
There was also an unmistakable sense of optimism in the room.
You could see it in the relaxed laughter between longtime customers and staff.
In the crowded conversations happening near the lobby entrance.
In the local leaders discussing Savannah’s continued growth.
In the simple reality that a major downtown investment was being celebrated in the heart of the city rather than outside of it.
Even the physical branch itself reflects that shift.
The updated interiors feel modern and open while still maintaining a personal atmosphere. Offices line the interior glass walls while the main branch floor encourages visibility and interaction rather than separation.
For a city that continues balancing historic character with modern growth, the setting felt fitting.
Why This Matters Locally
Downtown Savannah continues evolving.
New businesses, redevelopment projects, hospitality expansion, residential growth, and economic investment are steadily reshaping the city’s core. But alongside that growth remains an ongoing conversation about maintaining community connection in the middle of rapid change.
That’s partly why this opening resonated beyond banking.
The event represented continued investment in the physical heart of Savannah.
It represented confidence in the future of downtown.
And perhaps most importantly, it reflected the continued value of relationship-driven local business culture in a world increasingly built around automation and distance.
Several speakers referenced that idea directly throughout the morning.
Not just convenience.
Not just technology.
But presence.
People still wanting to sit down, shake hands, ask questions, and know who they’re doing business with.
In Savannah, that still matters.
The Buzz Take
Some grand openings feel transactional.
This one didn’t.
What stood out most at Ameris Bank’s downtown Savannah opening wasn’t the signage or even the ribbon cutting itself. It was the atmosphere surrounding it. The conversations. The familiarity between people. The sense that many in the room had built relationships over years, not weeks.
In a time where so much business happens through screens, there was something refreshing about seeing a room full of people simply showing up for one another in person.
And in many ways, that may have been the real story of the morning.
I am Chris Benton Co-Founder of The Coastal Buzz, Co-Host of The Chris & Sandy Show & Publisher of The Customized Ride.