This month marks the 10th anniversary of the Fuquay-Varina location of Four Oaks Bank. But the series of circumstances which led directly to Four Oaks Bank coming to town began over a half a century ago and centered around the involvement of two local folks, businessman Billy Adams and local banking icon, Max Ashworth.

Max was born and raised in Fuquay-Varina and began his banking career here with the Bank of Varina in 1960. The Bank of Varina was merged with Southern National Bank, which resulted in him having a brief stint in Lumberton; but he came back to Fuquay-Varina when he joined The Carolina Bank and resumed his dedication to serving the financial needs of families and small businesses in this area. As the result of three mergers and two job changes he worked with seven different banks during these 40 years. The last of the mergers motivated him to retire in April of 2000.

During Max’s time with The Carolina Bank and the merger with BB&T, Billy Adams’ father, James Carley Adams, served on the local Advisory Board. Upon the death of Mr. Adams, Max asked Billy to serve in his father’s place. Along the way Billy became familiar with, and invested in, several financial institutions, including one in which a friend had encouraged him to buy stock in the early 1990s. It was a growing community bank headquartered in neighboring Johnston County in the small community of Four Oaks. Established in 1912, and under the leadership of President Ayden R. Lee, Jr. since 1980, Four Oaks Bank had grown from one location to six, and Billy was impressed with what he was seeing. But what impressed him most and inspired his future involvement with the bank was what he observed when his friend introduced him to Four Oaks Bank’s President, Ayden Lee. “What hit me immediately was his genuineness and his approachability.” says Adams, “He was not like so many bank executives I had encountered. Ayden was down to earth. He, like myself, was still firmly rooted in his farming background and obviously relationship oriented. I could immediately relate to him and comfortably talk to him, which was very refreshing.” As a shareholder Billy had further opportunities to observe the relationship-based operations of Four Oaks Bank and Ayden Lee’s management style.

Some years later, having moved with Max through several large bank mergers, and seeing first hand the effects on customers, Billy was inspired to arrange a meeting with his old friend, the newly retired Max Ashworth, and Ayden Lee, of the well grounded and community oriented Four Oaks Bank. Billy setup a golf outing at Bentwinds Golf & Country Club. No one remembers who won the golf match but it produced one clear winner, the Fuquay-Varina community. The golf gathering planted the seed for the opening of the bank’s seventh location in Fuquay-Varina.

Max’s retirement was short lived. He retired from RBC Centura April 15, 2000, and started with Four Oaks Bank on May 22, 2000, working out of their Cleveland community location at the intersection of Highway 42 and Interstate 40. “Ayden brought in all of the senior management team to meet me,“ says Max, “and I felt perfectly at home with them immediately. They were real people - easy to talk with, easy to be with; it felt like it used to feel. This became the best move of my banking career”.

As Max came out of retirement he brought with him his entire staff of four, who were looking for the same things as Max. City Executive, Jim Riley, was joined by Polly Wise, Paulette Jackson, and Amanda Byrd. They opened the Fuquay-Varina office in a triple-wide mobile unit in October of 2000. Exactly two years later they cut the ribbon on a beautiful Federal style, two story office building, designed by local architect Michael Weeks. Michael's father, Mack Weeks had also served with Carley Adams on Max’s advisory board at The Carolina Bank and, as in the case with the Adams, when Mr. Weeks passed away Max asked Michael to take his father’s position. Max recruited both Billy Adams and Michael Weeks to serve on Four Oaks Bank's Fuquay-Varina Local Advisory Board. Michael has since become a member of Four Oaks Bank’s Board of Directors and, in 2009, was elected Lead Independent Director.

“The key to our success here in Fuquay-Varina has been two fold,”

says Ashworth, “First is the fact that we offer true community banking, and as such, we make the effort to know our customers and build personal working relationships. I have seen us have a long term effect on customers as they have grown and become very successful. It feels great to be a part of that. The other is the bank’s commitment to community involvement. We know you can’t just go to work and go home. You have to participate in community events and organizations. We have been blessed by our involvement in this community. I am most thankful for the people, our customers, not only in Wake County, but also Harnett, who have remained loyal to us for these ten years”, says Max.

“We had no turnover for eight years,” says City Executive Jim Riley, “and until a few weeks ago when Polly Wise retired and Amanda Byrd relocated, all five of the original staff had remained with the bank for ten years. This core group and their longevity have been the keys to our success. Trust comes from familiarity. That trust makes customers comfortable with referrals, and referrals have been our best avenue for growth. That, and our community support, even during recent down times, have in a nut shell been the reason for our success. Ayden Lee once stated ‘A bank is only as strong as its community’. I have witnessed that. By supporting the Fuquay-Varina community and building its strength, we have in turn built and strengthened our bank. You’ll see us in high school gyms, on jerseys, at golf tournaments, supporting athletic associations, youth teams, PTAs and civic organizations, all of whom depend on us year after year. Those actions and those of our staff truly define us as a community bank”.

Max, Jim, Paulette and the entire Fuquay-Varina staff are looking forward to celebrating their Tenth Anniversary by hosting a Customer Appreciation Cookout on Friday, May 21 from 11:00 am until 5:00 pm. “We look forward to celebrating with our customers, having the opportunity to get to know more of our neighbors, and introducing them to true community banking. Please join us!” says Jim Riley. Four Oaks Bank is located at 325 N. Judd Parkway. For more information call 567-3434.