Dear Friends,
May 25, 2022 was an absolutely miserable rainy, cool day on the coast of Virginia.
Yet, more than 600 dedicated, loyal shareholders battled rain, wind, tunnel traffic, and a spate of automobile accidents to attend the 2022 Annual Meeting of TowneBank.
Inside the Virginia Beach Convention Center, it was a bright, cheery morning with smiles, handshakes, and hugs as our Towne shareholder family came together for the first time since 2019 to celebrate the success of their bank.
After two years of conducting our Annual Meeting via the internet in a television studio before some faceless TV cameras, Morgan Davis and I were back in our element greeting our shareholders, laughing, telling stories, and simply having a great time.
The lobby of the convention center was beautifully decorated with the colorful, warm photos of our Towne family, bringing back memories of numerous community service projects performed throughout the communities we serve. Walking by these just made you feel good!
Promptly at 11:30, after everyone was seated, Tom Hasty, our Chief Regulatory Officer, welcomed everyone and introduced Madeline Burroughs from the Governor's School for the Arts. After the Pledge of Allegiance, Miss Burroughs warmed the hearts of those present with the singing of our National Anthem in a fantastically beautiful, melodic voice that brought goose bumps to the inspired audience. What an awesome start to a great meeting!
It was also a reminder of how fortunate we are to live in America. Only in America could a group of community members join hands, hearts and yes, capital, to make a company like TowneBank come to life to improve the lives and businesses of so many.
The meeting presentation that followed highlighted the company's consistent financial performance, the strength of our distinctive Towne brand, and the great communities we are privileged to serve — all of which stand as a tribute to our founding shareholders as well as those who have joined us along the way.
The power of our Towne culture of caring driven by creating a warm sense of belonging for all who enter through our doors has led Towne to be recognized by Forbes as the 9th Best Bank in America.
For all of you who have blessed us with the privilege of serving you, please know how deeply we appreciate you being a part of our Towne family.
Morgan and I are personally grateful for your friendship and support throughout the years.
Sincerely,
G. Robert Aston, Jr.
Executive Chairman