Farm, landscape photos to grace walls at United Bank

Customers, employees invited to participate in contest with cash prizes

By John Underwood / john@gulfcoastmedia.com
Posted 8/4/17

LOXLEY, Alabama — Photos taken by United Bank customers and employees reflecting the beauty of Southwest Alabama and Northwest Florida will soon grace the walls at locations throughout Baldwin, …

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Farm, landscape photos to grace walls at United Bank

Customers, employees invited to participate in contest with cash prizes

Posted

LOXLEY, Alabama — Photos taken by United Bank customers and employees reflecting the beauty of Southwest Alabama and Northwest Florida will soon grace the walls at locations throughout Baldwin, Escambia and Monroe counties in Alabama and Escambia and Santa Rosa counties in Florida.

Founded as the bank of Atmore in 1904, the company began operations as United Bank in 1982 and now includes 17 branches in Southwest Alabama and Northwest Florida, including nine in Baldwin County, Foley, Lillian, Silverhill, Magnolia Springs, Summerdale and Loxley, along with a location at the Eastern Shore Center in Spanish Fort and two offices in Bay Minette.

Several months ago the bank began at Farm and Landscape contest, soliciting entries from customers and employees at all of its bank locations in Baldwin, Escambia and Monroe counties in Alabama, and Escambia and Santa Rosa counties in Florida.

Photo entries were accepted from April 1 through June 30 and included farms, landscapes, buildings and miscellaneous sceneries. With almost 900 entries representing Monroe, Escambia or Baldwin Counties in Alabama, Santa Rosa or Escambia Counties in Florida, the photos will be used in several areas of the bank including marketing and advertising as well as its annual bank calendar.

United Bank CEO Robert R. Jones presented cash awards during a ceremony held Thursday, July 27 in the clubhouse at Steelwood Country Club in Loxley.

“These photos remind us that we are fortunate to live in a unique and diverse area.” Jones said. “Each photo has a story and exposes us to special places and an instant in time. We are grateful to these artist for sharing these experiences with all of us.”

Corey McDonald of Monroeville took home two prizes, the $400 grand prize for his photo “Sunset Over Cotton,” and a $100 special “President’s Award,” for his photo “Swamp.”

“The photo had so many elements to it that you saw something different every time you looked at it,” said Jones, “so we decided to create a special award for it.”

McDonald had three other entries among the finalists, including “Up-Close Tractor,” “Tractors in Distance” and Tractor, Cotton and Sunset.”

First place, with a cash prize of $200 went to Ditto Gorme of Atmore for “Tree and Moon,” followed by a $100 second place prize to America and Ken Ward of Megargel for “Kendal Ann & Blue Girl,” and $75 for third place to Lisa Gregory of Elberta for “Rocking Chair & Flags.”

Gorme also had two additional finalist entries, “Tree and Orange Sunset” and “Up-Close Cotton.” Additional finalists were Steve Centers of Daphne, for “Sunset Over Mobile Bay,” Delane Bond of Fairhope for “Sunset at Pier,” Aaron Guy of Atmore, “Tractor at Sunset,” Crystal Godwin of Escambia County, Florida, “Boat,” and Keith Pugh of Brewton, “Sea Oats and Gulf.”

United Bank is currently accepting votes on its Facebook page for People’s Choice Award. The photo with the most likes will be honored with this recognition on Aug. 7.

United Bank is a $596 million financial institution that has enjoyed 113 years of service. United Bank has offices in Atmore, Brewton, Flomaton, Monroeville, Frisco City, Greensboro, Bay Minette, Foley, Lillian, Loxley, Magnolia Springs, Silverhill, Spanish Fort and Summerdale in Alabama. United Bank serves Santa Rosa County, Florida in Jay, Milton and Pace. For more information about United Bank, visit unitedbank.com. Member FDIC.