Dr. Bob Richburg (left) is joined by W. Todd Schweizer, Joseph W. Henderson, A. Anthony Hughes (seated), Art Schweizer, Sen. Charles W. Clary III, Maj. Ben. A. Bowen Ballard, USAFR and C. LeDon Anchors, Esq.

Beach Community Bank
Contributes $12,000
for OWC Scholarship

As one of the newest and fastest growing financial institutions in Northwest Florida, Beach Community Bank isn’t wasting time and is living up to its name by getting involved with the community. One of the most recent contributions was a $12,000 gift to Okaloosa-Walton College to create the Beach Community Bank Scholarship Endowment through the OWC Foundation.

Beach Community Bank was founded in Fort Walton Beach in 2001 by a group of local career bankers, a local Board of Directors, and approximately 140 local investors. The bank has continued to expand its branch network and has experienced a tremendous reception from customers, growing more rapidly than any other independently owned bank in the history of Northwest Florida.

They haven’t wasted time getting involved in the community either. “Our main purpose was to establish a community owned and controlled bank dedicated to meeting our customers’ financial needs by providing outstanding personalized customer service”, says Anthony Hughes, Chief Executive Officer, President and Director. However, says Hughes, “We are much more than just bankers—because of our local management and community ownership, we are closely attuned to the needs of our neighbors.”

As a result, Beach Community Bank has been actively involved in serving Northwest Florida. Since 2001 the bank has sponsored nine new homes for deserving families through local Habitat for Humanity affiliates in Pensacola and Fort Walton Beach with interest free loans. Beach Bank is also involved with the Pensacola, Fort Walton Beach, Navarre, Destin and Gulf Breeze Chambers of Commerce and supports many local nonprofit organizations such as the United Way, American Heart Association, Emerald Coast Foundation, Ronald McDonald House, and the American Cancer Society.

The recent gift of $12,000 to Okaloosa-Walton College to create the Beach Community Bank Scholarship Endowment with the OWC Foundation will be used to make awards for tuition, fees and books to a recent high school graduate or returning student attending Okaloosa-Walton College who is majoring in a business or accounting degree program.

“We are glad that with all they have supported, the Beach Community Bank saw the need for scholarships to help deserving students at OWC” said Jim Chitwood, Foundation Executive Director.

In addition to funding for this scholarship, the bank is also the Corporate Sponsor for the upcoming OWC Foundation Sporting Clay Shoot. Proceeds from this first-annual event will benefit OWC Foundation Student Housing Fund.

“We are grateful for Beach Community Bank’s support and are proud the work we are doing at OWC merits this level of funding” said Bob Richburg, OWC President.

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