Bank Independent celebrated the opening of its new Team Campus on Monday, May 11th, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony in Muscle Shoals, marking a significant milestone in the bank’s continued investment in its team members, customers, and communities across North Alabama. Bank Independent officials were joined by U.S. Congressman Robert Aderholt, Colbert County Administrator Roger Creekmore, and the mayors of both Muscle Shoals and Sheffield, Billy Hudson and Bryan VanDevender, to celebrate the accomplishment and remark on the impact the Team Campus will have on the Shoals area.

Located at 530 Reservation Road in Muscle Shoals, at the corner of Reservation Road and newly renamed Independent Way, the new Team Campus brings together 234 Bank Independent team members from five locations across Lauderdale and Colbert counties into one shared workplace designed to support collaboration, efficiency, innovation and long-term growth.

The campus includes a 97,419-square-foot main building, a 12,000-square-foot warehouse and sits on a 50-acre site. The Team Campus is not a customer-facing sales office and does not replace any existing Bank Independent sales offices. Instead, it serves as a centralized workplace for many of the bank’s operational and support teams, strengthening the systems, service and relationships that support customers throughout the region.

Construction began in October 2023 and was completed in November 2025. The facility was designed with both current and future needs in mind, with capacity for 351 team members without reconfiguration and up to 384 team members with reconfiguration.

“When Thomas Edison and Henry Ford visited The Shoals in 1921, they envisioned a city stretching 75 miles east along the Tennessee River. Later, Presidents Roosevelt, in January of 1933, and Kennedy, in May of 1963, reminded us that prosperity is built on collaboration. Today, Bank Independent is proud to honor that legacy as we open our Team Campus— created to serve our team, customers, and communities for generations to come,” said Macke Mauldin, Chief Executive Officer of Bank Independent.

Mauldin said the opening of the Team Campus represents far more than the completion of a building project. It reflects the bank’s confidence in the region, its people, and the future of community banking in North Alabama.

“Our Team Campus stands as much more than a new building—it’s a powerful testament to our faith in North Alabama, the incredible people who call it home, and the bright future we are creating together,” Mauldin said. “This campus celebrates the dedication of past, present, and future Team Members at Bank Independent. From our roots in Leighton to our expanding presence throughout the region, we remain committed to the belief that when North Alabama unites, everyone thrives. Together, we are building a stronger, more vibrant community for generations to come.”

The location of the new campus carries special significance for Bank Independent and the broader Shoals region. Built on former Tennessee Valley Authority property, the site connects the bank’s future with a regional legacy of vision, progress and service.

“The fact that our campus is located on former TVA property adds special significance,” Mauldin said. “This land symbolizes a legacy of vision, progress, and service to the people of the valley. Today, we are proud to continue that legacy—honoring the past while creating new opportunities for the future through meaningful jobs, sustainable investment, and a lasting commitment to the communities we serve.”

Bank Independent first unveiled plans for the Team Campus during its 75th anniversary celebration in 2022. The ribbon-cutting ceremony marks the fulfillment of that vision and the beginning of a new chapter for the organization.

“When we unveiled our Team Campus during our 75th anniversary celebration in 2022, it marked not only a significant milestone but also a bold promise to our community. Today, that vision has come to life,” Mauldin said. “This campus is a testament to Bank Independent’s progress and unwavering commitment to the people and communities of North Alabama. As we embark on this exciting new chapter, our Team Campus empowers us to support and uplift our region for generations to come.”

A Campus Built for People, Collaboration and Service

The Team Campus was created first and foremost as an investment in Bank Independent’s people. By bringing teams together into a shared environment, the campus supports more efficient communication, stronger cross-functional collaboration and a deeper sense of shared purpose across the organization.

“This Team Campus is first and foremost an investment in our people,” said Penny Camp, Chief Administrative Officer of Bank Independent. “We wanted to create a space where our team members feel supported, connected, and equipped to do their very best work. When we give our teams the environment and resources they need to thrive, it naturally strengthens the service we provide to our customers.” Camp said the campus was designed to create meaningful benefits for both team members and customers.

“For our team members, this campus represents opportunity, collaboration, and a shared sense of purpose,” Camp said. “It brings people together in a way that helps us work more efficiently and more effectively across the organization. That ultimately benefits our customers, because it allows us to respond faster, serve better, and continue delivering the kind of relationship-based banking they expect from Bank Independent.”

The facility includes four floors, 18 conference rooms, 13 focus rooms, four wellness rooms, six patios, six printer stations, four coffee and Bevi stations, a café, a fitness center, a media library, a production studio and a warehouse. It is equipped with an advanced building automation system designed to optimize building performance, energy efficiency and occupant comfort, as well as an 82 kW solar power system.

“This Team Campus reflects Bank Independent’s long-term commitment to North Alabama and to the people we serve every day,” said Preuit Mauldin, Executive Vice President of Credit Administration at Bank Independent. “It represents thoughtful planning, strong stewardship, and a clear investment in the future of our organization. By creating a space that brings our teams together and supports greater collaboration, we are better positioned to serve our customers well and continue meeting the needs of a growing region.”

A Vision Years in the Making

Bank Independent leaders said the completion of the Team Campus reflects years of thoughtful planning, careful stewardship and the dedication of many internal and external partners.

“This Team Campus represents a great deal of planning, hard work, and commitment from many people across our organization,” said John Bowling, Vice President of Facilities at Bank Independent. “We were intentional about creating a space that is functional, welcoming, and built to support our team members every day. It is rewarding to see it now serving its purpose—bringing people together and helping position Bank Independent to better serve our customers for years to come.”

“It has been an honor to help lead this project, but this Team Campus is truly the result of the hard work, expertise, and dedication of many people,” said Dustin Wear, Facilities Project Officer at Bank Independent. “From our internal teams to the contractors, architects, engineers, and crews who brought this vision to life, so many hands helped make this day possible. Seeing the finished campus is incredibly rewarding because it reflects not only

Bank Independent’s commitment to the future, but also the talent and teamwork of everyone who helped build it.”

Community and Civic Leader Quotes

“This building reflects Bank Independent’s long-standing commitment to the people of North Alabama,” said U.S. Congressman Robert Aderholt. “Bank Independent has always been more than just a bank. It’s a community institution that is rooted in service, relationships, and a genuine desire to make a difference in people’s lives who live in this area. Today is a celebration of hard work, the faith for the future, and shared beliefs in strengthening our community. Congratulations to Bank Independent on this remarkable achievement.”

“The Colbert County Commission applauds and appreciates Bank Independent’s vision, dedication, and investment in Colbert County,” said Roger Creekmore, Colbert County Administrator. “This facility was built on investment without a tax abatement which is very important to us in Colbert County. Congratulations on the opening of this beautiful facility and thank you for your investment in the future of Colbert County.”

“In a time when so many community institutions get absorbed, renamed, or managed somewhere far away from the people they serve, Bank Independent has remained rooted here,” said Bryan VanDevender, Mayor of Sheffield. “For nearly 80 years, Bank Independent has represented stability, stewardship, local leadership, and a belief in this region; and that matters because strong communities are built by institutions that believe in the people around them and invest in them. Thank you for continuing to believe in this region and invest in its future and congratulations on this incredible next chapter.”

Project Partners Help Bring the Team Campus to Life

The new Team Campus was brought to life through the work of trusted design, construction and engineering partners, including Robins & Morton as general contractor; Lambert Ezell Durham Architecture as architect; KPS Group as associate architect; ASD | SKY as interior designer; Mechanical Design Services as mechanical engineer; Jackson, Renfro & Associates as electrical engineer; LBYD Engineers as structural engineer; White, Lynn, Collins & Associates as civil engineer; Renta Urban Land Design as landscape architect; and Building & Earth as geotechnical engineer.

“We’re incredibly proud to have delivered this transformational project for Bank Independent,” said Tim Busby, Senior Project Manager at Robins & Morton. “This team’s collaborative approach enabled us to deliver a world-class facility that supports the bank’s growing employee base and its operations across North Alabama.”

“Lambert Ezell Durham Architecture has enjoyed partnering with Bank Independent on the design and construction of their new Operations Center,” said Calvin E. Durham, AIA, Managing Partner at LED Architecture. “This milestone project, spanning more than 97 ,000 square feet, marks over 80 projects and 43 years of collaboration between LED and Bank Independent. Bank Independent’s commitment to serve the local community is evident in this investment in the Shoals area.” Jasper Cornet, Senior Vice President at KPS Group, said the campus represents an important step in strengthening Bank Independent’s collaborative culture.

“Bank Independent was founded on family and community principles. Over the nearly 80-year period since BI was created, the leadership and operations teams have grown and spread to occupy multiple locations in the Shoals area. Bringing them all together in a new central setting is an important step in improving collaboration and efficiency and recommitting to the family approach of the organization,” Cornet said.

“KPS Group is pleased to have had the opportunity to collaborate in the upfront conceptualization, programming, and master planning of the new Team Campus for Bank Independent, as well as establishing the overall building design,” Cornet added. “Getting to know the Mauldin family and the many dedicated members of the leadership team has been invigorating and inspiring. It’s exciting to see BI’s new home come to completion, to set the stage for growth and service to the community for decades to come.”

“If all of our clients were like Bank Independent, we would wonder what we ever did to get so lucky,” said Tracy Engel, Vice President and Principal at ASD | SKY. “Smart, responsive, and extra fun to work with. The level of trust and collaboration both ways made this creative project feel less like work and more like a team sport. Best people ever.”

“The Bank Independent family and its operational excellence represent a model for how a well-run organization should function,” said Tony Renta, President of Renta Urban Land Design. “As both a design consultant and a client, we are proud to partner with such a principled and forward-thinking institution. Their commitment to integrity, service, and community sets a standard any entity would be wise to emulate.”

“We’re grateful to Bank Independent, an organization deeply rooted in our community, for trusting Coldwater Landscapes with the opportunity to be a part of your vision,” said Justin Wall, President and CEO of Coldwater Landscapes. “It’s an honor to be part of a space that reflects your continued growth and commitment to the communities you serve.”

“I am thrilled to have been part of the design team for this state-of-the-art bank operations center,” said David Arendall, Principal Consultant and Lead Electrical Engineer at Jackson, Renfro & Associates, Inc. “Our engineering approach centered on delivering an advanced and robust electrical system design that promotes continuous, secure operations. We complemented this core infrastructure with an efficient LED lighting design and advanced lighting controls to create a sustainable and adaptable environment for the staff. This facility is well-suited to serve Bank Independent and its customers for many years to come.”

“We are honored and deeply appreciative to have been selected as the furniture provider for the new Bank Independent Headquarters,” said Bryan Mullins, President of Interior

Elements. “Being part of such an important project for a respected organization is a privilege, and we are proud to help create a space that reflects their vision, values, and continued commitment to the community.”

Fast Facts: Bank Independent Team Campus

• Location: 530 Reservation Road, Muscle Shoals, AL 35661
• Campus site: 50 acres
• Main building: 97,419 square feet
• Warehouse: 12,000 square feet
• Team members housed on campus: 234
• Capacity without reconfiguration: 351
• Capacity with reconfiguration: 384
• Team members consolidated from: Five locations across Lauderdale and Colbert counties
• Construction started: October 2023
• Completed: November 2025
• Floors: 4
• Conference rooms: 18
• Focus rooms: 13
• Wellness rooms: 4
• Patios: 6
• Coffee / Bevi stations: 4
• Additional amenities: Café, fitness center, media library, production studio and warehouse
• Sustainability and efficiency features: Advanced building automation system and 82 kW solar power system

About Bank Independent

Since 1947, Bank Independent has taken pride in serving the customers who count on us to be there for them when they need us most. With 33 traditional Sales Offices across North Alabama, an on-campus Deshler Tiger Branch, and the Digital Sales Office, we’re committed to providing the best service, designing the most desired products, and creating an overall excellent experience for each and every customer. As a local community bank, we believe in building relationships that run deep and last. All of our employees reside in our local communities and believe in giving back through volunteering. To become part of a bank that makes a positive difference in people’s lives, visit us at bibank.com.