Guaranty Bank’s Greenwood Office Earns Multiple Historic Restoration Awards
GREENWOOD – Hue Townsend, CEO of Guaranty Bank & Trust Company, today announced that the Bank’s historic Greenwood office has been honored with two distinguished awards for restoration to the facility, which was built in 1913 as the Wilson Banking Company. The Guaranty Bank facility is located at 122 Howard Street.
Townsend said the Bank’s building was recognized by the Mississippi Heritage Trust, earning its Heritage Award of Merit for Restoration. Mississippi Main Street Association (MMSA) awarded Main Street Greenwood for Outstanding Historic Rehabilitation Project for Guaranty Bank’s restoration on the historic Wilson Bank building.
The Mississippi Heritage Trust released its list of award recipients on July 9th at Temple B’nai Israel in Natchez via Facebook Live. According to documents released by the Trust, the Guaranty Bank facility has “served as an anchor for downtown Greenwood architecture and had sat vacant for 10 years until Guaranty Bank decided to open a Greenwood Branch.”
Belinda Stewart Architects was hired to begin rehabilitation work, with an “overall goal of restoring the exterior and interior while sensitively inserting the modernized retail branding for Guaranty Bank, while implementing American Disability Act energy retrofits.” Among the work completed were restoration of the masonry façade, installation of large windows and stained-glass transoms, while the original mosaic tile floor, plastered beamed ceilings and glazed brick vault were exposed and “re-imagined for the bank’s space.” In addition, new glass offices were inserted to not touch the original walls and ceiling.
On August 19th, the MMSA celebrated a host of renovated buildings with a Virtual Annual Awards Program conducted at the Old Capitol Inn streaming live on Facebook.
MMSA Board President Steven Dick said the organization “was excited to celebrate the achievements of our Main Street communities. Our local leaders have worked tirelessly to provide economic opportunities, increase quality of life and preserve what makes our downtowns special.” Brantley Snipes, Executive Director of Main Street Greenwood, with her passion to restore the Mississippi Delta, was thrilled that she and Guaranty Bank were recognized for their efforts.
“All of us at Guaranty Bank are honored to have received these awards,” said Robert Toomey, Branch President of Greenwood. “We are pleased to have enhanced downtown Greenwood, and we’re pleased to be able to come through these doors each morning in service to the community. It’s a great facility in which to work.”
Press Contact:
Diedre Barret
Chief Retail Officer
Guaranty Bank & Trust Company
Office: 662.247.5134
dbarret@gbtonline.com