1. Introduction
2. Press Release
3. Acquiring Financial Institution
4. Banking Services
5. Loan Customers
6. Possible Claims Against the Failed Institution
7. Priority of Claims
8. Dividend Information
9. Balance Sheet Summary

On March 12, 2004, Guaranty National Bank of Tallahassee, Tallahassee, Florida was closed by Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) was named Receiver.  No advance notice is given to the public when a financial institution is closed.

The FDIC has assembled useful information regarding your relationship with this institution.  Besides a checking account, you may have Certificates of Deposit, a car loan, a business checking account, a commercial loan, a Social Security direct deposit, and other relationships with the institution.  The FDIC has compiled the following information which should help answer many of your questions.

The FDIC has issued a press release (PR-21-2004) about the institution’s closure.  If you represent a media outlet and would like information about the closure, please contact Rosemary George at 202-898-6530.

FDIC Sells Assets of GNB Tallahassee (PR-23-2004)

All deposit accounts have been transferred to Hancock Bank of Florida, Tallahassee, Florida ("assuming institution") and will be available as usual during regular business hours at all former Guaranty National branches.  You may view more information about Hancock Bank by visiting their web site. 
Hancock Bank Web Site

These transferred deposits will be separately insured from any accounts you may already have at Hancock Bank of Florida for six months after the failure of Guaranty National Bank of Tallahassee. Checks that were drawn on Guaranty National Bank of Tallahassee that did not clear before the institution closed will be honored. You may speak to an FDIC representative regarding deposit insurance by calling 1-888-206-4662, Saturday 8:00 am to 5:00 pm EST, and Monday through Friday 8:30 am to 5:30 pm EST.

You may withdraw your funds from any transferred account without an early withdrawal penalty until you enter into a new deposit agreement with Hancock Bank of Florida (as long as the deposits are not pledged as collateral for loans.)

You may continue to use the services to which you previously had access, such as automatic teller machines, safe deposit boxes, night deposit boxes, wire services, etc.

Your checks will be processed as usual. All outstanding checks will be paid against your available insured balance(s) as if no change had occurred. Hancock Bank of Florida will contact you soon regarding any changes in the terms of your account. If you have a problem with a merchant refusing to accept your check, please contact Hancock Bank of Florida, Customer Service Department, at 850-884-2330. An account representative will clear up any confusion about the validity of your checks.

After March 12, 2004, your account will earn interest at a rate determined by Hancock Bank of Florida. You will be notified by letter regarding this matter.

Your automatic direct deposit(s) and/or automatic withdrawal(s) should be transferred automatically to your assuming institution. You should contact your assuming institution, however, to discuss your account(s) and to insure that service is not delayed or discontinued.

All your deposit account histories and records will be transferred to your assuming institution. If your assuming institution requires any additional signatures or forms, it will notify you. If you have any questions or special requests, you may contact a representative of your assuming institution at 850-884-2330.

If you had a loan with Guaranty National Bank of Tallahassee, you should continue to make your payments as usual. The terms of your loan will not change under the terms of the loan contract because they are contractually agreed to your promissory note with the failed institution. Checks should be made to your former bank and sent to the same address until further notice.

Claims against failed financial institutions occur when bills sent to the institution remain unpaid at the time of failure. Shortly after the failure, the FDIC sends notices directly to all known service providers to explain the claim filing process.

Please note: there are time limits for filing a claim, as specified in the notice.

If you provided a service for Guaranty National Bank of Tallahassee and have not received a notice, please contact:

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
Receiver: Guaranty National Bank of Tallahassee
Attention: Claims Department, DRR
1601 Bryan Street
Dallas, Texas  75201

Or:
Call toll free 1-800-568-9161

In accordance with Federal law, allowed claims will be paid, after administrative expenses, in the following order of priority: