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For Richard Taylor, Surety Bank has never simply been a place to bank. It has been part of his family and his community for generations.
His grandfather, Dr. Harold Taylor, served on Surety’s board and became president during a challenging period in the institution’s early history. His father later served as Surety’s attorney and on its Board of Directors. Richard’s own relationship with the bank began when he was a child.
“My earliest memory was at 110 North Florida,” Richard recalls. He believes that as soon as he was old enough to walk into Surety, he was bringing in a dime to start an account.
After leaving the Marine Corps in 1977, Richard eventually continued the family tradition by joining Surety’s Board of Directors himself.
His story provides a unique window into Surety Bank’s first 100 years and the principles that have allowed a local institution to continue serving its community through generations of change.
Surety was formed in 1926 as a mutual building and loan association, owned by its depositors and borrowers rather than traditional shareholders.
It wasn’t long before the young institution faced a major test.
Florida’s real estate boom collapsed before the Great Depression spread across the country. Richard grew up hearing stories about the banks around DeLand that failed during those difficult years. Surety, however, kept its doors open.
Richard believes the reason came down to the way Surety treated people.
“The reason it didn’t fold is because of two reasons. One, it was able to reason with the depositors and, two, because it acted reasonably with the borrowers.”
Instead of immediately turning to foreclosure when borrowers struggled, Richard says Surety did everything it could to work with them. At the same time, its leaders worked to maintain the confidence of depositors. That careful, personal approach helped Surety navigate one of the most difficult periods in American financial history without shutting down.
The story may be nearly a century old, but the philosophy behind it feels familiar: know the people you serve and be willing to work with them when it matters.
When Richard later joined the board, that personal knowledge of customers and the community was still an important part of how Surety operated.
He remembers sitting alongside directors who seemed to know the history behind nearly every property and family that came before them. When the bank considered making a loan, board members could personally visit the property, research comparable sales, and bring their own knowledge of the local market into the conversation.
For customers, it meant decisions were being made by people who understood the community.
“If you had a problem, you had somebody that you could go sit down across a desk and then talk to them about it.”
That ability to have a real conversation with the people behind your bank is something Richard remembers as an important part of Surety’s contribution to the community.
A lot has changed since those early days.
Richard remembers when customers carried physical books that recorded their payments and Surety used a large hand-operated calculating machine to figure interest. Today, technology has transformed nearly every part of the banking experience.
Surety has evolved with the industry. What began primarily as a building and loan association focused on residential homes has grown into a bank serving businesses and developing expertise in specialized areas of banking.
Richard describes that evolution as cautious, and that distinction is important.
Surety has continued to change without losing sight of what made it successful in the first place.
That perspective fits naturally with Surety Bank’s centennial message: “How we’ve always done it is how we’ll always do it.”
In many organizations, “how we’ve always done it” can imply a resistance to change. Surety’s history tells a different story. The tools have changed. The services have expanded. The way customers interact with their bank has evolved.
But the commitment to being thoughtful about how the bank grows and remaining connected to the people it serves has endured.
After all the changes Richard has witnessed, one characteristic stands out when he talks about what makes Surety different today.
“We are truly a local bank.”
For Richard, there is a difference between being called a community bank and actually being part of the community.
Surety’s roots are here. Its history is here. And generations of the people behind the bank have lived and worked alongside the customers they serve.
Richard describes Surety not only as a community bank, but as a community institution.
That connection has carried Surety through enormous changes in banking and in the community itself. Richard remembers a time when Surety did not need much advertising because local people already knew where to go when they needed a reliable place to borrow or deposit their money. Decades later, customers have more banking options than ever, but Surety continues to move steadily forward without chasing every passing trend.
Richard has seen Surety Bank move from passbooks and hand-operated calculators to modern banking. He has watched the institution expand beyond its original focus while continuing to take a careful approach to growth.
And when asked whether a bank that has already been here for 100 years can make it another 100, Richard sees no reason why it can’t.
That confidence comes from knowing where Surety has been.
For a century, the bank has adapted when necessary while holding onto the qualities that have carried it through generations: local roots, thoughtful decisions, and a commitment to the people it serves.
Richard Taylor’s family has been part of that story for generations, and his memories offer a rare look at just how much has changed since 1926.
They also show how much hasn’t.
That is the legacy of Surety Bank.
For Dan Glenn, Pastor of Stetson Baptist Church in DeLand, Surety Bank has become much more than the place where the church did its banking. Over the years, the initial banking relationship has grown into a partnership centered around a shared commitment to the community.
That partnership took on new meaning in 2018 when Stetson Baptist Church launched Night to Shine, an unforgettable prom experience for people with special needs held in partnership with the Tim Tebow Foundation.
Creating an experience like Night to Shine requires significant support, and Surety Bank was one of the event's earliest sponsors.
“Surety was one that came on very early saying, ‘Hey, we want to support that. We want to be a part of it.’”
For Dan, that moment marked a shift in the relationship. It became much more personal and community focused.
Surety continued supporting Night to Shine year after year, but one experience in particular showed Dan what that partnership truly meant.
After the first Night to Shine, Dan realized the church had never properly thanked Surety for its sponsorship. When it came time to plan the event again, he felt hesitant approaching Surety for another year of support.
The response surprised him.
There was no hesitation. Surety wanted to be involved again.
Years later, that commitment went even further when Surety reached out to the church without being asked and offered to increase its support.
“They have an intention to be generous, even when generosity may or may not be expected or requested.”
For Dan, that willingness to look for opportunities to make a greater impact is part of what distinguishes Surety Bank as a community organization.
Instead of simply waiting for someone to present a sponsorship request, Surety has been willing to ask a different question: How can we do more?
That philosophy extends beyond a single event.
Dan describes Surety not simply as a community bank, but as a “community-centered organization” that genuinely cares about DeLand and the relationships it has built throughout the city.
That personal connection is something Dan has experienced firsthand. His relationship with Surety isn't limited to the organization itself. It's also built through relationships with the people behind it.
As Surety Bank celebrates 100 years, Dan believes that commitment to people and community helps explain why the bank has remained part of DeLand for generations.
Over the past century, both the bank and the city have grown and changed. Yet Surety has continued to serve the community throughout that growth.
For Dan, that's exactly why Surety's 100th anniversary message, “How we've always done it is how we'll always do it,” resonates.
“The way they've always done things has been people centered, relationships centered, community centered.”
Those values create something that goes beyond banking. They create trust. They allow organizations like Stetson Baptist Church to know what to expect from a partner that has consistently shown up before and intends to continue showing up in the future.
After years of partnership, Dan hopes that part of Surety never changes.
This is how Surety Bank has always done it. It's how we will always do it.
For Austin Scott, starting a business wasn’t the result of a lifelong plan. It was something that grew over time, much like the lawns he now helps his customers care for.
Born and raised in DeLand, Austin is the owner of Coastal Green Pest Solutions, a new Volusia County business specializing in lawn treatments, pest management, fertilization, and the care of palms and shrubs.
The company may be new, but Austin is far from new to the work.
Before entering the lawn and pest control industry, Austin was selling auto parts at O’Reilly Auto Parts. Then a landscaper friend suggested he take a job with a local pest control company.
He gave it a shot and discovered an industry that fascinated him.
“I like that I could learn something new every day,” Austin says. “You get to see different problems, and you get to see the benefits of your own labor making a lawn beautiful. You get to see it go from nothing to something.”
Austin spent nearly six years in the industry, gradually developing an understanding of not only what products to use, but why lawns develop problems in the first place.
Interestingly, the work even gave him a new appreciation for a subject he once struggled with: chemistry.
In school, chemistry had never come naturally to Austin. But working with fertilizers, herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, and nutrients gave those concepts a real-world application.
“You get to learn something and then apply it directly,” he says.
And the more Austin learned, the more he realized there was an opportunity to do things differently.
Austin believes one of the biggest shortcomings in the lawn and pest control industry isn't necessarily the products or treatment programs companies use. It's the communication that happens, or doesn't happen, between the company, technician, and homeowner.
A lawn problem can be the result of insects, fungus, nutrient deficiencies, irrigation issues, environmental stress, or a combination of factors. Simply treating the symptom doesn't always solve the underlying problem.
Austin wants Coastal Green Pest Solutions to be different.
“I take pride in being the solution and the end to the revolving door when it comes to these lawn programs,” he says.
That means spending time with homeowners, explaining what is happening on their property, and helping them understand what needs to change.
Austin compares a lawn or landscape to the human body. One problem can affect the health of the entire system. Killing an insect, for example, may address the immediate issue, but it doesn't necessarily explain why the lawn became susceptible to the pest in the first place.
“If you can be the middleman between the problem, the chemicals, and the customer, and you can explain all that smoothly, that's normally the end,” Austin says. “A lot of people don't take the time to talk to their customers and make sure they understand.”
It's an approach built around education and relationships as much as treatment.
When the company Austin had worked for was sold, he saw an opportunity to take everything he'd learned and build something of his own.
Coastal Green Pest Solutions was born.
Today, Austin primarily works with residential customers throughout Volusia County who care about the long-term health and appearance of their properties.
His services include:
Austin's philosophy isn't about simply “spraying and praying,” as he puts it. Every property is different, so understanding what's actually happening comes before recommending a solution.
That philosophy also shapes how he plans to grow the business.
Starting a company requires more than expertise and ambition. There are trucks, equipment, products, operating expenses, and the reality that revenue doesn't necessarily arrive the moment the business opens its doors.
Austin knew he needed some financial breathing room as he got Coastal Green Pest Solutions off the ground.
That's where Surety Bank came in.
Austin first learned about Surety through his father, who had worked in real estate and developed a relationship with Surety Bank CEO Ryan James over the years.
When Austin was preparing to launch Coastal Green Pest Solutions, that local connection opened the door to a conversation.
“I was just looking for a good little loan—something to get me by, that way I had a little bit of breathing room,” Austin says. “I was very questionable on how I was going to make everything work, and honestly, I'm very grateful for Surety stepping in.”
Surety provided a business loan directly to Coastal Green Pest Solutions, giving Austin additional resources and flexibility during the critical early months of building the company.
For Austin, the experience demonstrated one of the advantages of working with a community bank: relationships matter.
Ryan knew Austin's family. He'd seen Austin working around town. And instead of Austin simply being another application, there was an opportunity to understand the person and business behind it.
That trust helped a local entrepreneur take the next step.
Just a couple of months into the business when we spoke with him, Austin already had big ambitions for Coastal Green Pest Solutions.
Eventually, he'd like to have multiple trucks on the road, a dedicated irrigation team, a sales team, and expanded services including home pest and termite control.
But he's in no hurry to grow simply for the sake of getting bigger.
Austin wants to make sure the service and customer experience that distinguish Coastal Green today remain intact as the company expands.
“If I'm not taking the time to personalize your service and making sure that I'm putting down what I'm promising, then there's no point in me opening up the next step,” he says.
He describes his philosophy simply as “natural growth or no growth.”
It's an especially fitting philosophy for someone who spends his days helping things grow.
For now, Austin is focused on building relationships, earning the trust of homeowners and landscapers throughout Volusia County, and developing Coastal Green one customer at a time.
And he's doing it in the community he has always called home.
“I still enjoy the small-town aspect of DeLand,” Austin says. “Raising a family here, having good friends here, it's very nice. DeLand's a good home base.”
As DeLand and Volusia County continue to grow, Austin hopes Coastal Green Pest Solutions will grow right alongside them, without losing the personal relationships that helped get the business started in the first place.
Coastal Green Pest Solutions serves homeowners throughout Volusia County. For homeowners who care about the health and appearance of their lawn and landscaping, Austin and Coastal Green provide personalized lawn treatment, pest management, fertilization, and plant health solutions.
Personal fraud continues to evolve, and scammers are finding increasingly sophisticated ways to target consumers. From AI-powered messages that appear surprisingly convincing to attempts to gain access to entire financial accounts. Recognizing the warning signs is becoming more important than ever.
While you can't prevent every fraud attempt, knowing what to watch for and taking a few proactive steps can make it much harder for scammers to succeed.
Artificial intelligence is making fraudulent calls and text messages feel more personal and legitimate. Scammers can use AI to create convincing communications designed to make you believe you're interacting with a trusted person or organization.
Be cautious when you receive an unexpected call or message asking for personal information, money, or access to an account. Before responding or taking action, reach out to Surety Bank directly to verify they are the ones calling. This step could mean not being scammed out of your money.
Fraudsters are increasingly looking beyond individual credit card numbers and attempting to gain access to entire financial profiles, including personal bank and investment accounts.
Protect your accounts by regularly reviewing activity for transactions you don't recognize and using multifactor authentication whenever it's available. Never provide your password, login credentials, or verification codes to someone who contacts you unexpectedly.
If you notice something unusual in your Surety Bank account, contact us promptly.
Older adults continue to be frequent targets of financial scams, particularly those involving tech support and investment-related schemes.
These scams often rely on urgency or fear to convince someone to act before they have an opportunity to question what's happening. Talk with older family members about common scams and encourage them to check with someone they trust before sending money or providing sensitive information in response to an unexpected request.
Taking a few minutes to verify a situation can help prevent a significant financial loss.
Protecting yourself doesn't require becoming a fraud expert. Start by being skeptical of unexpected requests for money or information, especially when someone pressures you to act immediately.
Use strong, unique passwords and enable multifactor authentication when available. Avoid clicking links in unexpected emails or text messages, and regularly review your bank accounts and credit reports for activity you don't recognize.
Most importantly, trust your instincts. If something doesn't feel right, stop and verify before taking action.
If you'd like to take additional steps to protect yourself, here are three resources worth exploring:
FTC IdentityTheft.gov
Best for someone who thinks their identity has already been compromised. The FTC provides a personalized recovery plan and steps for addressing identity theft.
Visit IdentityTheft.gov
FTC Credit Freeze & Fraud Alert Guide
Customers can place a free credit freeze, which can prevent identity thieves from opening new credit accounts in their name, or add a fraud alert.
Learn About Credit Freezes & Fraud Alerts
Aura
For those interested in a paid protection service, Aura offers identity and financial monitoring tools and other fraud-protection features. I’d position this as an optional third-party tool, not something Surety is recommending over other services.
Explore Aura
These resources are provided for informational purposes. Surety Bank does not endorse or guarantee any third-party product or service.
Fraud tactics will continue to change, but one of your strongest defenses is also one of the simplest: slow down.
Scammers often depend on creating urgency so you act before thinking. If you're unsure about a request involving your Surety Bank account, don't rely on the phone number, link, or contact information provided in the message. Contact Surety Bank directly through a trusted channel.
We're here to help you protect your financial information and recognize potential fraud before it becomes a loss.
For Maria Bonfiglio, working at Surety Bank has always been about more than banking. It's about taking care of people.
Maria has been part of the Surety Bank family for nine years, but her journey began with a simple text message. A former boss she had stayed in touch with reached out years after they had worked together and told her, "I have the perfect job for you." Maria's response was simple: "Where should I sign?"
Nine years later, her enthusiasm hasn't changed.
"I love it. I love my job."
Over the years, Maria's role has evolved, giving her the opportunity to learn new skills and develop deeper relationships with customers. She has gotten to know some of them so well that she can recognize who is calling just by the sound of their voice. For Maria, those relationships are what make Surety feel less like a workplace and more like a family.
That personal connection also shapes the way Maria approaches protecting customers.
When something doesn't seem right, she isn't afraid to ask questions. Whether she's reviewing a check or helping someone resolve an issue with an account, Maria understands that taking a little extra time can make a significant difference.
"We really care about our customers," Maria explains. Even when customers may wonder why the bank is asking additional questions, she wants them to understand the reason behind it. "We don't want them to lose money."
For Maria, that care isn't limited to customers. She has experienced it personally as an employee.
During some of the most difficult moments of her life, including an extended hospital stay and the loss of her son, Maria remembers her Surety family checking on her, visiting her, and making sure she knew she wasn't alone. Those experiences showed her that the relationships Surety talks about aren't simply something customers experience. They're part of the culture inside the bank, too.
It's also why Maria believes Surety Bank has remained part of the community for 100 years. She has worked at other banks, but says Surety's involvement in the community feels different. The bank isn't trying to be the biggest. Instead, it has remained focused on the people and communities it serves.
That same philosophy comes through in Maria's relationships with her customers. Some have developed such a strong connection with her that when they call, they specifically ask for Maria. She takes pride in being someone they know they can turn to when they have a question or need assistance.
After nine years, Maria still says thank you for the opportunity that brought her to Surety Bank. Her story is a reminder that relationship banking begins with people who genuinely care about the people on the other side of the counter or phone.
This is how Surety Bank has always done it. It's how we will always do it.
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For Lewis Long III, banking with Surety Bank is a relationship that has lasted more than five decades.
As one of Surety Bank's longest-standing customers, Lewis has watched the bank grow alongside the community since his connection to Surety began more than 50 years ago. He originally opened a savings account after hearing from neighbors that the bank consistently offered strong value and genuinely cared about its customers.
Over the years, Lewis has seen a lot of change. He remembers making deposits with a passbook while employees manually updated balances using a hand-cranked adding machine. What hasn't changed, however, is the way Surety Bank treats the people who walk through its doors.
For Lewis, that commitment extends beyond his own banking experience. When his sons were born, he opened accounts for each of them at Surety Bank, continuing a family tradition that has now spanned generations. One of his sons even participated in the ribbon-cutting ceremony when Surety Bank dedicated its current building in the early 1990s.
Throughout his life of military service, public service, and community involvement, Lewis has always returned to the same bank.
What has kept him loyal all these years?
The answer is simple: people.
"You couldn't ask for better service or better people," Lewis says. "I don't know how they remember everybody's name that walks in the door, but they do. They're just super folks. The people have always been a gift to us and to the community."
Lewis believes that the values Surety Bank was founded on continue to define the bank today. One story from the bank's early history has always stayed with him. During the Great Depression, he recalls hearing that Surety worked with customers rather than rushing to foreclose on them because they cared more about helping people than taking their property. That philosophy, he says, is still reflected in the way the bank serves its customers today.
It's one of the reasons Lewis has become an advocate for the bank wherever he goes.
Whether he's encouraging friends to open a money market account, sharing the bank's history, or even suggesting a new Surety branch for his hometown of Lake Helen, Lewis proudly recommends the bank he's trusted for more than half a century.
"I wouldn't champion the bank if I didn't believe in these folks and believe in this bank," he says. "Everybody is important. They see past whatever's bothering someone that day and still treat people with kindness and respect."
As Surety Bank celebrates 100 years of serving Central Florida, customers like Lewis remind us that while banking has evolved, some things should never change. Genuine relationships, exceptional service, and a commitment to the community remain at the heart of everything we do.
This is how Surety Bank has always done it. It's how we will always do it.
For Richard Taylor, Surety Bank has never simply been a place to bank. It has been part of his family and his community for generations.
His grandfather, Dr. Harold Taylor, served on Surety’s board and became president during a challenging period in the institution’s early history. His father later served as Surety’s attorney and on its Board of Directors. Richard’s own relationship with the bank began when he was a child.
“My earliest memory was at 110 North Florida,” Richard recalls. He believes that as soon as he was old enough to walk into Surety, he was bringing in a dime to start an account.
After leaving the Marine Corps in 1977, Richard eventually continued the family tradition by joining Surety’s Board of Directors himself.
His story provides a unique window into Surety Bank’s first 100 years and the principles that have allowed a local institution to continue serving its community through generations of change.
Surety was formed in 1926 as a mutual building and loan association, owned by its depositors and borrowers rather than traditional shareholders.
It wasn’t long before the young institution faced a major test.
Florida’s real estate boom collapsed before the Great Depression spread across the country. Richard grew up hearing stories about the banks around DeLand that failed during those difficult years. Surety, however, kept its doors open.
Richard believes the reason came down to the way Surety treated people.
“The reason it didn’t fold is because of two reasons. One, it was able to reason with the depositors and, two, because it acted reasonably with the borrowers.”
Instead of immediately turning to foreclosure when borrowers struggled, Richard says Surety did everything it could to work with them. At the same time, its leaders worked to maintain the confidence of depositors. That careful, personal approach helped Surety navigate one of the most difficult periods in American financial history without shutting down.
The story may be nearly a century old, but the philosophy behind it feels familiar: know the people you serve and be willing to work with them when it matters.
When Richard later joined the board, that personal knowledge of customers and the community was still an important part of how Surety operated.
He remembers sitting alongside directors who seemed to know the history behind nearly every property and family that came before them. When the bank considered making a loan, board members could personally visit the property, research comparable sales, and bring their own knowledge of the local market into the conversation.
For customers, it meant decisions were being made by people who understood the community.
“If you had a problem, you had somebody that you could go sit down across a desk and then talk to them about it.”
That ability to have a real conversation with the people behind your bank is something Richard remembers as an important part of Surety’s contribution to the community.
A lot has changed since those early days.
Richard remembers when customers carried physical books that recorded their payments and Surety used a large hand-operated calculating machine to figure interest. Today, technology has transformed nearly every part of the banking experience.
Surety has evolved with the industry. What began primarily as a building and loan association focused on residential homes has grown into a bank serving businesses and developing expertise in specialized areas of banking.
Richard describes that evolution as cautious, and that distinction is important.
Surety has continued to change without losing sight of what made it successful in the first place.
That perspective fits naturally with Surety Bank’s centennial message: “How we’ve always done it is how we’ll always do it.”
In many organizations, “how we’ve always done it” can imply a resistance to change. Surety’s history tells a different story. The tools have changed. The services have expanded. The way customers interact with their bank has evolved.
But the commitment to being thoughtful about how the bank grows and remaining connected to the people it serves has endured.
After all the changes Richard has witnessed, one characteristic stands out when he talks about what makes Surety different today.
“We are truly a local bank.”
For Richard, there is a difference between being called a community bank and actually being part of the community.
Surety’s roots are here. Its history is here. And generations of the people behind the bank have lived and worked alongside the customers they serve.
Richard describes Surety not only as a community bank, but as a community institution.
That connection has carried Surety through enormous changes in banking and in the community itself. Richard remembers a time when Surety did not need much advertising because local people already knew where to go when they needed a reliable place to borrow or deposit their money. Decades later, customers have more banking options than ever, but Surety continues to move steadily forward without chasing every passing trend.
Richard has seen Surety Bank move from passbooks and hand-operated calculators to modern banking. He has watched the institution expand beyond its original focus while continuing to take a careful approach to growth.
And when asked whether a bank that has already been here for 100 years can make it another 100, Richard sees no reason why it can’t.
That confidence comes from knowing where Surety has been.
For a century, the bank has adapted when necessary while holding onto the qualities that have carried it through generations: local roots, thoughtful decisions, and a commitment to the people it serves.
Richard Taylor’s family has been part of that story for generations, and his memories offer a rare look at just how much has changed since 1926.
They also show how much hasn’t.
That is the legacy of Surety Bank.
For Dan Glenn, Pastor of Stetson Baptist Church in DeLand, Surety Bank has become much more than the place where the church did its banking. Over the years, the initial banking relationship has grown into a partnership centered around a shared commitment to the community.
That partnership took on new meaning in 2018 when Stetson Baptist Church launched Night to Shine, an unforgettable prom experience for people with special needs held in partnership with the Tim Tebow Foundation.
Creating an experience like Night to Shine requires significant support, and Surety Bank was one of the event's earliest sponsors.
“Surety was one that came on very early saying, ‘Hey, we want to support that. We want to be a part of it.’”
For Dan, that moment marked a shift in the relationship. It became much more personal and community focused.
Surety continued supporting Night to Shine year after year, but one experience in particular showed Dan what that partnership truly meant.
After the first Night to Shine, Dan realized the church had never properly thanked Surety for its sponsorship. When it came time to plan the event again, he felt hesitant approaching Surety for another year of support.
The response surprised him.
There was no hesitation. Surety wanted to be involved again.
Years later, that commitment went even further when Surety reached out to the church without being asked and offered to increase its support.
“They have an intention to be generous, even when generosity may or may not be expected or requested.”
For Dan, that willingness to look for opportunities to make a greater impact is part of what distinguishes Surety Bank as a community organization.
Instead of simply waiting for someone to present a sponsorship request, Surety has been willing to ask a different question: How can we do more?
That philosophy extends beyond a single event.
Dan describes Surety not simply as a community bank, but as a “community-centered organization” that genuinely cares about DeLand and the relationships it has built throughout the city.
That personal connection is something Dan has experienced firsthand. His relationship with Surety isn't limited to the organization itself. It's also built through relationships with the people behind it.
As Surety Bank celebrates 100 years, Dan believes that commitment to people and community helps explain why the bank has remained part of DeLand for generations.
Over the past century, both the bank and the city have grown and changed. Yet Surety has continued to serve the community throughout that growth.
For Dan, that's exactly why Surety's 100th anniversary message, “How we've always done it is how we'll always do it,” resonates.
“The way they've always done things has been people centered, relationships centered, community centered.”
Those values create something that goes beyond banking. They create trust. They allow organizations like Stetson Baptist Church to know what to expect from a partner that has consistently shown up before and intends to continue showing up in the future.
After years of partnership, Dan hopes that part of Surety never changes.
This is how Surety Bank has always done it. It's how we will always do it.
For Austin Scott, starting a business wasn’t the result of a lifelong plan. It was something that grew over time, much like the lawns he now helps his customers care for.
Born and raised in DeLand, Austin is the owner of Coastal Green Pest Solutions, a new Volusia County business specializing in lawn treatments, pest management, fertilization, and the care of palms and shrubs.
The company may be new, but Austin is far from new to the work.
Before entering the lawn and pest control industry, Austin was selling auto parts at O’Reilly Auto Parts. Then a landscaper friend suggested he take a job with a local pest control company.
He gave it a shot and discovered an industry that fascinated him.
“I like that I could learn something new every day,” Austin says. “You get to see different problems, and you get to see the benefits of your own labor making a lawn beautiful. You get to see it go from nothing to something.”
Austin spent nearly six years in the industry, gradually developing an understanding of not only what products to use, but why lawns develop problems in the first place.
Interestingly, the work even gave him a new appreciation for a subject he once struggled with: chemistry.
In school, chemistry had never come naturally to Austin. But working with fertilizers, herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, and nutrients gave those concepts a real-world application.
“You get to learn something and then apply it directly,” he says.
And the more Austin learned, the more he realized there was an opportunity to do things differently.
Austin believes one of the biggest shortcomings in the lawn and pest control industry isn't necessarily the products or treatment programs companies use. It's the communication that happens, or doesn't happen, between the company, technician, and homeowner.
A lawn problem can be the result of insects, fungus, nutrient deficiencies, irrigation issues, environmental stress, or a combination of factors. Simply treating the symptom doesn't always solve the underlying problem.
Austin wants Coastal Green Pest Solutions to be different.
“I take pride in being the solution and the end to the revolving door when it comes to these lawn programs,” he says.
That means spending time with homeowners, explaining what is happening on their property, and helping them understand what needs to change.
Austin compares a lawn or landscape to the human body. One problem can affect the health of the entire system. Killing an insect, for example, may address the immediate issue, but it doesn't necessarily explain why the lawn became susceptible to the pest in the first place.
“If you can be the middleman between the problem, the chemicals, and the customer, and you can explain all that smoothly, that's normally the end,” Austin says. “A lot of people don't take the time to talk to their customers and make sure they understand.”
It's an approach built around education and relationships as much as treatment.
When the company Austin had worked for was sold, he saw an opportunity to take everything he'd learned and build something of his own.
Coastal Green Pest Solutions was born.
Today, Austin primarily works with residential customers throughout Volusia County who care about the long-term health and appearance of their properties.
His services include:
Austin's philosophy isn't about simply “spraying and praying,” as he puts it. Every property is different, so understanding what's actually happening comes before recommending a solution.
That philosophy also shapes how he plans to grow the business.
Starting a company requires more than expertise and ambition. There are trucks, equipment, products, operating expenses, and the reality that revenue doesn't necessarily arrive the moment the business opens its doors.
Austin knew he needed some financial breathing room as he got Coastal Green Pest Solutions off the ground.
That's where Surety Bank came in.
Austin first learned about Surety through his father, who had worked in real estate and developed a relationship with Surety Bank CEO Ryan James over the years.
When Austin was preparing to launch Coastal Green Pest Solutions, that local connection opened the door to a conversation.
“I was just looking for a good little loan—something to get me by, that way I had a little bit of breathing room,” Austin says. “I was very questionable on how I was going to make everything work, and honestly, I'm very grateful for Surety stepping in.”
Surety provided a business loan directly to Coastal Green Pest Solutions, giving Austin additional resources and flexibility during the critical early months of building the company.
For Austin, the experience demonstrated one of the advantages of working with a community bank: relationships matter.
Ryan knew Austin's family. He'd seen Austin working around town. And instead of Austin simply being another application, there was an opportunity to understand the person and business behind it.
That trust helped a local entrepreneur take the next step.
Just a couple of months into the business when we spoke with him, Austin already had big ambitions for Coastal Green Pest Solutions.
Eventually, he'd like to have multiple trucks on the road, a dedicated irrigation team, a sales team, and expanded services including home pest and termite control.
But he's in no hurry to grow simply for the sake of getting bigger.
Austin wants to make sure the service and customer experience that distinguish Coastal Green today remain intact as the company expands.
“If I'm not taking the time to personalize your service and making sure that I'm putting down what I'm promising, then there's no point in me opening up the next step,” he says.
He describes his philosophy simply as “natural growth or no growth.”
It's an especially fitting philosophy for someone who spends his days helping things grow.
For now, Austin is focused on building relationships, earning the trust of homeowners and landscapers throughout Volusia County, and developing Coastal Green one customer at a time.
And he's doing it in the community he has always called home.
“I still enjoy the small-town aspect of DeLand,” Austin says. “Raising a family here, having good friends here, it's very nice. DeLand's a good home base.”
As DeLand and Volusia County continue to grow, Austin hopes Coastal Green Pest Solutions will grow right alongside them, without losing the personal relationships that helped get the business started in the first place.
Coastal Green Pest Solutions serves homeowners throughout Volusia County. For homeowners who care about the health and appearance of their lawn and landscaping, Austin and Coastal Green provide personalized lawn treatment, pest management, fertilization, and plant health solutions.
Personal fraud continues to evolve, and scammers are finding increasingly sophisticated ways to target consumers. From AI-powered messages that appear surprisingly convincing to attempts to gain access to entire financial accounts. Recognizing the warning signs is becoming more important than ever.
While you can't prevent every fraud attempt, knowing what to watch for and taking a few proactive steps can make it much harder for scammers to succeed.
Artificial intelligence is making fraudulent calls and text messages feel more personal and legitimate. Scammers can use AI to create convincing communications designed to make you believe you're interacting with a trusted person or organization.
Be cautious when you receive an unexpected call or message asking for personal information, money, or access to an account. Before responding or taking action, reach out to Surety Bank directly to verify they are the ones calling. This step could mean not being scammed out of your money.
Fraudsters are increasingly looking beyond individual credit card numbers and attempting to gain access to entire financial profiles, including personal bank and investment accounts.
Protect your accounts by regularly reviewing activity for transactions you don't recognize and using multifactor authentication whenever it's available. Never provide your password, login credentials, or verification codes to someone who contacts you unexpectedly.
If you notice something unusual in your Surety Bank account, contact us promptly.
Older adults continue to be frequent targets of financial scams, particularly those involving tech support and investment-related schemes.
These scams often rely on urgency or fear to convince someone to act before they have an opportunity to question what's happening. Talk with older family members about common scams and encourage them to check with someone they trust before sending money or providing sensitive information in response to an unexpected request.
Taking a few minutes to verify a situation can help prevent a significant financial loss.
Protecting yourself doesn't require becoming a fraud expert. Start by being skeptical of unexpected requests for money or information, especially when someone pressures you to act immediately.
Use strong, unique passwords and enable multifactor authentication when available. Avoid clicking links in unexpected emails or text messages, and regularly review your bank accounts and credit reports for activity you don't recognize.
Most importantly, trust your instincts. If something doesn't feel right, stop and verify before taking action.
If you'd like to take additional steps to protect yourself, here are three resources worth exploring:
FTC IdentityTheft.gov
Best for someone who thinks their identity has already been compromised. The FTC provides a personalized recovery plan and steps for addressing identity theft.
Visit IdentityTheft.gov
FTC Credit Freeze & Fraud Alert Guide
Customers can place a free credit freeze, which can prevent identity thieves from opening new credit accounts in their name, or add a fraud alert.
Learn About Credit Freezes & Fraud Alerts
Aura
For those interested in a paid protection service, Aura offers identity and financial monitoring tools and other fraud-protection features. I’d position this as an optional third-party tool, not something Surety is recommending over other services.
Explore Aura
These resources are provided for informational purposes. Surety Bank does not endorse or guarantee any third-party product or service.
Fraud tactics will continue to change, but one of your strongest defenses is also one of the simplest: slow down.
Scammers often depend on creating urgency so you act before thinking. If you're unsure about a request involving your Surety Bank account, don't rely on the phone number, link, or contact information provided in the message. Contact Surety Bank directly through a trusted channel.
We're here to help you protect your financial information and recognize potential fraud before it becomes a loss.
For Maria Bonfiglio, working at Surety Bank has always been about more than banking. It's about taking care of people.
Maria has been part of the Surety Bank family for nine years, but her journey began with a simple text message. A former boss she had stayed in touch with reached out years after they had worked together and told her, "I have the perfect job for you." Maria's response was simple: "Where should I sign?"
Nine years later, her enthusiasm hasn't changed.
"I love it. I love my job."
Over the years, Maria's role has evolved, giving her the opportunity to learn new skills and develop deeper relationships with customers. She has gotten to know some of them so well that she can recognize who is calling just by the sound of their voice. For Maria, those relationships are what make Surety feel less like a workplace and more like a family.
That personal connection also shapes the way Maria approaches protecting customers.
When something doesn't seem right, she isn't afraid to ask questions. Whether she's reviewing a check or helping someone resolve an issue with an account, Maria understands that taking a little extra time can make a significant difference.
"We really care about our customers," Maria explains. Even when customers may wonder why the bank is asking additional questions, she wants them to understand the reason behind it. "We don't want them to lose money."
For Maria, that care isn't limited to customers. She has experienced it personally as an employee.
During some of the most difficult moments of her life, including an extended hospital stay and the loss of her son, Maria remembers her Surety family checking on her, visiting her, and making sure she knew she wasn't alone. Those experiences showed her that the relationships Surety talks about aren't simply something customers experience. They're part of the culture inside the bank, too.
It's also why Maria believes Surety Bank has remained part of the community for 100 years. She has worked at other banks, but says Surety's involvement in the community feels different. The bank isn't trying to be the biggest. Instead, it has remained focused on the people and communities it serves.
That same philosophy comes through in Maria's relationships with her customers. Some have developed such a strong connection with her that when they call, they specifically ask for Maria. She takes pride in being someone they know they can turn to when they have a question or need assistance.
After nine years, Maria still says thank you for the opportunity that brought her to Surety Bank. Her story is a reminder that relationship banking begins with people who genuinely care about the people on the other side of the counter or phone.
This is how Surety Bank has always done it. It's how we will always do it.
For Lewis Long III, banking with Surety Bank is a relationship that has lasted more than five decades.
As one of Surety Bank's longest-standing customers, Lewis has watched the bank grow alongside the community since his connection to Surety began more than 50 years ago. He originally opened a savings account after hearing from neighbors that the bank consistently offered strong value and genuinely cared about its customers.
Over the years, Lewis has seen a lot of change. He remembers making deposits with a passbook while employees manually updated balances using a hand-cranked adding machine. What hasn't changed, however, is the way Surety Bank treats the people who walk through its doors.
For Lewis, that commitment extends beyond his own banking experience. When his sons were born, he opened accounts for each of them at Surety Bank, continuing a family tradition that has now spanned generations. One of his sons even participated in the ribbon-cutting ceremony when Surety Bank dedicated its current building in the early 1990s.
Throughout his life of military service, public service, and community involvement, Lewis has always returned to the same bank.
What has kept him loyal all these years?
The answer is simple: people.
"You couldn't ask for better service or better people," Lewis says. "I don't know how they remember everybody's name that walks in the door, but they do. They're just super folks. The people have always been a gift to us and to the community."
Lewis believes that the values Surety Bank was founded on continue to define the bank today. One story from the bank's early history has always stayed with him. During the Great Depression, he recalls hearing that Surety worked with customers rather than rushing to foreclose on them because they cared more about helping people than taking their property. That philosophy, he says, is still reflected in the way the bank serves its customers today.
It's one of the reasons Lewis has become an advocate for the bank wherever he goes.
Whether he's encouraging friends to open a money market account, sharing the bank's history, or even suggesting a new Surety branch for his hometown of Lake Helen, Lewis proudly recommends the bank he's trusted for more than half a century.
"I wouldn't champion the bank if I didn't believe in these folks and believe in this bank," he says. "Everybody is important. They see past whatever's bothering someone that day and still treat people with kindness and respect."
As Surety Bank celebrates 100 years of serving Central Florida, customers like Lewis remind us that while banking has evolved, some things should never change. Genuine relationships, exceptional service, and a commitment to the community remain at the heart of everything we do.
This is how Surety Bank has always done it. It's how we will always do it.
For Richard Taylor, Surety Bank has never simply been a place to bank. It has been part of his family and his community for generations.
His grandfather, Dr. Harold Taylor, served on Surety’s board and became president during a challenging period in the institution’s early history. His father later served as Surety’s attorney and on its Board of Directors. Richard’s own relationship with the bank began when he was a child.
“My earliest memory was at 110 North Florida,” Richard recalls. He believes that as soon as he was old enough to walk into Surety, he was bringing in a dime to start an account.
After leaving the Marine Corps in 1977, Richard eventually continued the family tradition by joining Surety’s Board of Directors himself.
His story provides a unique window into Surety Bank’s first 100 years and the principles that have allowed a local institution to continue serving its community through generations of change.
Surety was formed in 1926 as a mutual building and loan association, owned by its depositors and borrowers rather than traditional shareholders.
It wasn’t long before the young institution faced a major test.
Florida’s real estate boom collapsed before the Great Depression spread across the country. Richard grew up hearing stories about the banks around DeLand that failed during those difficult years. Surety, however, kept its doors open.
Richard believes the reason came down to the way Surety treated people.
“The reason it didn’t fold is because of two reasons. One, it was able to reason with the depositors and, two, because it acted reasonably with the borrowers.”
Instead of immediately turning to foreclosure when borrowers struggled, Richard says Surety did everything it could to work with them. At the same time, its leaders worked to maintain the confidence of depositors. That careful, personal approach helped Surety navigate one of the most difficult periods in American financial history without shutting down.
The story may be nearly a century old, but the philosophy behind it feels familiar: know the people you serve and be willing to work with them when it matters.
When Richard later joined the board, that personal knowledge of customers and the community was still an important part of how Surety operated.
He remembers sitting alongside directors who seemed to know the history behind nearly every property and family that came before them. When the bank considered making a loan, board members could personally visit the property, research comparable sales, and bring their own knowledge of the local market into the conversation.
For customers, it meant decisions were being made by people who understood the community.
“If you had a problem, you had somebody that you could go sit down across a desk and then talk to them about it.”
That ability to have a real conversation with the people behind your bank is something Richard remembers as an important part of Surety’s contribution to the community.
A lot has changed since those early days.
Richard remembers when customers carried physical books that recorded their payments and Surety used a large hand-operated calculating machine to figure interest. Today, technology has transformed nearly every part of the banking experience.
Surety has evolved with the industry. What began primarily as a building and loan association focused on residential homes has grown into a bank serving businesses and developing expertise in specialized areas of banking.
Richard describes that evolution as cautious, and that distinction is important.
Surety has continued to change without losing sight of what made it successful in the first place.
That perspective fits naturally with Surety Bank’s centennial message: “How we’ve always done it is how we’ll always do it.”
In many organizations, “how we’ve always done it” can imply a resistance to change. Surety’s history tells a different story. The tools have changed. The services have expanded. The way customers interact with their bank has evolved.
But the commitment to being thoughtful about how the bank grows and remaining connected to the people it serves has endured.
After all the changes Richard has witnessed, one characteristic stands out when he talks about what makes Surety different today.
“We are truly a local bank.”
For Richard, there is a difference between being called a community bank and actually being part of the community.
Surety’s roots are here. Its history is here. And generations of the people behind the bank have lived and worked alongside the customers they serve.
Richard describes Surety not only as a community bank, but as a community institution.
That connection has carried Surety through enormous changes in banking and in the community itself. Richard remembers a time when Surety did not need much advertising because local people already knew where to go when they needed a reliable place to borrow or deposit their money. Decades later, customers have more banking options than ever, but Surety continues to move steadily forward without chasing every passing trend.
Richard has seen Surety Bank move from passbooks and hand-operated calculators to modern banking. He has watched the institution expand beyond its original focus while continuing to take a careful approach to growth.
And when asked whether a bank that has already been here for 100 years can make it another 100, Richard sees no reason why it can’t.
That confidence comes from knowing where Surety has been.
For a century, the bank has adapted when necessary while holding onto the qualities that have carried it through generations: local roots, thoughtful decisions, and a commitment to the people it serves.
Richard Taylor’s family has been part of that story for generations, and his memories offer a rare look at just how much has changed since 1926.
They also show how much hasn’t.
That is the legacy of Surety Bank.
For Dan Glenn, Pastor of Stetson Baptist Church in DeLand, Surety Bank has become much more than the place where the church did its banking. Over the years, the initial banking relationship has grown into a partnership centered around a shared commitment to the community.
That partnership took on new meaning in 2018 when Stetson Baptist Church launched Night to Shine, an unforgettable prom experience for people with special needs held in partnership with the Tim Tebow Foundation.
Creating an experience like Night to Shine requires significant support, and Surety Bank was one of the event's earliest sponsors.
“Surety was one that came on very early saying, ‘Hey, we want to support that. We want to be a part of it.’”
For Dan, that moment marked a shift in the relationship. It became much more personal and community focused.
Surety continued supporting Night to Shine year after year, but one experience in particular showed Dan what that partnership truly meant.
After the first Night to Shine, Dan realized the church had never properly thanked Surety for its sponsorship. When it came time to plan the event again, he felt hesitant approaching Surety for another year of support.
The response surprised him.
There was no hesitation. Surety wanted to be involved again.
Years later, that commitment went even further when Surety reached out to the church without being asked and offered to increase its support.
“They have an intention to be generous, even when generosity may or may not be expected or requested.”
For Dan, that willingness to look for opportunities to make a greater impact is part of what distinguishes Surety Bank as a community organization.
Instead of simply waiting for someone to present a sponsorship request, Surety has been willing to ask a different question: How can we do more?
That philosophy extends beyond a single event.
Dan describes Surety not simply as a community bank, but as a “community-centered organization” that genuinely cares about DeLand and the relationships it has built throughout the city.
That personal connection is something Dan has experienced firsthand. His relationship with Surety isn't limited to the organization itself. It's also built through relationships with the people behind it.
As Surety Bank celebrates 100 years, Dan believes that commitment to people and community helps explain why the bank has remained part of DeLand for generations.
Over the past century, both the bank and the city have grown and changed. Yet Surety has continued to serve the community throughout that growth.
For Dan, that's exactly why Surety's 100th anniversary message, “How we've always done it is how we'll always do it,” resonates.
“The way they've always done things has been people centered, relationships centered, community centered.”
Those values create something that goes beyond banking. They create trust. They allow organizations like Stetson Baptist Church to know what to expect from a partner that has consistently shown up before and intends to continue showing up in the future.
After years of partnership, Dan hopes that part of Surety never changes.
This is how Surety Bank has always done it. It's how we will always do it.
For Austin Scott, starting a business wasn’t the result of a lifelong plan. It was something that grew over time, much like the lawns he now helps his customers care for.
Born and raised in DeLand, Austin is the owner of Coastal Green Pest Solutions, a new Volusia County business specializing in lawn treatments, pest management, fertilization, and the care of palms and shrubs.
The company may be new, but Austin is far from new to the work.
Before entering the lawn and pest control industry, Austin was selling auto parts at O’Reilly Auto Parts. Then a landscaper friend suggested he take a job with a local pest control company.
He gave it a shot and discovered an industry that fascinated him.
“I like that I could learn something new every day,” Austin says. “You get to see different problems, and you get to see the benefits of your own labor making a lawn beautiful. You get to see it go from nothing to something.”
Austin spent nearly six years in the industry, gradually developing an understanding of not only what products to use, but why lawns develop problems in the first place.
Interestingly, the work even gave him a new appreciation for a subject he once struggled with: chemistry.
In school, chemistry had never come naturally to Austin. But working with fertilizers, herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, and nutrients gave those concepts a real-world application.
“You get to learn something and then apply it directly,” he says.
And the more Austin learned, the more he realized there was an opportunity to do things differently.
Austin believes one of the biggest shortcomings in the lawn and pest control industry isn't necessarily the products or treatment programs companies use. It's the communication that happens, or doesn't happen, between the company, technician, and homeowner.
A lawn problem can be the result of insects, fungus, nutrient deficiencies, irrigation issues, environmental stress, or a combination of factors. Simply treating the symptom doesn't always solve the underlying problem.
Austin wants Coastal Green Pest Solutions to be different.
“I take pride in being the solution and the end to the revolving door when it comes to these lawn programs,” he says.
That means spending time with homeowners, explaining what is happening on their property, and helping them understand what needs to change.
Austin compares a lawn or landscape to the human body. One problem can affect the health of the entire system. Killing an insect, for example, may address the immediate issue, but it doesn't necessarily explain why the lawn became susceptible to the pest in the first place.
“If you can be the middleman between the problem, the chemicals, and the customer, and you can explain all that smoothly, that's normally the end,” Austin says. “A lot of people don't take the time to talk to their customers and make sure they understand.”
It's an approach built around education and relationships as much as treatment.
When the company Austin had worked for was sold, he saw an opportunity to take everything he'd learned and build something of his own.
Coastal Green Pest Solutions was born.
Today, Austin primarily works with residential customers throughout Volusia County who care about the long-term health and appearance of their properties.
His services include:
Austin's philosophy isn't about simply “spraying and praying,” as he puts it. Every property is different, so understanding what's actually happening comes before recommending a solution.
That philosophy also shapes how he plans to grow the business.
Starting a company requires more than expertise and ambition. There are trucks, equipment, products, operating expenses, and the reality that revenue doesn't necessarily arrive the moment the business opens its doors.
Austin knew he needed some financial breathing room as he got Coastal Green Pest Solutions off the ground.
That's where Surety Bank came in.
Austin first learned about Surety through his father, who had worked in real estate and developed a relationship with Surety Bank CEO Ryan James over the years.
When Austin was preparing to launch Coastal Green Pest Solutions, that local connection opened the door to a conversation.
“I was just looking for a good little loan—something to get me by, that way I had a little bit of breathing room,” Austin says. “I was very questionable on how I was going to make everything work, and honestly, I'm very grateful for Surety stepping in.”
Surety provided a business loan directly to Coastal Green Pest Solutions, giving Austin additional resources and flexibility during the critical early months of building the company.
For Austin, the experience demonstrated one of the advantages of working with a community bank: relationships matter.
Ryan knew Austin's family. He'd seen Austin working around town. And instead of Austin simply being another application, there was an opportunity to understand the person and business behind it.
That trust helped a local entrepreneur take the next step.
Just a couple of months into the business when we spoke with him, Austin already had big ambitions for Coastal Green Pest Solutions.
Eventually, he'd like to have multiple trucks on the road, a dedicated irrigation team, a sales team, and expanded services including home pest and termite control.
But he's in no hurry to grow simply for the sake of getting bigger.
Austin wants to make sure the service and customer experience that distinguish Coastal Green today remain intact as the company expands.
“If I'm not taking the time to personalize your service and making sure that I'm putting down what I'm promising, then there's no point in me opening up the next step,” he says.
He describes his philosophy simply as “natural growth or no growth.”
It's an especially fitting philosophy for someone who spends his days helping things grow.
For now, Austin is focused on building relationships, earning the trust of homeowners and landscapers throughout Volusia County, and developing Coastal Green one customer at a time.
And he's doing it in the community he has always called home.
“I still enjoy the small-town aspect of DeLand,” Austin says. “Raising a family here, having good friends here, it's very nice. DeLand's a good home base.”
As DeLand and Volusia County continue to grow, Austin hopes Coastal Green Pest Solutions will grow right alongside them, without losing the personal relationships that helped get the business started in the first place.
Coastal Green Pest Solutions serves homeowners throughout Volusia County. For homeowners who care about the health and appearance of their lawn and landscaping, Austin and Coastal Green provide personalized lawn treatment, pest management, fertilization, and plant health solutions.
Personal fraud continues to evolve, and scammers are finding increasingly sophisticated ways to target consumers. From AI-powered messages that appear surprisingly convincing to attempts to gain access to entire financial accounts. Recognizing the warning signs is becoming more important than ever.
While you can't prevent every fraud attempt, knowing what to watch for and taking a few proactive steps can make it much harder for scammers to succeed.
Artificial intelligence is making fraudulent calls and text messages feel more personal and legitimate. Scammers can use AI to create convincing communications designed to make you believe you're interacting with a trusted person or organization.
Be cautious when you receive an unexpected call or message asking for personal information, money, or access to an account. Before responding or taking action, reach out to Surety Bank directly to verify they are the ones calling. This step could mean not being scammed out of your money.
Fraudsters are increasingly looking beyond individual credit card numbers and attempting to gain access to entire financial profiles, including personal bank and investment accounts.
Protect your accounts by regularly reviewing activity for transactions you don't recognize and using multifactor authentication whenever it's available. Never provide your password, login credentials, or verification codes to someone who contacts you unexpectedly.
If you notice something unusual in your Surety Bank account, contact us promptly.
Older adults continue to be frequent targets of financial scams, particularly those involving tech support and investment-related schemes.
These scams often rely on urgency or fear to convince someone to act before they have an opportunity to question what's happening. Talk with older family members about common scams and encourage them to check with someone they trust before sending money or providing sensitive information in response to an unexpected request.
Taking a few minutes to verify a situation can help prevent a significant financial loss.
Protecting yourself doesn't require becoming a fraud expert. Start by being skeptical of unexpected requests for money or information, especially when someone pressures you to act immediately.
Use strong, unique passwords and enable multifactor authentication when available. Avoid clicking links in unexpected emails or text messages, and regularly review your bank accounts and credit reports for activity you don't recognize.
Most importantly, trust your instincts. If something doesn't feel right, stop and verify before taking action.
If you'd like to take additional steps to protect yourself, here are three resources worth exploring:
FTC IdentityTheft.gov
Best for someone who thinks their identity has already been compromised. The FTC provides a personalized recovery plan and steps for addressing identity theft.
Visit IdentityTheft.gov
FTC Credit Freeze & Fraud Alert Guide
Customers can place a free credit freeze, which can prevent identity thieves from opening new credit accounts in their name, or add a fraud alert.
Learn About Credit Freezes & Fraud Alerts
Aura
For those interested in a paid protection service, Aura offers identity and financial monitoring tools and other fraud-protection features. I’d position this as an optional third-party tool, not something Surety is recommending over other services.
Explore Aura
These resources are provided for informational purposes. Surety Bank does not endorse or guarantee any third-party product or service.
Fraud tactics will continue to change, but one of your strongest defenses is also one of the simplest: slow down.
Scammers often depend on creating urgency so you act before thinking. If you're unsure about a request involving your Surety Bank account, don't rely on the phone number, link, or contact information provided in the message. Contact Surety Bank directly through a trusted channel.
We're here to help you protect your financial information and recognize potential fraud before it becomes a loss.
For Maria Bonfiglio, working at Surety Bank has always been about more than banking. It's about taking care of people.
Maria has been part of the Surety Bank family for nine years, but her journey began with a simple text message. A former boss she had stayed in touch with reached out years after they had worked together and told her, "I have the perfect job for you." Maria's response was simple: "Where should I sign?"
Nine years later, her enthusiasm hasn't changed.
"I love it. I love my job."
Over the years, Maria's role has evolved, giving her the opportunity to learn new skills and develop deeper relationships with customers. She has gotten to know some of them so well that she can recognize who is calling just by the sound of their voice. For Maria, those relationships are what make Surety feel less like a workplace and more like a family.
That personal connection also shapes the way Maria approaches protecting customers.
When something doesn't seem right, she isn't afraid to ask questions. Whether she's reviewing a check or helping someone resolve an issue with an account, Maria understands that taking a little extra time can make a significant difference.
"We really care about our customers," Maria explains. Even when customers may wonder why the bank is asking additional questions, she wants them to understand the reason behind it. "We don't want them to lose money."
For Maria, that care isn't limited to customers. She has experienced it personally as an employee.
During some of the most difficult moments of her life, including an extended hospital stay and the loss of her son, Maria remembers her Surety family checking on her, visiting her, and making sure she knew she wasn't alone. Those experiences showed her that the relationships Surety talks about aren't simply something customers experience. They're part of the culture inside the bank, too.
It's also why Maria believes Surety Bank has remained part of the community for 100 years. She has worked at other banks, but says Surety's involvement in the community feels different. The bank isn't trying to be the biggest. Instead, it has remained focused on the people and communities it serves.
That same philosophy comes through in Maria's relationships with her customers. Some have developed such a strong connection with her that when they call, they specifically ask for Maria. She takes pride in being someone they know they can turn to when they have a question or need assistance.
After nine years, Maria still says thank you for the opportunity that brought her to Surety Bank. Her story is a reminder that relationship banking begins with people who genuinely care about the people on the other side of the counter or phone.
This is how Surety Bank has always done it. It's how we will always do it.
For Lewis Long III, banking with Surety Bank is a relationship that has lasted more than five decades.
As one of Surety Bank's longest-standing customers, Lewis has watched the bank grow alongside the community since his connection to Surety began more than 50 years ago. He originally opened a savings account after hearing from neighbors that the bank consistently offered strong value and genuinely cared about its customers.
Over the years, Lewis has seen a lot of change. He remembers making deposits with a passbook while employees manually updated balances using a hand-cranked adding machine. What hasn't changed, however, is the way Surety Bank treats the people who walk through its doors.
For Lewis, that commitment extends beyond his own banking experience. When his sons were born, he opened accounts for each of them at Surety Bank, continuing a family tradition that has now spanned generations. One of his sons even participated in the ribbon-cutting ceremony when Surety Bank dedicated its current building in the early 1990s.
Throughout his life of military service, public service, and community involvement, Lewis has always returned to the same bank.
What has kept him loyal all these years?
The answer is simple: people.
"You couldn't ask for better service or better people," Lewis says. "I don't know how they remember everybody's name that walks in the door, but they do. They're just super folks. The people have always been a gift to us and to the community."
Lewis believes that the values Surety Bank was founded on continue to define the bank today. One story from the bank's early history has always stayed with him. During the Great Depression, he recalls hearing that Surety worked with customers rather than rushing to foreclose on them because they cared more about helping people than taking their property. That philosophy, he says, is still reflected in the way the bank serves its customers today.
It's one of the reasons Lewis has become an advocate for the bank wherever he goes.
Whether he's encouraging friends to open a money market account, sharing the bank's history, or even suggesting a new Surety branch for his hometown of Lake Helen, Lewis proudly recommends the bank he's trusted for more than half a century.
"I wouldn't champion the bank if I didn't believe in these folks and believe in this bank," he says. "Everybody is important. They see past whatever's bothering someone that day and still treat people with kindness and respect."
As Surety Bank celebrates 100 years of serving Central Florida, customers like Lewis remind us that while banking has evolved, some things should never change. Genuine relationships, exceptional service, and a commitment to the community remain at the heart of everything we do.
This is how Surety Bank has always done it. It's how we will always do it.
For Richard Taylor, Surety Bank has never simply been a place to bank. It has been part of his family and his community for generations.
His grandfather, Dr. Harold Taylor, served on Surety’s board and became president during a challenging period in the institution’s early history. His father later served as Surety’s attorney and on its Board of Directors. Richard’s own relationship with the bank began when he was a child.
“My earliest memory was at 110 North Florida,” Richard recalls. He believes that as soon as he was old enough to walk into Surety, he was bringing in a dime to start an account.
After leaving the Marine Corps in 1977, Richard eventually continued the family tradition by joining Surety’s Board of Directors himself.
His story provides a unique window into Surety Bank’s first 100 years and the principles that have allowed a local institution to continue serving its community through generations of change.
Surety was formed in 1926 as a mutual building and loan association, owned by its depositors and borrowers rather than traditional shareholders.
It wasn’t long before the young institution faced a major test.
Florida’s real estate boom collapsed before the Great Depression spread across the country. Richard grew up hearing stories about the banks around DeLand that failed during those difficult years. Surety, however, kept its doors open.
Richard believes the reason came down to the way Surety treated people.
“The reason it didn’t fold is because of two reasons. One, it was able to reason with the depositors and, two, because it acted reasonably with the borrowers.”
Instead of immediately turning to foreclosure when borrowers struggled, Richard says Surety did everything it could to work with them. At the same time, its leaders worked to maintain the confidence of depositors. That careful, personal approach helped Surety navigate one of the most difficult periods in American financial history without shutting down.
The story may be nearly a century old, but the philosophy behind it feels familiar: know the people you serve and be willing to work with them when it matters.
When Richard later joined the board, that personal knowledge of customers and the community was still an important part of how Surety operated.
He remembers sitting alongside directors who seemed to know the history behind nearly every property and family that came before them. When the bank considered making a loan, board members could personally visit the property, research comparable sales, and bring their own knowledge of the local market into the conversation.
For customers, it meant decisions were being made by people who understood the community.
“If you had a problem, you had somebody that you could go sit down across a desk and then talk to them about it.”
That ability to have a real conversation with the people behind your bank is something Richard remembers as an important part of Surety’s contribution to the community.
A lot has changed since those early days.
Richard remembers when customers carried physical books that recorded their payments and Surety used a large hand-operated calculating machine to figure interest. Today, technology has transformed nearly every part of the banking experience.
Surety has evolved with the industry. What began primarily as a building and loan association focused on residential homes has grown into a bank serving businesses and developing expertise in specialized areas of banking.
Richard describes that evolution as cautious, and that distinction is important.
Surety has continued to change without losing sight of what made it successful in the first place.
That perspective fits naturally with Surety Bank’s centennial message: “How we’ve always done it is how we’ll always do it.”
In many organizations, “how we’ve always done it” can imply a resistance to change. Surety’s history tells a different story. The tools have changed. The services have expanded. The way customers interact with their bank has evolved.
But the commitment to being thoughtful about how the bank grows and remaining connected to the people it serves has endured.
After all the changes Richard has witnessed, one characteristic stands out when he talks about what makes Surety different today.
“We are truly a local bank.”
For Richard, there is a difference between being called a community bank and actually being part of the community.
Surety’s roots are here. Its history is here. And generations of the people behind the bank have lived and worked alongside the customers they serve.
Richard describes Surety not only as a community bank, but as a community institution.
That connection has carried Surety through enormous changes in banking and in the community itself. Richard remembers a time when Surety did not need much advertising because local people already knew where to go when they needed a reliable place to borrow or deposit their money. Decades later, customers have more banking options than ever, but Surety continues to move steadily forward without chasing every passing trend.
Richard has seen Surety Bank move from passbooks and hand-operated calculators to modern banking. He has watched the institution expand beyond its original focus while continuing to take a careful approach to growth.
And when asked whether a bank that has already been here for 100 years can make it another 100, Richard sees no reason why it can’t.
That confidence comes from knowing where Surety has been.
For a century, the bank has adapted when necessary while holding onto the qualities that have carried it through generations: local roots, thoughtful decisions, and a commitment to the people it serves.
Richard Taylor’s family has been part of that story for generations, and his memories offer a rare look at just how much has changed since 1926.
They also show how much hasn’t.
That is the legacy of Surety Bank.
For Dan Glenn, Pastor of Stetson Baptist Church in DeLand, Surety Bank has become much more than the place where the church did its banking. Over the years, the initial banking relationship has grown into a partnership centered around a shared commitment to the community.
That partnership took on new meaning in 2018 when Stetson Baptist Church launched Night to Shine, an unforgettable prom experience for people with special needs held in partnership with the Tim Tebow Foundation.
Creating an experience like Night to Shine requires significant support, and Surety Bank was one of the event's earliest sponsors.
“Surety was one that came on very early saying, ‘Hey, we want to support that. We want to be a part of it.’”
For Dan, that moment marked a shift in the relationship. It became much more personal and community focused.
Surety continued supporting Night to Shine year after year, but one experience in particular showed Dan what that partnership truly meant.
After the first Night to Shine, Dan realized the church had never properly thanked Surety for its sponsorship. When it came time to plan the event again, he felt hesitant approaching Surety for another year of support.
The response surprised him.
There was no hesitation. Surety wanted to be involved again.
Years later, that commitment went even further when Surety reached out to the church without being asked and offered to increase its support.
“They have an intention to be generous, even when generosity may or may not be expected or requested.”
For Dan, that willingness to look for opportunities to make a greater impact is part of what distinguishes Surety Bank as a community organization.
Instead of simply waiting for someone to present a sponsorship request, Surety has been willing to ask a different question: How can we do more?
That philosophy extends beyond a single event.
Dan describes Surety not simply as a community bank, but as a “community-centered organization” that genuinely cares about DeLand and the relationships it has built throughout the city.
That personal connection is something Dan has experienced firsthand. His relationship with Surety isn't limited to the organization itself. It's also built through relationships with the people behind it.
As Surety Bank celebrates 100 years, Dan believes that commitment to people and community helps explain why the bank has remained part of DeLand for generations.
Over the past century, both the bank and the city have grown and changed. Yet Surety has continued to serve the community throughout that growth.
For Dan, that's exactly why Surety's 100th anniversary message, “How we've always done it is how we'll always do it,” resonates.
“The way they've always done things has been people centered, relationships centered, community centered.”
Those values create something that goes beyond banking. They create trust. They allow organizations like Stetson Baptist Church to know what to expect from a partner that has consistently shown up before and intends to continue showing up in the future.
After years of partnership, Dan hopes that part of Surety never changes.
This is how Surety Bank has always done it. It's how we will always do it.
For Austin Scott, starting a business wasn’t the result of a lifelong plan. It was something that grew over time, much like the lawns he now helps his customers care for.
Born and raised in DeLand, Austin is the owner of Coastal Green Pest Solutions, a new Volusia County business specializing in lawn treatments, pest management, fertilization, and the care of palms and shrubs.
The company may be new, but Austin is far from new to the work.
Before entering the lawn and pest control industry, Austin was selling auto parts at O’Reilly Auto Parts. Then a landscaper friend suggested he take a job with a local pest control company.
He gave it a shot and discovered an industry that fascinated him.
“I like that I could learn something new every day,” Austin says. “You get to see different problems, and you get to see the benefits of your own labor making a lawn beautiful. You get to see it go from nothing to something.”
Austin spent nearly six years in the industry, gradually developing an understanding of not only what products to use, but why lawns develop problems in the first place.
Interestingly, the work even gave him a new appreciation for a subject he once struggled with: chemistry.
In school, chemistry had never come naturally to Austin. But working with fertilizers, herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, and nutrients gave those concepts a real-world application.
“You get to learn something and then apply it directly,” he says.
And the more Austin learned, the more he realized there was an opportunity to do things differently.
Austin believes one of the biggest shortcomings in the lawn and pest control industry isn't necessarily the products or treatment programs companies use. It's the communication that happens, or doesn't happen, between the company, technician, and homeowner.
A lawn problem can be the result of insects, fungus, nutrient deficiencies, irrigation issues, environmental stress, or a combination of factors. Simply treating the symptom doesn't always solve the underlying problem.
Austin wants Coastal Green Pest Solutions to be different.
“I take pride in being the solution and the end to the revolving door when it comes to these lawn programs,” he says.
That means spending time with homeowners, explaining what is happening on their property, and helping them understand what needs to change.
Austin compares a lawn or landscape to the human body. One problem can affect the health of the entire system. Killing an insect, for example, may address the immediate issue, but it doesn't necessarily explain why the lawn became susceptible to the pest in the first place.
“If you can be the middleman between the problem, the chemicals, and the customer, and you can explain all that smoothly, that's normally the end,” Austin says. “A lot of people don't take the time to talk to their customers and make sure they understand.”
It's an approach built around education and relationships as much as treatment.
When the company Austin had worked for was sold, he saw an opportunity to take everything he'd learned and build something of his own.
Coastal Green Pest Solutions was born.
Today, Austin primarily works with residential customers throughout Volusia County who care about the long-term health and appearance of their properties.
His services include:
Austin's philosophy isn't about simply “spraying and praying,” as he puts it. Every property is different, so understanding what's actually happening comes before recommending a solution.
That philosophy also shapes how he plans to grow the business.
Starting a company requires more than expertise and ambition. There are trucks, equipment, products, operating expenses, and the reality that revenue doesn't necessarily arrive the moment the business opens its doors.
Austin knew he needed some financial breathing room as he got Coastal Green Pest Solutions off the ground.
That's where Surety Bank came in.
Austin first learned about Surety through his father, who had worked in real estate and developed a relationship with Surety Bank CEO Ryan James over the years.
When Austin was preparing to launch Coastal Green Pest Solutions, that local connection opened the door to a conversation.
“I was just looking for a good little loan—something to get me by, that way I had a little bit of breathing room,” Austin says. “I was very questionable on how I was going to make everything work, and honestly, I'm very grateful for Surety stepping in.”
Surety provided a business loan directly to Coastal Green Pest Solutions, giving Austin additional resources and flexibility during the critical early months of building the company.
For Austin, the experience demonstrated one of the advantages of working with a community bank: relationships matter.
Ryan knew Austin's family. He'd seen Austin working around town. And instead of Austin simply being another application, there was an opportunity to understand the person and business behind it.
That trust helped a local entrepreneur take the next step.
Just a couple of months into the business when we spoke with him, Austin already had big ambitions for Coastal Green Pest Solutions.
Eventually, he'd like to have multiple trucks on the road, a dedicated irrigation team, a sales team, and expanded services including home pest and termite control.
But he's in no hurry to grow simply for the sake of getting bigger.
Austin wants to make sure the service and customer experience that distinguish Coastal Green today remain intact as the company expands.
“If I'm not taking the time to personalize your service and making sure that I'm putting down what I'm promising, then there's no point in me opening up the next step,” he says.
He describes his philosophy simply as “natural growth or no growth.”
It's an especially fitting philosophy for someone who spends his days helping things grow.
For now, Austin is focused on building relationships, earning the trust of homeowners and landscapers throughout Volusia County, and developing Coastal Green one customer at a time.
And he's doing it in the community he has always called home.
“I still enjoy the small-town aspect of DeLand,” Austin says. “Raising a family here, having good friends here, it's very nice. DeLand's a good home base.”
As DeLand and Volusia County continue to grow, Austin hopes Coastal Green Pest Solutions will grow right alongside them, without losing the personal relationships that helped get the business started in the first place.
Coastal Green Pest Solutions serves homeowners throughout Volusia County. For homeowners who care about the health and appearance of their lawn and landscaping, Austin and Coastal Green provide personalized lawn treatment, pest management, fertilization, and plant health solutions.
Personal fraud continues to evolve, and scammers are finding increasingly sophisticated ways to target consumers. From AI-powered messages that appear surprisingly convincing to attempts to gain access to entire financial accounts. Recognizing the warning signs is becoming more important than ever.
While you can't prevent every fraud attempt, knowing what to watch for and taking a few proactive steps can make it much harder for scammers to succeed.
Artificial intelligence is making fraudulent calls and text messages feel more personal and legitimate. Scammers can use AI to create convincing communications designed to make you believe you're interacting with a trusted person or organization.
Be cautious when you receive an unexpected call or message asking for personal information, money, or access to an account. Before responding or taking action, reach out to Surety Bank directly to verify they are the ones calling. This step could mean not being scammed out of your money.
Fraudsters are increasingly looking beyond individual credit card numbers and attempting to gain access to entire financial profiles, including personal bank and investment accounts.
Protect your accounts by regularly reviewing activity for transactions you don't recognize and using multifactor authentication whenever it's available. Never provide your password, login credentials, or verification codes to someone who contacts you unexpectedly.
If you notice something unusual in your Surety Bank account, contact us promptly.
Older adults continue to be frequent targets of financial scams, particularly those involving tech support and investment-related schemes.
These scams often rely on urgency or fear to convince someone to act before they have an opportunity to question what's happening. Talk with older family members about common scams and encourage them to check with someone they trust before sending money or providing sensitive information in response to an unexpected request.
Taking a few minutes to verify a situation can help prevent a significant financial loss.
Protecting yourself doesn't require becoming a fraud expert. Start by being skeptical of unexpected requests for money or information, especially when someone pressures you to act immediately.
Use strong, unique passwords and enable multifactor authentication when available. Avoid clicking links in unexpected emails or text messages, and regularly review your bank accounts and credit reports for activity you don't recognize.
Most importantly, trust your instincts. If something doesn't feel right, stop and verify before taking action.
If you'd like to take additional steps to protect yourself, here are three resources worth exploring:
FTC IdentityTheft.gov
Best for someone who thinks their identity has already been compromised. The FTC provides a personalized recovery plan and steps for addressing identity theft.
Visit IdentityTheft.gov
FTC Credit Freeze & Fraud Alert Guide
Customers can place a free credit freeze, which can prevent identity thieves from opening new credit accounts in their name, or add a fraud alert.
Learn About Credit Freezes & Fraud Alerts
Aura
For those interested in a paid protection service, Aura offers identity and financial monitoring tools and other fraud-protection features. I’d position this as an optional third-party tool, not something Surety is recommending over other services.
Explore Aura
These resources are provided for informational purposes. Surety Bank does not endorse or guarantee any third-party product or service.
Fraud tactics will continue to change, but one of your strongest defenses is also one of the simplest: slow down.
Scammers often depend on creating urgency so you act before thinking. If you're unsure about a request involving your Surety Bank account, don't rely on the phone number, link, or contact information provided in the message. Contact Surety Bank directly through a trusted channel.
We're here to help you protect your financial information and recognize potential fraud before it becomes a loss.
For Maria Bonfiglio, working at Surety Bank has always been about more than banking. It's about taking care of people.
Maria has been part of the Surety Bank family for nine years, but her journey began with a simple text message. A former boss she had stayed in touch with reached out years after they had worked together and told her, "I have the perfect job for you." Maria's response was simple: "Where should I sign?"
Nine years later, her enthusiasm hasn't changed.
"I love it. I love my job."
Over the years, Maria's role has evolved, giving her the opportunity to learn new skills and develop deeper relationships with customers. She has gotten to know some of them so well that she can recognize who is calling just by the sound of their voice. For Maria, those relationships are what make Surety feel less like a workplace and more like a family.
That personal connection also shapes the way Maria approaches protecting customers.
When something doesn't seem right, she isn't afraid to ask questions. Whether she's reviewing a check or helping someone resolve an issue with an account, Maria understands that taking a little extra time can make a significant difference.
"We really care about our customers," Maria explains. Even when customers may wonder why the bank is asking additional questions, she wants them to understand the reason behind it. "We don't want them to lose money."
For Maria, that care isn't limited to customers. She has experienced it personally as an employee.
During some of the most difficult moments of her life, including an extended hospital stay and the loss of her son, Maria remembers her Surety family checking on her, visiting her, and making sure she knew she wasn't alone. Those experiences showed her that the relationships Surety talks about aren't simply something customers experience. They're part of the culture inside the bank, too.
It's also why Maria believes Surety Bank has remained part of the community for 100 years. She has worked at other banks, but says Surety's involvement in the community feels different. The bank isn't trying to be the biggest. Instead, it has remained focused on the people and communities it serves.
That same philosophy comes through in Maria's relationships with her customers. Some have developed such a strong connection with her that when they call, they specifically ask for Maria. She takes pride in being someone they know they can turn to when they have a question or need assistance.
After nine years, Maria still says thank you for the opportunity that brought her to Surety Bank. Her story is a reminder that relationship banking begins with people who genuinely care about the people on the other side of the counter or phone.
This is how Surety Bank has always done it. It's how we will always do it.
For Lewis Long III, banking with Surety Bank is a relationship that has lasted more than five decades.
As one of Surety Bank's longest-standing customers, Lewis has watched the bank grow alongside the community since his connection to Surety began more than 50 years ago. He originally opened a savings account after hearing from neighbors that the bank consistently offered strong value and genuinely cared about its customers.
Over the years, Lewis has seen a lot of change. He remembers making deposits with a passbook while employees manually updated balances using a hand-cranked adding machine. What hasn't changed, however, is the way Surety Bank treats the people who walk through its doors.
For Lewis, that commitment extends beyond his own banking experience. When his sons were born, he opened accounts for each of them at Surety Bank, continuing a family tradition that has now spanned generations. One of his sons even participated in the ribbon-cutting ceremony when Surety Bank dedicated its current building in the early 1990s.
Throughout his life of military service, public service, and community involvement, Lewis has always returned to the same bank.
What has kept him loyal all these years?
The answer is simple: people.
"You couldn't ask for better service or better people," Lewis says. "I don't know how they remember everybody's name that walks in the door, but they do. They're just super folks. The people have always been a gift to us and to the community."
Lewis believes that the values Surety Bank was founded on continue to define the bank today. One story from the bank's early history has always stayed with him. During the Great Depression, he recalls hearing that Surety worked with customers rather than rushing to foreclose on them because they cared more about helping people than taking their property. That philosophy, he says, is still reflected in the way the bank serves its customers today.
It's one of the reasons Lewis has become an advocate for the bank wherever he goes.
Whether he's encouraging friends to open a money market account, sharing the bank's history, or even suggesting a new Surety branch for his hometown of Lake Helen, Lewis proudly recommends the bank he's trusted for more than half a century.
"I wouldn't champion the bank if I didn't believe in these folks and believe in this bank," he says. "Everybody is important. They see past whatever's bothering someone that day and still treat people with kindness and respect."
As Surety Bank celebrates 100 years of serving Central Florida, customers like Lewis remind us that while banking has evolved, some things should never change. Genuine relationships, exceptional service, and a commitment to the community remain at the heart of everything we do.
This is how Surety Bank has always done it. It's how we will always do it.
For Richard Taylor, Surety Bank has never simply been a place to bank. It has been part of his family and his community for generations.
His grandfather, Dr. Harold Taylor, served on Surety’s board and became president during a challenging period in the institution’s early history. His father later served as Surety’s attorney and on its Board of Directors. Richard’s own relationship with the bank began when he was a child.
“My earliest memory was at 110 North Florida,” Richard recalls. He believes that as soon as he was old enough to walk into Surety, he was bringing in a dime to start an account.
After leaving the Marine Corps in 1977, Richard eventually continued the family tradition by joining Surety’s Board of Directors himself.
His story provides a unique window into Surety Bank’s first 100 years and the principles that have allowed a local institution to continue serving its community through generations of change.
Surety was formed in 1926 as a mutual building and loan association, owned by its depositors and borrowers rather than traditional shareholders.
It wasn’t long before the young institution faced a major test.
Florida’s real estate boom collapsed before the Great Depression spread across the country. Richard grew up hearing stories about the banks around DeLand that failed during those difficult years. Surety, however, kept its doors open.
Richard believes the reason came down to the way Surety treated people.
“The reason it didn’t fold is because of two reasons. One, it was able to reason with the depositors and, two, because it acted reasonably with the borrowers.”
Instead of immediately turning to foreclosure when borrowers struggled, Richard says Surety did everything it could to work with them. At the same time, its leaders worked to maintain the confidence of depositors. That careful, personal approach helped Surety navigate one of the most difficult periods in American financial history without shutting down.
The story may be nearly a century old, but the philosophy behind it feels familiar: know the people you serve and be willing to work with them when it matters.
When Richard later joined the board, that personal knowledge of customers and the community was still an important part of how Surety operated.
He remembers sitting alongside directors who seemed to know the history behind nearly every property and family that came before them. When the bank considered making a loan, board members could personally visit the property, research comparable sales, and bring their own knowledge of the local market into the conversation.
For customers, it meant decisions were being made by people who understood the community.
“If you had a problem, you had somebody that you could go sit down across a desk and then talk to them about it.”
That ability to have a real conversation with the people behind your bank is something Richard remembers as an important part of Surety’s contribution to the community.
A lot has changed since those early days.
Richard remembers when customers carried physical books that recorded their payments and Surety used a large hand-operated calculating machine to figure interest. Today, technology has transformed nearly every part of the banking experience.
Surety has evolved with the industry. What began primarily as a building and loan association focused on residential homes has grown into a bank serving businesses and developing expertise in specialized areas of banking.
Richard describes that evolution as cautious, and that distinction is important.
Surety has continued to change without losing sight of what made it successful in the first place.
That perspective fits naturally with Surety Bank’s centennial message: “How we’ve always done it is how we’ll always do it.”
In many organizations, “how we’ve always done it” can imply a resistance to change. Surety’s history tells a different story. The tools have changed. The services have expanded. The way customers interact with their bank has evolved.
But the commitment to being thoughtful about how the bank grows and remaining connected to the people it serves has endured.
After all the changes Richard has witnessed, one characteristic stands out when he talks about what makes Surety different today.
“We are truly a local bank.”
For Richard, there is a difference between being called a community bank and actually being part of the community.
Surety’s roots are here. Its history is here. And generations of the people behind the bank have lived and worked alongside the customers they serve.
Richard describes Surety not only as a community bank, but as a community institution.
That connection has carried Surety through enormous changes in banking and in the community itself. Richard remembers a time when Surety did not need much advertising because local people already knew where to go when they needed a reliable place to borrow or deposit their money. Decades later, customers have more banking options than ever, but Surety continues to move steadily forward without chasing every passing trend.
Richard has seen Surety Bank move from passbooks and hand-operated calculators to modern banking. He has watched the institution expand beyond its original focus while continuing to take a careful approach to growth.
And when asked whether a bank that has already been here for 100 years can make it another 100, Richard sees no reason why it can’t.
That confidence comes from knowing where Surety has been.
For a century, the bank has adapted when necessary while holding onto the qualities that have carried it through generations: local roots, thoughtful decisions, and a commitment to the people it serves.
Richard Taylor’s family has been part of that story for generations, and his memories offer a rare look at just how much has changed since 1926.
They also show how much hasn’t.
That is the legacy of Surety Bank.
For Dan Glenn, Pastor of Stetson Baptist Church in DeLand, Surety Bank has become much more than the place where the church did its banking. Over the years, the initial banking relationship has grown into a partnership centered around a shared commitment to the community.
That partnership took on new meaning in 2018 when Stetson Baptist Church launched Night to Shine, an unforgettable prom experience for people with special needs held in partnership with the Tim Tebow Foundation.
Creating an experience like Night to Shine requires significant support, and Surety Bank was one of the event's earliest sponsors.
“Surety was one that came on very early saying, ‘Hey, we want to support that. We want to be a part of it.’”
For Dan, that moment marked a shift in the relationship. It became much more personal and community focused.
Surety continued supporting Night to Shine year after year, but one experience in particular showed Dan what that partnership truly meant.
After the first Night to Shine, Dan realized the church had never properly thanked Surety for its sponsorship. When it came time to plan the event again, he felt hesitant approaching Surety for another year of support.
The response surprised him.
There was no hesitation. Surety wanted to be involved again.
Years later, that commitment went even further when Surety reached out to the church without being asked and offered to increase its support.
“They have an intention to be generous, even when generosity may or may not be expected or requested.”
For Dan, that willingness to look for opportunities to make a greater impact is part of what distinguishes Surety Bank as a community organization.
Instead of simply waiting for someone to present a sponsorship request, Surety has been willing to ask a different question: How can we do more?
That philosophy extends beyond a single event.
Dan describes Surety not simply as a community bank, but as a “community-centered organization” that genuinely cares about DeLand and the relationships it has built throughout the city.
That personal connection is something Dan has experienced firsthand. His relationship with Surety isn't limited to the organization itself. It's also built through relationships with the people behind it.
As Surety Bank celebrates 100 years, Dan believes that commitment to people and community helps explain why the bank has remained part of DeLand for generations.
Over the past century, both the bank and the city have grown and changed. Yet Surety has continued to serve the community throughout that growth.
For Dan, that's exactly why Surety's 100th anniversary message, “How we've always done it is how we'll always do it,” resonates.
“The way they've always done things has been people centered, relationships centered, community centered.”
Those values create something that goes beyond banking. They create trust. They allow organizations like Stetson Baptist Church to know what to expect from a partner that has consistently shown up before and intends to continue showing up in the future.
After years of partnership, Dan hopes that part of Surety never changes.
This is how Surety Bank has always done it. It's how we will always do it.
For Austin Scott, starting a business wasn’t the result of a lifelong plan. It was something that grew over time, much like the lawns he now helps his customers care for.
Born and raised in DeLand, Austin is the owner of Coastal Green Pest Solutions, a new Volusia County business specializing in lawn treatments, pest management, fertilization, and the care of palms and shrubs.
The company may be new, but Austin is far from new to the work.
Before entering the lawn and pest control industry, Austin was selling auto parts at O’Reilly Auto Parts. Then a landscaper friend suggested he take a job with a local pest control company.
He gave it a shot and discovered an industry that fascinated him.
“I like that I could learn something new every day,” Austin says. “You get to see different problems, and you get to see the benefits of your own labor making a lawn beautiful. You get to see it go from nothing to something.”
Austin spent nearly six years in the industry, gradually developing an understanding of not only what products to use, but why lawns develop problems in the first place.
Interestingly, the work even gave him a new appreciation for a subject he once struggled with: chemistry.
In school, chemistry had never come naturally to Austin. But working with fertilizers, herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, and nutrients gave those concepts a real-world application.
“You get to learn something and then apply it directly,” he says.
And the more Austin learned, the more he realized there was an opportunity to do things differently.
Austin believes one of the biggest shortcomings in the lawn and pest control industry isn't necessarily the products or treatment programs companies use. It's the communication that happens, or doesn't happen, between the company, technician, and homeowner.
A lawn problem can be the result of insects, fungus, nutrient deficiencies, irrigation issues, environmental stress, or a combination of factors. Simply treating the symptom doesn't always solve the underlying problem.
Austin wants Coastal Green Pest Solutions to be different.
“I take pride in being the solution and the end to the revolving door when it comes to these lawn programs,” he says.
That means spending time with homeowners, explaining what is happening on their property, and helping them understand what needs to change.
Austin compares a lawn or landscape to the human body. One problem can affect the health of the entire system. Killing an insect, for example, may address the immediate issue, but it doesn't necessarily explain why the lawn became susceptible to the pest in the first place.
“If you can be the middleman between the problem, the chemicals, and the customer, and you can explain all that smoothly, that's normally the end,” Austin says. “A lot of people don't take the time to talk to their customers and make sure they understand.”
It's an approach built around education and relationships as much as treatment.
When the company Austin had worked for was sold, he saw an opportunity to take everything he'd learned and build something of his own.
Coastal Green Pest Solutions was born.
Today, Austin primarily works with residential customers throughout Volusia County who care about the long-term health and appearance of their properties.
His services include:
Austin's philosophy isn't about simply “spraying and praying,” as he puts it. Every property is different, so understanding what's actually happening comes before recommending a solution.
That philosophy also shapes how he plans to grow the business.
Starting a company requires more than expertise and ambition. There are trucks, equipment, products, operating expenses, and the reality that revenue doesn't necessarily arrive the moment the business opens its doors.
Austin knew he needed some financial breathing room as he got Coastal Green Pest Solutions off the ground.
That's where Surety Bank came in.
Austin first learned about Surety through his father, who had worked in real estate and developed a relationship with Surety Bank CEO Ryan James over the years.
When Austin was preparing to launch Coastal Green Pest Solutions, that local connection opened the door to a conversation.
“I was just looking for a good little loan—something to get me by, that way I had a little bit of breathing room,” Austin says. “I was very questionable on how I was going to make everything work, and honestly, I'm very grateful for Surety stepping in.”
Surety provided a business loan directly to Coastal Green Pest Solutions, giving Austin additional resources and flexibility during the critical early months of building the company.
For Austin, the experience demonstrated one of the advantages of working with a community bank: relationships matter.
Ryan knew Austin's family. He'd seen Austin working around town. And instead of Austin simply being another application, there was an opportunity to understand the person and business behind it.
That trust helped a local entrepreneur take the next step.
Just a couple of months into the business when we spoke with him, Austin already had big ambitions for Coastal Green Pest Solutions.
Eventually, he'd like to have multiple trucks on the road, a dedicated irrigation team, a sales team, and expanded services including home pest and termite control.
But he's in no hurry to grow simply for the sake of getting bigger.
Austin wants to make sure the service and customer experience that distinguish Coastal Green today remain intact as the company expands.
“If I'm not taking the time to personalize your service and making sure that I'm putting down what I'm promising, then there's no point in me opening up the next step,” he says.
He describes his philosophy simply as “natural growth or no growth.”
It's an especially fitting philosophy for someone who spends his days helping things grow.
For now, Austin is focused on building relationships, earning the trust of homeowners and landscapers throughout Volusia County, and developing Coastal Green one customer at a time.
And he's doing it in the community he has always called home.
“I still enjoy the small-town aspect of DeLand,” Austin says. “Raising a family here, having good friends here, it's very nice. DeLand's a good home base.”
As DeLand and Volusia County continue to grow, Austin hopes Coastal Green Pest Solutions will grow right alongside them, without losing the personal relationships that helped get the business started in the first place.
Coastal Green Pest Solutions serves homeowners throughout Volusia County. For homeowners who care about the health and appearance of their lawn and landscaping, Austin and Coastal Green provide personalized lawn treatment, pest management, fertilization, and plant health solutions.
Personal fraud continues to evolve, and scammers are finding increasingly sophisticated ways to target consumers. From AI-powered messages that appear surprisingly convincing to attempts to gain access to entire financial accounts. Recognizing the warning signs is becoming more important than ever.
While you can't prevent every fraud attempt, knowing what to watch for and taking a few proactive steps can make it much harder for scammers to succeed.
Artificial intelligence is making fraudulent calls and text messages feel more personal and legitimate. Scammers can use AI to create convincing communications designed to make you believe you're interacting with a trusted person or organization.
Be cautious when you receive an unexpected call or message asking for personal information, money, or access to an account. Before responding or taking action, reach out to Surety Bank directly to verify they are the ones calling. This step could mean not being scammed out of your money.
Fraudsters are increasingly looking beyond individual credit card numbers and attempting to gain access to entire financial profiles, including personal bank and investment accounts.
Protect your accounts by regularly reviewing activity for transactions you don't recognize and using multifactor authentication whenever it's available. Never provide your password, login credentials, or verification codes to someone who contacts you unexpectedly.
If you notice something unusual in your Surety Bank account, contact us promptly.
Older adults continue to be frequent targets of financial scams, particularly those involving tech support and investment-related schemes.
These scams often rely on urgency or fear to convince someone to act before they have an opportunity to question what's happening. Talk with older family members about common scams and encourage them to check with someone they trust before sending money or providing sensitive information in response to an unexpected request.
Taking a few minutes to verify a situation can help prevent a significant financial loss.
Protecting yourself doesn't require becoming a fraud expert. Start by being skeptical of unexpected requests for money or information, especially when someone pressures you to act immediately.
Use strong, unique passwords and enable multifactor authentication when available. Avoid clicking links in unexpected emails or text messages, and regularly review your bank accounts and credit reports for activity you don't recognize.
Most importantly, trust your instincts. If something doesn't feel right, stop and verify before taking action.
If you'd like to take additional steps to protect yourself, here are three resources worth exploring:
FTC IdentityTheft.gov
Best for someone who thinks their identity has already been compromised. The FTC provides a personalized recovery plan and steps for addressing identity theft.
Visit IdentityTheft.gov
FTC Credit Freeze & Fraud Alert Guide
Customers can place a free credit freeze, which can prevent identity thieves from opening new credit accounts in their name, or add a fraud alert.
Learn About Credit Freezes & Fraud Alerts
Aura
For those interested in a paid protection service, Aura offers identity and financial monitoring tools and other fraud-protection features. I’d position this as an optional third-party tool, not something Surety is recommending over other services.
Explore Aura
These resources are provided for informational purposes. Surety Bank does not endorse or guarantee any third-party product or service.
Fraud tactics will continue to change, but one of your strongest defenses is also one of the simplest: slow down.
Scammers often depend on creating urgency so you act before thinking. If you're unsure about a request involving your Surety Bank account, don't rely on the phone number, link, or contact information provided in the message. Contact Surety Bank directly through a trusted channel.
We're here to help you protect your financial information and recognize potential fraud before it becomes a loss.
For Maria Bonfiglio, working at Surety Bank has always been about more than banking. It's about taking care of people.
Maria has been part of the Surety Bank family for nine years, but her journey began with a simple text message. A former boss she had stayed in touch with reached out years after they had worked together and told her, "I have the perfect job for you." Maria's response was simple: "Where should I sign?"
Nine years later, her enthusiasm hasn't changed.
"I love it. I love my job."
Over the years, Maria's role has evolved, giving her the opportunity to learn new skills and develop deeper relationships with customers. She has gotten to know some of them so well that she can recognize who is calling just by the sound of their voice. For Maria, those relationships are what make Surety feel less like a workplace and more like a family.
That personal connection also shapes the way Maria approaches protecting customers.
When something doesn't seem right, she isn't afraid to ask questions. Whether she's reviewing a check or helping someone resolve an issue with an account, Maria understands that taking a little extra time can make a significant difference.
"We really care about our customers," Maria explains. Even when customers may wonder why the bank is asking additional questions, she wants them to understand the reason behind it. "We don't want them to lose money."
For Maria, that care isn't limited to customers. She has experienced it personally as an employee.
During some of the most difficult moments of her life, including an extended hospital stay and the loss of her son, Maria remembers her Surety family checking on her, visiting her, and making sure she knew she wasn't alone. Those experiences showed her that the relationships Surety talks about aren't simply something customers experience. They're part of the culture inside the bank, too.
It's also why Maria believes Surety Bank has remained part of the community for 100 years. She has worked at other banks, but says Surety's involvement in the community feels different. The bank isn't trying to be the biggest. Instead, it has remained focused on the people and communities it serves.
That same philosophy comes through in Maria's relationships with her customers. Some have developed such a strong connection with her that when they call, they specifically ask for Maria. She takes pride in being someone they know they can turn to when they have a question or need assistance.
After nine years, Maria still says thank you for the opportunity that brought her to Surety Bank. Her story is a reminder that relationship banking begins with people who genuinely care about the people on the other side of the counter or phone.
This is how Surety Bank has always done it. It's how we will always do it.
For Lewis Long III, banking with Surety Bank is a relationship that has lasted more than five decades.
As one of Surety Bank's longest-standing customers, Lewis has watched the bank grow alongside the community since his connection to Surety began more than 50 years ago. He originally opened a savings account after hearing from neighbors that the bank consistently offered strong value and genuinely cared about its customers.
Over the years, Lewis has seen a lot of change. He remembers making deposits with a passbook while employees manually updated balances using a hand-cranked adding machine. What hasn't changed, however, is the way Surety Bank treats the people who walk through its doors.
For Lewis, that commitment extends beyond his own banking experience. When his sons were born, he opened accounts for each of them at Surety Bank, continuing a family tradition that has now spanned generations. One of his sons even participated in the ribbon-cutting ceremony when Surety Bank dedicated its current building in the early 1990s.
Throughout his life of military service, public service, and community involvement, Lewis has always returned to the same bank.
What has kept him loyal all these years?
The answer is simple: people.
"You couldn't ask for better service or better people," Lewis says. "I don't know how they remember everybody's name that walks in the door, but they do. They're just super folks. The people have always been a gift to us and to the community."
Lewis believes that the values Surety Bank was founded on continue to define the bank today. One story from the bank's early history has always stayed with him. During the Great Depression, he recalls hearing that Surety worked with customers rather than rushing to foreclose on them because they cared more about helping people than taking their property. That philosophy, he says, is still reflected in the way the bank serves its customers today.
It's one of the reasons Lewis has become an advocate for the bank wherever he goes.
Whether he's encouraging friends to open a money market account, sharing the bank's history, or even suggesting a new Surety branch for his hometown of Lake Helen, Lewis proudly recommends the bank he's trusted for more than half a century.
"I wouldn't champion the bank if I didn't believe in these folks and believe in this bank," he says. "Everybody is important. They see past whatever's bothering someone that day and still treat people with kindness and respect."
As Surety Bank celebrates 100 years of serving Central Florida, customers like Lewis remind us that while banking has evolved, some things should never change. Genuine relationships, exceptional service, and a commitment to the community remain at the heart of everything we do.
This is how Surety Bank has always done it. It's how we will always do it.
For Richard Taylor, Surety Bank has never simply been a place to bank. It has been part of his family and his community for generations.
His grandfather, Dr. Harold Taylor, served on Surety’s board and became president during a challenging period in the institution’s early history. His father later served as Surety’s attorney and on its Board of Directors. Richard’s own relationship with the bank began when he was a child.
“My earliest memory was at 110 North Florida,” Richard recalls. He believes that as soon as he was old enough to walk into Surety, he was bringing in a dime to start an account.
After leaving the Marine Corps in 1977, Richard eventually continued the family tradition by joining Surety’s Board of Directors himself.
His story provides a unique window into Surety Bank’s first 100 years and the principles that have allowed a local institution to continue serving its community through generations of change.
Surety was formed in 1926 as a mutual building and loan association, owned by its depositors and borrowers rather than traditional shareholders.
It wasn’t long before the young institution faced a major test.
Florida’s real estate boom collapsed before the Great Depression spread across the country. Richard grew up hearing stories about the banks around DeLand that failed during those difficult years. Surety, however, kept its doors open.
Richard believes the reason came down to the way Surety treated people.
“The reason it didn’t fold is because of two reasons. One, it was able to reason with the depositors and, two, because it acted reasonably with the borrowers.”
Instead of immediately turning to foreclosure when borrowers struggled, Richard says Surety did everything it could to work with them. At the same time, its leaders worked to maintain the confidence of depositors. That careful, personal approach helped Surety navigate one of the most difficult periods in American financial history without shutting down.
The story may be nearly a century old, but the philosophy behind it feels familiar: know the people you serve and be willing to work with them when it matters.
When Richard later joined the board, that personal knowledge of customers and the community was still an important part of how Surety operated.
He remembers sitting alongside directors who seemed to know the history behind nearly every property and family that came before them. When the bank considered making a loan, board members could personally visit the property, research comparable sales, and bring their own knowledge of the local market into the conversation.
For customers, it meant decisions were being made by people who understood the community.
“If you had a problem, you had somebody that you could go sit down across a desk and then talk to them about it.”
That ability to have a real conversation with the people behind your bank is something Richard remembers as an important part of Surety’s contribution to the community.
A lot has changed since those early days.
Richard remembers when customers carried physical books that recorded their payments and Surety used a large hand-operated calculating machine to figure interest. Today, technology has transformed nearly every part of the banking experience.
Surety has evolved with the industry. What began primarily as a building and loan association focused on residential homes has grown into a bank serving businesses and developing expertise in specialized areas of banking.
Richard describes that evolution as cautious, and that distinction is important.
Surety has continued to change without losing sight of what made it successful in the first place.
That perspective fits naturally with Surety Bank’s centennial message: “How we’ve always done it is how we’ll always do it.”
In many organizations, “how we’ve always done it” can imply a resistance to change. Surety’s history tells a different story. The tools have changed. The services have expanded. The way customers interact with their bank has evolved.
But the commitment to being thoughtful about how the bank grows and remaining connected to the people it serves has endured.
After all the changes Richard has witnessed, one characteristic stands out when he talks about what makes Surety different today.
“We are truly a local bank.”
For Richard, there is a difference between being called a community bank and actually being part of the community.
Surety’s roots are here. Its history is here. And generations of the people behind the bank have lived and worked alongside the customers they serve.
Richard describes Surety not only as a community bank, but as a community institution.
That connection has carried Surety through enormous changes in banking and in the community itself. Richard remembers a time when Surety did not need much advertising because local people already knew where to go when they needed a reliable place to borrow or deposit their money. Decades later, customers have more banking options than ever, but Surety continues to move steadily forward without chasing every passing trend.
Richard has seen Surety Bank move from passbooks and hand-operated calculators to modern banking. He has watched the institution expand beyond its original focus while continuing to take a careful approach to growth.
And when asked whether a bank that has already been here for 100 years can make it another 100, Richard sees no reason why it can’t.
That confidence comes from knowing where Surety has been.
For a century, the bank has adapted when necessary while holding onto the qualities that have carried it through generations: local roots, thoughtful decisions, and a commitment to the people it serves.
Richard Taylor’s family has been part of that story for generations, and his memories offer a rare look at just how much has changed since 1926.
They also show how much hasn’t.
That is the legacy of Surety Bank.
For Dan Glenn, Pastor of Stetson Baptist Church in DeLand, Surety Bank has become much more than the place where the church did its banking. Over the years, the initial banking relationship has grown into a partnership centered around a shared commitment to the community.
That partnership took on new meaning in 2018 when Stetson Baptist Church launched Night to Shine, an unforgettable prom experience for people with special needs held in partnership with the Tim Tebow Foundation.
Creating an experience like Night to Shine requires significant support, and Surety Bank was one of the event's earliest sponsors.
“Surety was one that came on very early saying, ‘Hey, we want to support that. We want to be a part of it.’”
For Dan, that moment marked a shift in the relationship. It became much more personal and community focused.
Surety continued supporting Night to Shine year after year, but one experience in particular showed Dan what that partnership truly meant.
After the first Night to Shine, Dan realized the church had never properly thanked Surety for its sponsorship. When it came time to plan the event again, he felt hesitant approaching Surety for another year of support.
The response surprised him.
There was no hesitation. Surety wanted to be involved again.
Years later, that commitment went even further when Surety reached out to the church without being asked and offered to increase its support.
“They have an intention to be generous, even when generosity may or may not be expected or requested.”
For Dan, that willingness to look for opportunities to make a greater impact is part of what distinguishes Surety Bank as a community organization.
Instead of simply waiting for someone to present a sponsorship request, Surety has been willing to ask a different question: How can we do more?
That philosophy extends beyond a single event.
Dan describes Surety not simply as a community bank, but as a “community-centered organization” that genuinely cares about DeLand and the relationships it has built throughout the city.
That personal connection is something Dan has experienced firsthand. His relationship with Surety isn't limited to the organization itself. It's also built through relationships with the people behind it.
As Surety Bank celebrates 100 years, Dan believes that commitment to people and community helps explain why the bank has remained part of DeLand for generations.
Over the past century, both the bank and the city have grown and changed. Yet Surety has continued to serve the community throughout that growth.
For Dan, that's exactly why Surety's 100th anniversary message, “How we've always done it is how we'll always do it,” resonates.
“The way they've always done things has been people centered, relationships centered, community centered.”
Those values create something that goes beyond banking. They create trust. They allow organizations like Stetson Baptist Church to know what to expect from a partner that has consistently shown up before and intends to continue showing up in the future.
After years of partnership, Dan hopes that part of Surety never changes.
This is how Surety Bank has always done it. It's how we will always do it.
For Austin Scott, starting a business wasn’t the result of a lifelong plan. It was something that grew over time, much like the lawns he now helps his customers care for.
Born and raised in DeLand, Austin is the owner of Coastal Green Pest Solutions, a new Volusia County business specializing in lawn treatments, pest management, fertilization, and the care of palms and shrubs.
The company may be new, but Austin is far from new to the work.
Before entering the lawn and pest control industry, Austin was selling auto parts at O’Reilly Auto Parts. Then a landscaper friend suggested he take a job with a local pest control company.
He gave it a shot and discovered an industry that fascinated him.
“I like that I could learn something new every day,” Austin says. “You get to see different problems, and you get to see the benefits of your own labor making a lawn beautiful. You get to see it go from nothing to something.”
Austin spent nearly six years in the industry, gradually developing an understanding of not only what products to use, but why lawns develop problems in the first place.
Interestingly, the work even gave him a new appreciation for a subject he once struggled with: chemistry.
In school, chemistry had never come naturally to Austin. But working with fertilizers, herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, and nutrients gave those concepts a real-world application.
“You get to learn something and then apply it directly,” he says.
And the more Austin learned, the more he realized there was an opportunity to do things differently.
Austin believes one of the biggest shortcomings in the lawn and pest control industry isn't necessarily the products or treatment programs companies use. It's the communication that happens, or doesn't happen, between the company, technician, and homeowner.
A lawn problem can be the result of insects, fungus, nutrient deficiencies, irrigation issues, environmental stress, or a combination of factors. Simply treating the symptom doesn't always solve the underlying problem.
Austin wants Coastal Green Pest Solutions to be different.
“I take pride in being the solution and the end to the revolving door when it comes to these lawn programs,” he says.
That means spending time with homeowners, explaining what is happening on their property, and helping them understand what needs to change.
Austin compares a lawn or landscape to the human body. One problem can affect the health of the entire system. Killing an insect, for example, may address the immediate issue, but it doesn't necessarily explain why the lawn became susceptible to the pest in the first place.
“If you can be the middleman between the problem, the chemicals, and the customer, and you can explain all that smoothly, that's normally the end,” Austin says. “A lot of people don't take the time to talk to their customers and make sure they understand.”
It's an approach built around education and relationships as much as treatment.
When the company Austin had worked for was sold, he saw an opportunity to take everything he'd learned and build something of his own.
Coastal Green Pest Solutions was born.
Today, Austin primarily works with residential customers throughout Volusia County who care about the long-term health and appearance of their properties.
His services include:
Austin's philosophy isn't about simply “spraying and praying,” as he puts it. Every property is different, so understanding what's actually happening comes before recommending a solution.
That philosophy also shapes how he plans to grow the business.
Starting a company requires more than expertise and ambition. There are trucks, equipment, products, operating expenses, and the reality that revenue doesn't necessarily arrive the moment the business opens its doors.
Austin knew he needed some financial breathing room as he got Coastal Green Pest Solutions off the ground.
That's where Surety Bank came in.
Austin first learned about Surety through his father, who had worked in real estate and developed a relationship with Surety Bank CEO Ryan James over the years.
When Austin was preparing to launch Coastal Green Pest Solutions, that local connection opened the door to a conversation.
“I was just looking for a good little loan—something to get me by, that way I had a little bit of breathing room,” Austin says. “I was very questionable on how I was going to make everything work, and honestly, I'm very grateful for Surety stepping in.”
Surety provided a business loan directly to Coastal Green Pest Solutions, giving Austin additional resources and flexibility during the critical early months of building the company.
For Austin, the experience demonstrated one of the advantages of working with a community bank: relationships matter.
Ryan knew Austin's family. He'd seen Austin working around town. And instead of Austin simply being another application, there was an opportunity to understand the person and business behind it.
That trust helped a local entrepreneur take the next step.
Just a couple of months into the business when we spoke with him, Austin already had big ambitions for Coastal Green Pest Solutions.
Eventually, he'd like to have multiple trucks on the road, a dedicated irrigation team, a sales team, and expanded services including home pest and termite control.
But he's in no hurry to grow simply for the sake of getting bigger.
Austin wants to make sure the service and customer experience that distinguish Coastal Green today remain intact as the company expands.
“If I'm not taking the time to personalize your service and making sure that I'm putting down what I'm promising, then there's no point in me opening up the next step,” he says.
He describes his philosophy simply as “natural growth or no growth.”
It's an especially fitting philosophy for someone who spends his days helping things grow.
For now, Austin is focused on building relationships, earning the trust of homeowners and landscapers throughout Volusia County, and developing Coastal Green one customer at a time.
And he's doing it in the community he has always called home.
“I still enjoy the small-town aspect of DeLand,” Austin says. “Raising a family here, having good friends here, it's very nice. DeLand's a good home base.”
As DeLand and Volusia County continue to grow, Austin hopes Coastal Green Pest Solutions will grow right alongside them, without losing the personal relationships that helped get the business started in the first place.
Coastal Green Pest Solutions serves homeowners throughout Volusia County. For homeowners who care about the health and appearance of their lawn and landscaping, Austin and Coastal Green provide personalized lawn treatment, pest management, fertilization, and plant health solutions.
Personal fraud continues to evolve, and scammers are finding increasingly sophisticated ways to target consumers. From AI-powered messages that appear surprisingly convincing to attempts to gain access to entire financial accounts. Recognizing the warning signs is becoming more important than ever.
While you can't prevent every fraud attempt, knowing what to watch for and taking a few proactive steps can make it much harder for scammers to succeed.
Artificial intelligence is making fraudulent calls and text messages feel more personal and legitimate. Scammers can use AI to create convincing communications designed to make you believe you're interacting with a trusted person or organization.
Be cautious when you receive an unexpected call or message asking for personal information, money, or access to an account. Before responding or taking action, reach out to Surety Bank directly to verify they are the ones calling. This step could mean not being scammed out of your money.
Fraudsters are increasingly looking beyond individual credit card numbers and attempting to gain access to entire financial profiles, including personal bank and investment accounts.
Protect your accounts by regularly reviewing activity for transactions you don't recognize and using multifactor authentication whenever it's available. Never provide your password, login credentials, or verification codes to someone who contacts you unexpectedly.
If you notice something unusual in your Surety Bank account, contact us promptly.
Older adults continue to be frequent targets of financial scams, particularly those involving tech support and investment-related schemes.
These scams often rely on urgency or fear to convince someone to act before they have an opportunity to question what's happening. Talk with older family members about common scams and encourage them to check with someone they trust before sending money or providing sensitive information in response to an unexpected request.
Taking a few minutes to verify a situation can help prevent a significant financial loss.
Protecting yourself doesn't require becoming a fraud expert. Start by being skeptical of unexpected requests for money or information, especially when someone pressures you to act immediately.
Use strong, unique passwords and enable multifactor authentication when available. Avoid clicking links in unexpected emails or text messages, and regularly review your bank accounts and credit reports for activity you don't recognize.
Most importantly, trust your instincts. If something doesn't feel right, stop and verify before taking action.
If you'd like to take additional steps to protect yourself, here are three resources worth exploring:
FTC IdentityTheft.gov
Best for someone who thinks their identity has already been compromised. The FTC provides a personalized recovery plan and steps for addressing identity theft.
Visit IdentityTheft.gov
FTC Credit Freeze & Fraud Alert Guide
Customers can place a free credit freeze, which can prevent identity thieves from opening new credit accounts in their name, or add a fraud alert.
Learn About Credit Freezes & Fraud Alerts
Aura
For those interested in a paid protection service, Aura offers identity and financial monitoring tools and other fraud-protection features. I’d position this as an optional third-party tool, not something Surety is recommending over other services.
Explore Aura
These resources are provided for informational purposes. Surety Bank does not endorse or guarantee any third-party product or service.
Fraud tactics will continue to change, but one of your strongest defenses is also one of the simplest: slow down.
Scammers often depend on creating urgency so you act before thinking. If you're unsure about a request involving your Surety Bank account, don't rely on the phone number, link, or contact information provided in the message. Contact Surety Bank directly through a trusted channel.
We're here to help you protect your financial information and recognize potential fraud before it becomes a loss.
For Maria Bonfiglio, working at Surety Bank has always been about more than banking. It's about taking care of people.
Maria has been part of the Surety Bank family for nine years, but her journey began with a simple text message. A former boss she had stayed in touch with reached out years after they had worked together and told her, "I have the perfect job for you." Maria's response was simple: "Where should I sign?"
Nine years later, her enthusiasm hasn't changed.
"I love it. I love my job."
Over the years, Maria's role has evolved, giving her the opportunity to learn new skills and develop deeper relationships with customers. She has gotten to know some of them so well that she can recognize who is calling just by the sound of their voice. For Maria, those relationships are what make Surety feel less like a workplace and more like a family.
That personal connection also shapes the way Maria approaches protecting customers.
When something doesn't seem right, she isn't afraid to ask questions. Whether she's reviewing a check or helping someone resolve an issue with an account, Maria understands that taking a little extra time can make a significant difference.
"We really care about our customers," Maria explains. Even when customers may wonder why the bank is asking additional questions, she wants them to understand the reason behind it. "We don't want them to lose money."
For Maria, that care isn't limited to customers. She has experienced it personally as an employee.
During some of the most difficult moments of her life, including an extended hospital stay and the loss of her son, Maria remembers her Surety family checking on her, visiting her, and making sure she knew she wasn't alone. Those experiences showed her that the relationships Surety talks about aren't simply something customers experience. They're part of the culture inside the bank, too.
It's also why Maria believes Surety Bank has remained part of the community for 100 years. She has worked at other banks, but says Surety's involvement in the community feels different. The bank isn't trying to be the biggest. Instead, it has remained focused on the people and communities it serves.
That same philosophy comes through in Maria's relationships with her customers. Some have developed such a strong connection with her that when they call, they specifically ask for Maria. She takes pride in being someone they know they can turn to when they have a question or need assistance.
After nine years, Maria still says thank you for the opportunity that brought her to Surety Bank. Her story is a reminder that relationship banking begins with people who genuinely care about the people on the other side of the counter or phone.
This is how Surety Bank has always done it. It's how we will always do it.
For Lewis Long III, banking with Surety Bank is a relationship that has lasted more than five decades.
As one of Surety Bank's longest-standing customers, Lewis has watched the bank grow alongside the community since his connection to Surety began more than 50 years ago. He originally opened a savings account after hearing from neighbors that the bank consistently offered strong value and genuinely cared about its customers.
Over the years, Lewis has seen a lot of change. He remembers making deposits with a passbook while employees manually updated balances using a hand-cranked adding machine. What hasn't changed, however, is the way Surety Bank treats the people who walk through its doors.
For Lewis, that commitment extends beyond his own banking experience. When his sons were born, he opened accounts for each of them at Surety Bank, continuing a family tradition that has now spanned generations. One of his sons even participated in the ribbon-cutting ceremony when Surety Bank dedicated its current building in the early 1990s.
Throughout his life of military service, public service, and community involvement, Lewis has always returned to the same bank.
What has kept him loyal all these years?
The answer is simple: people.
"You couldn't ask for better service or better people," Lewis says. "I don't know how they remember everybody's name that walks in the door, but they do. They're just super folks. The people have always been a gift to us and to the community."
Lewis believes that the values Surety Bank was founded on continue to define the bank today. One story from the bank's early history has always stayed with him. During the Great Depression, he recalls hearing that Surety worked with customers rather than rushing to foreclose on them because they cared more about helping people than taking their property. That philosophy, he says, is still reflected in the way the bank serves its customers today.
It's one of the reasons Lewis has become an advocate for the bank wherever he goes.
Whether he's encouraging friends to open a money market account, sharing the bank's history, or even suggesting a new Surety branch for his hometown of Lake Helen, Lewis proudly recommends the bank he's trusted for more than half a century.
"I wouldn't champion the bank if I didn't believe in these folks and believe in this bank," he says. "Everybody is important. They see past whatever's bothering someone that day and still treat people with kindness and respect."
As Surety Bank celebrates 100 years of serving Central Florida, customers like Lewis remind us that while banking has evolved, some things should never change. Genuine relationships, exceptional service, and a commitment to the community remain at the heart of everything we do.
This is how Surety Bank has always done it. It's how we will always do it.
For Richard Taylor, Surety Bank has never simply been a place to bank. It has been part of his family and his community for generations.
His grandfather, Dr. Harold Taylor, served on Surety’s board and became president during a challenging period in the institution’s early history. His father later served as Surety’s attorney and on its Board of Directors. Richard’s own relationship with the bank began when he was a child.
“My earliest memory was at 110 North Florida,” Richard recalls. He believes that as soon as he was old enough to walk into Surety, he was bringing in a dime to start an account.
After leaving the Marine Corps in 1977, Richard eventually continued the family tradition by joining Surety’s Board of Directors himself.
His story provides a unique window into Surety Bank’s first 100 years and the principles that have allowed a local institution to continue serving its community through generations of change.
Surety was formed in 1926 as a mutual building and loan association, owned by its depositors and borrowers rather than traditional shareholders.
It wasn’t long before the young institution faced a major test.
Florida’s real estate boom collapsed before the Great Depression spread across the country. Richard grew up hearing stories about the banks around DeLand that failed during those difficult years. Surety, however, kept its doors open.
Richard believes the reason came down to the way Surety treated people.
“The reason it didn’t fold is because of two reasons. One, it was able to reason with the depositors and, two, because it acted reasonably with the borrowers.”
Instead of immediately turning to foreclosure when borrowers struggled, Richard says Surety did everything it could to work with them. At the same time, its leaders worked to maintain the confidence of depositors. That careful, personal approach helped Surety navigate one of the most difficult periods in American financial history without shutting down.
The story may be nearly a century old, but the philosophy behind it feels familiar: know the people you serve and be willing to work with them when it matters.
When Richard later joined the board, that personal knowledge of customers and the community was still an important part of how Surety operated.
He remembers sitting alongside directors who seemed to know the history behind nearly every property and family that came before them. When the bank considered making a loan, board members could personally visit the property, research comparable sales, and bring their own knowledge of the local market into the conversation.
For customers, it meant decisions were being made by people who understood the community.
“If you had a problem, you had somebody that you could go sit down across a desk and then talk to them about it.”
That ability to have a real conversation with the people behind your bank is something Richard remembers as an important part of Surety’s contribution to the community.
A lot has changed since those early days.
Richard remembers when customers carried physical books that recorded their payments and Surety used a large hand-operated calculating machine to figure interest. Today, technology has transformed nearly every part of the banking experience.
Surety has evolved with the industry. What began primarily as a building and loan association focused on residential homes has grown into a bank serving businesses and developing expertise in specialized areas of banking.
Richard describes that evolution as cautious, and that distinction is important.
Surety has continued to change without losing sight of what made it successful in the first place.
That perspective fits naturally with Surety Bank’s centennial message: “How we’ve always done it is how we’ll always do it.”
In many organizations, “how we’ve always done it” can imply a resistance to change. Surety’s history tells a different story. The tools have changed. The services have expanded. The way customers interact with their bank has evolved.
But the commitment to being thoughtful about how the bank grows and remaining connected to the people it serves has endured.
After all the changes Richard has witnessed, one characteristic stands out when he talks about what makes Surety different today.
“We are truly a local bank.”
For Richard, there is a difference between being called a community bank and actually being part of the community.
Surety’s roots are here. Its history is here. And generations of the people behind the bank have lived and worked alongside the customers they serve.
Richard describes Surety not only as a community bank, but as a community institution.
That connection has carried Surety through enormous changes in banking and in the community itself. Richard remembers a time when Surety did not need much advertising because local people already knew where to go when they needed a reliable place to borrow or deposit their money. Decades later, customers have more banking options than ever, but Surety continues to move steadily forward without chasing every passing trend.
Richard has seen Surety Bank move from passbooks and hand-operated calculators to modern banking. He has watched the institution expand beyond its original focus while continuing to take a careful approach to growth.
And when asked whether a bank that has already been here for 100 years can make it another 100, Richard sees no reason why it can’t.
That confidence comes from knowing where Surety has been.
For a century, the bank has adapted when necessary while holding onto the qualities that have carried it through generations: local roots, thoughtful decisions, and a commitment to the people it serves.
Richard Taylor’s family has been part of that story for generations, and his memories offer a rare look at just how much has changed since 1926.
They also show how much hasn’t.
That is the legacy of Surety Bank.
For Dan Glenn, Pastor of Stetson Baptist Church in DeLand, Surety Bank has become much more than the place where the church did its banking. Over the years, the initial banking relationship has grown into a partnership centered around a shared commitment to the community.
That partnership took on new meaning in 2018 when Stetson Baptist Church launched Night to Shine, an unforgettable prom experience for people with special needs held in partnership with the Tim Tebow Foundation.
Creating an experience like Night to Shine requires significant support, and Surety Bank was one of the event's earliest sponsors.
“Surety was one that came on very early saying, ‘Hey, we want to support that. We want to be a part of it.’”
For Dan, that moment marked a shift in the relationship. It became much more personal and community focused.
Surety continued supporting Night to Shine year after year, but one experience in particular showed Dan what that partnership truly meant.
After the first Night to Shine, Dan realized the church had never properly thanked Surety for its sponsorship. When it came time to plan the event again, he felt hesitant approaching Surety for another year of support.
The response surprised him.
There was no hesitation. Surety wanted to be involved again.
Years later, that commitment went even further when Surety reached out to the church without being asked and offered to increase its support.
“They have an intention to be generous, even when generosity may or may not be expected or requested.”
For Dan, that willingness to look for opportunities to make a greater impact is part of what distinguishes Surety Bank as a community organization.
Instead of simply waiting for someone to present a sponsorship request, Surety has been willing to ask a different question: How can we do more?
That philosophy extends beyond a single event.
Dan describes Surety not simply as a community bank, but as a “community-centered organization” that genuinely cares about DeLand and the relationships it has built throughout the city.
That personal connection is something Dan has experienced firsthand. His relationship with Surety isn't limited to the organization itself. It's also built through relationships with the people behind it.
As Surety Bank celebrates 100 years, Dan believes that commitment to people and community helps explain why the bank has remained part of DeLand for generations.
Over the past century, both the bank and the city have grown and changed. Yet Surety has continued to serve the community throughout that growth.
For Dan, that's exactly why Surety's 100th anniversary message, “How we've always done it is how we'll always do it,” resonates.
“The way they've always done things has been people centered, relationships centered, community centered.”
Those values create something that goes beyond banking. They create trust. They allow organizations like Stetson Baptist Church to know what to expect from a partner that has consistently shown up before and intends to continue showing up in the future.
After years of partnership, Dan hopes that part of Surety never changes.
This is how Surety Bank has always done it. It's how we will always do it.
For Austin Scott, starting a business wasn’t the result of a lifelong plan. It was something that grew over time, much like the lawns he now helps his customers care for.
Born and raised in DeLand, Austin is the owner of Coastal Green Pest Solutions, a new Volusia County business specializing in lawn treatments, pest management, fertilization, and the care of palms and shrubs.
The company may be new, but Austin is far from new to the work.
Before entering the lawn and pest control industry, Austin was selling auto parts at O’Reilly Auto Parts. Then a landscaper friend suggested he take a job with a local pest control company.
He gave it a shot and discovered an industry that fascinated him.
“I like that I could learn something new every day,” Austin says. “You get to see different problems, and you get to see the benefits of your own labor making a lawn beautiful. You get to see it go from nothing to something.”
Austin spent nearly six years in the industry, gradually developing an understanding of not only what products to use, but why lawns develop problems in the first place.
Interestingly, the work even gave him a new appreciation for a subject he once struggled with: chemistry.
In school, chemistry had never come naturally to Austin. But working with fertilizers, herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, and nutrients gave those concepts a real-world application.
“You get to learn something and then apply it directly,” he says.
And the more Austin learned, the more he realized there was an opportunity to do things differently.
Austin believes one of the biggest shortcomings in the lawn and pest control industry isn't necessarily the products or treatment programs companies use. It's the communication that happens, or doesn't happen, between the company, technician, and homeowner.
A lawn problem can be the result of insects, fungus, nutrient deficiencies, irrigation issues, environmental stress, or a combination of factors. Simply treating the symptom doesn't always solve the underlying problem.
Austin wants Coastal Green Pest Solutions to be different.
“I take pride in being the solution and the end to the revolving door when it comes to these lawn programs,” he says.
That means spending time with homeowners, explaining what is happening on their property, and helping them understand what needs to change.
Austin compares a lawn or landscape to the human body. One problem can affect the health of the entire system. Killing an insect, for example, may address the immediate issue, but it doesn't necessarily explain why the lawn became susceptible to the pest in the first place.
“If you can be the middleman between the problem, the chemicals, and the customer, and you can explain all that smoothly, that's normally the end,” Austin says. “A lot of people don't take the time to talk to their customers and make sure they understand.”
It's an approach built around education and relationships as much as treatment.
When the company Austin had worked for was sold, he saw an opportunity to take everything he'd learned and build something of his own.
Coastal Green Pest Solutions was born.
Today, Austin primarily works with residential customers throughout Volusia County who care about the long-term health and appearance of their properties.
His services include:
Austin's philosophy isn't about simply “spraying and praying,” as he puts it. Every property is different, so understanding what's actually happening comes before recommending a solution.
That philosophy also shapes how he plans to grow the business.
Starting a company requires more than expertise and ambition. There are trucks, equipment, products, operating expenses, and the reality that revenue doesn't necessarily arrive the moment the business opens its doors.
Austin knew he needed some financial breathing room as he got Coastal Green Pest Solutions off the ground.
That's where Surety Bank came in.
Austin first learned about Surety through his father, who had worked in real estate and developed a relationship with Surety Bank CEO Ryan James over the years.
When Austin was preparing to launch Coastal Green Pest Solutions, that local connection opened the door to a conversation.
“I was just looking for a good little loan—something to get me by, that way I had a little bit of breathing room,” Austin says. “I was very questionable on how I was going to make everything work, and honestly, I'm very grateful for Surety stepping in.”
Surety provided a business loan directly to Coastal Green Pest Solutions, giving Austin additional resources and flexibility during the critical early months of building the company.
For Austin, the experience demonstrated one of the advantages of working with a community bank: relationships matter.
Ryan knew Austin's family. He'd seen Austin working around town. And instead of Austin simply being another application, there was an opportunity to understand the person and business behind it.
That trust helped a local entrepreneur take the next step.
Just a couple of months into the business when we spoke with him, Austin already had big ambitions for Coastal Green Pest Solutions.
Eventually, he'd like to have multiple trucks on the road, a dedicated irrigation team, a sales team, and expanded services including home pest and termite control.
But he's in no hurry to grow simply for the sake of getting bigger.
Austin wants to make sure the service and customer experience that distinguish Coastal Green today remain intact as the company expands.
“If I'm not taking the time to personalize your service and making sure that I'm putting down what I'm promising, then there's no point in me opening up the next step,” he says.
He describes his philosophy simply as “natural growth or no growth.”
It's an especially fitting philosophy for someone who spends his days helping things grow.
For now, Austin is focused on building relationships, earning the trust of homeowners and landscapers throughout Volusia County, and developing Coastal Green one customer at a time.
And he's doing it in the community he has always called home.
“I still enjoy the small-town aspect of DeLand,” Austin says. “Raising a family here, having good friends here, it's very nice. DeLand's a good home base.”
As DeLand and Volusia County continue to grow, Austin hopes Coastal Green Pest Solutions will grow right alongside them, without losing the personal relationships that helped get the business started in the first place.
Coastal Green Pest Solutions serves homeowners throughout Volusia County. For homeowners who care about the health and appearance of their lawn and landscaping, Austin and Coastal Green provide personalized lawn treatment, pest management, fertilization, and plant health solutions.
Personal fraud continues to evolve, and scammers are finding increasingly sophisticated ways to target consumers. From AI-powered messages that appear surprisingly convincing to attempts to gain access to entire financial accounts. Recognizing the warning signs is becoming more important than ever.
While you can't prevent every fraud attempt, knowing what to watch for and taking a few proactive steps can make it much harder for scammers to succeed.
Artificial intelligence is making fraudulent calls and text messages feel more personal and legitimate. Scammers can use AI to create convincing communications designed to make you believe you're interacting with a trusted person or organization.
Be cautious when you receive an unexpected call or message asking for personal information, money, or access to an account. Before responding or taking action, reach out to Surety Bank directly to verify they are the ones calling. This step could mean not being scammed out of your money.
Fraudsters are increasingly looking beyond individual credit card numbers and attempting to gain access to entire financial profiles, including personal bank and investment accounts.
Protect your accounts by regularly reviewing activity for transactions you don't recognize and using multifactor authentication whenever it's available. Never provide your password, login credentials, or verification codes to someone who contacts you unexpectedly.
If you notice something unusual in your Surety Bank account, contact us promptly.
Older adults continue to be frequent targets of financial scams, particularly those involving tech support and investment-related schemes.
These scams often rely on urgency or fear to convince someone to act before they have an opportunity to question what's happening. Talk with older family members about common scams and encourage them to check with someone they trust before sending money or providing sensitive information in response to an unexpected request.
Taking a few minutes to verify a situation can help prevent a significant financial loss.
Protecting yourself doesn't require becoming a fraud expert. Start by being skeptical of unexpected requests for money or information, especially when someone pressures you to act immediately.
Use strong, unique passwords and enable multifactor authentication when available. Avoid clicking links in unexpected emails or text messages, and regularly review your bank accounts and credit reports for activity you don't recognize.
Most importantly, trust your instincts. If something doesn't feel right, stop and verify before taking action.
If you'd like to take additional steps to protect yourself, here are three resources worth exploring:
FTC IdentityTheft.gov
Best for someone who thinks their identity has already been compromised. The FTC provides a personalized recovery plan and steps for addressing identity theft.
Visit IdentityTheft.gov
FTC Credit Freeze & Fraud Alert Guide
Customers can place a free credit freeze, which can prevent identity thieves from opening new credit accounts in their name, or add a fraud alert.
Learn About Credit Freezes & Fraud Alerts
Aura
For those interested in a paid protection service, Aura offers identity and financial monitoring tools and other fraud-protection features. I’d position this as an optional third-party tool, not something Surety is recommending over other services.
Explore Aura
These resources are provided for informational purposes. Surety Bank does not endorse or guarantee any third-party product or service.
Fraud tactics will continue to change, but one of your strongest defenses is also one of the simplest: slow down.
Scammers often depend on creating urgency so you act before thinking. If you're unsure about a request involving your Surety Bank account, don't rely on the phone number, link, or contact information provided in the message. Contact Surety Bank directly through a trusted channel.
We're here to help you protect your financial information and recognize potential fraud before it becomes a loss.
For Maria Bonfiglio, working at Surety Bank has always been about more than banking. It's about taking care of people.
Maria has been part of the Surety Bank family for nine years, but her journey began with a simple text message. A former boss she had stayed in touch with reached out years after they had worked together and told her, "I have the perfect job for you." Maria's response was simple: "Where should I sign?"
Nine years later, her enthusiasm hasn't changed.
"I love it. I love my job."
Over the years, Maria's role has evolved, giving her the opportunity to learn new skills and develop deeper relationships with customers. She has gotten to know some of them so well that she can recognize who is calling just by the sound of their voice. For Maria, those relationships are what make Surety feel less like a workplace and more like a family.
That personal connection also shapes the way Maria approaches protecting customers.
When something doesn't seem right, she isn't afraid to ask questions. Whether she's reviewing a check or helping someone resolve an issue with an account, Maria understands that taking a little extra time can make a significant difference.
"We really care about our customers," Maria explains. Even when customers may wonder why the bank is asking additional questions, she wants them to understand the reason behind it. "We don't want them to lose money."
For Maria, that care isn't limited to customers. She has experienced it personally as an employee.
During some of the most difficult moments of her life, including an extended hospital stay and the loss of her son, Maria remembers her Surety family checking on her, visiting her, and making sure she knew she wasn't alone. Those experiences showed her that the relationships Surety talks about aren't simply something customers experience. They're part of the culture inside the bank, too.
It's also why Maria believes Surety Bank has remained part of the community for 100 years. She has worked at other banks, but says Surety's involvement in the community feels different. The bank isn't trying to be the biggest. Instead, it has remained focused on the people and communities it serves.
That same philosophy comes through in Maria's relationships with her customers. Some have developed such a strong connection with her that when they call, they specifically ask for Maria. She takes pride in being someone they know they can turn to when they have a question or need assistance.
After nine years, Maria still says thank you for the opportunity that brought her to Surety Bank. Her story is a reminder that relationship banking begins with people who genuinely care about the people on the other side of the counter or phone.
This is how Surety Bank has always done it. It's how we will always do it.
For Lewis Long III, banking with Surety Bank is a relationship that has lasted more than five decades.
As one of Surety Bank's longest-standing customers, Lewis has watched the bank grow alongside the community since his connection to Surety began more than 50 years ago. He originally opened a savings account after hearing from neighbors that the bank consistently offered strong value and genuinely cared about its customers.
Over the years, Lewis has seen a lot of change. He remembers making deposits with a passbook while employees manually updated balances using a hand-cranked adding machine. What hasn't changed, however, is the way Surety Bank treats the people who walk through its doors.
For Lewis, that commitment extends beyond his own banking experience. When his sons were born, he opened accounts for each of them at Surety Bank, continuing a family tradition that has now spanned generations. One of his sons even participated in the ribbon-cutting ceremony when Surety Bank dedicated its current building in the early 1990s.
Throughout his life of military service, public service, and community involvement, Lewis has always returned to the same bank.
What has kept him loyal all these years?
The answer is simple: people.
"You couldn't ask for better service or better people," Lewis says. "I don't know how they remember everybody's name that walks in the door, but they do. They're just super folks. The people have always been a gift to us and to the community."
Lewis believes that the values Surety Bank was founded on continue to define the bank today. One story from the bank's early history has always stayed with him. During the Great Depression, he recalls hearing that Surety worked with customers rather than rushing to foreclose on them because they cared more about helping people than taking their property. That philosophy, he says, is still reflected in the way the bank serves its customers today.
It's one of the reasons Lewis has become an advocate for the bank wherever he goes.
Whether he's encouraging friends to open a money market account, sharing the bank's history, or even suggesting a new Surety branch for his hometown of Lake Helen, Lewis proudly recommends the bank he's trusted for more than half a century.
"I wouldn't champion the bank if I didn't believe in these folks and believe in this bank," he says. "Everybody is important. They see past whatever's bothering someone that day and still treat people with kindness and respect."
As Surety Bank celebrates 100 years of serving Central Florida, customers like Lewis remind us that while banking has evolved, some things should never change. Genuine relationships, exceptional service, and a commitment to the community remain at the heart of everything we do.
This is how Surety Bank has always done it. It's how we will always do it.
For Richard Taylor, Surety Bank has never simply been a place to bank. It has been part of his family and his community for generations.
His grandfather, Dr. Harold Taylor, served on Surety’s board and became president during a challenging period in the institution’s early history. His father later served as Surety’s attorney and on its Board of Directors. Richard’s own relationship with the bank began when he was a child.
“My earliest memory was at 110 North Florida,” Richard recalls. He believes that as soon as he was old enough to walk into Surety, he was bringing in a dime to start an account.
After leaving the Marine Corps in 1977, Richard eventually continued the family tradition by joining Surety’s Board of Directors himself.
His story provides a unique window into Surety Bank’s first 100 years and the principles that have allowed a local institution to continue serving its community through generations of change.
Surety was formed in 1926 as a mutual building and loan association, owned by its depositors and borrowers rather than traditional shareholders.
It wasn’t long before the young institution faced a major test.
Florida’s real estate boom collapsed before the Great Depression spread across the country. Richard grew up hearing stories about the banks around DeLand that failed during those difficult years. Surety, however, kept its doors open.
Richard believes the reason came down to the way Surety treated people.
“The reason it didn’t fold is because of two reasons. One, it was able to reason with the depositors and, two, because it acted reasonably with the borrowers.”
Instead of immediately turning to foreclosure when borrowers struggled, Richard says Surety did everything it could to work with them. At the same time, its leaders worked to maintain the confidence of depositors. That careful, personal approach helped Surety navigate one of the most difficult periods in American financial history without shutting down.
The story may be nearly a century old, but the philosophy behind it feels familiar: know the people you serve and be willing to work with them when it matters.
When Richard later joined the board, that personal knowledge of customers and the community was still an important part of how Surety operated.
He remembers sitting alongside directors who seemed to know the history behind nearly every property and family that came before them. When the bank considered making a loan, board members could personally visit the property, research comparable sales, and bring their own knowledge of the local market into the conversation.
For customers, it meant decisions were being made by people who understood the community.
“If you had a problem, you had somebody that you could go sit down across a desk and then talk to them about it.”
That ability to have a real conversation with the people behind your bank is something Richard remembers as an important part of Surety’s contribution to the community.
A lot has changed since those early days.
Richard remembers when customers carried physical books that recorded their payments and Surety used a large hand-operated calculating machine to figure interest. Today, technology has transformed nearly every part of the banking experience.
Surety has evolved with the industry. What began primarily as a building and loan association focused on residential homes has grown into a bank serving businesses and developing expertise in specialized areas of banking.
Richard describes that evolution as cautious, and that distinction is important.
Surety has continued to change without losing sight of what made it successful in the first place.
That perspective fits naturally with Surety Bank’s centennial message: “How we’ve always done it is how we’ll always do it.”
In many organizations, “how we’ve always done it” can imply a resistance to change. Surety’s history tells a different story. The tools have changed. The services have expanded. The way customers interact with their bank has evolved.
But the commitment to being thoughtful about how the bank grows and remaining connected to the people it serves has endured.
After all the changes Richard has witnessed, one characteristic stands out when he talks about what makes Surety different today.
“We are truly a local bank.”
For Richard, there is a difference between being called a community bank and actually being part of the community.
Surety’s roots are here. Its history is here. And generations of the people behind the bank have lived and worked alongside the customers they serve.
Richard describes Surety not only as a community bank, but as a community institution.
That connection has carried Surety through enormous changes in banking and in the community itself. Richard remembers a time when Surety did not need much advertising because local people already knew where to go when they needed a reliable place to borrow or deposit their money. Decades later, customers have more banking options than ever, but Surety continues to move steadily forward without chasing every passing trend.
Richard has seen Surety Bank move from passbooks and hand-operated calculators to modern banking. He has watched the institution expand beyond its original focus while continuing to take a careful approach to growth.
And when asked whether a bank that has already been here for 100 years can make it another 100, Richard sees no reason why it can’t.
That confidence comes from knowing where Surety has been.
For a century, the bank has adapted when necessary while holding onto the qualities that have carried it through generations: local roots, thoughtful decisions, and a commitment to the people it serves.
Richard Taylor’s family has been part of that story for generations, and his memories offer a rare look at just how much has changed since 1926.
They also show how much hasn’t.
That is the legacy of Surety Bank.
For Dan Glenn, Pastor of Stetson Baptist Church in DeLand, Surety Bank has become much more than the place where the church did its banking. Over the years, the initial banking relationship has grown into a partnership centered around a shared commitment to the community.
That partnership took on new meaning in 2018 when Stetson Baptist Church launched Night to Shine, an unforgettable prom experience for people with special needs held in partnership with the Tim Tebow Foundation.
Creating an experience like Night to Shine requires significant support, and Surety Bank was one of the event's earliest sponsors.
“Surety was one that came on very early saying, ‘Hey, we want to support that. We want to be a part of it.’”
For Dan, that moment marked a shift in the relationship. It became much more personal and community focused.
Surety continued supporting Night to Shine year after year, but one experience in particular showed Dan what that partnership truly meant.
After the first Night to Shine, Dan realized the church had never properly thanked Surety for its sponsorship. When it came time to plan the event again, he felt hesitant approaching Surety for another year of support.
The response surprised him.
There was no hesitation. Surety wanted to be involved again.
Years later, that commitment went even further when Surety reached out to the church without being asked and offered to increase its support.
“They have an intention to be generous, even when generosity may or may not be expected or requested.”
For Dan, that willingness to look for opportunities to make a greater impact is part of what distinguishes Surety Bank as a community organization.
Instead of simply waiting for someone to present a sponsorship request, Surety has been willing to ask a different question: How can we do more?
That philosophy extends beyond a single event.
Dan describes Surety not simply as a community bank, but as a “community-centered organization” that genuinely cares about DeLand and the relationships it has built throughout the city.
That personal connection is something Dan has experienced firsthand. His relationship with Surety isn't limited to the organization itself. It's also built through relationships with the people behind it.
As Surety Bank celebrates 100 years, Dan believes that commitment to people and community helps explain why the bank has remained part of DeLand for generations.
Over the past century, both the bank and the city have grown and changed. Yet Surety has continued to serve the community throughout that growth.
For Dan, that's exactly why Surety's 100th anniversary message, “How we've always done it is how we'll always do it,” resonates.
“The way they've always done things has been people centered, relationships centered, community centered.”
Those values create something that goes beyond banking. They create trust. They allow organizations like Stetson Baptist Church to know what to expect from a partner that has consistently shown up before and intends to continue showing up in the future.
After years of partnership, Dan hopes that part of Surety never changes.
This is how Surety Bank has always done it. It's how we will always do it.
For Austin Scott, starting a business wasn’t the result of a lifelong plan. It was something that grew over time, much like the lawns he now helps his customers care for.
Born and raised in DeLand, Austin is the owner of Coastal Green Pest Solutions, a new Volusia County business specializing in lawn treatments, pest management, fertilization, and the care of palms and shrubs.
The company may be new, but Austin is far from new to the work.
Before entering the lawn and pest control industry, Austin was selling auto parts at O’Reilly Auto Parts. Then a landscaper friend suggested he take a job with a local pest control company.
He gave it a shot and discovered an industry that fascinated him.
“I like that I could learn something new every day,” Austin says. “You get to see different problems, and you get to see the benefits of your own labor making a lawn beautiful. You get to see it go from nothing to something.”
Austin spent nearly six years in the industry, gradually developing an understanding of not only what products to use, but why lawns develop problems in the first place.
Interestingly, the work even gave him a new appreciation for a subject he once struggled with: chemistry.
In school, chemistry had never come naturally to Austin. But working with fertilizers, herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, and nutrients gave those concepts a real-world application.
“You get to learn something and then apply it directly,” he says.
And the more Austin learned, the more he realized there was an opportunity to do things differently.
Austin believes one of the biggest shortcomings in the lawn and pest control industry isn't necessarily the products or treatment programs companies use. It's the communication that happens, or doesn't happen, between the company, technician, and homeowner.
A lawn problem can be the result of insects, fungus, nutrient deficiencies, irrigation issues, environmental stress, or a combination of factors. Simply treating the symptom doesn't always solve the underlying problem.
Austin wants Coastal Green Pest Solutions to be different.
“I take pride in being the solution and the end to the revolving door when it comes to these lawn programs,” he says.
That means spending time with homeowners, explaining what is happening on their property, and helping them understand what needs to change.
Austin compares a lawn or landscape to the human body. One problem can affect the health of the entire system. Killing an insect, for example, may address the immediate issue, but it doesn't necessarily explain why the lawn became susceptible to the pest in the first place.
“If you can be the middleman between the problem, the chemicals, and the customer, and you can explain all that smoothly, that's normally the end,” Austin says. “A lot of people don't take the time to talk to their customers and make sure they understand.”
It's an approach built around education and relationships as much as treatment.
When the company Austin had worked for was sold, he saw an opportunity to take everything he'd learned and build something of his own.
Coastal Green Pest Solutions was born.
Today, Austin primarily works with residential customers throughout Volusia County who care about the long-term health and appearance of their properties.
His services include:
Austin's philosophy isn't about simply “spraying and praying,” as he puts it. Every property is different, so understanding what's actually happening comes before recommending a solution.
That philosophy also shapes how he plans to grow the business.
Starting a company requires more than expertise and ambition. There are trucks, equipment, products, operating expenses, and the reality that revenue doesn't necessarily arrive the moment the business opens its doors.
Austin knew he needed some financial breathing room as he got Coastal Green Pest Solutions off the ground.
That's where Surety Bank came in.
Austin first learned about Surety through his father, who had worked in real estate and developed a relationship with Surety Bank CEO Ryan James over the years.
When Austin was preparing to launch Coastal Green Pest Solutions, that local connection opened the door to a conversation.
“I was just looking for a good little loan—something to get me by, that way I had a little bit of breathing room,” Austin says. “I was very questionable on how I was going to make everything work, and honestly, I'm very grateful for Surety stepping in.”
Surety provided a business loan directly to Coastal Green Pest Solutions, giving Austin additional resources and flexibility during the critical early months of building the company.
For Austin, the experience demonstrated one of the advantages of working with a community bank: relationships matter.
Ryan knew Austin's family. He'd seen Austin working around town. And instead of Austin simply being another application, there was an opportunity to understand the person and business behind it.
That trust helped a local entrepreneur take the next step.
Just a couple of months into the business when we spoke with him, Austin already had big ambitions for Coastal Green Pest Solutions.
Eventually, he'd like to have multiple trucks on the road, a dedicated irrigation team, a sales team, and expanded services including home pest and termite control.
But he's in no hurry to grow simply for the sake of getting bigger.
Austin wants to make sure the service and customer experience that distinguish Coastal Green today remain intact as the company expands.
“If I'm not taking the time to personalize your service and making sure that I'm putting down what I'm promising, then there's no point in me opening up the next step,” he says.
He describes his philosophy simply as “natural growth or no growth.”
It's an especially fitting philosophy for someone who spends his days helping things grow.
For now, Austin is focused on building relationships, earning the trust of homeowners and landscapers throughout Volusia County, and developing Coastal Green one customer at a time.
And he's doing it in the community he has always called home.
“I still enjoy the small-town aspect of DeLand,” Austin says. “Raising a family here, having good friends here, it's very nice. DeLand's a good home base.”
As DeLand and Volusia County continue to grow, Austin hopes Coastal Green Pest Solutions will grow right alongside them, without losing the personal relationships that helped get the business started in the first place.
Coastal Green Pest Solutions serves homeowners throughout Volusia County. For homeowners who care about the health and appearance of their lawn and landscaping, Austin and Coastal Green provide personalized lawn treatment, pest management, fertilization, and plant health solutions.
Personal fraud continues to evolve, and scammers are finding increasingly sophisticated ways to target consumers. From AI-powered messages that appear surprisingly convincing to attempts to gain access to entire financial accounts. Recognizing the warning signs is becoming more important than ever.
While you can't prevent every fraud attempt, knowing what to watch for and taking a few proactive steps can make it much harder for scammers to succeed.
Artificial intelligence is making fraudulent calls and text messages feel more personal and legitimate. Scammers can use AI to create convincing communications designed to make you believe you're interacting with a trusted person or organization.
Be cautious when you receive an unexpected call or message asking for personal information, money, or access to an account. Before responding or taking action, reach out to Surety Bank directly to verify they are the ones calling. This step could mean not being scammed out of your money.
Fraudsters are increasingly looking beyond individual credit card numbers and attempting to gain access to entire financial profiles, including personal bank and investment accounts.
Protect your accounts by regularly reviewing activity for transactions you don't recognize and using multifactor authentication whenever it's available. Never provide your password, login credentials, or verification codes to someone who contacts you unexpectedly.
If you notice something unusual in your Surety Bank account, contact us promptly.
Older adults continue to be frequent targets of financial scams, particularly those involving tech support and investment-related schemes.
These scams often rely on urgency or fear to convince someone to act before they have an opportunity to question what's happening. Talk with older family members about common scams and encourage them to check with someone they trust before sending money or providing sensitive information in response to an unexpected request.
Taking a few minutes to verify a situation can help prevent a significant financial loss.
Protecting yourself doesn't require becoming a fraud expert. Start by being skeptical of unexpected requests for money or information, especially when someone pressures you to act immediately.
Use strong, unique passwords and enable multifactor authentication when available. Avoid clicking links in unexpected emails or text messages, and regularly review your bank accounts and credit reports for activity you don't recognize.
Most importantly, trust your instincts. If something doesn't feel right, stop and verify before taking action.
If you'd like to take additional steps to protect yourself, here are three resources worth exploring:
FTC IdentityTheft.gov
Best for someone who thinks their identity has already been compromised. The FTC provides a personalized recovery plan and steps for addressing identity theft.
Visit IdentityTheft.gov
FTC Credit Freeze & Fraud Alert Guide
Customers can place a free credit freeze, which can prevent identity thieves from opening new credit accounts in their name, or add a fraud alert.
Learn About Credit Freezes & Fraud Alerts
Aura
For those interested in a paid protection service, Aura offers identity and financial monitoring tools and other fraud-protection features. I’d position this as an optional third-party tool, not something Surety is recommending over other services.
Explore Aura
These resources are provided for informational purposes. Surety Bank does not endorse or guarantee any third-party product or service.
Fraud tactics will continue to change, but one of your strongest defenses is also one of the simplest: slow down.
Scammers often depend on creating urgency so you act before thinking. If you're unsure about a request involving your Surety Bank account, don't rely on the phone number, link, or contact information provided in the message. Contact Surety Bank directly through a trusted channel.
We're here to help you protect your financial information and recognize potential fraud before it becomes a loss.
For Maria Bonfiglio, working at Surety Bank has always been about more than banking. It's about taking care of people.
Maria has been part of the Surety Bank family for nine years, but her journey began with a simple text message. A former boss she had stayed in touch with reached out years after they had worked together and told her, "I have the perfect job for you." Maria's response was simple: "Where should I sign?"
Nine years later, her enthusiasm hasn't changed.
"I love it. I love my job."
Over the years, Maria's role has evolved, giving her the opportunity to learn new skills and develop deeper relationships with customers. She has gotten to know some of them so well that she can recognize who is calling just by the sound of their voice. For Maria, those relationships are what make Surety feel less like a workplace and more like a family.
That personal connection also shapes the way Maria approaches protecting customers.
When something doesn't seem right, she isn't afraid to ask questions. Whether she's reviewing a check or helping someone resolve an issue with an account, Maria understands that taking a little extra time can make a significant difference.
"We really care about our customers," Maria explains. Even when customers may wonder why the bank is asking additional questions, she wants them to understand the reason behind it. "We don't want them to lose money."
For Maria, that care isn't limited to customers. She has experienced it personally as an employee.
During some of the most difficult moments of her life, including an extended hospital stay and the loss of her son, Maria remembers her Surety family checking on her, visiting her, and making sure she knew she wasn't alone. Those experiences showed her that the relationships Surety talks about aren't simply something customers experience. They're part of the culture inside the bank, too.
It's also why Maria believes Surety Bank has remained part of the community for 100 years. She has worked at other banks, but says Surety's involvement in the community feels different. The bank isn't trying to be the biggest. Instead, it has remained focused on the people and communities it serves.
That same philosophy comes through in Maria's relationships with her customers. Some have developed such a strong connection with her that when they call, they specifically ask for Maria. She takes pride in being someone they know they can turn to when they have a question or need assistance.
After nine years, Maria still says thank you for the opportunity that brought her to Surety Bank. Her story is a reminder that relationship banking begins with people who genuinely care about the people on the other side of the counter or phone.
This is how Surety Bank has always done it. It's how we will always do it.
For Lewis Long III, banking with Surety Bank is a relationship that has lasted more than five decades.
As one of Surety Bank's longest-standing customers, Lewis has watched the bank grow alongside the community since his connection to Surety began more than 50 years ago. He originally opened a savings account after hearing from neighbors that the bank consistently offered strong value and genuinely cared about its customers.
Over the years, Lewis has seen a lot of change. He remembers making deposits with a passbook while employees manually updated balances using a hand-cranked adding machine. What hasn't changed, however, is the way Surety Bank treats the people who walk through its doors.
For Lewis, that commitment extends beyond his own banking experience. When his sons were born, he opened accounts for each of them at Surety Bank, continuing a family tradition that has now spanned generations. One of his sons even participated in the ribbon-cutting ceremony when Surety Bank dedicated its current building in the early 1990s.
Throughout his life of military service, public service, and community involvement, Lewis has always returned to the same bank.
What has kept him loyal all these years?
The answer is simple: people.
"You couldn't ask for better service or better people," Lewis says. "I don't know how they remember everybody's name that walks in the door, but they do. They're just super folks. The people have always been a gift to us and to the community."
Lewis believes that the values Surety Bank was founded on continue to define the bank today. One story from the bank's early history has always stayed with him. During the Great Depression, he recalls hearing that Surety worked with customers rather than rushing to foreclose on them because they cared more about helping people than taking their property. That philosophy, he says, is still reflected in the way the bank serves its customers today.
It's one of the reasons Lewis has become an advocate for the bank wherever he goes.
Whether he's encouraging friends to open a money market account, sharing the bank's history, or even suggesting a new Surety branch for his hometown of Lake Helen, Lewis proudly recommends the bank he's trusted for more than half a century.
"I wouldn't champion the bank if I didn't believe in these folks and believe in this bank," he says. "Everybody is important. They see past whatever's bothering someone that day and still treat people with kindness and respect."
As Surety Bank celebrates 100 years of serving Central Florida, customers like Lewis remind us that while banking has evolved, some things should never change. Genuine relationships, exceptional service, and a commitment to the community remain at the heart of everything we do.
This is how Surety Bank has always done it. It's how we will always do it.
Community
Surety Bank continually works to provide greater accessibility to all of its products and services. If you have any questions about accessible banking, call us at 386-734-1647
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