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Stay informed with out regularly updated resources. Each post convers a unique aspect of banking or finance to enhance your understanding and enable better financial decisions.
100th Anniversary Stories
More Than a Sponsor
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.
Growing Something of His Own: How DeLand’s Austin Scott Launched Coastal Green Pest Solutions
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.
Solving the Problem Behind the Problem
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.
Building Coastal Green Pest Solutions
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:
Lawn treatments and fertilization
Insect and pest treatments for lawns
Herbicide and weed management
Fungicide treatments
Palm tree treatments
Shrub treatments
Nutrient deficiency management
Lawn and landscape health assessments
Irrigation guidance and trusted referrals
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.
A Local Bank Helps a Local Entrepreneur Get Started
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.
Growing the Right Way
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 Is on the Rise: Simple Steps to Help Protect Yourself
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.
Three Fraud Trends to Watch
1. AI-Powered Scams Are Becoming More Convincing
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.
2. Scammers Are Targeting Entire Financial Accounts
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.
3. Financial Fraud Targeting Older Adults Is Growing
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.
A Few Simple Habits Can Make a Difference
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.
Resources to Help Protect Your Information
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.
Stay Alert and Take Your Time
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.
Strong Communities Are Built Through Strong Partnerships
For 100 years, Surety Bank has believed that community banking means more than serving customers inside the walls of a branch. It means investing in the people, organizations, and partnerships that help our communities thrive.
That commitment is something Carla Quann, Director of Community Relations for the Volusia Sheriff's Office, has experienced firsthand.
"Our goal is to support everyone in our community," Carla explains. "Ryan [James] wanted to be a part of what we're doing because he cares about the community."
The partnership between Surety Bank and the Volusia Sheriff's Office began when Surety Bank President & CEO Ryan James joined the Volusia Sheriff's Foundation Board. Since then, the relationship has grown into a collaborative effort focused on addressing some of the community's greatest needs.
One example came during the holiday season, when thousands of local families faced uncertainty after SNAP benefits were unexpectedly interrupted. Through the combined efforts of businesses, volunteers, and community organizations, more than 3,500 grocery bags were distributed to families throughout Volusia County.
According to Carla, Surety Bank was an important part of making that effort possible.
Beyond community events and charitable initiatives, the partnership has also helped strengthen public safety.
As financial scams targeting older adults became increasingly common, Surety Bank worked alongside the Sheriff's Office to provide education, share industry expertise, and help detectives better recognize the warning signs of fraud.
That collaboration ultimately helped lead to the creation of the Volusia Sheriff's Office Financial Crimes Unit—a dedicated team focused on protecting residents from fraud and financial exploitation.
Working together, those efforts have helped recover more than $2 million for local victims of financial crimes.
For Carla, those results reflect what makes Surety Bank different.
"They're not just another hometown bank," she says. "They care about their community."
She believes that commitment starts with customer service but extends far beyond banking. Whether supporting nonprofit organizations, helping law enforcement address emerging scams, or simply answering the phone when someone needs help, Surety Bank has built relationships rooted in trust.
"People trust them," Carla says. "They've built that trust with their customers, and that's why people stay."
As Surety Bank celebrates a century of serving Central Florida, partnerships like this demonstrate that community banking isn't defined only by financial services—it's measured by the impact a bank has on the people and communities it serves.
For 100 years, Surety Bank has believed that when communities succeed, everyone succeeds. Through partnerships built on trust, service, and shared purpose, that commitment continues today—and will continue for generations to come.
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.
Growing Something of His Own: How DeLand’s Austin Scott Launched Coastal Green Pest Solutions
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.
Solving the Problem Behind the Problem
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.
Building Coastal Green Pest Solutions
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:
Lawn treatments and fertilization
Insect and pest treatments for lawns
Herbicide and weed management
Fungicide treatments
Palm tree treatments
Shrub treatments
Nutrient deficiency management
Lawn and landscape health assessments
Irrigation guidance and trusted referrals
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.
A Local Bank Helps a Local Entrepreneur Get Started
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.
Growing the Right Way
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 Is on the Rise: Simple Steps to Help Protect Yourself
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.
Three Fraud Trends to Watch
1. AI-Powered Scams Are Becoming More Convincing
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.
2. Scammers Are Targeting Entire Financial Accounts
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.
3. Financial Fraud Targeting Older Adults Is Growing
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.
A Few Simple Habits Can Make a Difference
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.
Resources to Help Protect Your Information
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.
Stay Alert and Take Your Time
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.
Strong Communities Are Built Through Strong Partnerships
For 100 years, Surety Bank has believed that community banking means more than serving customers inside the walls of a branch. It means investing in the people, organizations, and partnerships that help our communities thrive.
That commitment is something Carla Quann, Director of Community Relations for the Volusia Sheriff's Office, has experienced firsthand.
"Our goal is to support everyone in our community," Carla explains. "Ryan [James] wanted to be a part of what we're doing because he cares about the community."
The partnership between Surety Bank and the Volusia Sheriff's Office began when Surety Bank President & CEO Ryan James joined the Volusia Sheriff's Foundation Board. Since then, the relationship has grown into a collaborative effort focused on addressing some of the community's greatest needs.
One example came during the holiday season, when thousands of local families faced uncertainty after SNAP benefits were unexpectedly interrupted. Through the combined efforts of businesses, volunteers, and community organizations, more than 3,500 grocery bags were distributed to families throughout Volusia County.
According to Carla, Surety Bank was an important part of making that effort possible.
Beyond community events and charitable initiatives, the partnership has also helped strengthen public safety.
As financial scams targeting older adults became increasingly common, Surety Bank worked alongside the Sheriff's Office to provide education, share industry expertise, and help detectives better recognize the warning signs of fraud.
That collaboration ultimately helped lead to the creation of the Volusia Sheriff's Office Financial Crimes Unit—a dedicated team focused on protecting residents from fraud and financial exploitation.
Working together, those efforts have helped recover more than $2 million for local victims of financial crimes.
For Carla, those results reflect what makes Surety Bank different.
"They're not just another hometown bank," she says. "They care about their community."
She believes that commitment starts with customer service but extends far beyond banking. Whether supporting nonprofit organizations, helping law enforcement address emerging scams, or simply answering the phone when someone needs help, Surety Bank has built relationships rooted in trust.
"People trust them," Carla says. "They've built that trust with their customers, and that's why people stay."
As Surety Bank celebrates a century of serving Central Florida, partnerships like this demonstrate that community banking isn't defined only by financial services—it's measured by the impact a bank has on the people and communities it serves.
For 100 years, Surety Bank has believed that when communities succeed, everyone succeeds. Through partnerships built on trust, service, and shared purpose, that commitment continues today—and will continue for generations to come.
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.
Growing Something of His Own: How DeLand’s Austin Scott Launched Coastal Green Pest Solutions
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.
Solving the Problem Behind the Problem
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.
Building Coastal Green Pest Solutions
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:
Lawn treatments and fertilization
Insect and pest treatments for lawns
Herbicide and weed management
Fungicide treatments
Palm tree treatments
Shrub treatments
Nutrient deficiency management
Lawn and landscape health assessments
Irrigation guidance and trusted referrals
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.
A Local Bank Helps a Local Entrepreneur Get Started
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.
Growing the Right Way
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 Is on the Rise: Simple Steps to Help Protect Yourself
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.
Three Fraud Trends to Watch
1. AI-Powered Scams Are Becoming More Convincing
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.
2. Scammers Are Targeting Entire Financial Accounts
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.
3. Financial Fraud Targeting Older Adults Is Growing
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.
A Few Simple Habits Can Make a Difference
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.
Resources to Help Protect Your Information
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.
Stay Alert and Take Your Time
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.
Strong Communities Are Built Through Strong Partnerships
For 100 years, Surety Bank has believed that community banking means more than serving customers inside the walls of a branch. It means investing in the people, organizations, and partnerships that help our communities thrive.
That commitment is something Carla Quann, Director of Community Relations for the Volusia Sheriff's Office, has experienced firsthand.
"Our goal is to support everyone in our community," Carla explains. "Ryan [James] wanted to be a part of what we're doing because he cares about the community."
The partnership between Surety Bank and the Volusia Sheriff's Office began when Surety Bank President & CEO Ryan James joined the Volusia Sheriff's Foundation Board. Since then, the relationship has grown into a collaborative effort focused on addressing some of the community's greatest needs.
One example came during the holiday season, when thousands of local families faced uncertainty after SNAP benefits were unexpectedly interrupted. Through the combined efforts of businesses, volunteers, and community organizations, more than 3,500 grocery bags were distributed to families throughout Volusia County.
According to Carla, Surety Bank was an important part of making that effort possible.
Beyond community events and charitable initiatives, the partnership has also helped strengthen public safety.
As financial scams targeting older adults became increasingly common, Surety Bank worked alongside the Sheriff's Office to provide education, share industry expertise, and help detectives better recognize the warning signs of fraud.
That collaboration ultimately helped lead to the creation of the Volusia Sheriff's Office Financial Crimes Unit—a dedicated team focused on protecting residents from fraud and financial exploitation.
Working together, those efforts have helped recover more than $2 million for local victims of financial crimes.
For Carla, those results reflect what makes Surety Bank different.
"They're not just another hometown bank," she says. "They care about their community."
She believes that commitment starts with customer service but extends far beyond banking. Whether supporting nonprofit organizations, helping law enforcement address emerging scams, or simply answering the phone when someone needs help, Surety Bank has built relationships rooted in trust.
"People trust them," Carla says. "They've built that trust with their customers, and that's why people stay."
As Surety Bank celebrates a century of serving Central Florida, partnerships like this demonstrate that community banking isn't defined only by financial services—it's measured by the impact a bank has on the people and communities it serves.
For 100 years, Surety Bank has believed that when communities succeed, everyone succeeds. Through partnerships built on trust, service, and shared purpose, that commitment continues today—and will continue for generations to come.
Forget Growth for Growth’s Sake: Scale Your Company with Purpose
Forget Growth for Growth’s Sake. Scale Your Company With Purpose!
Every business owner dreams of growth—the big contracts, the expanding team, the larger facility. Growth is exciting, but what happens when it outpaces your ability to sustain it? For small to mid-sized business owners, the challenge isn’t just getting bigger—it’s growing profitably. Scale too quickly, and you could find yourself losing control of your business. Scale too cautiously, and you risk stagnation. So, how do you strike the right balance?
The Growth Trap: A Cautionary Tale
Imagine you own a manufacturing company, and a massive order comes in. It’s a dream deal—10,000 units instead of the usual 1,000. You scramble to increase production, hiring new employees, ordering more materials, even taking on debt to finance the expansion. But a few months later, you realize you’re barely breaking even. The new employees aren’t fully trained yet, production costs have skyrocketed, and cash flow is tight. Your profit margins, which seemed healthy before, are now razor-thin. Worse, your suppliers have increased their prices due to the larger volume, but you didn’t adjust your pricing in time. You’re now operating at a loss, despite the influx of new business.
This scenario is all too common. Growth, if not managed wisely, can erode profits instead of increasing them. The key? Strategic scaling.
Profitability First, Expansion Second
In the early days, you might not be profitable, and that’s okay. Many businesses start in the red, investing in marketing, product development, and hiring. However, you must ensure you’re not losing money per product. If each unit costs $12 to make and you sell it for $10, no amount of scaling will save you—you’re just multiplying losses.
Similarly, new employees take time to become profitable. Hiring is an investment in growth, but it often takes months before an employee generates more revenue than they cost. Business owners must anticipate this ramp-up period and avoid over-hiring too soon.
Where to Focus Your Growth
Not all growth is created equal. The most efficient areas of expansion are those where costs scale more slowly than revenue. Prioritize these strategies:
Leverage existing customers – It’s often cheaper and easier to expand business with current clients than to acquire new ones. Upselling, cross-selling, and building long-term relationships can provide more reliable revenue.
Double down on profitable products – Identify which products or services have the best margins and focus your growth efforts there. If one product is highly profitable and in demand, scaling its production efficiently can drive sustainable revenue.
Use data-driven decisions – Let financial and operational metrics guide your expansion strategy. Growth decisions should be based on performance indicators, not just ambition.
Improve operational efficiency – Streamlining processes and cutting waste can make it easier to scale profitably. Investing in automation, refining supply chains, and optimizing production workflows can enhance margins even as volume increases.
Controlled Growth vs. Losing Control
Growth is exhilarating, but it must be controlled. Many business owners get so caught up in expansion that they give up too much equity, bringing in investors who eventually take control. Others overextend, running out of cash when things don’t go as planned.
Instead, keep growth sustainable:
Fund expansion wisely – Reinvest profits when possible, rather than relying too heavily on debt or outside investors.
Pace yourself – Don’t rush to fulfill a huge order if it means straining resources beyond capacity. Scaling too quickly without the right infrastructure can lead to operational failures and reputational damage.
Protect your ownership stake – Too much outside investment can leave you as a minority shareholder in your own company. Consider alternative funding strategies, such as strategic partnerships or revenue-based financing, to maintain control.
Avoid Growth for Growth’s Sake
It’s easy to get caught up in vanity metrics—chasing higher sales, expanding into new markets, or acquiring more customers—without asking whether that growth actually benefits the business. But growth is not a goal in itself; it should be a means to an end. Every expansion initiative should answer a fundamental question: Will this make my business stronger in the long run? If the answer isn’t clear, it may be a sign to reassess.
Strategic growth means planning ahead. Before you leap, have a roadmap. Set clear, measurable goals, such as: “We aim to increase production by 50% over the next 18 months, which should yield a 20% revenue increase while maintaining a 15% profit margin.” This approach ensures that growth aligns with financial health, rather than just inflating top-line revenue while squeezing profits.
Smart business owners don’t just chase expansion; they balance growth with profitability. They scale strategically, ensuring each step forward is sustainable, and never lose sight of their core business strengths. With a steady hand, you can grow your company without losing control of it—and that’s the real measure of success.
Case Study – The Cost of a Bad Leader: Why Hiring the Right Leadership Is Crucial for Your Business
This is the first of a new series of fictional case study articles. The business principles are applicable to all industries, not just the industry mentioned below.
Mike had spent years building his commercial construction company from the ground up. He took pride in his work, bidding on high-profile projects and assembling what he thought was a solid team. But as his company grew, so did his hiring challenges—especially when it came to leadership positions.
One project in particular—a multi-million dollar office complex—pushed his business to the edge. Under pressure to meet deadlines, Mike rushed to hire a new project manager, Tom, who came with an impressive résumé and glowing recommendations. But within weeks, cracks began to show.
Tom cut corners, ordered cheaper materials to save costs (without approval), and ignored safety protocols. Worse, he treated crew members poorly, causing skilled workers to quit mid-project. By the time Mike caught on, the damage was done. The project was behind schedule, client trust had eroded, and fixing Tom’s mistakes cost the company thousands.
Determined not to repeat the mistake, Mike changed his hiring approach. He thoroughly vetted new hires, conducted trial periods for leadership roles, and built a workplace culture that rewarded integrity and reliability. Within a year, his company had a team of dedicated leaders who took pride in their work—and it showed in their projects.
For businesses like Mike’s, hiring the right leadership isn’t just about filling roles—it’s about protecting the company's reputation, profitability, and long-term success.
The Importance of Hiring Strong Leaders
A business can only succeed if its leadership is competent, ethical, and aligned with company values. A poor leadership hire can derail entire teams, weaken morale, and ultimately cost the company in lost productivity and damaged relationships.
The problem isn’t just finding someone with the right credentials. Many executives, managers, and directors look great on paper but fail to lead effectively. Worse, some take advantage of their positions, making decisions that benefit themselves at the expense of the company.
Avoiding these pitfalls requires a thoughtful hiring strategy that goes beyond skills and experience to assess character, leadership style, and long-term commitment.
How to Hire the Right Leaders
When hiring for leadership roles, businesses should focus on finding ethical, capable, and accountable individuals. Here’s how:
Refine Your Hiring Process
Conduct in-depth interviews that go beyond technical skills—ask situational and ethical questions.
Use work simulations, leadership assessments, or trial periods to see candidates in action.
Verify references carefully and speak to past employers about leadership style and integrity.
Prioritize Cultural and Ethical Fit
A great leader must align with company values. Someone who lacks integrity, respect, or teamwork skills can cause more harm than good.
Clearly communicate your company’s mission and culture during the hiring process to attract leaders who share your vision.
Set Clear Expectations for Leadership Roles
Define what success looks like for the position, including decision-making authority, accountability, and ethical standards.
Be upfront about company policies, workplace expectations, and leadership responsibilities.
How to Retain Great Leaders
Even the best leadership hire won’t stick around if they feel undervalued or unsupported. To keep strong leaders, businesses should:
Foster a Leadership-Friendly Culture
Create an environment where leaders feel empowered to make informed decisions while staying accountable.
Provide opportunities for collaboration and mentorship to help leaders grow.
Offer Competitive Compensation and Growth Opportunities
Leadership talent is in high demand. Ensure your pay, benefits, and perks are competitive within your industry.
Provide ongoing professional development, including leadership training and career advancement opportunities.
Maintain High Ethical and Performance Standards
Hold all leaders accountable to the same standards. If employees see favoritism or unethical behavior in management, morale will suffer.
Encourage transparent communication and decision-making to build trust within the company.
Recognize and Reward Strong Leadership
Leadership can be a difficult and often thankless role. Recognizing and rewarding great leadership fosters loyalty and encourages long-term commitment.
Final Thoughts
Hiring and retaining the right leaders is just as critical—if not more so—than hiring the right employees. Leaders set the tone for company culture, influence productivity, and ultimately determine business success.
If your company has struggled with hiring leadership roles, it’s time to refine your hiring process, emphasize integrity, and invest in leadership development. By learning from mistakes—like Mike did—and implementing better hiring and retention practices, businesses can build a team of strong, ethical leaders who drive long-term success.
How Smart Commercial Construction Businesses Master Cash Flow
Cash flow is the lifeblood of any business. Whether you're managing a commercial construction firm or running a retail operation, understanding how money moves in and out of your business is key to long-term success. Poor cash flow management can leave businesses scrambling to cover expenses, even when profits look good on paper.
A recent episode of the Expandable Series discussed this in detail, but here are some fundamental cash flow principles, using commercial construction as an example, that apply to businesses across all industries.
1. Understand Your Cash Outflows
In commercial construction, significant cash outlays are required upfront for raw materials, permits, and labor. These costs must be covered well before payments from clients arrive. Similarly, in retail, manufacturers need to purchase inventory long before customers make a purchase.
A business must have enough cash on hand to cover these expenses. Without it, operations may stall, delaying projects and impacting profitability. Understanding your cash needs ahead of time ensures smoother financial management.
Example: Imagine a mid-sized construction firm, Apex Builders, takes on a new commercial office project. Before the first payment arrives, they must pay for steel beams, concrete, and skilled labor. Without proper cash reserves or a well-structured payment schedule, Apex Builders could struggle to cover these costs, potentially halting the project and damaging their reputation.
2. Time Your Cash Inflows Strategically
Revenue in commercial construction typically comes from milestone payments throughout a project or upon completion. However, these payments can be delayed due to contract terms, client approvals, or unexpected issues.
For any business, it’s essential to analyze how long it takes to convert expenses into revenue. Are you waiting 30, 60, or even 90 days to get paid? If so, your business must be structured to withstand these gaps. Ensuring that your contract terms align with your cash flow needs can prevent unnecessary financial strain.
Example: Apex Builders structures their contracts to ensure payments are received at key milestones—such as after the foundation is laid, after framing is completed, and upon final inspection. By planning these payment intervals, they reduce financial stress and ensure they always have working capital.
3. Build a Cash Buffer
One of the best strategies for managing cash flow is to build a buffer that accounts for timing discrepancies. In construction, this means having enough reserves to cover payroll and material costs while waiting for payments. The same principle applies to any business with delayed payments.
This buffer should be built into your pricing. Instead of operating on razor-thin margins, factor in potential delays and unexpected costs when setting your rates. This ensures financial stability even during slower payment periods.
Example: Apex Builders includes a 10% contingency in their project bids, ensuring that if a client delays payment or unexpected costs arise, they have the liquidity to keep operations running smoothly.
4. Plan for Payroll and Fixed Expenses
Payroll is a non-negotiable expense in any business. Employees expect timely paychecks, and failure to meet payroll obligations can lead to operational disruptions and even legal consequences.
Since payroll and other fixed expenses (like rent, utilities, and insurance) don’t change based on revenue fluctuations, they must be accounted for in advance. Forecasting these expenses over the next quarter will help ensure you always have the necessary funds available.
Example: Apex Builders schedules payments from previous projects to help cover payroll during slow months, ensuring that employees are always paid on time.
5. Look Ahead to the Next Quarter
Successful businesses don’t just think about today’s cash flow—they plan for the next quarter and beyond. What projects are in the pipeline? When will revenue from those projects be realized? What expenses need to be covered in the meantime?
By forecasting cash flow and preparing for potential shortfalls, businesses can make informed decisions about when to invest, when to hold back, and when to seek additional financing options to bridge any gaps.
Example: Apex Builders maintain a rolling cash flow projection, helping them anticipate slow periods and ensuring they never take on more projects than they can financially support at one time.
The Bottom Line
Cash flow management isn’t just about tracking numbers—it’s about planning ahead, building flexibility into your pricing, and ensuring your business can withstand the natural ebbs and flows of financial cycles. Whether you’re in commercial construction, retail, or any other industry, mastering cash flow is essential for long-term success. Surety Bank is here to help businesses navigate these challenges with financial solutions designed to keep operations running smoothly.
A Legacy of Dedication: Cindy’s 31 Years at Surety Bank
In the spring of 1994, Cindy walked into Surety Bank—not to apply for a job, but to apply for a mortgage. She and her family had recently moved from Michigan, and Surety was simply the place she trusted to help them settle into their new home. What she didn’t expect was that the bank would also offer her something even more life-changing—a career that would span more than three decades.
“I didn’t have to look very hard for a job,” Cindy recalls with a laugh. “They saw that I had banking experience and called me up because they needed a teller.”
It was the start of a journey that would see Cindy grow from a front-line teller to a key part of the bank’s payroll and HR team. Over the years, she became a steady presence in the bank’s evolving landscape, witnessing firsthand how technology transformed the industry. When she first started, many processes were still manual—checks were physically run through proof machines, reconciliations were done by hand, and not everyone even had a computer at their desk.
“I remember when we had to share computers,” she says. “That didn’t last too long, but things were a lot different back then.”
Cindy’s career path took her from teller to bookkeeping, then into accounting, and eventually into payroll and HR, where she found her niche. She describes her work as being part of a team that always pulled together to solve challenges—a culture of collaboration and adaptability that made Surety Bank feel like home.
“We always worked together to find solutions,” Cindy reflects. “Even though my role became more specialized over the years, it was always about teamwork.”
A Career That Supported What Mattered Most
For Cindy, working at Surety Bank wasn’t just about the job—it was about the life it allowed her to build. Living just three miles from the bank, she was able to balance her career while staying closely involved in raising her children, supporting her husband, and nurturing her faith.
“I’ve been able to have my life at home and my life here at work,” she says. “It’s been a blessing to have a career that allowed me to be present for the things that mattered most—my family, my husband, and my faith.”
As much as she dedicated herself to her work, Cindy never lost sight of what was most important. She is deeply grateful that her time at Surety allowed her to grow professionally while still prioritizing the people she loved.
A Lasting Legacy
Looking back, Cindy remembers the many friendships, the changes that brought new ideas, and the way she adapted alongside the bank. Perhaps most of all, she values the relationships she built—with colleagues who became like family and customers who left a lasting impression.
Now, as she steps into retirement, Cindy is ready for a new chapter—one that revolves around her grandchildren, travel, and time with family in Michigan. It’s a bittersweet transition, but one that feels right.
“I never dreamed I’d be working someplace for 31 years,” she admits. “But as it turns out, it really went by fast.”
For those just starting their careers in banking, Cindy offers a simple but powerful piece of advice: “Be open to learning all aspects of the job. Take your time, think things through, and just go with the flow.”
After 31 years of steady dedication, Cindy leaves behind a legacy of resilience, kindness, and adaptability—a perfect reflection of the values that make Surety Bank so special. While she may be stepping away from her desk, the impact she’s made at Surety Bank will remain for years to come.
Thank you, Cindy, for 31 incredible years. Your Surety Bank family will miss you!
Durable Medical Equipment (DME) is defined as any medical equipment used in the home to aid in a better quality of living. The term includes wheelchairs, knee braces, hospital beds, nebulizers, walkers, etc. DME is a benefit included in most insurances including Medicare Part B which covers medically necessary DME that is prescribed by a physician for use in a patient’s home.
According to an AARP Bulletin titled “Medicare Under Assault From Fraudsters”, “roughly 10 cents of every dollar budgeted for the giant health insurance program is stolen or misdirected before it helps any enrollee. Malcom Sparrow, a Harvard University professor and leading expert on health care fraud, says the true amount lost to fraud, abuse or improper payments could be 20 percent, or even as high as 30 percent.” See below a graphic that puts the scale of Medicare fraud into perspective.
As you can see, DME fraud has become a huge business for criminals, and they are increasingly using MSBs to provide illegal kickbacks to physicians, launder their illegal proceeds, and take advantage of fraud victims. This behavior should disgust any American taxpayer, if not morally, think about how much of our hard-earned money over the years goes straight into these fraudsters’ pockets.
How it works:
See below an excerpt from a February 4, 2021, Department of Justice Press release titled “Florida Businesswoman Pleads Guilty to Criminal Health Care and Tax Fraud Charges and Agrees to $20.3 Million Civil False Claims Act Settlement”
[According to court documents, Wolfe and her conspirators used Regency to establish dozens of DME supply companies — or, rather, DME fronts — using trickery and deception. The scheme involved placing the DME fronts in the names of straw owners. By concealing the true ownership, Wolfe’s conspirators secretly gained control of multiple companies. With such control, they collectively submitted well over $400 million in illegal DME claims to Medicare and the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the VA. The conspirators claimed that the unusually high volume of claims reflected the use of telemedicine procedures, when, in fact, they had simply bribed doctors to approve them. Almost always, the doctors had no telehealth interaction with the beneficiaries.]
As you can see Wolfe established multiple shell companies and submitted over $400 million in illegal DME claims to Medicare and the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the VA. Another crucial element of the scheme is she bribed doctors to approve these fraudulent invoices stating they conducted telehealth services for the beneficiaries. The illegal kickbacks to doctors is what check cashing MSBs will encounter. A pattern we have picked up on is checks from companies with “Medical Equipment, DME, Braces, Devices, etc.” made payable to individuals that turn out to be physicians or money mules are likely illegal kickbacks to doctors for signing off on fraudulent DME claims.
Anti-Kickback Statute [42 U.S.C. § 1320a-7b(b)]
The AKS is a criminal law that prohibits the knowing and willful payment of “remuneration” to induce or reward patient referrals or the generation of business involving any item or service payable by the Federal health care programs (e.g., drugs, supplies, or health care services for Medicare or Medicaid patients). Remuneration includes anything of value and can take many forms besides cash, such as free rent, expensive hotel stays and meals, and excessive compensation for medical directorships or consultancies. In some industries, it is acceptable to reward those who refer business to you. However, in the Federal health care programs, paying for referrals is a crime. The statute covers the payers of kickbacks-those who offer or pay remuneration- as well as the recipients of kickbacks-those who solicit or receive remuneration. Each party’s intent is a key element of their liability under the AKS.
Criminal penalties and administrative sanctions for violating the AKS include fines, jail terms, and exclusion from participation in the Federal health care programs. Under the CMPL, physicians who pay or accept kickbacks also face penalties of up to $50,000 per kickback plus three times the amount of the remuneration.
Red flags we have identified relating to DME fraud kickbacks are as follows:
• Maker names related to medical equipment writing checks out to individuals. The dollar amount can be random, but we see a lot in the $2,000 – $9,000 range. Less sophisticated actors will structure these payments to remain under the $10,000 CTR threshold.
• When you look up the registered agents of these DME companies on publicly available databases such as Sunbiz.org in Florida, they often control several other companies related to medical equipment that have been recently established. This is indicative of shell companies just like we saw in the above example from the DOJ press release.
• A payee that comes into the check cashing store and regularly cashes checks made payable from DME related companies. You may want to conduct and internet search of these individuals and determine if they are a physician.
What to do if you suspect DME fraudsters are taking advantage of your business to facilitate payments?
If you suspect a potential customer or customer is involved in DME fraud you should investigate to determine if any of the above red flags are involved. As always, you should ask yourself does this activity make sense given the nature of the alleged business? If you determine an existing customer is involved in DME fraud and has conducted transactions aggregating over the SAR dollar volume threshold, file a SAR. As always if you suspect a customer is involved in illegal activity you need to block them from doing business with you. No matter how profitable the relationship is, it’s not worth being fined, losing your license, or ending up in a Department of Justice press release.
Per federal and state guidelines, MSBs are required to monitor their customers’ transactions for suspicious and illegal activity.
Over the past year and a half, the Federal and State governments have issued a huge amount of money to individuals and businesses in the form of Covid-19 stimulus packages. Criminals have been exploiting this situation by committing financial crimes at an unprecedented rate. See a few examples below.
“IRVINE, Calif. (KABC) — An Irvine man allegedly obtained about $5 million in federal coronavirus-relief loans for his fake businesses and then spent the funds on himself, including buying Ferrari, Bentley and Lamborghini sports cars, according to federal authorities.”
“BOSTON — The owner of a Massachusetts pizza parlor lied about the number of employees he had to fraudulently obtain more than $660,000 in federal coronavirus relief funds, then used some of the money to buy and stock an alpaca farm in Vermont, federal prosecutors said Tuesday.”
“According to the report by the Times, Abidemi Rufai, of Lekki, Nigeria, was charged Saturday in federal court with using the identities of more than 100 Washington residents to steal more than $350,000 in unemployment benefits from the Washington state Employment Security Department (ESD) during the COVID-19 pandemic last year.”
How can you improve your quality of monitoring?
Here are some tips on how to get better:
It all starts with making employee training a fundamental part of your business and your culture. Requiring your employees to pass a test is one thing but asking them to join you in putting those practices into play inside their roles each day brings a new level of awareness to their work.
Employees need to know what to look for when they are seeing suspicious behavior or activity. For example, what kind of typology are fraudsters using? What kind of schemes should employees be looking for?
Know who you are doing business with and how they conduct their business. For example, is a construction company cashing $3M of checks each month but they just got incorporated six months ago? That is a red flag.
Help your employees to think critically about each customer and transaction. Most fraudulent activities can be uncovered by using common sense. Do not over complicate it.
Use your check cashing software as a resource for monitoring. Most software has features that will give you alerts and allow you to sort the information several ways including insights into historical data on customers. This goes back to training. The more your employees know how to get the most from the software the less mistakes they will make.
Better Reporting
Reporting should be a natural extension of your monitoring practices. If you are making your monitoring a high priority, good reporting will naturally flow from those activities.
It is very important to file CTRs on a timely basis, within 15 days.
If you are using your check cashing software fully, it will help with the practice of reporting. Especially with CTRs, when a suspicious activity is identified, your software will trigger a CTR. In addition, it will aggregate the data on a customer, pulling all their transactions together if they have made multiple transactions at different times of the day.
Investing in additional features like these and learning how to use them minimizes mistakes.
For example, if a customer comes in three separate times during a day and cashes a $5,000 check each time, will your employees know to aggregate all of those transactions? If not, this is where the software can minimize mistakes.
We understand that your team is most likely not trying to intentionally ignore possible suspicious activity. However, if they get busy and are rushed, without these extra measures in place to catch mistakes they are more likely to make a human error that could cost you.
Our Commitment to You
One of our highest priorities and commitments to you is to make sure our BSA staff is highly qualified and properly trained.
As we seek to be a resource for you, we hold ourselves to the highest standard as well. We are in the business of compliance, so we take employee training, monitoring, and reporting very seriously.
If you have questions for our team and would like to connect, you can reach us here.
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.
Growing Something of His Own: How DeLand’s Austin Scott Launched Coastal Green Pest Solutions
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.
Solving the Problem Behind the Problem
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.
Building Coastal Green Pest Solutions
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:
Lawn treatments and fertilization
Insect and pest treatments for lawns
Herbicide and weed management
Fungicide treatments
Palm tree treatments
Shrub treatments
Nutrient deficiency management
Lawn and landscape health assessments
Irrigation guidance and trusted referrals
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.
A Local Bank Helps a Local Entrepreneur Get Started
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.
Growing the Right Way
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 Is on the Rise: Simple Steps to Help Protect Yourself
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.
Three Fraud Trends to Watch
1. AI-Powered Scams Are Becoming More Convincing
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.
2. Scammers Are Targeting Entire Financial Accounts
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.
3. Financial Fraud Targeting Older Adults Is Growing
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.
A Few Simple Habits Can Make a Difference
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.
Resources to Help Protect Your Information
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.
Stay Alert and Take Your Time
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.
Strong Communities Are Built Through Strong Partnerships
For 100 years, Surety Bank has believed that community banking means more than serving customers inside the walls of a branch. It means investing in the people, organizations, and partnerships that help our communities thrive.
That commitment is something Carla Quann, Director of Community Relations for the Volusia Sheriff's Office, has experienced firsthand.
"Our goal is to support everyone in our community," Carla explains. "Ryan [James] wanted to be a part of what we're doing because he cares about the community."
The partnership between Surety Bank and the Volusia Sheriff's Office began when Surety Bank President & CEO Ryan James joined the Volusia Sheriff's Foundation Board. Since then, the relationship has grown into a collaborative effort focused on addressing some of the community's greatest needs.
One example came during the holiday season, when thousands of local families faced uncertainty after SNAP benefits were unexpectedly interrupted. Through the combined efforts of businesses, volunteers, and community organizations, more than 3,500 grocery bags were distributed to families throughout Volusia County.
According to Carla, Surety Bank was an important part of making that effort possible.
Beyond community events and charitable initiatives, the partnership has also helped strengthen public safety.
As financial scams targeting older adults became increasingly common, Surety Bank worked alongside the Sheriff's Office to provide education, share industry expertise, and help detectives better recognize the warning signs of fraud.
That collaboration ultimately helped lead to the creation of the Volusia Sheriff's Office Financial Crimes Unit—a dedicated team focused on protecting residents from fraud and financial exploitation.
Working together, those efforts have helped recover more than $2 million for local victims of financial crimes.
For Carla, those results reflect what makes Surety Bank different.
"They're not just another hometown bank," she says. "They care about their community."
She believes that commitment starts with customer service but extends far beyond banking. Whether supporting nonprofit organizations, helping law enforcement address emerging scams, or simply answering the phone when someone needs help, Surety Bank has built relationships rooted in trust.
"People trust them," Carla says. "They've built that trust with their customers, and that's why people stay."
As Surety Bank celebrates a century of serving Central Florida, partnerships like this demonstrate that community banking isn't defined only by financial services—it's measured by the impact a bank has on the people and communities it serves.
For 100 years, Surety Bank has believed that when communities succeed, everyone succeeds. Through partnerships built on trust, service, and shared purpose, that commitment continues today—and will continue for generations to come.
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.
Growing Something of His Own: How DeLand’s Austin Scott Launched Coastal Green Pest Solutions
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.
Solving the Problem Behind the Problem
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.
Building Coastal Green Pest Solutions
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:
Lawn treatments and fertilization
Insect and pest treatments for lawns
Herbicide and weed management
Fungicide treatments
Palm tree treatments
Shrub treatments
Nutrient deficiency management
Lawn and landscape health assessments
Irrigation guidance and trusted referrals
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.
A Local Bank Helps a Local Entrepreneur Get Started
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.
Growing the Right Way
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 Is on the Rise: Simple Steps to Help Protect Yourself
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.
Three Fraud Trends to Watch
1. AI-Powered Scams Are Becoming More Convincing
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.
2. Scammers Are Targeting Entire Financial Accounts
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.
3. Financial Fraud Targeting Older Adults Is Growing
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.
A Few Simple Habits Can Make a Difference
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.
Resources to Help Protect Your Information
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.
Stay Alert and Take Your Time
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.
Strong Communities Are Built Through Strong Partnerships
For 100 years, Surety Bank has believed that community banking means more than serving customers inside the walls of a branch. It means investing in the people, organizations, and partnerships that help our communities thrive.
That commitment is something Carla Quann, Director of Community Relations for the Volusia Sheriff's Office, has experienced firsthand.
"Our goal is to support everyone in our community," Carla explains. "Ryan [James] wanted to be a part of what we're doing because he cares about the community."
The partnership between Surety Bank and the Volusia Sheriff's Office began when Surety Bank President & CEO Ryan James joined the Volusia Sheriff's Foundation Board. Since then, the relationship has grown into a collaborative effort focused on addressing some of the community's greatest needs.
One example came during the holiday season, when thousands of local families faced uncertainty after SNAP benefits were unexpectedly interrupted. Through the combined efforts of businesses, volunteers, and community organizations, more than 3,500 grocery bags were distributed to families throughout Volusia County.
According to Carla, Surety Bank was an important part of making that effort possible.
Beyond community events and charitable initiatives, the partnership has also helped strengthen public safety.
As financial scams targeting older adults became increasingly common, Surety Bank worked alongside the Sheriff's Office to provide education, share industry expertise, and help detectives better recognize the warning signs of fraud.
That collaboration ultimately helped lead to the creation of the Volusia Sheriff's Office Financial Crimes Unit—a dedicated team focused on protecting residents from fraud and financial exploitation.
Working together, those efforts have helped recover more than $2 million for local victims of financial crimes.
For Carla, those results reflect what makes Surety Bank different.
"They're not just another hometown bank," she says. "They care about their community."
She believes that commitment starts with customer service but extends far beyond banking. Whether supporting nonprofit organizations, helping law enforcement address emerging scams, or simply answering the phone when someone needs help, Surety Bank has built relationships rooted in trust.
"People trust them," Carla says. "They've built that trust with their customers, and that's why people stay."
As Surety Bank celebrates a century of serving Central Florida, partnerships like this demonstrate that community banking isn't defined only by financial services—it's measured by the impact a bank has on the people and communities it serves.
For 100 years, Surety Bank has believed that when communities succeed, everyone succeeds. Through partnerships built on trust, service, and shared purpose, that commitment continues today—and will continue for generations to come.
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.
Growing Something of His Own: How DeLand’s Austin Scott Launched Coastal Green Pest Solutions
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.
Solving the Problem Behind the Problem
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.
Building Coastal Green Pest Solutions
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:
Lawn treatments and fertilization
Insect and pest treatments for lawns
Herbicide and weed management
Fungicide treatments
Palm tree treatments
Shrub treatments
Nutrient deficiency management
Lawn and landscape health assessments
Irrigation guidance and trusted referrals
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.
A Local Bank Helps a Local Entrepreneur Get Started
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.
Growing the Right Way
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 Is on the Rise: Simple Steps to Help Protect Yourself
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.
Three Fraud Trends to Watch
1. AI-Powered Scams Are Becoming More Convincing
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.
2. Scammers Are Targeting Entire Financial Accounts
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.
3. Financial Fraud Targeting Older Adults Is Growing
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.
A Few Simple Habits Can Make a Difference
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.
Resources to Help Protect Your Information
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.
Stay Alert and Take Your Time
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.
Strong Communities Are Built Through Strong Partnerships
For 100 years, Surety Bank has believed that community banking means more than serving customers inside the walls of a branch. It means investing in the people, organizations, and partnerships that help our communities thrive.
That commitment is something Carla Quann, Director of Community Relations for the Volusia Sheriff's Office, has experienced firsthand.
"Our goal is to support everyone in our community," Carla explains. "Ryan [James] wanted to be a part of what we're doing because he cares about the community."
The partnership between Surety Bank and the Volusia Sheriff's Office began when Surety Bank President & CEO Ryan James joined the Volusia Sheriff's Foundation Board. Since then, the relationship has grown into a collaborative effort focused on addressing some of the community's greatest needs.
One example came during the holiday season, when thousands of local families faced uncertainty after SNAP benefits were unexpectedly interrupted. Through the combined efforts of businesses, volunteers, and community organizations, more than 3,500 grocery bags were distributed to families throughout Volusia County.
According to Carla, Surety Bank was an important part of making that effort possible.
Beyond community events and charitable initiatives, the partnership has also helped strengthen public safety.
As financial scams targeting older adults became increasingly common, Surety Bank worked alongside the Sheriff's Office to provide education, share industry expertise, and help detectives better recognize the warning signs of fraud.
That collaboration ultimately helped lead to the creation of the Volusia Sheriff's Office Financial Crimes Unit—a dedicated team focused on protecting residents from fraud and financial exploitation.
Working together, those efforts have helped recover more than $2 million for local victims of financial crimes.
For Carla, those results reflect what makes Surety Bank different.
"They're not just another hometown bank," she says. "They care about their community."
She believes that commitment starts with customer service but extends far beyond banking. Whether supporting nonprofit organizations, helping law enforcement address emerging scams, or simply answering the phone when someone needs help, Surety Bank has built relationships rooted in trust.
"People trust them," Carla says. "They've built that trust with their customers, and that's why people stay."
As Surety Bank celebrates a century of serving Central Florida, partnerships like this demonstrate that community banking isn't defined only by financial services—it's measured by the impact a bank has on the people and communities it serves.
For 100 years, Surety Bank has believed that when communities succeed, everyone succeeds. Through partnerships built on trust, service, and shared purpose, that commitment continues today—and will continue for generations to come.
What MSBs Need to Know When Adding a New Product or Service
How Early Planning Helps You Get Online and Start Earning Faster
Adding a new product or service can significantly increase revenue for an MSB. Whether it is money transmission, ATM services, or another offering, early coordination with the bank helps ensure your new service launches smoothly and begins generating income as quickly as possible.
Many service-related delays occur when new offerings are added without notifying the bank in advance.
Why the Bank Needs to Be Involved Early
Each product or service comes with specific monitoring, reporting, and account requirements. The bank must be able to review activity accurately and ensure it aligns with regulatory expectations.
When a new service is launched without notice, activity may flow into the wrong account or lack required reporting. Fixing these issues after the service is live often causes delays or temporary interruptions.
Common Product and Service Additions
ATM Services If you are adding an ATM, the bank typically requires:
A separate account dedicated solely to ATM activity
A copy of the ATM processor agreement
Monthly cash load and transaction reports
ATM activity cannot be combined with other MSB transactions due to reconciliation and compliance requirements.
Money Transmission Services This includes services such as Western Union or other money transfer providers.
While these services may not require a separate account, they do require monthly reporting. At a minimum, reports must include:
Sender
Receiver
Transaction date
Amount
Destination country
These reports allow the bank to identify patterns, monitor risk, and meet regulatory obligations.
Even if a third-party provider has its own compliance program, the bank is still responsible for monitoring the activity flowing through your accounts.
A Key Risk to Avoid
Some MSBs assume that because a vendor manages compliance on their side, the bank does not need reporting. This is a common misconception. Ultimately, the funds flow through the bank, and the bank must conduct its own review.
Failing to provide required reporting can delay approvals, reviews, and future expansion plans.
How Early Planning Saves Time and Money
Adding services often requires:
Account setup or restructuring
Reporting expectations to be established
IT coordination
Vendor documentation
When these steps are completed in advance, services can go live quickly. When handled after launch, they often result in delays, holds, or additional review.
The Bottom Line
Growth is a positive step for any MSB. Whether you are adding a new product, service, or location, early communication with the bank helps ensure the process is efficient and compliant.
Starting the conversation early allows the bank to guide you, prepare properly, and help you move forward with fewer obstacles and less frustration.
If expansion is even a possibility, reaching out now can save significant time later.
Opening a new location is an exciting milestone for any MSB. New storefronts mean new customers, increased volume, and business growth. However, opening a new branch also brings additional banking, compliance, and operational requirements that must be completed before you can begin operating.
One of the most common causes of delayed openings is a lack of early or consistent communication with the bank. When the bank is informed early and kept in the loop, the process moves faster and far more smoothly.
Why Communication Is Critical
From the bank’s perspective, opening a new MSB location is not simply adding another address. There are multiple regulatory, licensing, and operational steps that must be completed before the first transaction can take place.
We often see situations where a customer notifies the bank months in advance, receives a checklist of required items, then communication stops. When the customer reconnects and is ready to open, none of the required steps have been completed. At that point, the bank cannot approve activity, even if the storefront is ready.
Consistent communication ensures both sides stay aligned and prevents last-minute delays.
What Is Required Before a New Location Can Operate
Depending on the state, services offered, and geographic location, opening a new branch may require:
Updated FinCEN registration to reflect the new location
State check cashing licenses for the specific state
Remote Deposit Capture setup and successful trial deposits
Cash courier agreements
Confirmation that Surety Bank can service cash needs in that area
Internal system setup for deposits, approvals, and reporting
Even experienced MSBs are sometimes surprised to learn that requirements vary by state and location. A location that works in one market may require different preparation in another.
A Common Misunderstanding
Many MSBs assume that once a lease is signed and the store is ready, operations can begin immediately. From a banking and regulatory standpoint, this is not always the case.
If required licenses, amendments, or system testing are not completed, the bank cannot allow the location to operate. This is not meant to slow down your business. It is meant to protect both your operation and the bank from compliance violations.
How to Open Faster and With Fewer Issues
The most efficient openings share a few things in common:
The bank is notified as soon as expansion is being considered
Communication continues throughout the setup process
Documentation is submitted promptly
Questions are asked early, not at the last minute
When communication stays consistent, opening timelines are shorter, approvals are smoother, and unexpected delays are far less likely.
Why On-Site Visits Matter: Strengthening MSB Partnerships Through Face-to-Face Support
When it comes to Money Service Businesses (MSBs), so much of the relationship between the bank and the customer happens behind the scenes through emails, phone calls, documents, and reviews. But sometimes, the most valuable conversations happen face to face.
Recently, Surety Bank conducted a series of on-site visits with MSB customers across Florida. In just two days, our team visited 12 businesses meeting owners where they operate, seeing workflows in real time, and having honest, productive conversations about compliance, fraud prevention, and growth.
The takeaway was clear: on-site visits create clarity, trust, and better outcomes for everyone involved.
Seeing Your Business From Your Point of View
From the bank’s side, we review transactions, reports, and data. But that only tells part of the story. Visiting MSBs in person allows us to see how your business actually operates, how customers flow through your store, how decisions are made, and what challenges you face day to day.
For many MSBs, this was the first time they were able to put a face to a name they usually only see in emails or hear on the phone. That alone made a difference. Customers were able to ask questions, share concerns, and better understand why certain compliance requirements exist, not just that they exist.
Identifying Issues Before They Cause Delays
Site visits also help uncover small issues that can cause big delays later.
During one visit, a customer believed their corporate files were fully up to date. A quick spot check showed otherwise: expired corporate resolutions, missing documentation, and records that hadn’t been refreshed annually as required by Surety Bank policy.
That conversation mattered. Without those documents:
● Checks could be delayed or placed on hold ● Approvals could be paused ● Cash flow could be impacted
Addressing these gaps during a site visit helps MSBs avoid last-minute scrambles, rejected transactions, and unnecessary frustration.
Fraud Prevention Starts on the Front End
Another consistent theme during site visits was fraud. MSBs are very aware that they are vulnerable and site visits give us the opportunity to talk through practical, preventative steps.
From understanding why certain customers are blocked, to recognizing patterns of suspicious activity, these conversations help MSBs make better decisions before a check is cashed rather than dealing with losses afterward.
More Site Visits Coming in the New Year
Based on the success of these visits, Surety Bank will be conducting more on-site visits starting in the new year. While we can’t visit every MSB at once, we are prioritizing visits based on risk assessments and geographic proximity.
These visits are not audits. They are not meant to tell you how to run your business.
They are meant to:
● Build stronger relationships ● Provide clarity around compliance expectations ● Identify issues early ● Support MSBs with real, practical guidance
Most importantly, they reinforce one thing: we’re here, we’re accessible, and we care about your success.
Interested in a Site Visit?
If you would like to request a site visit or learn more about what to expect, we encourage you to reach out and our team will follow up to discuss next steps.
At Surety Bank, we believe strong partnerships are built through communication, transparency, and mutual understanding. On-site visits help bridge the gap between policy and practice and we look forward to continuing these conversations in person throughout the year ahead.
Maximizing the Capabilities of Your Point-of-Sale Software: A Compliance Tool Every MSB Should Be Using
For many Money Service Businesses (MSBs), a point-of-sale (POS) check-cashing system is required in order to bank with Surety. Larger MSBs generally use these systems as intended but smaller, “mom-and-pop” MSBs often don’t fully understand the capabilities of the software they’re paying for each month.
This gap has created significant issues for MSBs and for our analysts when performing compliance reviews.
The truth is: your POS system is not just a transaction tool. It is a powerful compliance engine. And when it’s used correctly, it protects both your business and the bank.
POS Software: You’re Paying for It, Make It Work for You
Every approved vendor on Surety’s list provides a robust set of compliance features. These tools are designed to:
Capture complete customer profiles
Store accurate ID information
Run OFAC checks
Detect fraudulent checks using magnetic ink (MICR) recognition
Flag expired IDs
Organize data for CTRs, SARs, and quarterly reviews
But when MSBs don’t know how to operate the system, or bypass required fields, these features fail, and risk increases.
Where Things Are Going Wrong
The transcription captures several recurring issues we see during reviews. Below are the biggest problems and how to fix them.
1. Poor or Missing Customer Photos
MSBs must take a clear photo of each customer. But many stores:
Never adjust the camera
Capture the ceiling or a lamp instead of the customer
Skip the photo entirely
This becomes a problem when analysts need to match customers to suspicious activity.
Fix: ✔ Adjust the camera. ✔ Make sure the customer is actually looking at the lens. ✔ Retake the photo if it's unclear.
2. Incorrect Address Information from IDs
When an ID is scanned, the system autofills the address. But 8 out of 10 profiles contain outdated, inaccurate addresses. This causes major compliance issues when filing CTRs or SARs.
Fix: ✔ Always verbally confirm the customer’s current address. ✔ Update the POS record manually when the ID address is outdated.
3. Not Running OFAC Checks
Some MSBs never used OFAC checks until Surety required POS systems. Now they have access to the tool and still forget to use it.
Fix: ✔ Ensure OFAC checks run on every customer, every time.
4. Incorrectly Editing Check Information
This is one of the biggest issues.Many MSBs edit the payee section and mistakenly enter:
❌ The name of the person cashing the check (the conductor) instead of:
✔ The name of the entity the check is actually payable to.
This leads to:
Bad data
Incorrect reporting
Inaccurate cross-references during compliance reviews
Fix: ✔ Always enter the maker and payee correctly. ✔ Never leave fields blank. ✔ Never rely on whatever the system “guesses.”
5. Ignoring Fraud Alerts, Including MICR/Magnetic Ink Warnings
Your POS system is capable of detecting fraudulent checks before you cash them. But some MSBs override alerts manually, sometimes losing thousands of dollars.
Fix: ✔ Trust the system. ✔ Never override a fraud alert. ✔ Stop the transaction and ask questions.
Training is Available, Use It!
Most POS vendors offer:
One-on-one support
Training sessions
Feature walk-throughs
Troubleshooting help
MSBs are strongly encouraged to schedule additional training with their vendor to learn the system fully.
Why Accurate POS Use Matters to Both You and the Bank
When MSBs use the POS system properly:
MSB Benefits:
Fewer losses from fraudulent checks
Stronger compliance records
Faster and cleaner audits
Fewer callbacks and follow-ups
Bank Benefits:
Cleaner data for quarterly analysis
Accurate suspicious activity detection
More efficient reviews
Fewer non-compliance penalties for MSBs
If the system is used upfront, risk drops dramatically and compliance becomes smoother for everyone.
Your POS system can only help you if you use it. By taking advantage of the features you’re already paying for, you’ll reduce risk, increase accuracy, and build a stronger compliance foundation for your business.
This Holiday Season, Is Cash Really “King” for Retailers?
It’s November, your store is packed, the line at the register is snaking down the aisle and your seasonal staff is doing their best to keep up. You’re watching every sale, every return and every refund, knowing that the next six weeks can make or break your year. With card processing fees climbing, it’s tempting to push customers toward cash and even add a 3% “convenience” or “non-cash adjustment” fee when they tap or swipe a card. After all, there are no fees on cash… right?
The problem is that cash comes with its own price tag, one most retailers don’t see until it’s quietly eaten into their margins.
The Hidden Cost of Cash in a Busy Retail Season
A study by the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council found that the real cost of cash can range from 4.7% (grocery) to as high as 15.5% (bars and restaurants) once you factor in labor, handling and shrinkage. That means for every $100 in cash you accept, you might really be keeping only $84.50 to $95.30.
For many retailers, the biggest hidden cost is time:
Counting drawers at open and close
Reconciling registers with point-of-sale totals
Preparing and transporting deposits
Investigating discrepancies when the numbers don’t match
For example, convenience stores—which operate in a similar high-volume, low-margin environment as many retailers—spend an estimated 15–20 hours per week just counting and handling cash. At an average wage of $14.33 per hour, that’s:
15 hours/week: $214.95
20 hours/week: $286.60
Over a year, that works out to $11,177–$14,903 in labor just to handle cash. During the holidays, when lines are longer and staff is stretched thinner, those hours often go up, not down.
Cash vs. Real-Time Insight
Cash also keeps you in the dark longer than you might realize. With cash-heavy operations, you often don’t know your true daily performance until drawers are counted, deposits are prepared and everything is reconciled—sometimes hours after the store closes. That lag makes it harder to adjust staffing, reorder inventory or tweak promotions while it still matters.
Electronic payments, by contrast, can feed real-time metrics into your point-of-sale and treasury platforms. You can see, often down to the hour, what’s selling, which locations are busiest, which promotions are working and how your cash flow looks heading into the next day. That visibility is especially valuable in the holiday rush, when a fast decision about staffing or inventory can mean the difference between a record weekend and missed opportunities.
Risk, Fraud and Counterfeit Bills
On top of labor, cash exposes retailers to risks that electronic payments help reduce:
Theft and shrinkage: Industry estimates suggest U.S. retailers lose tens of billions of dollars each year to cash theft, whether from the register, the safe, or in transit to the bank.
Counterfeit currency: High-traffic holiday weekends are prime time for counterfeiters. A busy cashier with a long line may not catch a fake bill, and once it’s accepted, that loss is on the business.
Human error: Extra seasonal staff, longer shifts and higher stress all increase the odds of miscounted drawers and deposit errors.
This is why many banks are rolling out treasury platforms with fraud controls, positive pay, ACH options and remote deposit capture to help business customers move away from “cash management” and toward cash flow management. Framing the conversation around speed, security, real-time information and time savings can be more effective—and more honest—than simply pushing for “more cash.”
Why Surcharging Cards May Not Be the Win You Think
Let’s apply real numbers to a typical retail scenario.
Say you own a store and decide to add a 3% convenience fee to card transactions while still accepting cash. Here’s what happens on a $100 ticket:
Card payment with a 3% convenience fee
Ticket: $100
Convenience fee added: +$3
Total charged to customer: $103
Assumed merchant processing fee: 3% of $103 = $3.09
Net to your business: $103 – $3.09 = $99.91
Cash payment with hidden costs (using the 15.5% example)
Ticket: $100
No visible fee to the customer
“Hidden” costs (labor, theft, errors, etc.): $15.50 (15.5% of $100)
Net to your business: $100 – $15.50 = $84.50
So for every $100 transaction, you effectively keep:
$99.91 when a customer pays by card (even with processing fees), versus
$84.50 when a customer pays with cash, once hidden costs are included
That’s a $15.41 difference per $100 ticket in favor of electronic payments.
During the holidays, when your volume spikes, that gap adds up quickly. The season you’ve been counting on to boost profits can quietly turn into the season where hidden cash costs quietly steal them away, one transaction at a time.
If you’d like to talk through how to reduce the hidden costs of cash, improve fraud protection and gain better real-time visibility into your business accounts and merchant processing, contact Surety’s Treasury Services Department to discuss business accounts and merchant accounts with built-in protection.
How One Fraud Incident Can Damage Your Business Reputation: A (Fictitious) Cautionary Tale
This is a fictitious story—but it's based on real events that happen to small businesses every single day.
The owner of a thriving local furniture business had just signed the biggest deal of the year. Everything seemed on track until her bookkeeper received an email from a familiar client with “updated wire instructions.” The message looked legitimate. No red flags. So the payment—nearly $50,000—was sent. Two days later, the real client called to say the deposit never arrived. The money was gone. And so was the illusion that something like this “would never happen to us.”
Within a week, long-time customers started asking tough questions. A supplier tightened payment terms. A local partnership quietly backed out of an event. And worse—people started whispering that the business “might not be secure.”
This is how quickly a single fraud incident can unravel years of hard-earned trust.
Why One Fraud Event Can Be So Damaging
Even if you recover the stolen funds or file an insurance claim, the damage to your reputation can last far longer—and cut deeper.
Customers lose confidence. A majority of U.S. consumers say they’d stop doing business with a company that experienced a data or financial breach.
Vendors and lenders take notice. Your partners may adjust credit terms or even re-evaluate contracts.
Employees lose morale. When trust is shaken externally, it often ripples inward too.
News travels fast. In the age of online reviews and social media, bad news spreads faster than facts.
Steps You Can Take to Prevent It
Protecting your business starts with building strong internal controls and using the tools your bank offers:
Surety Bank offers many of these solutions through our Treasury team, and we can help tailor them to your specific operations.
If It Happens to You: Rebuilding Trust
Even with great controls, no system is bulletproof. If fraud strikes, your response will determine how much damage your reputation takes—and how quickly you can recover.
In the first 72 hours:
Notify your bank and law enforcement immediately.
Appoint a single spokesperson for clear, consistent communication.
Identify and close the breach—disable accounts, reset credentials, pause payments.
Contact affected clients or partners with transparency and professionalism.
In the weeks that follow:
Offer real solutions (like credit monitoring or fee reversals) to support affected customers.
Implement new controls and publicize your improvements.
Bring in a third-party review to verify changes and rebuild confidence.
Communicate successes—“90 days fraud-free,” audit completions, or security certifications.
Your Reputation Is Worth Protecting
This fictitious business was lucky—it survived. But the lesson is clear: fraud isn’t just a financial risk, it’s a reputational one. And once trust is broken, it takes time, strategy, and transparency to win it back.
At Surety Bank, we help businesses of all sizes protect their operations from fraud. Whether you need payment controls, alert systems, or a plan for what to do in a crisis, our Treasury & Fraud Prevention Team is here to help.
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