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Two banks rank high on firms report
Considered among best in financial performance
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Forsyth County News

Two banks in Forsyth County have earned a perfect score from a banking rating and research firm.

Community Business Bank, headquartered in Cumming, and Bank of the Ozarks, which has one branch in the county, both received a Superior 5-Star rating from BauerFinancial Inc. for third quarter 2011.

The ranking is the highest a bank or credit union can receive from the organization, which is based in Coral Gables, Fla.

According to a report from BauerFinancial, the superior rating is given to banks that are considered the best in the nation in terms of overall financial performance.

No institution pays BauerFinancial to be rated, nor can any choose to be excluded, the report states.

Community Business Bank opened in January 2008. It has one location on East Maple Street in downtown Cumming.

President and CEO Carter Barrett said he and his staff were "very pleased" to earn the perfect rating for the first time in the bank’s history.

"Forsyth County is second to none for opportunities for banks," he said. "We want to keep things simple through serving our community and building a strong balance sheet.

"We’re very grateful to be where we are to have a bright future."

Bank of the Ozarks has numerous sites throughout several Western and Southeastern states, including one on Freedom Parkway in north Forsyth.

Susan Blair, a spokeswoman with Bank of the Ozarks, said she was not surprised by the perfect rating, noting the bank was also named one of America’s best banks by the American Banking Association in 2011.

"It doesn’t surprise me that another rating organization has seen us as safe, sound and secure, since that is what we aspire to," Blair said.