This May, Bank47 held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the opening of its new location on Church Street. To celebrate this milestone, the financial institution held an event at The Ledges on June 26th.

The celebration featured heavy hors d’oeuvres, an assortment of beverages, a unique and interactive keynote speech from Dr. Kevin Elko, and encouraging words from members of Bank47’s leadership team.

After the crowd spent some time socializing, Bank47 President John Johnson addressed the crowd.

“Tonight is just not a celebration about a new bank, it’s a celebration, a shared future, and it’s because of people like you, your encouragement, your belief in what we’re building, that we get to stand here tonight with hope and momentum,” Johnson said.

Johnson continued, “Bank47 was created with a bold and simple idea that banking can be more than a business. It can be a force for connection, a partner in people’s story, and a platform to build strong relationships, strong neighborhoods and a strong future.”

Kelli Powers, the President of Decatur Morgan Hospital and the Chairman of the Board at Bank47, highlighted the distinct opportunities and strengths present in the Tennessee Valley.

“We have a lot of great things here in North Alabama, mainly Huntsville and the surrounding areas, to be proud of because the rest of the state of Alabama doesn’t look like North Alabama,” Powers shared.

Powers also outlined Bank47’s upcoming growth initiative, inviting attendees to participate actively in its continued development.

“We want to build on that success here… with all of you. Due to the great start we’ve had and the growth that we’re already seeing in the bank, we are about to embark on a capital campaign. We need to continue to grow this bank, and we would like for all of you to be a part of that,” Powers said.

Dr. Elko works with sports teams and businesses to provide consulting services in areas such as leadership, goal setting, and other motivational topics. He has consulted for various successful NFL teams, BCS National Championship Football Teams (including The University of Alabama), and multiple large corporate clients.

During his speech, Dr. Elko talked about his time working closely with Nick Saban at UA and shared the overall importance of mindset, connection, and overcoming adversity.

He also drew parallels between his experience in sports and the goals of Bank47. Dr. Elko emphasized the significance of commitment and community connection in achieving success.

“Look, here’s how we get happy. We connect like what Bank47 is doing,” Elko said.

Elko then elaborated on the importance of commitment, differentiating between mere interest and true dedication.

“There are two kinds of people in this world, the interested kind and the committed kind. Those are different. Most people are interested because they do it till they feel it, but they’re not always feeling it. They quit. I don’t want to be around any interested people. I wouldn’t get involved with 47 if they have a bunch of interested people. I need to be around people who are committed,” Elko said.

Bank47 CEO Hill Womble concluded the evening by sharing his vision for the bank’s involvement with the people of Huntsville on a personal level.

“Thank you for coming tonight. We want to build community, and we want to do it through concierge service. I really think how you do that is through people,” said Womble.

He closed his remarks with an open invitation to attendees for ongoing accountability and partnership.

“We ask you to test us, try us, make sure we care. If we don’t, challenge us to improve our game,” Womble said.