Bank Independent hosts grand opening for new Muscle Shoals team campus
On Monday, May 11, Bank Independent hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its new team campus, located at 530 Reservation Road in Muscle Shoals.
Special guests included U.S. Congressman Robert Aderholt, Muscle Shoals mayor Billy Hudson, Sheffield mayor Bryan VanDevender and Colbert County Administrator Roger Creekmore.
“Our Team Campus stands as much more than a new building—it’s a powerful testament to our faith in North Alabama, the incredible people who call it home, and the bright future we are creating together,” said Bank Independent CEO Macke Mauldin.
Spanning both Muscle Shoals and Sheffield city limits, the new team campus sits on 50 acres just off Reservation Road and the newly-renamed Independent Way. Its main building is 97,419 square feet; it’s equipped with an innovative building automation system designed for energy efficiency and comfort, in addition to an 82 kW solar power system. The campus also includes a 12,000-square-foot warehouse.
VanDevender said, “What makes today special isn’t just about this beautiful building. Anybody can construct a building. What matters is what an institution represents over time.
“In a time when so many community institutions get absorbed, renamed or managed from somewhere far removed from the people they serve, Bank Independent has remained rooted here for nearly 80 years. [It] has represented stability, stewardship, local leadership and a belief in this region. And that matters because strong communities are built by institutions that believe in the people around them and invest in them.”
Established in 1947 as the Bank of Leighton, Bank Independent’s community roots run deep. Since its early days serving local farmers to its expansion across North Alabama, Bank Independent has been focused on creating excellent customer experiences. Today, 700 team members and 33 sales offices bring a personal touch to members from all over the region.
The new team campus serves as a shared workspace for 234 team members from five different locations across Colbert and Lauderdale counties. It’s not a customer-facing facility like the bank’s sales offices. Instead, it’s designed for collaborative work, community building, and growth over the long term.
“This Team Campus is first and foremost an investment in our people,” said Penny Camp, Chief Administrative Officer and Bank Independent. “We wanted to create a space where our team members feel supported, connected, and equipped to do their very best work. When we give our teams the environment and resources they need to thrive, it naturally strengthens the service we provide to our customers.”
Mauldin said the campus’s presence on former TVA property is especially significant.
“This land symbolizes a legacy of vision, progress, and service to the people of the valley,” he said. “Today, we are proud to continue that legacy—honoring the past while creating new opportunities for the future through meaningful jobs, sustainable investment, and a lasting commitment to the communities we serve.”
Creekmore added, “Colbert County envisions future growth on the old reservation properties, making investments in infrastructure that promote that growth. We’re proud that Bank Independent, a pillar of our community with deep roots in Colbert County, through its own vision, dedication and investment has taken the lead.”
Project partners included:
- General contractor: Robins & Morton
- Architect: Lambert Ezell Durham
- Associate architect: KPS Group
- Interior designer: ASD | SKY
- Mechanical engineer: Mechanical Design Services
- Electrical engineer: Jackson, Renfro & Associates
- Structural engineer: LBYD Engineers
- Civil engineer: White, Lynn, Collins & Associates
- Landscape architect: Renta Urban Land Design
- Geotechnical engineer: Building & Earth
Without reconfiguration, the new campus has a 351-team member capacity. With reconfiguration, it can house up to 384 team members. Construction, which began in October 2023, concluded in November 2025.
To learn more about the team campus, including a floor-by-floor overview, campus features, amenities, project partners, and more, visit https://www.bibank.com/team-campus.
