Tim Poteet has joined the staff of Southern Heritage Bank as senior vice president and commercial team leader.

Lee Stewart, SHB president and CEO, made the announcement.

“Tim has an impressive background with management experience in banking and also as a bank examiner,” Stewart said. “His knowledge will be valuable to us as we continue to grow our commercial lending and cash management services to small businesses.”

Prior to joining Southern Heritage, Poteet served as senior vice president of First Volunteer Bank in Etowah.

He began his banking career at Southern United Bank of Etowah and also worked at Peoples Bank.

He then served as a bank examiner for the Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions for 11 years.

“I am very excited to be a part of this local bank. Southern Heritage is truly a hometown bank in touch with the community and its customers,” Poteet said.

“I am proud to be part of a management team that strives to help consumers and small businesses reach their financial goals while reflecting Christian values in their relationships.”

Poteet graduated from Polk County High School and Cleveland State Community College where he also played baseball. He graduated from Tennessee Wesleyan College in 1988 with a bachelor’s degree in business.

Poteet currently serves on the McMinn County Bond Board and the McMinn County Economic Development Authority.

He has recently served as president of the Rotary Club and the Etowah Chamber of Commerce. He has been involved in the music ministries at Bellefounte Baptist Church, Candies Creek Baptist Church and served as music director at Macedonia Baptist Church.

His wife, Mary, is a teacher for the Athens City School system. He has two children, Summer and Ethan, who attend McMinn Central High School.

For more information about Southern Heritage Bank, visit the website at www.southernheritagebank.com.