Palmetto Citizens opens branch in rural South Carolina town left without a bank.
Palmetto Citizens Federal Credit Union said the new location in Whitmire restores in-person financial services nearly two years after the community lost its last bank.
Nearly two years after the last bank in Whitmire, S.C., closed its doors, residents of the small Newberry County town once again have a local place to manage their finances.
Palmetto Citizens Federal Credit Union, a Columbia-based institution with $1.4 billion in assets, has opened a new branch at 138 Main Street in the town of roughly 1,400 people, marking a return of in-person banking services to a community that had been without one since 2023.
“We’re excited to announce our branch in the Town of Whitmire is now open, and we’re proud to once again bring local banking services to this community,” the credit union said in a March 16 Facebook statement. “After the town’s previous financial institution closed, access to in-person banking became more difficult for many residents. We’re honored to help fill that gap and look forward to serving the people and businesses of Whitmire for years to come.”
The new branch occupies a roughly 1,600-square-foot historic building in the town’s downtown corridor, restoring a financial presence along Main Street after the closure of a First Citizens Bank location left Whitmire without a bank.
For residents and small businesses, the absence of a local institution created practical challenges, particularly for those who rely on face-to-face service or lack reliable access to digital banking tools.
The opening underscores a broader trend in which credit unions and community-focused institutions are moving into areas left behind by bank branch closures, particularly in rural and small-town markets. These areas are sometimes described as “banking deserts,” where residents must travel significant distances for basic financial services.
Palmetto Citizens, which traces its roots to 1936 as the Columbia Teachers Credit Union, now serves more than 86,000 members through 14 branches across South Carolina’s Midlands region. The institution employs more than 300 people statewide and reported nearly $21 million in earnings last year, up from about $15 million in 2024, according to regulatory filings.
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The Whitmire branch opening coincides with the credit union’s 90th anniversary, a milestone that leadership framed as consistent with its long-standing focus on community service and financial access.
“We’re honored to become part of the Whitmire community and help restore local banking access for the town’s residents and businesses,” President and CEO Robert Dozier said.
The credit union plans to mark the opening with a public ribbon-cutting ceremony on March 30, inviting residents and local officials to tour the new branch and celebrate the return of financial services to the area.
Beyond traditional banking products such as savings and checking accounts and loans, the institution said it aims to provide a broader set of resources tied to financial education and community support.
In 2025, Palmetto Citizens contributed more than $600,000 to local charities and logged more than 900 volunteer hours, part of an effort to position itself not only as a financial provider but also as a community partner.
For Whitmire, the arrival of a new branch represents more than a convenience. It signals the return of a local institution that residents can access in person — a service that, while diminished in many parts of the country, remains essential in smaller communities.
The opening, credit union leaders said, is intended to ensure that residents and businesses no longer have to look beyond town limits to meet their basic financial needs.
“When Whitmire lost its last bank, it created a real challenge for people who depend on in-person financial services. As a not-for-profit credit union, we saw an opportunity to step in, support this community and provide the trusted financial resources people need to succeed.”
Robert Dozier
President & Chief Executive
Palmetto Citizens Federal Credit Union
Ken McCarthy is manager of marketing communications at Tyfone, where he monitors the credit union industry and contributes to conversations shaping its future. He previously covered credit unions and community banking for American Banker and S&P Global Market Intelligence. He holds a journalism degree from Point Park University and has more than 15 years of experience covering financial services. He is also the author of three literary fiction novels.
