Local officials joined CresCom Bank leadership and bank customers at the official opening of the bank’s downtown Wilmington branch at 115 N. Third St. The branch has been operating since December.

Wilmington Mayor Pro Tem Margaret Haynes and New Hanover County Commissioner Rob Zapple spoke during the brief ceremony about CresCom’s new presence in downtown Wilmington.

Marshall Cooper, CresCom’s Wilmington market executive, said that CresCom remains committed to being a full-service community bank. That is important, he added, in an era when bank mergers are resulting in the disappearance of many community banks.

Jerry Rexroad, president and CEO of Carolina Financial Corp., CresCom’s parent company, spoke of the success the Charleston, South Carolina-based bank has experienced in Wilmington since opening its first full-service branch in the Port City in April 2016, leading it to establish a second location.

“Wilmington is one of the fastest- growing communities in the United States,” Rexroad said.

Ryan Cunningham, manager of both branches, introduced the downtown Wilmington branch staff: Amy Rogers, Adija Boggs and Andra Thompson.

The week before cutting the ribbon at its downtown Wilmington branch, CresCom moved its Sunset Beach branch into new quarters. The new location, at 840 Sunset Blvd. North, is nearly double the size of the former space and is freestanding, according to a news release.

The branch also features two drive-thru lanes. A third lane is equipped with an ATM.

“We are pleased to open our new Sunset Beach branch,” David Morrow, CresCom Bank CEO, said in the release. “The new branch will provide an improved banking experience for our customers that we know will be well received.”