Prime Meridian Bank Announces Expansion to Lakeland, Florida Market

Tallahassee-based Prime Meridian Bank has announced its expansion into the Lakeland, Florida market.  The Bank opened a full-service location at 3340 South Florida Avenue, on Tuesday, April 16, 2019.

Lakeland is ranked as the 20th most populated city in Florida with approximately 112,000 inhabitants. However, Lakeland is part of the 7th ranked Metropolitan Statistical Area in the state of Florida with a population of 708,000. The Tallahassee MSA is ranked 12th.

Lakeland is home to the corporate headquarters for Publix Supermarkets.  Lakeland is also home to Southeastern University, Florida Southern College and Polk State College.  It is the westernmost city in Polk County and centrally-located between Orlando and Tampa along the Interstate 4 (I-4) corridor.

Michael A. Micallef, Jr. has been named the Bank’s Market President for Polk County.  Mr. Micallef has a long history in Florida banking.  In 2006 he organized and was CEO and President of Lakeland-based Community Southern Bank which merged with Sunshine Bancorp in 2015. 

Prime Meridian Bank, with assets of $402 million as of Dec. 31, 2018, has been actively exploring growth opportunities. Its most recent expansion was to Crawfordville, Florida (Wakulla County) in 2015.

According to Sammie D. Dixon, Jr., Vice Chairman, President and CEO of the Bank, “the Lakeland market opens significant opportunities for us.  We are excited about introducing our brand of relationship banking to this area of the state.”

“Michael is the right banker to lead this growth for us,” Dixon continued. “He’s been there.  He knows the area. He has the client-focus we are known for.”