Spratt Savings Bank has been a cornerstone of Chester County since 1892, making it the oldest continuously chartered financial institution in both the Carolinas.
Today, under the leadership of President/CEO Jim Bennett, the bank remains deeply rooted in the community it has served for more than 130 years — and fully invested in its future.
“We’re the only financial institution headquartered in Chester County,” Bennett says. “That gives us a unique responsibility and opportunity to support our local economy.”
As a full-service commercial bank, Bennett and his team provide a wide array of business banking services, specializing in small to mid-sized businesses where relationships and personal service matter most.
With branches in Chester and Great Falls, and a new location under construction in the fast-growing Richburg community, Spratt Savings Bank continues to grow with the tightly focused market it serves.
Investing in Regional Growth
Beyond banking, Spratt Savings Bank has played an active role in Chester County’s economic development. Bennett himself has held a leadership role in the Chester Development Association (CDA) for more than 15 years and currently serves on the Board of Directors of the South Carolina I-77 Alliance.
“We have been active with the county’s economic development department for decades,” he adds. “The CDA is a unique and effective group comprising local business partners who step in and provide support that others often cannot or will not do.”
That commitment to collaboration extends to the SC I-77 Alliance, a key driver of regional growth across the five-county corridor. Bennett, whose bank has been an Alliance investor since its inception, emphasizes the value of partnership and coordinated strategy: “The SC I-77 Alliance provides a place where our investment can multiply and pay real dividends for the entire region.”
Bennett sees Chester County as ideally positioned within the corridor — with transportation connections, available sites, and a strong labor pool. The counties stretching from Columbia to Charlotte offer a balance of accessibility and affordability, attractive for business and residential growth alike.
A Call to Invest – and Lead
Bennett is candid about why his institution invests in the Alliance — and why others should too.
“As one of the few community banks in the region, and the only one in Chester County, we believe it’s our responsibility to invest both our resources and time into the Alliance,” he says. “Without new investment into the economic development of our region, we cannot move forward.”
Bennett sees the Alliance as a key safeguard against being overlooked. “Without the Alliance,” he observes, “many new stakeholders would simply overlook our region and move on to other areas.”
His message is clear: Regional growth doesn’t happen by accident. It requires leadership, investment, and collaboration — all of which the SC I-77 Alliance helps facilitate. Investing in the Alliance is an ideal pathway.
Investor Spotlight focuses on investors in the S.C. I-77 Alliance — organizations that span utilities, law firms, educational institutions, developers, and more. For more information, contact us here.
