Our History

A Community Builder Founds a Great Community Bank
Through a century marked by economic upheaval, world wars and incredible change, Aliant never changed from its founder’s vision of success through “hard work and innovation.” Even Ben Russell’s success story showed an innovative spirit: instead of a local boy who started out poor and went far, Ben Russell went far by staying local. After working his way through law school at the University of Virginia, he returned to practice in Alexander City, where he saw opportunities to make his fortune by supplying the needs of fledgling communities. A successful phone service, knitting mill (Russell Athletic), timber company, dam building project and countless other ventures soon followed, including the founding in 1900 of what would become Aliant. 

Mining Local Natural Resources, Especially Talent and Ability
Like his other businesses, Ben Russell's bank supplied a local need by leveraging the rich resources that were already in place. With the bank, instead of timber or water-powered electricity, those resources were the natural business talent, drive, work ethic and leadership ability found in community entrepreneurs and business people. Ben Russell's innovative approach of community service as just good business, allowed the bank to grow to $1 million in assets by 1923.

Banking on Alabama Through the Depression Through the Digital Age
Over the next four decades, the bank ’s strong community foundation held firm through the real estate bust of the late 1920s, the Great Depression of the 1930s and the rapid economic change brought on by World War II. By 1961, the bank had reached $10 million in assets and opened one of the first local drive-through windows in Alabama. By the 1980s, the bank had opened branches in Elmore County and Montgomery and in 1989, when the name Aliant was officially introduced, had grown to $250 million in assets. In the 1990s, Aliant stayed on the cutting edge of the technology transforming the industry, while staying true to Ben Russell’s original mission of making money by making a positive impact on the community. In 1996, Aliant began banking services in Birmingham, and as the bank enters a second century, continues to open branches in new communities, from Elmore County to our 15th branch opening in Gardendale.

A New Look for Our Second Century
In 2012, Aliant introduced a new brand with a bold new look. But telling the story of our success takes looking back at the innovator whose vision of community still powers our growth, and the last 110 years of putting the customer first.

With the financial strength of joining USAmeriBank, we are expanding into Lee County with a new full-service office in Auburn, which is scheduled to open mid-2013 located at 1964 Glenn Avenue. In the meantime, you can enjoy banking in our temporary location at 472 N. Dean Rd, Suite 104, Auburn, Ala.