November 21, 2002
LAKE CITY BANK ANNOUNCES APPOINTMENT OF ROBERT BARTELS TO BOARD
Warsaw, Indiana (November 21, 2002) - Lakeland Financial Corporation (Nasdaq/LKFN) and Lake City Bank, today announced that Robert E. Bartels, Jr. has been appointed to their respective Board of Directors.
Mr. Bartels is active in business and civic affairs in South Bend and St. Joseph County. He currently serves as President and Chief Operating Officer of Martin's Supermarkets, Inc. He began his career with Martin's in 1981 as a grocery bagger. From 1989 to 1996 he held various management positions in company stores. Since 1997, he has served the company in numerous capacities, including Director of Corporate Development, Director of Marketing and Executive Vice President of Operations and Merchandising.
He is a graduate of Indiana University and a member of Sunny Side Presbyterian Church. Mr. Bartels and his wife Ann reside in South Bend with their three sons.
Michael L. Kubacki, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented on the appointment, "Rob's commitment to Northern Indiana is evidenced by Martin's strong presence in the region and its' long record of community participation and involvement. Like Lake City Bank, Martin's Supermarkets is dedicated to unparalleled customer service and commitment to community. We are proud of our presence in Northern Indiana and believe that Rob's addition to our Board will further reinforce our commitment to South Bend, as well as all of our Lake City Bank communities."
Lakeland Financial Corporation is a $1.2 billion bank holding company serving Northern Indiana. Lake City Bank is headquartered in Warsaw, Indiana and has 41 branches located in the following Indiana counties: Kosciusko, Elkhart, Allen, St. Joseph, Fulton, Huntington, LaGrange, Marshall, Noble, Pulaski, Dekalb and Whitley.
Lakeland Financial Corporation may be accessed on its home page at www.lakecitybank.com. The Company's common stock is traded on the Nasdaq Stock Market under "LKFN". Marketmakers in Lakeland Financial Corporation common shares include Stifel Nicolaus & Company, Howe Barnes Investments, Inc., Raymond James & Associates, Inc., McDonald Investments, Inc. and First Tennessee Capital Markets.
The Company's fixed rate cumulative trust preferred securities are traded on the Nasdaq Stock Market under the symbols "LKFNP". The annual rate on the fixed rate securities is 9.0%.
This document contains, and future oral and written statements of the Company and its management may contain, forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 with respect to the financial condition, results of operations, plans, objectives, future performance and business of the Company. Forward-looking statements, which may be based upon beliefs, expectations and assumptions of the Company’s management and on information currently available to management, are generally identifiable by the use of words such as “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “intend,” “estimate,” “may,” “will,” “would,” “could,” “should” or other similar expressions. Additionally, all statements in this document, including forward-looking statements, speak only as of the date they are made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update any statement in light of new information or future events.
A number of factors, many of which are beyond the ability of the Company to control or predict, could cause actual results to differ materially from those in its forward-looking statements. These factors include, among others, the following: (i) the strength of the local and national economy; (ii) the economic impact of past and any future terrorist attacks, acts of war or threats thereof and the response of the United States to any such attacks and threats; (iii) changes in state and federal laws, regulations and governmental policies concerning the Company’s general business; (iv) changes in interest rates and prepayment rates of the Company’s assets; (v) increased competition in the financial services sector and the inability to attract new customers; (vi) changes in technology and the ability to develop and maintain secure and reliable electronic systems; (vii) the loss of key executives or employees; (viii) changes in consumer spending; (ix) unexpected results of acquisitions; (x) unexpected outcomes of existing or new litigation involving the Company; and (xi) changes in accounting policies and practices. These risks and uncertainties should be considered in evaluating forward-looking statements and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. Additional information concerning the Company and its business, including additional factors that could materially affect the Company’s financial results, is included in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. |
