Palmetto Bank hires new VP for Laurens County

Thomas Hardy has retired as The Palmetto Bank executive vice president, Laurens County, where the bank was founded and headquartered before relocating to downtown Greenville last year.
The Palmetto Bank today announced the appointment of Jeff Thompson to senior vice president, regional executive, Laurens County, as Hardy’s successor.
Hardy joined the bank in 1977. His retirement was effective Dec. 31.
He is a graduate of Lander College, Graduate School of Retail Bank Management at University of Virginia, South Carolina Bankers School, National Commercial Lending School at University of Oklahoma and Leadership Laurens County Class III.
Hardy currently serves as chairman of the Laurens Commission of Public Works. He also serves on the board of directors for the Laurens Chamber of Commerce and the Laurens County Development Corp. Along with his service as past chairman of United Way – Commercial Division, he served as a member of the Kiwanis Club and Palmetto Investment Club.
Hardy will assist Thompson and The Palmetto Bank with the leadership transition.
Thompson is a Laurens County native and graduate of Presbyterian College and the South Carolina Bankers School. Thompson has more than 17 years banking experience, the past five as a commercial banking executive.
He currently serves on the executive committee of the United Way of Laurens County and is a committee member of the SC Waterfowl Association. He is past chairman of the Laurens American Red Cross, served on the steering committee of Boy Scouts of America, and served as board member of Crime Stoppers of Laurens County.
“Jeff has strong ties to Laurens County and is an excellent addition to The Palmetto Bank,” said Mark Fox, executive vice president, Abbeville, Laurens and Greenwood Counties. “His high level of commercial banking experience, coupled with his demonstrated ability to build strong, lasting relationships with customers will be invaluable to our customers in Laurens County.”