A Louisiana-based bank has settled on Homewood as the site of its first branch in the Birmingham metro area, according to the Birmingham Business Journal. The move follows months after Origin Bank first signaled it was coming to the region, bringing a new name to the city's crowded banking landscape.
Origin Bancorp announced its entry into Birmingham back on April 29, according to a release from Origin Bancorp. At the time, the company said it intended to establish a Birmingham location in the near future, pending required regulatory approvals, while stopping short of naming a specific site. That detail arrived with Thursday's report from the Birmingham Business Journal, which reported the bank acquired a Homewood office building for its first metro branch.
To lead the charge in Birmingham, Origin brought on Will Hawkins as its market leader, along with Nick Petelos, Adam Pierce and Nathan Nix joining the local team, per the same April announcement. Origin Bancorp is headquartered in Ruston, Louisiana, and its bank subsidiary traces its roots back to 1912 in Choudrant, Louisiana.
A Natural Next Step in the Southeast
Origin's move into Birmingham builds on groundwork the bank laid in 2024, when it established its Southeast region through an entry into South Alabama and the Florida Panhandle. By May, Origin Bank already had locations open in Fairhope and Mobile, the AL.com report noted. Origin Bancorp CEO Drake Mills described the Birmingham branch as a “natural next step” for the company, as reported by al.com.
Origin's own account of its footprint has shifted somewhat depending on the source. The company's announcement described operating more than 57 locations across a reach that includes Alabama, North Louisiana, Mississippi and the Florida Panhandle, while al.com's reporting described more than 57 locations spanning Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and the Florida Panhandle. Either way, the scale underscores a bank that has been expanding steadily beyond its Louisiana base.
Homewood's Growing Appeal to Banks
Homewood has already proven itself a draw for bank expansion this year. Bryant Bank held a grand opening in July for a new Homewood location at 1725 28th Ave. S, according to Bham Now, replacing its nearby Merchant's Walk branch that had served the suburb since 2007. The new Bryant Bank space came in at 3,100 square feet and included a community room built for small businesses and local groups, Bham Now reported. Bryant Bank, which operates 18 locations throughout Alabama, offered an early example this year of how suburban Birmingham communities can anchor a bank's physical growth.
The exact address of the Homewood property, along with any transaction date or opening timeline, has not been disclosed; the building was purchased for $5 million. It also remains unclear what stage Origin's required regulatory approvals have reached since the April announcement.
