Carver State Bank

Carver State Bank has served as staple in the black community of West Broad for 87 years. Louis B. Toomer founded the bank in February 23, 1927. Originally, the banks name was Georgia Savings and Reality Corporation. The bank served as a real estate investment and management company. Louis B. Toomer also used the corporation as a private bank for him and his friends in the black community. The company was first located at Toomer's business office at 505 West Broad Street, but late moved to the 400 block of West Broad in the Braswell Building near what was known as Hardee's Drug Store. Twenty-Years later on April 29, 1947, the corporation were established as a state bank under the supervision of the Georgia Department of Banking and the name was changed to Carver State Bank.

Louis B. Toomer remained the president until his death in May of 1961. L.D. Perry replaced Toomer. Perry had been a cashier since the bank opened. Perry added checking accounts and began moving towards opening a full service commercial bank. During his presidency, Perry helped the bank grow from $1 million to $4.6 million.

Replacing Perry after retiring in December of 1971 was Robert E. James. James is a graduate of Morris Brown College and the Harvard University School of Business Administration. James credits the banks continued success to the participation and cooperation of his six board members and all of its employees. James has helped the bank through the economic downturn between 1970 through 1974. The bank is a highly respected in the black community only having two attempted robberies in 35 years.

Carver State Bank still serves the black community. The bank has provided loans and lines of credit to those who could not get loans or credit from white owned banks. It is the heartbeat of a once striving black community and is still serving and trying to revive the black community.