Corporate Member Spotlight: ServisFirst Bank

WMA’s corporate members believe in the transformative power of art, and are committed to supporting the museum’s programs and exhibitions. We chatted with Harrison Morris, CEO and President of ServisFirst Bank, about their company’s role in the Wiregrass community. ServisFirst supports WMA as a Patron level corporate member.

WMA: ServisFirst Bank will celebrate the 10th anniversary of its Dothan branch next year. What drew ServisFirst to open here?

Harrison: There were bankers in the community that saw the needs not only for great products, but for excellent customer service. We saw that customer service was a diminishing aspect of banking, and with the 2008 financial crisis, it brought in even more of a crunch on bankers’ abilities to provide for their customers. Banks were closing, and there were many who said to us, ‘Why open now? There couldn’t be a worse time.’ We saw it another way. We thought that there was no better time to open a bank with a focus on customer service, providing predictability, longevity, and loyalty during a time when many were panicking. Our name is our mission, and we always strive to put our customers first.

WMA: What would you like people to know about yourself and your staff?

Harrison: We have a tremendous staff of 28 people in two offices in Dothan, and all of them have a long career in banking. Our customer service is unsurpassed because we care. Even in a time that allows you to do banking online, we find that our customers like to come in, get a cup of coffee and visit with us. We do what it takes to build relationships, and our staff look at each day as a challenge to build a friendly environment.

WMA: What’s your bank’s approach to philanthropy?

Harrison: Giving back is extremely important to our bank, and we focus on the arts, health and human services, and education. We know that when you give to good causes with a good purpose, success will follow. It’s important to us now and always will be.

WMA: The Wiregrass Museum of Art is a part of your company’s corporate giving. Tell us why you choose to support the arts through WMA.

Harrison: When I was coming up as a banker early in my career, I saw how businesses partnered with arts organizations in Montgomery, and how important it was to both communities. It really built an awareness in me of what those partnerships could do. Dothan should be doing the same, building support between businesses and the museum and other arts organizations. We work alongside the museum for common goals, to build a better place to live and work.

WMA: Do you have a personal connection to art, or a memory of going to an art museum that really sticks out for you?

Harrison: I remember clearly when the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts’ new facility was built in the 1980s, and I remember it being a part of my life from childhood even before that. The landscaping and architecture were really impressive, and the museum and the Shakespeare Festival did a lot of good for the east side of Montgomery.

WMA: Dreaming big — What’s something you want to see happen in the Wiregrass region?

Harrison: I would really love to see the Dothan downtown area turn into a popular destination. A strong, vibrant, and active downtown is a true sign of a strong city. We have a ways to go, but we’re gaining pace and good things are happening.

Is your company or organization interested in becoming a corporate member? Contact Melissa Rea at 334-794-3871 x. 24 or mrea@wiregrassmuseum.org to learn more about building a partnership with WMA.