Crews Bank & Trust breaks ground on Englewood branch

Crews Bank & Trust recently broke ground on its new branch in Englewood, which will be built where its predecessor was destroyed by Hurricane Ian in 2022.

“Four years ago, almost to the day, Hurricane Ian came through and devastated this community and many of our customers,” Joe Cataldo, Crews Bank & Trust area president for Englewood-Boca Grande, said at the Aug. 26 groundbreaking ceremony. 

The hurricane severely damaged the bank’s roof and caused extensive water damage that made it unsafe for occupancy. Before it was demolished in 2024, the Englewood Area Fire Control District used the branch for training exercises.

“Today marks a new beginning as we celebrate the groundbreaking of our new branch,” Cataldo said in a statement. “This state-of-the-art building will honor our rich traditions while embracing innovation for the future.”

The new branch will span 4,620 square feet with a connected drive-thru. It will also feature a pergola for events. DMK Associates of Venice, Cool and Cobb Engineering of Avon Park and L. Cobb Construction of Wauchula are handling the construction project, which is expected to be finished by fall 2027. 

The Arcadia North branch, also damaged by Hurricane Ian, is being rebuilt by the same team and is expected to open in December.

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Before it was destroyed, the bank at 1111 S. McCall Road in Englewood was known as Englewood Bank & Trust and had been a hub of the community since the 1980s, according to the statement.

“This is where I started my banking career 22 years ago,” M.W. McLaren IV, chief banking officer for Crews Bank & Trust, says in a statement. “Seeing this building rebuilt after Hurricane Ian is a full-circle experience for me, and I’m extremely excited about the new facility.”

Crews Bank & Trust operated as four separate banks under the same family ownership until they united under the Crews name in 2023: Englewood Bank & Trust, Charlotte State Bank & Trust, Wauchula State Bank and Crews Bank & Trust. In recent years, the bank has been adding locations and now has 19 branches across central and Southwest Florida. It has $2.3 billion in assets.

“The bank recently opened its first Fort Myers branch at The Park Shops at Andrea Lane,” McLaren says in a statement. “With additional branches planned in Tampa and Orlando in early 2027, the bank is focused on expanding its presence while we continue to deliver personalized banking solutions and build lasting relationships in the communities we serve.”