Paragon bank rolls out new logo, website

Raleigh-based Paragon Bank on Wednesday unveiled a new logo and website as part of a strategy to draw more attention to its private-banking services.

The move comes after the 14-year-old bank earlier this year changed its name from Paragon Commercial Bank in an effort to make potential customers think of it as more than a lender to businesses.

"Paragon Bank has unveiled a refreshed brand to highlight the bank’s high-touch private banking approach to serving business and individual clients," the company said in a statement. "The brand refresh arrives as many banks scale back branching strategies, increase fees and reduce staffing, which has a negative impact on their customers."

The bank is taking other steps to raise its visibility. It is moving from office space in Piedmont Town Center to its own, standalone two-story building less than a mile away.

Initially, the bank will occupy the entire first floor and only a portion of the second floor, giving it room to make new hires, which is what it plans to do. The relocation will keep the bank in SouthPark. Its only other location is in Raleigh.

Paragon has also been busy recruiting bankers away from its larger peers in Charlotte. Last month, it announced the hiring from Wells Fargo of Salley Griffith. This month, Paragon announced the hiring from Yadkin Bank of Warren Miller. Both are now client development officers for Paragon.

Phil Jurney, Charlotte market president for Paragon, told me last week that he reached out to Griffith and Miller about a year ago to come work for his bank.

“At the end of the day, you want relationship officers that have been in the market, that know the market, that have clientele," Jurney said. "You want them to be trained. You want them to be experienced. That’s what I'm looking for every day."

He said the bank is looking to hire a credit-risk analyst and more commercial and industrial lenders and commercial real estate lenders. Paragon might also hire another deposit officer, he said.