Sponsored by JD Bank Founded in 1947 in Jennings, JD Bank has spent nearly eight decades building a reputation as Louisiana’s Community Bank. The institution has grown to more than 20 locations statewide, while remaining firmly committed to operating within Louisiana’s borders. Its next major mi lestone arrives in early 2026 with the opening of a full-service retail branch on Jefferson Highway across from the Baton Rouge Country Club. For the bank, the investment is both a strategic move and a signal of long-term commitment to the Capital Region. Sitting at the corner of Jefferson Highway and Essen Lane offers a corridor with high visibility and close proximity to both residential and commercial centers. Construction is approaching its final phase, and the bank is confident the new location will be ready for early first-quarter operations. The decision to strengthen the bank’s presence in Baton Rouge fits within a broader philosophy: JD Bank intends to remain a Louisiana institution. Ronnie Foshee, Vice President of JD Bank “All of our branches are in Louisiana,” says Ronnie Foshee, vice president and commercial banker for JD Bank. “Our customers may grow into Texas or Florida, and we’ll follow them, but the tie always comes back to Louisiana. Either the customer is rooted here, or the project is tied to our footprint.” That Louisiana focus, he says, is central to how JD Bank does business. As larger national banks consolidate or streamline services, community banks have carved out a specialized role based on relationships and local decision-making. Foshee is quick to note that national banks serve important purposes, especially at the retail level and for large corporate lending needs that community banks may not be structured to handle. But he believes JD Bank’s strength lies in its flexibility. “We look at the full picture. If a project makes sense for the customer, for the bank, and for the community, we’ll sit down and figure out how to make it work,” he says. That approach spans beyond lending criteria. Foshee describes JD Bank as a relationship institution rather than a transactional one. Customers are encouraged to call, ask questions and sound out ideas with bankers who know their community. It’s a philosophy rooted in stewardship, he says, and reinforced by the bank’s leadership structure. Employees are encouraged to be active in their communities, including annual service hour goals that most employees exceed. And according to Foshee, that involvement helps keep the bank grounded in the needs of the people it serves. As JD Bank prepares to open its new Jefferson Highway location, the message is clear: the bank is investing in the Capital Region for the long haul. And in an era when many financial institutions feel increasingly distant, JD Bank believes its Louisiana roots remain its greatest strength. ...read more read less