Columbia Closings   What's not in Columbia anymore

To the best of my memory, I was only in this bank once. And it was fine, you know -- a bank.

On their window sign, they try to spin this closing as a move, but of course the branch farther up the road was already there. Hopefully the staff were able to go to other branches, but this is a closing. The sign is a bit unusual as well in that it doesn't give a date, which these things usually do.

I'm not sure how this address can be 4800, as this is the first block of Garners Ferry Road, but that transition area has always been a bit odd.

(Hat tip to commenter Sidney)

I have to admit I've always thought Regions Bank is a pretty lame name, though it sounded less derivitive after NationsBank reflagged to Bank Of America. That aside, I know nothing about the chain, other than, like most, it is shedding branches.

I got these pictures of the Harbison location back in September -- I'll try to remember to follow-up with some pictures of the vacant building when I'm out there in the daytime again.

(Hat tip to commenter Justin)

UPDATE 19 September 2022 -- Now Founder's Federal Credit Union:

I never did get any good daylight shots of this place, but the First Citizens in the North Main/River Drive triangle has gone to ATM only. Given they will still be paying rent/lease/taxes on the whole lot, I don't expect that situation to last too long.

(Hat tip to commenter Justin)

UPDATE 20 October 2022: Updating tags.

Well, this is a bit disappointing. This credit union with ATM in the Big Lots plaza has been one of my go-to places in this area for no-fee Co-Op ATM withdrawals. It is one of the places I mentally marked as "safe", as it does not unexpectedly give $50 bills (which nobody wants, why does anyone do that!).

The new location seems quite a ways from here, and I don't see how it will be convenient for the members who use this branch.

This old Synovus branch at the corner of Sumter & Pendleton Streets really never made an impression on me. I'm sure I couldn't have told you it was there had you asked, and the building dates to 1972, so I would have walked by there many times while I was on campus.

My phonebooks aren't really helping me to say when it closed, but obviously long enough ago that it's already looking a bit dingy, and the lot has already been rented out for parking.

You can see it with the NBSC branding still up in this LoopNet listing.

UPDATE 25 August 2020: I forgot to put a date on the post title. Since the NBSC ==> Synovus reflagging happened in 2018, I'm going with that.

(Hat tip to commenter Dan R.)

UPDATE 4 February 2021 -- I went by the drive-through window, and a definite closing date was posted there, so I have updated the post title date from "2018" to "29 May 2020":

Also adding the map icon.

Here's another closed bank branch, this one on Sunset Boulevard near Target. I like the view out of the back of the lot. Even though the area has built up considerably, there are still large undeveloped areas in Lexington County.

(Hat tip to commenter JamesR)

The de-branching of American banks continues with this Wells Fargo location at the southeast corner of Forest Drive and Beltline Boulevard being the latest example to feature here.

I had actually been inside this bank, as my sister and I took care of some shared business there. It was what you would expect, and a perfectably acceptable experience. The place is also actually a little easier to get in and out of than you would think, as there is a back exit to a road paralleling Forest drive behind the mirror buildings that brings you back out at a more convenient location.

(Hat tip to commenter Sidney)

UPDATE 1 May 2019: Updated tags.

UPDATE 15 August 2019 -- As mentioned in the comments, this building has now been razed:

UPDATE 19 June 2023 -- For some reason, they are dropping this lot to street level before building. Perhaps they want an entrance directly onto Beltline?

UPDATE 8 August 2023: According to several local media stories, such as this from the Post & Courier, this is to be a 7Brew coffee location. They don't mess around with building those either, apparently. This lot was vacant yesterday, and today they have the prefab building already delivered and ready to be installed:

UPDATE 15 August 2023 -- The new kiosk is settled in:

UPDATE 2 March 2024 -- The 7 Brew coffee shop is up and running, and construction on a Prisma Health Urgent Care seems nearly done:

I'm not sure exactly what is going on at this BB&T next to Panera Bread on Garners Ferry Road, but it seems to be some sort of renovation.

What really needs renovation is the parking lot by the old Postal Depot, which has one of Columbia's more impressive potholes (which is saying something).

Hmm. When I saw the signs being changed out at this NBSC driving by Trenholm Plaza today, I assumed that the bank had been bought out recently and I just had not heard of it (I don't bank there, so in general, I wouldn't).

As it actually turns out, according to Wikipedia, NBSC has always been a local nameplate for Synovus (nee: Columbus Bank and Trust Company), which operated under different names in different states and

In early 2010, Synovus consolidated their thirty separate state charters into one Georgia state banking charter and is transitioning to operate as a more centralized single bank.

I guess they are doing South Carolina now.

UPDATE 21 June 2018 -- Check the comments for some details, but apparently the Wikipedia info about is, at best, imcomplete. NBSC was apparently originally a local bank and not part of Synovus until (historically speaking) recently.

These are some not very good drive-by pictures of this branch at the corner of The Charleston Highway and Old Dunbar Road. There is a much better one in the real estate listing here.

I had it in my mind that the building had been vacant for longer, but it is listed in the February 2017 phonebook, so most likely it closed during 2017 (though as I said a few posts ago, the accuracy of phonebook information is dropping).

At any rate, the process of banks de-branching (pruning?) continues.

UPDATE 28 September 2021: Updating tags and adding map icon.