Pierce County Schools will be changing it primary accounts to a new bank soon.
Finance Director Melanie Helms informed the board at its monthly meeting last week the school system is currently in the process of moving its primary bank account from First Southern Bank to PrimeSouth Bank.
The change comes as First Southern Bank has been bought by Community First Credit Union of Florida and is no longer eligible to serve as the school system’s bank.
“By law, Georgia does not allow public funds to be held at a credit union, so we are having to make this change,” Helms said.
First Southern and Community First Credit Union announced the buyout in November, 2025, but the merger has been pending regulatory approval. That approval is expected to come later this year, which means the school board will have to make the change.
Helms said the school system’s finance department has already been working on the transition to PrimeSouth.
“We will change our accounts and will make the changes for direct deposits and bank drafts for all of our employees and vendors,” she said.
