Bryant Bank pledges $250,000 over five years to 草榴社区 (UAH) for Charger Athletics, and the Department of Athletics turns out to celebrate the investment on April 3, 2025. Displaying the check on the front row are, from left, UAH Provost Dr. David Puleo; UAH Vice President for University Advancement Mallie Hale; UAH President Dr. Charles Karr; Bryant Bank Huntsville President Mike Johnston; University of Alabama (UA) System Trustee Scott Phelps, who helped organize Bryant Bank in 2005 and serves as a board member; UAH Director of Athletics Dr. Cade Smith; Bryant Bank North Alabama Market Leader Ken Watson; Bryant Bank Vice President Bobby Humphrey; UA System Chancellor Sid J. Trant; Dr. Helen Lien, UAH senior development officer, Athletics, and Karessa Acosta Lee, UAH annual giving officer.
Michael Mercier | UAH
草榴社区 (UAH) has long been a blue chip investment for Bryant Bank with commitments to the Colleges of Nursing and Business and gifts to UAH Athletics. Now a new pledge to Athletics 鈥� $250,000 over five years 鈥� emphasizes Bryant Bank鈥檚 long-term strategy of supporting the Chargers. UAH is a part of The University of Alabama (UA) System.
Bryant Bank local leadership announced the donation on April 3 during a check-presentation celebration on campus with UAH and UA System officials as well as Athletics faculty, staff and students 鈥� plus Charger Blue.
鈥淲e are so honored and humbled that Bryant Bank would choose to make such a long-term investment in our athletic department,鈥� said UAH Director of Athletics Dr. Cade Smith.
鈥淭hey do so much for us, our campus and our community already, and this just further cements their impact upon UAH Athletics. All of these funds will make a significant impact on the experience for our student-athletes and our staff members. We could not be more thankful for their partnership!鈥�
For Ken Watson, Bryant Bank North Alabama Market Leader, and Bryant Bank Huntsville President Mike Johnston, these philanthropic investments in UAH reflect the bank鈥檚 broader purpose. Watson describes Bryant Bank鈥檚 involvement with UAH as a way of 鈥渕anifesting continuity鈥� 鈥� demonstrating their long-term commitment to their customers, their community and the institutions that help the community thrive.
鈥淏ryant Bank will be here as long as UAH is here,鈥� Watson said. 鈥淏oth UAH and Bryant Bank are invested in Huntsville. It is our focus to create the next generation of leaders in our community. There鈥檚 no better way to do that than to invest in the students and programs here at UAH.鈥�
鈥淭hese student-athletes are outstanding,鈥� Johnston noted. 鈥淭he line of 4.0 students 鈥� that鈥檚 just amazing. They鈥檝e been so successful in the classroom and in competition. We鈥檙e happy to support them. Our support for the university will continue to be unwavering moving forward, and we鈥檙e excited about that.鈥�
The new Bryant Bank gift is designated for the UAH Athletics Excellence Fund. The bank began making contributions annually to UAH鈥檚 intercollegiate athletic program in 2019.
鈥淥ver the past 10 years, the Bryant Bank Scholarship has invested in 150 nursing students who have become registered nurses working in our North Alabama community,鈥� said Dr. Karen Frith, dean, College of Nursing. 鈥淚 thank Bryant Bank for investing in Alabamians to empower their potential, which is one of the core values of Bryant Bank.鈥�
Bryant Bank further diversified its UAH support in 2021 when the bank made a 15-year, $1.5 million commitment to the College of Business to help fund the Bryant Bank UAH Business Scholarships, a non-endowed fund designed to benefit business students.
鈥淲e are tremendously grateful for the impact that Bryant Bank has on UAH, our students and our community,鈥� said Dr. Jason Greene, dean, College of Business. 鈥淭heir generous gifts will open doors for countless aspiring business professionals. Thanks to their leadership and commitment to their community, 草榴社区s can focus on achieving their full potential as they earn their college degrees and launch their careers.鈥�
Bryant Bank, Watson said, is focused on long-term growth and strategic planning 鈥� not just for the next quarter but for the next 25 years, 50 years and longer. Bryant Bank wants their customers to recognize the bank as an investment in longevity.
Bryant Bank was founded in 2005 by Paul W. Bryant Jr. with a vision to see every Alabamian experience a financially stable future and live in a thriving community. Bryant bankers put care into action to help Alabamians invest in their full potential every day. The bank offers 18 branches in Alabama, including two in Huntsville and one in Athens.