Bank on it. (small independent banks in central Florida thrive amid the presence of large banks)(Banking & Finance Quarterly)

Central Florida's small, independent banks are thriving in a market dominated by large banks

For small banks, trying to steal market share from SunTrust, Barnett and other mammoth institutions is a daunting task at best.

But Central Florida's independent banks are thriving overall, generating increasing amounts of business while cultivating an important niche in the financial services industry.

"The market is dominated by the big banks when you look at sheer numbers, but small banks do extremely well and are very competitive in their communities by giving better and quicker service," says Jack Shoffner, president and CEO of Public Bank, a St. Cloud-based institution with assets of $47 million.

Adds Shoffner: "We know our customers better."

That, of course, is a matter of opinion, according …