New market executives take Palmetto State Bank into Greenville and Charleston
March 11, 2025
Othniel Laffitte and Ted Malinowski are the new market executives for Palmetto State Bank, and they are the vanguard of an exciting new venture for the venerable Lowcountry community bank.
That’s market executives, not “marketing” executives. The title tells you they’re responsible for establishing the bank’s presence in two of South Carolina’s biggest markets – Greenville and Charleston, respectively. That’s a big move for a bank that over the past century concentrated on serving such communities as Allendale, Beaufort, Bluffton, Estill, Fairfax and Hampton.
“Both of these talented commercial bankers have extensive experience, are committed to their communities and exemplify desired leadership characteristics,” said Andy Westbrook, president and CEO of Palmetto State Bank. “As our market leaders, they will play pivotal roles in driving market growth in these vibrant and growing markets.”
Othniel Laffitte has been in the banking industry for 15 years as a senior vice president with both a regional and community bank. He is no newcomer to Greenville. He has spent his whole life in the Upstate. He is a graduate of Wofford College and the Graduate School of Banking at Louisiana State University, and Greenville is his hometown.
“The Upstate is an incredible place to live, work and raise a family,” he says. “And I’m proud to introduce Palmetto State Bank to the Upstate community.”
Ted Malinowski is also a Wofford graduate as well as having graduated from the Graduate School of Banking at Louisiana State University. He has worked with national, regional and community banks for more than a decade. But in spite of that experience, he presumes nothing as he makes his calls.
“We are hoping to kind of introduce ourselves in the market,” he says. And by “ourselves,” he means introducing Palmetto State Bank as “a strong company with high character.” PSB is new to the market, but it “has been a conservative financial institution that knows what we’re doing.” The family-owned institution has been in operation for more than a century.
About Palmetto State Bank
Palmetto State Bank, headquartered in the Lowcountry of South Carolina, was founded in 1907. It has grown into a half-billion-dollar institution with seven branches serving Beaufort, Allendale, and Hampton counties. Its board, executives and employees are proud to deliver the kind of service that many believe was a thing of the past, with a commitment to seeing to its neighbors’ needs with the very best personal, one-on-one attention.
