West Gainesville’s independent banking scene just got richer with the opening of Gala Bank in the Tower Hill Plaza on Wednesday.  

Gala’s newly renovated building at 7515 W University Ave. is the bank’s newest branch after launching in Ocala last year. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. insures both branches, which offer in-store banking 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, drive-thru services 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and online banking services.  

During Wednesday’s opening, CEO Carl Walls introduced and thanked President Tom Word, who he founded Gala with, board members and other team members who made the new branch possible.  

After cutting the ribbon—a roll of one-dollar bills taped together—Walls handed out “pieces” for every attendee to take home. 

“I’ve always had a ribbon when we open a branch, except I don’t use those big red ribbons with the big red bows,” he said. “My ribbons are a little different and I want to make sure everybody in the building gets a piece.” 

Walls, who got into the banking business 67 years ago, said Gainesville’s Gala Bank has been three years in the making ever since board member Tommy Williams approached him about starting it. He originally believed he was too old for the project, but he did it anyway. 

Former Florida Sen. Dennis Baxley is Gala Bank’s board chair. He said independent banks like Gala offer personal relationships through public service in a world that prioritizes efficiency over connection. 

A few ways Gala aims to show this connection to the community is by giving away one Honey Baked Ham every day throughout December and inviting people inside the bank to view Walls’ personal Christmas village on display built up over 31 years.

“Your life is serving other people,” Baxley said. “When you have banking issues, you need somebody personal to talk to figure out different ways to solve your challenges…There’s a way to do it [with] personalization. You take care of people, they’ll take care of you.” 

Community member Kathy Putnam said she’s benefited from the personal touch Walls and Word have brought to their community through banking for almost 40 years.  

She said she’s looking forward to their people-oriented partnership that will offer a personal touch that corporate companies cannot. 

“They want to help people and want to let people know they will help them. Corporate just doesn’t care about people. You’re a number,” she said. “You’re not a number here. You’re a person and that makes a big difference.”