Seal retires from CB&S after 31 years

RUSSELLVILLE — Following a 31-year career at CB&S Bank, Beverly Seal is now retired and looking forward to what comes next.

While she’s still exploring her future plans, she already knows she wants to spend more time with friends and family, go on trips and make more time for her hobbies.

Seal said CB&S Bank gave her numerous opportunities to grow professionally.

She started by filing checks, matching signatures on checks with signatures on cards in long trays. It’s work she describes as having been repetitive, but helpful, as it taught her the discipline she needed.

“Eventually, I moved on to learn more complicated tasks, and the training I received helped me become a manager,” she explained.

Before becoming a support officer, Seal managed the Deposit Servicing Department. She supervised four employees and ensured work was completed accurately and on time.

She also handled other tasks as they arose. People didn’t always know where to direct requests, so they would come to her for guidance. “They’d just ask, and I’d help however I could,” she said.

Seal remembers one of her early colleagues making a big difference in her transition to Russellville.

Gail Estes, who worked in bookkeeping, took her under her wing.

“If it hadn’t been for her, I would never have made it,” Seal said.

Estes also introduced Seal to her husband, Ricky. The couple has been married for 23 years.

Jennifer Sweeney, branch sales leader at CB&S Bank and a colleague of 28 years, said Seal has always been committed to helping others.

“Every time I called Beverly, she always took it to heart. She was going to figure out how to get it worked out, get it fixed and take care of the customer,” Sweeney said. “She is passionate about taking care of people.”

Sweeney also highlighted Seal’s reliability and character.

“As a coworker and as a person, she’s just an all-around good person. I always knew I could depend on her,” she said.

Seal’s supervisor, CB&S Bank Support Director Sandy Berry, described her as “a hard worker,” noting she’s “dedicated and fun to be around.”

Seal grew up in Columbus, Ohio, and moved to Orlando, Florida, at age 13. She relocated to the Russellville area in 1994 with her two daughters.

Finding a job at first was a challenge. Seal had planned to leave banking, but local opportunities led her back. She applied at CB&S Bank and remained there for more than three decades.

“We supported all the branches,” she said. “If they ever had questions, problems, needed help, whatever, they would contact the people in the support area. We handled loans, fraud, deposit servicing, ACH, checking and savings accounts.”

The bank also offered opportunities through system conversions and acquisitions. “It was challenging, but we adapted,” she said.

She recalled starting in banking right out of high school. A girl she’d gone to high school with was already working at a bank and suggested she try working there.

Seal said the biggest challenges were system conversions after the bank acquired other institutions.

Despite the challenges, she said the work culture was enjoyable.

“We used to have fun back in the day,” she said. “We dressed up for Halloween as a department, did Thanksgiving dinners, and had employee appreciation ice cream bars. It was nice to visit and eat with everyone.”

Seal said the last year of her career was spent as support officer and involved working directly for the support director over Operations. It included assisting wherever needed.

Retirement has allowed Seal to spend more time pursuing hobbies. She has completed 1,000-piece puzzles and enjoys coloring, activities she finds both engaging and relaxing. She plans to try embroidery and other crafts.

Seal said retirement has given her more time to focus on hobbies. She enjoys reading, puzzles, coloring, gardening, and tending to her flowers.

Her grandchildren are an important part of how she wants to spend her time.

“We watch them play sports and cheer them on,” she said. “It’s the best part of retirement, being able to go to whatever they are doing.”

Seal also enjoys traveling. She and her husband plan to visit Alaska, Yellowstone, and revisit Orlando to see family.

“When you work, you do not have time to do everything you want to,” she said. “Now I get to do it all.”