Terry Dubose began every board meeting at Coastal Community Bank with a prayer. But regulatory reports and mortgage records show that his actions were not always selfless.
The bank bought his
son's insurance company for $3.4 million and sold it back at a $900,000 loss three years later. It gave
loans to insiders at a rate that far exceeded most other failed Florida banks. It sold properties to a director at a bargain price. And one customer said in court documents that the bank took money out of his loan account and gave it to one of Dubose's friends.
As the bank's fortunes sank, Dubose searched for investors. He reached a deal with a man from Apalachicola for $1 million. When the bank would not repay, the man's daughter took the law into her own hands and threatened a branch manager with a pistol.
Most of the money was returned.
Dubose did not return calls seeking comment.