CoastalSouth Bancshares, Inc., the parent company of CoastalStates Bank, and First Citizens Financial Corporation, the parent company of Foothills Community Bank, announced last week that the two entities had entered an agreement under which First Citizens will merge into CoastalSouth Bank. The two local banks included in the merger are the Dawsonville and Cumming branches of Foothills Community Bank. “Our customers, employees and communities will benefit from being part of CSB, given the similarities in our culture and our shared commitment to community banking,” said John Lewis, chief executive officer of FCFC. “Additionally, our Forsyth and Dawson markets will continue to grow and prosper under the existing leadership of Daniel Baker and Adam Smith, respectively.”