CHARLESTON, S.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan 19, 2026--
Coastal States Bank (“CSB”), a local community bank headquartered on Hilton Head Island, today announced its expansion into the Charleston market. This strategic move continues CSB’s growth in the Lowcountry, where the bank has served clients in Beaufort County for more than 20 years.
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To support the expansion, CSB has assembled a locally based commercial banking team with extensive experience serving businesses throughout Charleston and the broader Lowcountry market. Edward Vaughan will serve as Charleston Market President, joined by David Wenger, Senior Commercial Banker, and Thomas Pritchard, Commercial Banker. Together, the team brings more than 50 years of combined banking experience and will focus on developing deposit and loan relationships through C&I lending, commercial real estate lending, and treasury management services for small and mid-sized businesses.
“Our expansion into Charleston builds upon the strong foundation we have established in the Lowcountry and reflects our continued investment in this dynamic region,” said Stephen R. Stone, President and Chief Executive Officer of CSB. “This market values relationships, local expertise, and trust—values that define how we do business. Charleston and this outstanding team of bankers, led by Edward Vaughan, are a natural fit for our relationship-driven banking model. Following our initial public offering and listing on the New York Stock Exchange last July, this investment marks the next exciting chapter in the CSB story.”
“It is an honor to join the CSB team,” said Vaughan. “Charleston’s business community is diverse, entrepreneurial, and deeply connected to this region. Our team is proud to bring a relationship banking approach that combines local insight with the service and financial resources businesses need to succeed.”
About the Company
Coastal States Bank builds relationships by providing a full range of banking services designed for businesses, their owners and individuals looking for a local banking partner. CSB has a community banking presence in the Lowcountry of South Carolina (Hilton Head Island, Bluffton, Beaufort and Charleston), Savannah and the Atlanta Metropolitan market, and serves communities across the country through its Government Guaranteed Lending, Senior Housing, Correspondent Marine and Mortgage Banker Finance lines of business. At present, CSB has approximately $2.3 billion in total assets.
CSB is a wholly-owned subsidiary of CoastalSouth Bancshares, Inc. (NYSE: COSO).
Coastal States Bank – Local. And Proud of It. ®
For additional information regarding Coastal States Bank, please visit www.coastalstatesbank.com.
Thomas Pritchard, Coastal States Bank, Commercial Banker
David Wenger, Coastal States Bank, Senior Commercial Banker
Edward Vaughan, Coastal States Bank, Charleston Market President
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Fernando Mendoza bulldozed his way into the end zone and Indiana bullied its way into the history books Monday night, toppling Miami 27-21 to put the finishing touch on a rags-to-riches story, an undefeated season and the national title.
The Heisman Trophy winner finished with 186 yards passing, but it was his tackle-breaking, sprawled-out 12-yard touchdown run on fourth-and-4 with 9:18 left that defined this game — and the Hoosiers' season.
Indiana would not be denied.
“I had to go airborne,” said Mendoza, who had his lip split and his arm bloodied by a ferocious Miami defense that sacked him three times and hit him many more. “I would die for my team.”
Mendoza's TD gave turnaround artist Curt Cignetti’s team a 24-14 lead — barely enough breathing room to hold off a frenzied charge by the hard-hitting Hurricanes, who came to life in the second half behind 112 yards and two scores from Mark Fletcher but never took the lead.
The College Football Playoff trophy now heads to the most unlikely of places: Bloomington, Indiana — a campus that endured a nation-leading 713 losses over 130-plus years of football before Cignetti arrived two years ago to embark on a revival for the ages.
“Took some chances, found a way. Let me tell you: We won the national championship at Indiana University. It can be done,” Cignetti said.
Indiana finished 16-0 — using the extra games afforded by the expanded 12-team playoff to match a perfect-season win total last compiled by Yale in 1894.
In a fitting bit of symmetry, this undefeated title comes 50 years after Bob Knight’s basketball team went 32-0 to win it all in that state’s favorite sport.
That hasn’t happened since, and there’s already some thought that college football — in its evolving, money-soaked era — might not see a team like this again, either.
Players like Mendoza — a transfer from Cal who grew up just a few miles away from Miami’s campus, “The U” — certainly don’t come around often.
Two fourth-down gambles by Cignetti in the fourth quarter, after Fletcher’s second touchdown carved the Hurricanes' deficit to three, put Mendoza in position to shine.
The first was a 19-yard-completion to Charlie Becker on a back-shoulder fade those guys have been perfecting all season. Four plays later came a decision and play that wins championships.
Cignetti sent his kicker out on fourth-and-4 from the 12, but quickly called his second timeout. The team huddled on the field and the coach drew up a quarterback draw, hoping the Hurricanes would be in a defense they had shown before.
“We rolled the dice and said, ‘They’re going to be in it again and they were,’” Cignetti said. “We blocked it well, he broke a tackle or two and got in the end zone.”
Not known as a run-first guy, Mendoza slipped one tackle, then took a hit and spun around. He kept his feet, then left them, going horizontal and stretching the ball out — a ready-made poster pic for a title run straight from the movies.
Maybe they’ll call it “Hoosiers.” This was a program so bad that a coach once stopped the game early to take a picture of the scoreboard when it read “Indiana 7, Ohio State 6.” The Hoosiers lost 47-7.
This year, though, they beat Ohio State in the Big Ten title game on their way to the top seed in the playoff.
They won their first two games by a combined score of 94-25 and Mendoza threw more touchdown passes (eight) than incompletions (five).
This one was nowhere near as easy.
Fletcher was a one-man force, hitting triple digits for the third time in four playoff games and turning a moribund offense into something much more.
It ended as a one-score game, and the ’Canes — the visiting team playing on their home field — moved into Indiana territory before Carson Beck’s heave got picked off by Jamari Sharpe, a Miami native who made sure the only miracle in this season would be Indiana's.
“Did I think something like this was possible? Probably not,” Cignetti said. “But if you keep your nose down and keep working, anything is possible.”
Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here and here (AP News mobile app). AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football
Indiana defensive back Jamari Sharpe intercepts a pass against Miami during the second half of the College Football Playoff national championship game, Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti smiles after their win against Miami in the College Football Playoff national championship game, Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Miami quarterback Carson Beck is sacked by Indiana linebacker Aiden Fisher during the first half of the College Football Playoff national championship game, Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Indiana linebacker Aiden Fisher celebrates after sacking Miami quarterback Carson Beck during the first half of the College Football Playoff national championship game, Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Miami running back Mark Fletcher Jr. scores against Indiana during the second half of the College Football Playoff national championship game, Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Indiana defensive lineman Mikail Kamara blocks a punt by Miami punter Dylan Joyce during the second half of the College Football Playoff national championship game, Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza celebrates after scoring against Miami during the second half of the College Football Playoff national championship game, Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Miami running back Mark Fletcher Jr. speaks during media day ahead of the College Football Playoff national championship game between Miami and Indiana, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Indiana running back Roman Hemby (1) carries during the first half of the Peach Bowl NCAA college football playoff semifinal against Oregon, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Miami quarterback Carson Beck scores a touchdown during the second half of the Fiesta Bowl NCAA college football playoff semifinal game against Mississippi, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza (15) celebrates after the Peach Bowl NCAA college football playoff semifinal against Oregon, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
