Benton sources distressed real estate assets for Landology through his call universe of 42 banks throughout the Atlanta MSA and his numerous contacts in the metro Atlanta banking area.  Benton has over forty years of banking experience, having served mostly recently as Senior Vice President/Chief Operations Officer for Atlanta Business Bank since its inception in 2001.  Benton began his banking career with the Citizens and Southern National Bank in Macon, Georgia where he was employed for sixteen years in several capacities before becoming Senior Vice President/Cashier for the Macon Bank and Trust Company.  Macon Bank and Trust was acquired by First National Bank of Atlanta, which was acquired by Wachovia Corporation.  During this time Benton had a number of responsibilities including Regional Operations Manager, Security Officer, Personnel Officer, and Compliance Officer.  In 1996 Benton became associated with First South Bank in Macon which merged with Century South Bank in Dahlonega, Georgia, where he served as Senior Vice President & Controller for the Central Georgia Region and later as Director of Compliance for Century South Banks, Inc., a multi-bank Holding Company headquartered in Alpharetta, Georgia, consisting of 12 community banks, with offices throughout Georgia.  After the acquisition of Century South Banks by BB&T in 2001 Benton was employed by Atlanta Business Bank as its Senior Vice President and Chief Operations Officer.