Atlanta-based Haven Trust Bank has been named by Entrepreneur magazine to its annual list of the “Hot 100” fastest-growing businesses in America, achieving a rank of number 44.

The bank, which opened in January of 2000 with one location and eight employees, now has four branches and almost 80 employees, with assets approaching $525 million.

“We started our community bank as a way of helping entrepreneurs – especially in Atlanta’s thriving Asian-American community – who were not being properly served by big banks and other traditional lending sources, so it’s a particular honor to be recognized by a magazine that celebrates the entrepreneurial spirit,” said Mukesh “Mike” Patel, who was among the founders of Haven Trust Bank and has served as chairman since the bank’s inception.

Today, the bank continues to focus on entrepreneurs and has customers throughout the country who are attracted by Haven Trust’s simplified application process, innovative financing, and fast local loan approval – often as quick as 24 hours.

“Especially in today’s troubled economy, it’s entrepreneurs who have the ability to act quickly, to seize opportunities, and to kick-start America’s renewed economic growth – and our bank certainly intends to be there for them,” added Patel.

Among the founders of Haven Trust Bank were numerous prominent local Indian-American business leaders, including Balvant “Bill” Patel, Dhiru “Danny” Patel, Mukund “Bobby” Patel, Narendra “Tony” Patel, R.C. Patel, Brij Kapoor, and the late Dr. Sumant Patel.

This is the 14th year of Entrepreneur magazine’s “Hot 100” list, whose criteria for consideration this year included a business founded between 1999 and 2003 which had annual sales of more than $100,000 in 2003 and no more than $1 billion in 2007.

Haven Trust Bank was the highest-ranked of four Georgia companies in the listing, all of which are located in metro Atlanta. Only two banks were on the list, with Haven Trust Bank being the highest ranked.