CBA is proud to feature the success story of Oconee State Bank, Watkinsville, which is now better able to accept local municipal funds as a result of SB 157, CBA's priority bill from the 2019 legislative session.
“This has been a game changer for our bank,” stated Neil Stevens, President & CEO of the bank, referring to the impact the passage of SB 157 has had on his bank’s liquidity ratio. According to Mr. Stevens, Oconee State Bank has seen $100 million in loan growth over the last 18 months and a large part of the bank’s liquidity was tied up due to having to meet the pledging requirement for public funds.
SB 157 has allowed the bank to compete and grow their loan portfolio without having to pledge those securities or secure alternative funding sources such as borrowing money or slowing down loan growth. In December, Oconee State Bank was able to eliminate its 110% pledging requirement on a substantial amount of public fund deposits, which improved the bank’s liquidity ratio tremendously. The bank is about to convert another public entity to the program, which will free up another $30 million of liquidity. Read the full article.
“This has been a game changer for our bank,” stated Neil Stevens, President & CEO of the bank, referring to the impact the passage of SB 157 has had on his bank’s liquidity ratio. According to Mr. Stevens, Oconee State Bank has seen $100 million in loan growth over the last 18 months and a large part of the bank’s liquidity was tied up due to having to meet the pledging requirement for public funds.
SB 157 has allowed the bank to compete and grow their loan portfolio without having to pledge those securities or secure alternative funding sources such as borrowing money or slowing down loan growth. In December, Oconee State Bank was able to eliminate its 110% pledging requirement on a substantial amount of public fund deposits, which improved the bank’s liquidity ratio tremendously. The bank is about to convert another public entity to the program, which will free up another $30 million of liquidity. Read the full article.
Wild Hog Supper Kicks off 2020 Legislative Session
CBA was well represented at the Wild Hog Supper, the historic celebration on the eve of the start of Georgia’s legislative session that first kicked off over five decades ago. Those attending included CBA’s 2019-2020 Board Chairman, Ron Quinn, Peach State Bank & Trust; Advocacy Chairman Clark Hungerford, Vinings Bank; PAC Chairman, Caric Martin, Vinings Bank; Lori Godfrey, Executive Vice President and Chief of Staff, Government and Regulatory Relations; and John McNair, President & CEO of CBA.
“CBA was proud to support the Wild Hog Supper,” said John. “This was a great evening and an excellent opportunity to speak with legislators about the success of SB157 and discuss the needs of Community Bankers Association of Georgia community banks for this session.”
During Chairman Quinn’s visit with Governor Kemp, he was able to thank the Governor for his support of SB157, as well his support of CBA and Georgia’s community banking industry. Watch for CBA’s weekly Advocacy Update during the 2020 Georgia Legislative session. Check here for regular updates and alerts.
CBA was well represented at the Wild Hog Supper, the historic celebration on the eve of the start of Georgia’s legislative session that first kicked off over five decades ago. Those attending included CBA’s 2019-2020 Board Chairman, Ron Quinn, Peach State Bank & Trust; Advocacy Chairman Clark Hungerford, Vinings Bank; PAC Chairman, Caric Martin, Vinings Bank; Lori Godfrey, Executive Vice President and Chief of Staff, Government and Regulatory Relations; and John McNair, President & CEO of CBA.
“CBA was proud to support the Wild Hog Supper,” said John. “This was a great evening and an excellent opportunity to speak with legislators about the success of SB157 and discuss the needs of Community Bankers Association of Georgia community banks for this session.”
During Chairman Quinn’s visit with Governor Kemp, he was able to thank the Governor for his support of SB157, as well his support of CBA and Georgia’s community banking industry. Watch for CBA’s weekly Advocacy Update during the 2020 Georgia Legislative session. Check here for regular updates and alerts.
Scenes from the Event
Georgia’s community bankers do great things in their communities every day. Here is the latest on community outreach and news from CBA Members:
- CBA recently recognized Judy Johnson of Cadence Bank, Macon (pictured right), with a Lifetime Achievement Award for her 50 years of dedicated service to the community banking industry. Presenting the award was Christy West (pictured left), Retail Executive for Macon & Middle Georgia.
- Greater Community Bank, Rome, recently donated $30,000 to the Community Foundation For Greater Rome for the Greater Community Fund, a donor advised fund established by the bank. In addition, the bank recently received the 5-Star "Superior" rating by BauerFinancial, Inc. for the 15th consecutive quarter.
- Jason Dollar, Vice President of Commercial Lending at Bank of Dudley, recently spent time with the 2020 Laurens Youth Leadership class to discuss budgeting, credit scores, and student loans.
- Oconee State Bank, Watkinsville, was recently ranked in the Top 25 for Georgia's Top Small Business Lenders in the Atlanta Business Chronicle.
- Heritage Bank, Jonesboro, is a recent sponsor for Youth Leadership Henry.
- Myron Gray has been renamed Chair of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta. In addition, Elizabeth Smith was renamed Deputy Chair of the Atlanta Fed.
2020 Campaign for the CBA PAC/PR Fund Underway!
CBA's 2020 campaign for the Political Action Committee and Public Relations (PAC/PR) Fund is underway, and we are pleased to announce recent contributions to the PAC/PR Fund.
CBA's 2020 campaign for the Political Action Committee and Public Relations (PAC/PR) Fund is underway, and we are pleased to announce recent contributions to the PAC/PR Fund.
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Special thanks to our recent contributor:
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In order to achieve our goals, we will need the help of your institution, Board members, officers, and employees. Your contributions are greatly appreciated and will go towards the only Georgia State PAC exclusively committed to representing the interests in community banks. Click here for contribution forms. For more information, contact Lori Godfrey.
Lee Garrett has been named President of Liberty First Bank, Monroe.
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Chris Hunt has joined Greater Community Bank, Rome, as Chief Financial Officer.
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William Peeples, Jr. has joined Peach State Bank & Trust, Gainesville, as a Vice President of Commercial Lending.
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Pam Hughes has joined Heritage First Bank, Rome, as Vice-President and Human Resources Director.
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Nikki Rodgers, Commmercial Banking Company, Valdosta, was recently promoted to Mortgage Sales Manager and Vice President.
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Skip Long, Commmercial Banking Company, Valdosta, was recently promoted to Commercial Lender and Vice President.
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Andy Griffin, Commmercial Banking Company, Valdosta, was recently promotied to Lender/Branch Manager/Banking Officer.
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Brooke Franks, Commmercial Banking Company, Valdosta, was recently promoted to Branch Manager/Branch Administrator.
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Mandi Ward, Commmercial Banking Company, Valdosta, was recently promoted to Assistant Branch Manager.
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Jennifer McCranie, Commmercial Banking Company, Valdosta, was recently promoted to Mortgage Associate/Consumer Lender and Assistant Bank Officer.
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Holly Elrod, Commmercial Banking Company, Tifton, was recently promoted to Head Teller.
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Ashleigh Harsey, Commmercial Banking Company, Valdosta, was recently promoted to Executive Assistant.
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Haley Vonier, Commmercial Banking Company, Tifton, was recently promoted to Customer Service Representative and Lending Assistant.
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Richard Ingram has joined Cadence Bank's Commercial Banking team as Atlanta Banking Manager.
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Tareasa Harrell, Managing Director of Government Guaranteed Lending at Signature Bank of Georgia, Sandy Springs, has been named Coleman's 2019 SBA Main Street Lender of the Year.
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Michael Thompson has recently joined James-Bates-Brannan-Groover, LLP, Macon, as an Associate of the firm’s General Litigation Practice Group.
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Think CBA First for Your Professional Development Needs!
Be sure to think of CBA first when it comes to your training and Professional Development needs. Here are some upcoming CBA events:
Be sure to think of CBA first when it comes to your training and Professional Development needs. Here are some upcoming CBA events:
New Georgia Driver’s License Design in Production
The Georgia Department of Drivers Services has completed its implementation of a new production system and design for driver’s licenses and ID cards. Customers may already be presenting cards with the new designs, or will be upon renewing expiring cards. Read more from the agency. See the new design.
The Georgia Department of Drivers Services has completed its implementation of a new production system and design for driver’s licenses and ID cards. Customers may already be presenting cards with the new designs, or will be upon renewing expiring cards. Read more from the agency. See the new design.
Cyber Agency Issues Alerts on Iran Threat
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency issued alerts on increased U.S.-Iran tensions. The CISA Insights document and a separate alert focusing on cyber activity provide threat profiles on Iran and encourage organizations to prepare for potential targeting of critical infrastructure.
To remain up-to-date on threats facing cybersecurity, be sure to save the date for CBA's Annual Cyber Summit, August 20-21, 2020 in Savannah. In October, CBA also published a marketing toolkit for banks to promote the importance of cybersecurity to bank customers. Register for the Cyber Risk Summit. Access the cybersecurity toolkit.
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency issued alerts on increased U.S.-Iran tensions. The CISA Insights document and a separate alert focusing on cyber activity provide threat profiles on Iran and encourage organizations to prepare for potential targeting of critical infrastructure.
To remain up-to-date on threats facing cybersecurity, be sure to save the date for CBA's Annual Cyber Summit, August 20-21, 2020 in Savannah. In October, CBA also published a marketing toolkit for banks to promote the importance of cybersecurity to bank customers. Register for the Cyber Risk Summit. Access the cybersecurity toolkit.
Applications Are Available for 2020 Julian & Jan Hester Memorial Scholarship!
The goal of the Julian & Jan Hester Memorial Scholarship is to assist deserving high school seniors in their first year of college and to promote community banking. To compete, students must be sponsored by a CBA-member community bank. Awards are based on academic merit and extracurricular participation and not financial need. CBA’s Education Foundation awards four $1,000 scholarships annually. To learn more about this opportunity, please visit the scholarship webpage. We encourage all CBA-member banks to share this program with their local high school guidance counselors over the next few months. The students will complete their applications and turn them in to you… you then forward them to CBA with your bank information.
All completed applications should be submitted to CBA no later than Friday, April 10, 2020. Only complete applications will be eligible. Winners will be announced in late April 2020. Click here for more details and to download the applications. Contact Jeremy Thomens for more information.
The goal of the Julian & Jan Hester Memorial Scholarship is to assist deserving high school seniors in their first year of college and to promote community banking. To compete, students must be sponsored by a CBA-member community bank. Awards are based on academic merit and extracurricular participation and not financial need. CBA’s Education Foundation awards four $1,000 scholarships annually. To learn more about this opportunity, please visit the scholarship webpage. We encourage all CBA-member banks to share this program with their local high school guidance counselors over the next few months. The students will complete their applications and turn them in to you… you then forward them to CBA with your bank information.
All completed applications should be submitted to CBA no later than Friday, April 10, 2020. Only complete applications will be eligible. Winners will be announced in late April 2020. Click here for more details and to download the applications. Contact Jeremy Thomens for more information.
The Far-Reaching Effects of the SECURE Act
The Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act of 2019 (SECURE Act), is a retirement bill passes recently by Congress. You can learn more about the effects of this bill by attending one of CBA's IRA programs:
In addition, check out these helpful articles from CBA Associate Member Wolters Kluwer: "SECURE Act Becomes Law"; "IRA Required Minimum Distributions"
The Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act of 2019 (SECURE Act), is a retirement bill passes recently by Congress. You can learn more about the effects of this bill by attending one of CBA's IRA programs:
- Basic IRAs Workshop in Macon – February 4
- Advanced IRAs Workshop in Macon– February 5
- 2020 IRA & HSA Update, Including IRA Provisions Under the Secure Act Webinar – January 22
In addition, check out these helpful articles from CBA Associate Member Wolters Kluwer: "SECURE Act Becomes Law"; "IRA Required Minimum Distributions"
Order Your Copy of CBA's Salary Survey
CBA's Georgia Community Bank Salary Survey is a compilation of current salaries and general benefits for common positions within Georgia's community banks and can be a vital tool when determining competitive pay and benefits for employee recruitment and retention. Non-participating member banks are able to purchase the survey for $275 and the non-member cost is $475. Click here to order your copy.
CBA's Georgia Community Bank Salary Survey is a compilation of current salaries and general benefits for common positions within Georgia's community banks and can be a vital tool when determining competitive pay and benefits for employee recruitment and retention. Non-participating member banks are able to purchase the survey for $275 and the non-member cost is $475. Click here to order your copy.
Here are some of the latest national news stories relevant to community banking and the financial services industry:
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