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The CBA Board of Directors met last week in Savannah to review the progress of the association’s current strategic plan and discuss the plans to further enhance the association’s efforts to better serve the membership.
“The CBA Board consists of some of the finest community bankers in the state. I am grateful for their vision, direction, and commitment,” stated John McNair, CBA President/CEO. “As a result of their efforts, the association is financially solid and has made significant improvements in our core areas of Advocacy, Professional Development, and Services Solutions. I am proud of the past achievements and am excited to unveil our new initiatives for 2022.”
Special thanks to sponsors ICBA, ICBA Securities, Holtmeyer & Monson, Genesys Technology Group, James-Bates-Brannan-Groover LLP, SHAZAM, and TIB.
“The CBA Board consists of some of the finest community bankers in the state. I am grateful for their vision, direction, and commitment,” stated John McNair, CBA President/CEO. “As a result of their efforts, the association is financially solid and has made significant improvements in our core areas of Advocacy, Professional Development, and Services Solutions. I am proud of the past achievements and am excited to unveil our new initiatives for 2022.”
Special thanks to sponsors ICBA, ICBA Securities, Holtmeyer & Monson, Genesys Technology Group, James-Bates-Brannan-Groover LLP, SHAZAM, and TIB.
Two Georgia Community Banks Name "Best Banks to Work For"
by American Banker
Congratulations to Atlantic Capital Bank, Atlanta, and Greater Community Bank, Rome, for both being recognized as “Best Banks to Work” for by American Banker.
The analysis is performed with the Best Companies Group, which conducts extensive employee surveys and reviews employer reports on benefits and policies. To be eligible, applicants must be commercial or retail banks, and must have at least 50 employees working in the United States. One component in being selected with top honors was the ability to manage employee morale during a global pandemic by keeping employees engaged and motivated. Read entire article.
by American Banker
Congratulations to Atlantic Capital Bank, Atlanta, and Greater Community Bank, Rome, for both being recognized as “Best Banks to Work” for by American Banker.
The analysis is performed with the Best Companies Group, which conducts extensive employee surveys and reviews employer reports on benefits and policies. To be eligible, applicants must be commercial or retail banks, and must have at least 50 employees working in the United States. One component in being selected with top honors was the ability to manage employee morale during a global pandemic by keeping employees engaged and motivated. Read entire article.
Atlantic Capital Bank, Atlanta
Assets: $1.4 billion Employees: 212 President and CEO: Douglas Williams www.atlanticcapitalbank.com |
Greater Community Bank, Rome
Assets: $305 million Employees: 53 President and CEO: David Lance www.greatercb.com Press release from Greater Community Bank. |

Georgia Communities First --
Focus on Professional Development
This past year, CBA offered nearly 100 professional development programs to approximately 2,000 community bankers and vendor partners. The latest issue of Georgia Communities First showcases new programs introduced this past year and outlines upcoming programs for 2022. Read what bankers have to say about CBA’s programs and meet the dedicated “Ladies of Learning” who deliver first-rate educational programs. Check out the November/December issue.
Focus on Professional Development
This past year, CBA offered nearly 100 professional development programs to approximately 2,000 community bankers and vendor partners. The latest issue of Georgia Communities First showcases new programs introduced this past year and outlines upcoming programs for 2022. Read what bankers have to say about CBA’s programs and meet the dedicated “Ladies of Learning” who deliver first-rate educational programs. Check out the November/December issue.

Paycheck Protection Program Data Show Community Bank Pandemic Response Outperformed Larger Lenders
The Paycheck Protection Program offered millions of small businesses a critical financial lifeline to weather an extraordinary economic downturn engendered by the coronavirus pandemic.
Yet, it was the quick action by community banks during the initial days of this program that enabled PPP funds to reach small businesses in their hour of need.
At the time, all lenders had was a guarantee from the Small Business Administration that PPP loans to eligible small businesses would be forgiven if certain conditions were met. Despite many unknowns regarding the forgiveness process or how the recession would proceed, community banks led the industry in ensuring all willing small business clients could receive assistance. Click here to read entire article.
The Paycheck Protection Program offered millions of small businesses a critical financial lifeline to weather an extraordinary economic downturn engendered by the coronavirus pandemic.
Yet, it was the quick action by community banks during the initial days of this program that enabled PPP funds to reach small businesses in their hour of need.
At the time, all lenders had was a guarantee from the Small Business Administration that PPP loans to eligible small businesses would be forgiven if certain conditions were met. Despite many unknowns regarding the forgiveness process or how the recession would proceed, community banks led the industry in ensuring all willing small business clients could receive assistance. Click here to read entire article.

James Bates Brannan Groover LLP
OSHA Guidance Highlights
Last week, OSHA put out its guidance to support President Biden’s vaccine mandate. Grant Greenwood, Partner, James Bates Brannan Groover LLP, provided the HR league members highlights of the guidance. This is just one example of the benefits the HR League receives. Check out the 2021 program on CBA’s website and let Kristi Greer know if you are interested in early bird pricing for the 2022 league membership.
Last week, OSHA put out its guidance to support President Biden’s vaccine mandate. Grant Greenwood, Partner, James Bates Brannan Groover LLP, provided the HR league members highlights of the guidance. This is just one example of the benefits the HR League receives. Check out the 2021 program on CBA’s website and let Kristi Greer know if you are interested in early bird pricing for the 2022 league membership.
- It applies to all employers (for-profit and not-for-profit) with 100 or more employees, FT and PT (measured company-wide, not location-based). Does not include independent contractors.
- Requires all employees to be fully vaccinated by January 4, 2022 (i.e. 60 days after this was rolled out) or provide proof of exception (religion, vaccine is “medically contraindicated, or medical necessity requires a delay in vaccination). Definition of “fully vaccinated” does not include booster shots. Only means 1 shot of J&J or 2 shots of Pfizer/Moderna. However, if the employee is taking the Pfizer/Moderna route, the second shot must have been administered by January 4, 2022 or be subject to weekly testing and masking requirement.
- Employees who are not fully vaccinated must be subject to weekly COVID-19 testing and, in most circumstances, wear a face covering when indoors or when occupying a vehicle with another person for work purposes (however, there are exceptions to the mask mandate – and there is a question as to whether the ETS preempts state laws banning mask mandates).
- Employers are not required to pay for testing.
- Vaccination policy must be implemented within 30 days of November 4.
- Employer must obtain the vaccination status of employees within 30 days of November 4.
- Employer is required to maintain evidence of vaccination status – maintained as a medical record, i.e. separate from employment file.
- Employees are granted paid leave to (1) receive vaccine and (2) recover from side effects of vaccine – in most cases this is going to be 2 days & this does not count against vacation or sick time.
- Employees are to be removed from workplace if testing positive for COVID-19 – however, no requirement to give paid leave.
- Employers are to provide OSHA with aggregate number of fully vaccinated employees.
Georgia’s community bankers do great things in their communities every day. Here is the latest on community outreach and news from CBA Members:
- Leaders from Providence Bank, Alpharetta, Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce, and the local business community celebrated the opening of the bank’s new branch in Cumming with a ribbon cutting. Read more.
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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:

Compliance Program IV:
Compliance Management System
Tuesday, November 30, 2021
Already have a CMS in place or just beginning to formalize your program? This seminar will cover the core compliance management system and more! We will guide you to take your program to the next level and show you how to efficiently maintain your CMS. Register here.
Compliance Management System
Tuesday, November 30, 2021
Already have a CMS in place or just beginning to formalize your program? This seminar will cover the core compliance management system and more! We will guide you to take your program to the next level and show you how to efficiently maintain your CMS. Register here.
Session IV: December 7, 2021
Register now for high-level in-person peer connections exclusively offered in CBA’s Executive Channel. The Executive Channel provides a direct connection for Executive Bankers from across the state! CBA has gathered for you a group of industry leaders to share information and guide discussions. Interest Rate Risk Management Tools, Tommy Warren , Vining Sparks Despite a yield curve that has steepened from unusually flat levels, low nominal interest rates and the potential for continued Fed involvement have the potential to pressure net interest margins further in 2021. Balance sheet managers understand the implications of interest rate volatility all too well, as optionality on balance sheets led to a flurry of unexpected cash flows throughout 2020. We will provide an overview of effective management of IRR to help bankers prepare for examinations, and present strategies designed to assist your financial institution in maintaining a reasonable profitability level. Strategies and Implications for Higher Rates, Jim Reber, ICBA Securities Persistent high inflation is causing the Federal Reserve to adjust its monetary policy to a sooner-than-later proposition. Community banks are generally built for rising rates, but there is also a playbook for investing in bonds that will perform well if the market begins to price in rate hikes. We will discuss popular securities that would fit these criteria and suggest strategies for altering a bank’s interest rate risk profile. Register today! |

Special rate for CBA attendees. Room Block Ends NOVEMBER 15, 2021. Click here!
Innovation: Why Should I Care?
Your association has created an opportunity to help you get plugged in and aware of the technology resources that can support your bank’s strategies. C-Suite bankers, you don’t want to miss our Fintech Forum. The event will introduce you to the strategic importance of innovation while educating us on a variety of resources that are right here in our state. In addition to hearing from Charles Potts, Chief Innovator at ICBA, the forum will cover BAAS: Banking as a Service; regulatory policy view of Crypto currency and much more. Network with exhibitors and fellow bankers during the reception Monday and throughout the day on Tuesday. CBA will also announce plans for the 2022 Innovation Education Curriculum at Fintech Forum. Register today.
QwickRate’s value-added solutions include: premier CD Marketplace for non-brokered funding and investing with over 3,000 institutional subscribers; IntelliCredit™ Portal to identify emerging portfolio- and loan-level credit risk and for technology-enabled loan reviews; and QwickAnalytics® for bank research, analysis and regulatory tools such as CECLSolver™ and Credit Stress Test.
To learn more, contact Melissa Wallace at 678-797-4088 or visit their website. |
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