Dec 15 - CBA Today eNewsletter - Community Bankers Association of Georgia

CBA’s inaugural Fintech Forum, held at Georgia Tech Hotel & Conference Center, brought together bankers, vendor partners, and speakers to help bankers better understand available fintech opportunities and resources.

The reception on Monday night provided bankers, industry professionals and fintech company exhibitors the opportunity to network. On Tuesday morning, Charles Potts, EVP, Chief Innovator, ICBA, kicked off the session with his keynote address on the strategic importance of fintech and why it should be resourced. Attendees then heard from Eric Sprink, President & CEO, Coastal Community Bank, Everett, WA, on BaaS: Banking as a Service. After a networking luncheon, attendees heard from James Stevens, Partner, Troutman Sanders, Atlanta, on The Regulatory Policy View of Banks' Involvement in Cryptocurrency. The program ended with a panel on Fintech Resources, moderated by Scott Mills, President, William Mills Agency, Atlanta, with representatives from the four fintech organizations: Charles Freund, FLEETCORE representing Fintech Atlanta; Tommy Marshall, Georgia Fintech Academy; Mike Morris, Wipfi, representing TAG; and Kristin Slink, ATDC.

Kristi Greer, SVP – Professional Development at CBA announced plans for a quarterly fintech magazine and more innovation educational program, which will both be launched in 2022.

Chris Stanley, SVP, Atlantic Capital Bank, Atlanta, and CBA Innovation Chair, served as emcee for the event, along with John McNair, President & CEO, CBA.

Helping Member Banks with the Talent Challenge: CBA Participates in Georgia Fintech Academy Career Fair
CBA’s partner The Georgia Fintech Academy held a virtual career fair day on Friday, December 10th. Thirty-seven students signed up to participate in three different engagement sessions with CBA Pres/CEO John McNair and CBA AVP Cassie Cornell. “CBA has participated in a number of career fair days with several different colleges and universities, and I am very impressed with the student' interest level in community banking. With over 200 colleges and universities in Georgia, the talent pool for future community bankers is deep here in our state. I encourage all community banks to forge relationships with nearby schools and begin to attend career fair days this spring and next fall,” stated John McNair.

Gov. Kemp Appoints Frank Griffin, Flint Community Bank,
Albany, to the State Board of Education
Governor Brian Kemp has appointed CBA Board member Frank Griffin, President, Flint Community Bank, Albany, to the State Board of Education.

"Georgia's State Board of Education helps us create an environment in which local schools and systems are empowered to develop policies and programs that meet the educational needs of their students, support teachers, and involve parents and communities in the education process," said Governor Kemp. "I am confident that Frank will help us continue to prioritize education and put students, teachers, and parents first."

“All of us here at CBA are proud of Frank’s appointment to the State Board of Education,” stated John McNair, President & CEO of Community Bankers Association of Georgia. “Frank also serves on CBA’s Board of Directors, CBA’s Innovation Committee, and ICBA’s Cyber Security Committee. His commitment to service exemplifies all the wonderful traits and qualities community bankers represent. Governor Kemp chose well when he asked Frank to serve, and we know he will serve with distinction.”

Griffin will fulfill the 2nd Congressional District seat, succeeding Dr. David "Butch" Mosely who passed away. Read press release.

Frank Griffin
President
Flint Community Bank

Becky is pictured above with the other members of the
Oglethorpe County School Board of Education.
Their board was recently recognized by
The Georgia School Board Association as an Exemplary Board
and won the 2021 Leading Edge Award.

Communities Flourish with
Strong Community Banks
and Schools
Article from Becky Soto, Assistant Vice President, Professional Development, CBA
I have heard many times strong communities are anchored by strong community banks and a strong school system. As a community advocate, I have personally found my passions as a community banker and as a member of my local school board. I hail from a rural county in Northeast Georgia. Oglethorpe County has a population of around 15,000 and the fabric of our community is woven with threads from our community bank and our school system.

I have worked with community banks for almost twenty years. It is hard to believe that is half of my life! Inside those banks I saw firsthand the value of service and how supporting the local schools benefited the community. It is not uncommon to see a community bank featured on signage at athletic fields and on partner in education brochures. What speaks volumes to me is the fact that it is not uncommon to see community bankers going beyond the sponsorship checks and the CRA credit by being physically present inside school buildings. You can find bankers in the hallway with 5th graders running a bank that allows students to make their savings deposits at school with classmates as tellers. Inside classrooms, bankers teach middle school students how to balance a checkbook. There are bankers facilitating the Junior Board of Directors and telling high schoolers about careers in banking. These bankers and their banks recognize the value (and the return on investment) of supporting and being present in their community schools. Read full article here.

Natural Disaster Resources Available Amid Tornado Recovery
Our thoughts and prayers are with those affected by the deadly tornados that struck parts of the South and West this past weekend. ICBA offers various natural disaster resources to help community banks support their local communities.

Georgia’s community bankers do great things in their communities every day. Here is the latest on community outreach and news from CBA Members:

Oconee State Bank, Watkinsville, was the presenting sponsor for the Oconee County Chamber of Commerce’s Tinsel Town Holiday Market. The bank provided shopping bags and handed out hot chocolate to attendees.
Congratulations to Oconee State Bank, Watkinsville, employees who were recently recognized at a quarterly team meeting.
Oconee State Bank, Watkinsville participated in the Watkinsville Christmas Parade on Sunday, December 5th. The theme was “Christmas Around the World” so OSB celebrated the upcoming 2022 Winter Olympics. After the parade, Oconee State Bank sponsored a hot chocolate station during the Christmas tree lighting. The bank also sponsored the décor for the Christmas tree in front of the Oconee County Court House.
Through extremely generous donations from our customers and staff, First Chatham Bank, Savannah was able to help support our friends at Union Mission with toys and gifts this holiday season! UMI Savannah is an agency serving the homeless and at-risk population in Savannah and surrounding areas.

Tiffany Callaway, F & M Bank, Washington, was promoted to Retail Operations Officer.

Logan Denard, F & M Bank, Washington, was promoted to Loan Officer.

Benjamin “Ben” Danner has joined F & M Bank, Washington, as a Loan Processor.

Shelley Collins, Colony Bank, has been promoted to Banking Center Manager for the Leesburg market.

Mario Hilliard, has joined Cadence Bank, Atlanta, as First Vice President & Commercial Lender in the bank’s Savannah market.

Donia Wanna has joined James-Bates-Brannan-Groover-LLP, Macon, in the firm’s General Litigation practice group.

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:

Branch Leadership
The Branch Leadership Series will focus on the critical success elements of managing and leading a performance-focused sales and service team. Each workshop is designed either as a series or as a stand-alone, packaged full of checklists, job aids, case studies, examples, and "real world" situations. The series provides a branch manager and the branch management team with current, proven solutions to managing a successful branch today. The Branch Leadership Series is designed for Retail Managers, Branch Managers, Assistant Branch Managers, Branch Manager Candidates, Head Tellers, Teller Supervisors, Personal/Universal Bankers and anyone responsible for the direction and development of a retail branch. Learn more and register.

2022 Leadership Academy
Inspired by CBA’s LEAD Committee, the Community Bank Leadership Academy is designed specifically for the future community bank leader. This series of four sessions will benefit the attendees through individual self-discovery, personal and professional growth and career development. Each participant will walk away with their own personal development plan. The workshops are designed to bring continuity and sustainable accomplishments which will allow each participant to build positive influence, team connections and ongoing learning resources. The Academy aims to support Georgia’s community banks in the development of its people so that these bankers will become impactful leaders of influence - for the bank, themselves and their communities. Learn more here.

Harland Clarke is a leading provider of customer engagement solutions that help connect businesses and people how, when, and where it matters. The company offers payment tools such as checks and cards; and marketing services such as deposit and loan acquisition programs, digital marketing, performance analytics and promotional products for businesses. It deploys these solutions holistically, across print, phone, and digital channels, ensuring that the customers of its world-class client base enjoy a consistently superior experience. Harland Clarke is a Vericast business.

To learn more, contact Jane Ciranni at 704-526-7910 or visit their website.

Here are some of the latest news stories relevant to community banking and the financial services industry:

December 15, 2021