On Wednesday, February 12th, CBA of Georgia co-hosted the Small Business Day at the Dome with the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB). CBA had over 200 members in attendance to work the halls and discuss the pressing issues facing community banking in Georgia. The legislators loved having their constituents at the Capitol to voice their concerns first hand. In the morning, attendees were able to take a group photo with Governor Brian Kemp, and also participate in a Q & A session with State Treasurer Lynne Riley on state deposits & SB157.
Two banks brought their Junior Board of Directors who learned about the state legislative process. Junior Board members participated in a scavenger hunt to discover more about the capitol, and also heard an update from Kevin Hagler, Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance.
At noon, everyone convened at the Georgia Freight Depot for a luncheon with our legislators. Governor Kemp was gracious with his time to provide opening remarks, and introduce our guest speaker Coach Vince Dooley.
Thank you to all of our bankers who joined us at the Capitol and made your voices heard! We are also thankful for Gov. Kemp, Coach Dooley, Treasurer Riley, Commissioner Hagler, members of the legislature, and staff members of various government offices for joining our event. In addition, we would like to thank NFIB for their partnership on this event as well as CBA's sponsors James-Bates-Brannan-Groover-LLP, Warren Averett, LLC & Promontory Interfinancial Network for sponsoring the event, the lunch, and transportation to and from the Capitol.
Two banks brought their Junior Board of Directors who learned about the state legislative process. Junior Board members participated in a scavenger hunt to discover more about the capitol, and also heard an update from Kevin Hagler, Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance.
At noon, everyone convened at the Georgia Freight Depot for a luncheon with our legislators. Governor Kemp was gracious with his time to provide opening remarks, and introduce our guest speaker Coach Vince Dooley.
Thank you to all of our bankers who joined us at the Capitol and made your voices heard! We are also thankful for Gov. Kemp, Coach Dooley, Treasurer Riley, Commissioner Hagler, members of the legislature, and staff members of various government offices for joining our event. In addition, we would like to thank NFIB for their partnership on this event as well as CBA's sponsors James-Bates-Brannan-Groover-LLP, Warren Averett, LLC & Promontory Interfinancial Network for sponsoring the event, the lunch, and transportation to and from the Capitol.
Scenes from Small Business Day at the Dome
Innovation Ruled at the ATDC and CBA Fintech Committee Event Last Week
On Thursday, February 13th, CBA’s Fintech Committee and ATDC held daylong session of pitches where fintech entrepreneurs presented solutions to community bankers from across the state. Bankers heard from numerous innovators and provided real-world feedback regarding their respective ideas and potential offerings in a Shark Take-like event. Charles Potts, SVP and Chief Innovation Officer at ICBA moderated the presentations. Special thanks to John Avery, Director of the Advanced Technology Development Center (ATDC) at Georgia Institute of Technology and Jane (Karwoski) McCracken, ATDC Assistant Director; as well as Georgia Department of Banking Commissioner Kevin Hagler for addressing attendees. A reception followed the presentations where bankers, innovators and special guests had a chance to network and visit with several innovators who had table-top displays throughout the evening.
On Thursday, February 13th, CBA’s Fintech Committee and ATDC held daylong session of pitches where fintech entrepreneurs presented solutions to community bankers from across the state. Bankers heard from numerous innovators and provided real-world feedback regarding their respective ideas and potential offerings in a Shark Take-like event. Charles Potts, SVP and Chief Innovation Officer at ICBA moderated the presentations. Special thanks to John Avery, Director of the Advanced Technology Development Center (ATDC) at Georgia Institute of Technology and Jane (Karwoski) McCracken, ATDC Assistant Director; as well as Georgia Department of Banking Commissioner Kevin Hagler for addressing attendees. A reception followed the presentations where bankers, innovators and special guests had a chance to network and visit with several innovators who had table-top displays throughout the evening.
Scenes from the ATDC Fintech Event

Solutions for Success: Cybersecurity Q&A
The January/February issue of Georgia Communities First magazine features the first installment of the Solutions for Success series, a Q & A on timely issues and best practices from CBA Associate Members.
“One of the benefits of my role at the CBA is that I get to have conversations with associate members who are on a mission to help community bankers," explained Lindsay Greene, VP of Member Services at CBA. "I recently visited with Zach Duke, Founder and President of Finosec, about the key areas that his team is seeing related to risk management.”
Read the full article in CBA's latest issue of the reformatted Georgia Communities First magazine, now exclusively digital and issued bi-monthly. Check out the January/February 2020 issue.
The January/February issue of Georgia Communities First magazine features the first installment of the Solutions for Success series, a Q & A on timely issues and best practices from CBA Associate Members.
“One of the benefits of my role at the CBA is that I get to have conversations with associate members who are on a mission to help community bankers," explained Lindsay Greene, VP of Member Services at CBA. "I recently visited with Zach Duke, Founder and President of Finosec, about the key areas that his team is seeing related to risk management.”
Read the full article in CBA's latest issue of the reformatted Georgia Communities First magazine, now exclusively digital and issued bi-monthly. Check out the January/February 2020 issue.
Georgia’s community bankers do great things in their communities every day. Here is the latest on community outreach and news from CBA Members:
- Team members from Commercial Banking Company, Valdosta, recently volunteered at the Night to Shine event hosted by First Baptist Church Valdosta. The event was a prom night experience for people with special needs ages 14 and older, celebrated simultaneously with hundreds of other locations across the world.
- Georgia Community Bank, Donalsonville, recently worked with the local 4-H Club in Seminole County to help with the Sentiments for Soldiers program by putting together care packages for soldiers who are currently deployed or are deploying soon.
- Team members from Colony Bank's Albany's Ledo branch and the Leesburg branch recently volunteered to pick up trash along Ledo Road in Albany. Inlcuded were: Tommy Clark, Albany Market President; Cindy Griffin, Regional Market President; Amanda Owens, Interim Office Manager for Leesburg; and Heather Bryant, Marketing Coordinator.
- South Georgia Banking Company, Tifton, recently hosted students from the Future Business Leaders of America. The students were able to job shadow with bank team members and leave owith a better understanding of finances, lending, and the importance of customer service.

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:

Bankers Graduate from CBA's Consumer Lending School
Last week, community bankers from across the state attended CBA's annual Consumer Lending School at the Marietta Hotel & Conference Center. The program took students through the process of consumer lending to develop and advance the skills necessary to administer quality consumer loans.
Thank you to all the students for joining us for the school. We would also like to thank our instructors, Jeffery Johnson from Bankers Insight Group, Kenny Douglas & Ronda Guzman from Wipfli/Porter Keadle Moore, Robert Hawkins, former AVP at the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, Charles Williams from MACS, and Chris DiLorenzo from The James Paul Group. Lastly, we would like to thank our sponsor Executive Insurance Agency for sponsoring all lunches during the week.
Last week, community bankers from across the state attended CBA's annual Consumer Lending School at the Marietta Hotel & Conference Center. The program took students through the process of consumer lending to develop and advance the skills necessary to administer quality consumer loans.
Thank you to all the students for joining us for the school. We would also like to thank our instructors, Jeffery Johnson from Bankers Insight Group, Kenny Douglas & Ronda Guzman from Wipfli/Porter Keadle Moore, Robert Hawkins, former AVP at the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, Charles Williams from MACS, and Chris DiLorenzo from The James Paul Group. Lastly, we would like to thank our sponsor Executive Insurance Agency for sponsoring all lunches during the week.

Register Now for CBA's Bank Trainer's Forum
Friday, March 6, 2020 | Idle Hour Country Club, Macon
The Bank Trainers Forum an opportunity for bank trainers to exchange ideas freely and examine pressing issues in today's ever-evolving regulatory, cost-conscience, and results-driven environment. The agenda for each session is based on input from participants in the forum group and the facilitator. Also, subject matter experts will be brought in to cover specific pressing forum topics. Click here to register.
Friday, March 6, 2020 | Idle Hour Country Club, Macon
The Bank Trainers Forum an opportunity for bank trainers to exchange ideas freely and examine pressing issues in today's ever-evolving regulatory, cost-conscience, and results-driven environment. The agenda for each session is based on input from participants in the forum group and the facilitator. Also, subject matter experts will be brought in to cover specific pressing forum topics. Click here to register.

Compliance Program Quarter I: Fair Lending, CRA and ECOA GMI Collection
3/17 - Statesboro | 3/18 - Tifton | 3/19 - Macon | 3/24 - Duluth
Fair Lending concerns spread well beyond just the application and lending process. They encompass various internal processes and procedures, including marketing materials and methods, the collection of customer information, how that information is used, monitoring of complaints for potential discrimination, etc. Because discrimination can be intentional or unintentional, Fair Lending is considered a high risk concern for all lending institutions. This session will address how we can be proactive in mitigating Fair Lending risk at the institution level and provide guidance on ways to prepare for review and examination by federal regulators. Learn more and register.
3/17 - Statesboro | 3/18 - Tifton | 3/19 - Macon | 3/24 - Duluth
Fair Lending concerns spread well beyond just the application and lending process. They encompass various internal processes and procedures, including marketing materials and methods, the collection of customer information, how that information is used, monitoring of complaints for potential discrimination, etc. Because discrimination can be intentional or unintentional, Fair Lending is considered a high risk concern for all lending institutions. This session will address how we can be proactive in mitigating Fair Lending risk at the institution level and provide guidance on ways to prepare for review and examination by federal regulators. Learn more and register.

Download Your Application for the Walraven Memorial Scholarship!
CBA is proud to offer the 2020 Walraven Scholarship, named for the late J. Steven Walraven, a former community bank president who dedicated much of his life to his community and community banking. This $500 scholarship is awarded to a Georgia community bank employee attending a college or university within the state of Georgia. The goal of the scholarship is to assist those employees interested in furthering their education to enhance their career in community banking.
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 application. Contact Jeremy Thomens for more information.
CBA is proud to offer the 2020 Walraven Scholarship, named for the late J. Steven Walraven, a former community bank president who dedicated much of his life to his community and community banking. This $500 scholarship is awarded to a Georgia community bank employee attending a college or university within the state of Georgia. The goal of the scholarship is to assist those employees interested in furthering their education to enhance their career in community banking.
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 application. Contact Jeremy Thomens for more information.
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