Feb 9 - CBA Today eNewsletter - COMMUNITY BANKERS ASSOCIATION OF GEORGIA

Registration is open for the 2022 ICBA Capital Summit, the industry’s premier advocacy event scheduled for May 1—4 in Washington, D.C. This year’s Capital Summit will bring community bankers from across the country to Washington to interact with leading policymakers and advocate top advocacy priorities—in person. Join them in advocating for our industry. You have the power to share your personal story and put a name to our industry's key legislative priorities.

Invited speakers include Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Senate Banking Committee member Tim Scott (R-S.C.). The summit will be held at the Renaissance Washington, DC Downtown Hotel—walking distance to various destinations in the nation’s capital. Register here.

Robert James, Carver State Bank to Testify Wednesday in DC on MDI’s & CDFI’s
The Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Protection will meet in hybrid format to conduct a hearing entitled, “The Role that Community Development Financial Institutions and Minority Depository Institutions Serve in Supporting Communities." Robert James, President & CEO, Carver Financial Corporation, Savannah, will be among those testifying. The hearing is available via livestream Wednesday, February 9, 2022 at 2:30 p.m. Read more.

Queensborough National Bank & Trust Holds Ribbon Cutting
at New Branch in Pooler
Queensborough National Bank & Trust, Louisville, recently held a ribbon cutting and grand opening celebration for their new Pooler branch. The event was well attended with representatives from the bank’s leadership, local dignitaries and customers. John McNair, President & CEO, Community Bankers Association of Georgia, had the honor of addressing guests. He thanked bank President & CEO Bill Easterlin and EVP/COO Kim Kirk for their support of CBA and the community banking industry. The branch is located at 1559 Pooler Parkway.

James-Bates-Brannan-Groover-LLP Ribbon Cutting for New Athens Office
Congratulations to Michael White and the team at James-Bates-Brannan-Groover LLP on the opening of the firm’s new office at One Press Place in Athens. CBA’s Kristi Greer and Becky Soto attended the ribbon cutting ceremony and celebration. James-Bates-Brannan-Groover LLP is a Diamond Preferred Service Provider and CBA’s General Counsel. The firm offers the complementary legal hotline to CBA member banks. An HR legal hotline is also included with CBA’s HR/TD League.

Bankers: Join CBA for Fintech Atlanta’s Run it by the Buyer/Banker
FinTech Atlanta's Innovate Work Group, in partnership with Community Bankers Association of Georgia, invites you to attend our upcoming Run it by the Buyer/Banker event on Wednesday, February 23rd, from 1:00-4:30pm, with a networking and happy hour reception immediately to follow from 4:30-6:00pm.

Run it by the Buyers events convene large Georgia-based corporations and early/growth-stage fintech companies around a particular industry theme. The stated intent is to focus on key industry issues, opportunities, and challenges, with the goal of fostering commercial collaboration between large corporations ("Buyers") and promising young fintech companies building innovative new products, solutions, and services ("Sellers"). Register here.

Thank you to FIS for sponsoring the networking reception.

Ron Quinn

Guest column, Ron Quinn: Inflation is Up, Supply Issues
and Shipping Delays Hitting Harder
Ron Quinn, President and CEO of Peach State Bank & Trust, Gainesville, recently penned a guest article for the Gainesville Times. Ron serves as the Georgia delegate for the Independent Community Bankers of America and is former chairman of the Community Bankers Association of Georgia.

Ron states in the article, "Yes, higher prices are real. But for most consumers and businesses—at least here in Gainesville and Northeast Georgia — it doesn’t feel like a red-hot economy burning on all cylinders. It’s more like sloshing through heavy wet snow. Inflation certainly can’t be ignored, but I believe there are many more positives—like our strong private sector—that will slowly but surely push through the ice and muck out there to continue driving our local and state economy forward in 2022 and beyond.” Read article.

Sympathy
CBA offers our sincere condolences to family, friends and the staff at Signature Bank, Sandy Springs, on the passing of Signature Bank Board of Directors Emeritus, Edward (Ed) Gallup. Mr. Gallup served on the board since the bank’s inception in 2005 until September 2018 and served as the Board Chair from 2005–2015. Read announcement from Signature Bank.

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, recently celebrated three employees for their milestone employment anniversaries.

Nancy Jernigan has been promoted to Chief Credit Officer at First Port City Bank, Bainbridge.

Durand Childers has been promoted to Chief Banking Officer at First Port City Bank, Bainbridge.

Alex Crenshaw, First National Community Bank, Chatsworth, has been named Senior Vice President and Market President for Acworth/Paulding County.

Kim Eells, SVP and SBA Business Development Officer at Georgia Primary Bank, Atlanta, has been elected to the Georgia Association of Business Brokers Board of Directors.

Wipfli announced that the firm has been named to NYDIG’s Preferred Partner Program. NYDIG, a leading bitcoin company, delivers technology and financial services to businesses in a broad range of industries.

Lynn Jackson, Chief Operating Officer and Administrator of Northside Forsyth Hospital, has joined the Board of Directors of The Citizens Bank of Georgia, Cumming.

Christopher Willis has joined Troutman Pepper, Atlanta, as Partner and Co-Leader of the firm’s Consumer Financial Services Regulatory practice.

Stefanie Jackman has joined Troutman Pepper, Atlanta, as Partner. She previously led Ballard Spahr’s Debt Collection group.

Troutman Pepper announced that a nationally recognized consumer financial services group has joined the firm from Ballard Spahr in Atlanta, New York, Philadelphia, and Salt Lake City.

Jennine Hunter has joined United Community Bank, Atlanta, as CRA Mortgage Loan Officer in the Atlanta metro area.

The Southern Bank, Sardis Announces New Executive Leadership Team
The Southern Bank, Sardis, announces the appointment of its new executive leadership team following the retirement of bank CEO and President Preston Conner.

After nearly 37 years with the bank, former CBA Chair Preston Conner hands over leadership to Chief Executive Officer Jamin Hujik, President Scott Frierson and Chief Lending Officer Frank Townsend. Read more.

Preston Conner

Jamin Hujik

Scott Frierson

Frank Townsend

American Commerce Bank, NA, Johns Creek, announces a new initiative to create, launch and run a subsidiary “Digital Bank” as part of their next phase growth strategy under a new brand and identity. This new brand, named MONESTY, will reach a broad market but will have a specific focus on the financial and lifestyle needs of the “Baby Boomer” generation and supporting caregivers and relatives. Read press release.

Georgia CDFI Certification Banks
Barry Hurley, Legal Counsel, CEO & CFO, Southeast First National Bank, Summerville, shared that the bank has received notice of certification as a CDFI bank from the Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI). Other CDFI banks in Georgia are: Bank of Camilla, Carver State Bank, Citizens Trust Bank, and South Georgia Banking Company.

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:

Executive Channel
February 15, 2022 | Macon
Join our Executive Channel to learn best practices and solutions for community banking success in 2022. We will meet quarterly to gain insight from subject matter experts, experienced bankers, and excellent community bank partners to bring strategic support while focusing on the heart of community banking, our passions, purpose, and power. Our program goals will include strategic, critical factors such as planning, people, and performance. Register here.

Credit Analyst
February 15—16, 2022 | Macon or STREAM
Training the Credit Analyst Level 2 is a course designed to address the needs of credit analysts who successfully completed TCA Level 1 or have a minimum of 2 years of experience as a credit analyst or commercial lender. This course will reinforce the credit skills of current credit analysts and commercial/consumer lenders in all aspects of credit analysis. Register today.

IRA Fundamentals
February 24, 2022 | Macon or STREAM
This basic Fundamentals of IRAs workshop provides attendees with a solid foundation of IRA knowledge. Exercises are included throughout the session to help participants apply information to job-related situations. Attendees will leave this session able to work with IRA owners and process basic IRA transactions with confidence. Register here.

Since 2001, Bankers Healthcare Group has provided loan products to a network of over 1,000 banks nationwide. BHG has underwritten over $20 billion in funding requests and worked with tens of thousands of healthcare and other professionals throughout the United States. BHG’s loan program has become a secure, innovative opportunity for banks to achieve asset growth and portfolio diversification.

To learn more, contact Brian Mullett at 315-663-1121 or visit their website.

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