Mar 16 - CBA Today eNewsletter - COMMUNITY BANKERS ASSOCIATION OF GEORGIA

Advocacy is one of the three pillars of CBA’s Mission Statement, and the latest issue of CBA’s bi-monthly magazine, Georgia Communities First, showcases advocacy efforts as well as upcoming PAC events.

In this issue, Lori Godfrey, EVP, Government & Regulatory Relations at CBA, interviewed Rep. Noel Williams, Jr., Cordele, who serves as Chairman of the House Banks & Banking Committee. Having a banker in this position is vital, as he understands the importance community banks play in their communities. Read “Getting to Know Rep. Noel Williams, Jr.” Take a moment to explore the latest issue and see how CBA is advocating for you!

Registration Now Open – Registration Ends April 6th
Join us for a one-of-a-kind event that is equal parts networking and golf tournament with friendly competition! This open-air tournament offers a way to connect and raise money for an important cause—CBA’s PAC Fund. Enjoy food, beverages, prizes and support CBA’s PAC. Register today!

Welcome Quantum National Bank
CBA’s Board of Directors, along with CBA’s Membership Committee, welcomes Bryan Cohen, CEO, Brad Day, President, and Quantum National Bank, Suwanee, as new members.

“We are delighted to have Bryan, Brad and the team at Quantum National Bank in our membership,” said John McNair, President & CEO, Community Bankers Association of Georgia. “We look forward to serving the bank and assisting them in utilizing the many professional development programs and benefits membership offers.”

Stephanie Stuckey, CEO, Stuckey's. Behind every business is a story. And behind every one of those stories is a family and a bank. Bankers are not just loaning money, they are building dreams.

Stephanie will tell her family’s business story. Her story includes the banks who believed in them, seeing more than numbers on a spreadsheet, but as real people struggling to build a better life for our families and our stories.

Ray McElroy, Life Beyond the Game & Hero Employer Services. Through his 20-year motivational speaking initiative, Life Beyond the Game, Ray McElroy, unlike any other, has managed to capture the hearts and minds of youth, organizations and companies nationwide! As an emerging leader in the marketplace, Ray’s amazing and uncanny ability to entertain while delivering a profound message of desire, discipline and dedication has impacted the lives of thousands regardless of gender, age, or profession.
Read full article here.

Life Long Learning—Growing Your Leadership Abilities
CBA’s CBLA (Community Bank Leadership Academy) kicked off its 5th year with new bankers choosing to grow their skills in leadership. CBA believes in providing effective educational programming, and it is a joy to see our bankers fully engage in this academy. Here are a few quotes from the student’s first session.

“The first session was great!” Angelia Alred, American Commerce Bank

“This is the best upper-level training I have received from CBA. April took me out of my comfort zone in both classes. The skills learned will be very beneficial when practiced and put into place in the workplace and your personal life. Once these skills are honed in, I feel confident that my team and organization will benefit on an entirely new level that has never been achieved.” Jonathon Guthrie, Loan Officer/Loan Manager The Peoples Bank

“The program was better than I anticipated it would be. April Farlow is amazing. I would say she is the best instructor/teacher I have ever had. She makes you feel important and worthy. She pushes you to be comfortable around others and encourages you in the areas you are weak in.” Amy Bowles, CFO/SVP, Family Bank

If you missed getting signed up and want to participate, please contact our office so that we can put you on a list for a new class offering. Special thanks to the Q1 sponsor, Mark Faas, Point to Point Environmental.

Community Bankers Association of Georgia (CBA) is proud to offer the 2022 Julian & Jan Hester Memorial Scholarship and the J. Steven Walraven Scholarship!
The Hester Scholarship is open to Georgia high school seniors who will be entering a Georgia college, university or technical school (two year program or more) in the fall semester of 2022. The scholarship is named after the late
Jan Hester, daughter of Lalia and the late Julian Hester, long-time CEO of the CBA. The four winning recipients will
be awarded a $1,000 scholarship.

The Walraven Scholarship is awarded in the amount of $500 to a bank employee who desires to continue their education while working full-time at a CBA member bank. The scholarship is named after the late J. Steven Walraven, an active community banker who exemplified professionalism and community involvement. To compete, employees must write a short essay on how community banking has impacted their life and how it will enable them to give back to their community.

Applications for either scholarship should be returned to the bank no later than Friday, April 8, 2022. All completed applications should be submitted by the bank to CBA no later than Friday, April 15, 2022.

ICBA Announces 2022 Capital Summit Speakers
ICBA announced several speakers for the 2022 ICBA Capital Summit, the industry’s premier advocacy event scheduled for May 1-4 in Washington, D.C. In keynote remarks and breakout sessions, this year’s Capital Summit speakers will include:

Senate Banking Committee Member Mike Rounds (R-S.D.).
Acting Comptroller of the Currency Michael Hsu.
FDIC Acting Chairman Martin Gruenberg.
Assistant Treasury Secretary for Financial Institutions Graham Steele.

Mike Rounds

Michael Hsu

Martin Gruenberg

Graham Steele

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

Quantum National Bank, Suwanee, is sponsoring a “March for Spring” food drive at the bank’s locations. The bank recently donated food and household items to the North Gwinnett Co-op. The food drive will run throughout the entire month of March.

Raquel Cobb has joined Quantum National Bank, Suwanee, as Assistant Vice President of Marketing.

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:

Compliance Program I:
How to Ensure Compliance with Deposit Regulations
Live STREAM - March 22, 2022
Macon - March 23, 2022
Tifton - March 29, 2022
Statesboro - March 30, 2022

Register today.

Don’t Miss Early Bird Pricing on CBA Innovation Exploration Bundle – Ends March 31st!
Our NEW Innovation Exploration Bundle is an express route for your innovation journey. With microlearning, forums, networking, vendor resources, in-person and virtual training, and bank visits to see the latest innovations in action, you won't want to miss out on this bundle.

“At the direction of CBA’s Innovation and Education Committee, Kristi Greer and her team are pleased to unveil the CBA Innovation Exploration Bundle. The curriculum has been designed to provide training and development programs for all levels of practitioners, from the novice to the most advanced. It is imperative for community bankers to embrace technology and develop a comprehensive digital strategy. CBA is leading the charge in Georgia and the entire Southeast with both educational resources and best in class partnerships,“ said John McNair, CBA President & CEO.

What is included in the bundle?

2 - One-day Sessions - April 20, 2022 & TBD
1 - Conference (October - Coming Soon)
4 - Microlearnings (virtual)
- Foundations in FinTech
- Regulatory Scrutiny of BAAS Partnerships - May 25, 2022
- Implementing Deposit Programs - July 20, 2022
- Implementing Credit Programs - September 7, 2022
Bankers Helping Bankers Platform Access (NEW; very cool platform to cut our research time for looking at technology tools/platforms)
Reduced pricing on CBLA, Cyber Summit, CONNECT (Convention) - for the bank's Innovation bundle employee only
1 - $150 Coupon towards a CBA Professional Development Program (cannot be used for above-listed programs)
1 - Complimentary Webinar: FedNow Faster Payments, Future, Feasibility

Learn more and register.

Mortgage Lending School
April 4-7, 2022 | Atlanta
In cooperation with the Community Bankers Association of Georgia, Crescent Mortgage is proud to sponsor the reboot of the Mortgage School. This school is targeted at both bankers who want to enter the secondary market mortgage space and those that are already seasoned in mortgage origination. In-person sessions will be held at Crescent Mortgage headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia. The Mortgage School will focus on the roles and functions within residential mortgage banking. Learn more and register.

Warren Averett has grown substantially over the last few years to become one of the largest accounting firms in the Southeastern region, ranking among the top 30 firms in the United States. With more than 800 employees and 340 CPAs across 15 offices, Warren Averett offers depth and experience in financial services, with services that span beyond audit and tax to include wealth management, staffing and recruiting, technology consulting, financial outsourcing, retirement plan administration and investments. Our Banking Services Group is made up of 50+ professionals serving a variety of financial institutions, from community banks, state banks, public banks, de novo banks and insurance organizations. We go beyond the typical audit, accounting and tax return functions to find unique ways to improve your overall operational efficiencies.

Contact Lisa Berry at 205-368-5689or visit their website.

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

March 16, 2022