Special Message from President & CEO John McNair
Clearly, all of us are overwhelmed by the current circumstances. In a very short period of time, the way we work, learn and live was significantly altered as a result of a virus we know little about. Our concern for the health and well being of our family, friends, businesses and colleagues grows daily and is forcing us to make significant decisions almost hourly. The question on everyone’s mind before we go to sleep each night is “what will tomorrow bring?” To me, the answer is simple: Progress. I say this with every confidence because as Georgians and Americans, progressing forward is in our DNA. It is what we do every day of our lives and it is the reason why our collective American society is the greatest the world has ever seen.
Along with the daily, heartbreaking updates of new cases and fatalities, we hear countless stories of companies retooling their operations to produce needed equipment and supplies such as ventilators, gloves, masks, and hand sanitizer. Pharmaceutical companies are working around the clock to test immediate medical alternatives and to find longer term solutions in the form of vaccines. Even our legislators came together to pass in record time an unprecedented economic relief bill to help every day Americans and small businesses. In this great time of national need, our innate reaction as a nation and people is adapt and overcome- and we are making incredible progress. Now, and officially starting Friday, April 3, it is our turn as community bankers to answer the call. The recently passed CARES Act provides unparalleled relief measures for the nation’s small businesses. As the primary source of lending and banking services to small businesses, community banks are being asked to deliver the funding provided by the legislation to our customers, neighbors and friends. It is a daunting task and community bankers must be ready to execute in a very short period of time. The livelihoods of those in need and the very communities we serve are depending on us- and we will succeed because that is what we do and who we are: community bankers! To help prepare you and your banking colleagues, CBA has assembled a variety of pertinent resources and information and built a web site repository which is being updated almost hourly. It can be found by accessing this web link: https://www.cbaofga.com/cares-act.html. Additionally, due to the fact that details are still being refined, we have delayed our informational webinar until tomorrow at 11 am. Our hope is that by then, all of the specifics from Treasury and the SBA will be finalized and we will be able to deliver a very comprehensive offering for our members. Finally, all of us at CBA are dedicated to your success and the success of your communities. It is and honor and privilege to serve you and we are prepared to do whatever is needed to fulfill our obligations to you, Georgia and the country! With deep respect and admiration, John |
