The Georgia Banking School, a unique growth opportunity for qualified, highly motivated bankers, is a challenging educational experience that demands full personal commitment. Since 1961, the GBA-sponsored Georgia Banking School has been a highly effective resource for developing the leadership talents of Georgia bankers. The school’s mission is to prepare first- and mid-level managers to effectively and profitably serve the public by:
- Developing a thorough understanding of banking, focusing on the key functions of banking, their interrelationships and their determinants of profitability
- Developing analytical skills and management techniques
- Creating an awareness of the banking environment and the role of commercial lending in the industry.
Admission
For admission, a student must meet the following requirements:
- Be employed as an officer or key staff member of a bank
- Have a college degree and two years banking experience, or a high school diploma and five years banking experience
- Have successfully completed ABA courses in Banking Fundamentals and General Accounting, or equivalent course work, or demonstrated knowledge of these disciplines
- Be recommended by the bank’s CEO or senior management.
If the applicant does not meet one of the above requirements but the nominating officer feels the candidate is qualified, a letter from the CEO may be sent with the application explaining the circumstances for review by the school’s Board of Directors.
Curriculum
The Georgia Banking School is a three-year program that provides students with the following skills and knowledge:
- Specific skills to manage in the functional areas of banking
- An understanding of how banks fit within the financial services industry
- Community banking sales and business development strategies and community economic development programs
- Ability to solve problems, work in teams and make decisions in a managerial setting
- Exposure to the increasingly complex and important legal and regulatory areas including CRA issues, legal environment and bankruptcy issues, and the role of the Federal Reserve.
Faculty
The faculty is comprised of experienced bankers, UGA faculty members, regulatory officials, attorneys and others with expertise in their subject areas and proven ability to teach other professionals. Many of the approximately 40 faculty members have been associated with the school for many years. Faculty and courses are critically evaluated by class facilitators, students and school administrators to ensure that students receive the highest quality and most current curricula available.
Home Study Assignments
Rising Second and Third Year students must complete ten home-study assignments. The typical assignment includes reading and analyzing one or two cases that reinforce concepts learned during the on-campus sessions and give students a heavy dose of hands-on analysis of real-world banking situations. Completion of the home-study cases is required for graduation. Students use a web-based system to submit assignments, as well as to email fellow students, consult with their grader, and receive grades and comments.
Bank Management Simulation
The Bank Management Simulation takes place in the third year of the program. This phase of the school allows students the opportunity to make decisions as senior officers of a bank. Working in teams, students make operating, lending and pricing decisions that influence bank profitability and bank stock price. The computer model allows students to make decisions, receive quick feedback on the effectiveness of their decisions and then make new decisions that adjust bank operations to compensate for a large number of internal and external forces including competition, the economy and regulatory constraints. As in the real world, good decisions lead to improved profits and higher stock prices, while bad decisions generate reduced earnings and share prices.
Graduate of Distinction and Honor Graduates
Graduates who rank in the top 10 percent of their class are considered for the award of Honor Graduate. This selection is based on a three-year history of demonstrated class leadership, exam and home-study assignment grades, and Bank Management Simulation performance. One Graduate of Distinction is selected by the school’s Board of Directors from within this group of Honor Graduates. To be eligible, all home-study assignments must be submitted in a timely manner. The Graduate of Distinction and Honor Graduates are announced at graduation. The Graduate of Distinction receives a First Year scholarship to the Graduate School of Banking at LSU.
Graduation Requirements & Exam
Completion of the Georgia Banking School program is based on 100% attendance and performance in all scheduled classes and lectures, preparation of all assigned work and satisfactory completion of all home study assignments. Third Year students who successfully complete the course of study will be awarded diplomas. Graduation will be held on Friday of the week of school. First Year students take a pre-test and a post-test and Second Year students take a final exam.
Continuing Education Units
Students qualify for Continuing Professional Education (CPE) credit in the area of Business Management and Organization as follows: First Year=35; Second Year=35; Third Year=12. No advanced preparation is required for this program. In accordance with the standards of the National Registry of CPE Sponsors, CPE credits have been granted based on a 50-minute hour. For more information regarding administrative policies or complaints, please contact GBA at 404.420.2034.
Georgia Bankers Association is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be submitted to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through its website: www.learningmarket.org
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GBA Contacts
Alison Moreau
Senior Professional Development Manager
404.420.2034
amoreau@gabankers.com
Mary Frances Miller
Professional Development Administrator
404.420.2010
mfmiller@gabankers.com