Georgia Bankers Represented in Washington as “Clarity Act” Advances
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This week, GBA Chairman Philip Williams, The Claxton Bank, and a delegation of Georgia bankers traveled to Washington, D.C., for our annual advocacy visit. The group met with Georgia’s Congressional delegation and key federal regulators to share insights from the front lines of community banking.
The visit was timely, as the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee on Thursday began consideration of the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act, the crypto market structure bill which includes industry-supported language to expand the GENIUS Act’s interest and yield prohibition to crypto exchanges and third-party affiliates. Amendment negotiations continued through mid-morning on Thursday before the committee voted to advance the bill 15-9, with two Democrats joining committee Republicans in supporting the measure. The next stop for the bill will be the Senate floor, where its fate remains uncertain, as 60 votes will be needed to pass it. GBA and our industry partners will remain engaged in this debate and work to further strengthen the interest and yield prohibition as the legislative process continues.
Look for a full debrief of this week’s meetings and stablecoin legislation developments in next week's edition.
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American Trust Retirement Announces Merger with Ascensus
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Ascensus, a national third-party administrator provider of retirement plans, announced this week an agreement to acquire American TCS, including American Trust Retirement, the trustee, investment manager and recordkeeper of the GBA Master 401(k) Trust sponsored by GBA Retirement Services (GBARS). The closing is expected to occur during the third quarter of this year.
Members of the GBA Master 401(k) Trust were notified earlier in the week. In the short term, everything will remain the same for GBARS members, with continued dedicated support from GBA staff, our client service managers at American Trust, compliance support and participant services. Over time, both companies anticipate enhanced technology, tools and expertise that each company provides in the retirement industry.
GBARS will work closely with American Trust to minimize any impacts or inconvenience to our members. Our primary focus will remain on helping participants prepare for a successful retirement. We are proud of the progress GBARS has made since partnering with American Trust, with 69% of total Trust participants on track to replace at least 70% of their income in retirement. We will continue to provide updates on the merger as we learn more. If you have any questions, please contact Mandy Richards at 678.549.4167.
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Spotlight on New GBA Associate Members
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Over the next few weeks, we want to give a warm welcome to several new GBA Associate Members that we onboarded last quarter. They all offer diverse solutions for your bank and provide invaluable support to GBA programs through sponsorships, exhibits and shared expertise. Be sure to get to know these folks and thank them for supporting GBA. You can get information about any of GBA's Associate Members by using the Associate Member search function on our website. This week, we want to highlight the following:
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| Ingo Payments
Mr. Drew Edwards, drew@ingopayments.com
Alpharetta, GA
www.ingomoney.com
Ingo Payments empowers banks to launch instant payment capabilities quickly without rebuilding their core infrastructure. Its embedded platform delivers instant account funding, real-time disbursements and multi-rail money movement, including white-label P2P, B2P and B2B payout solutions. Through these capabilities, Ingo Payments enables banks to offer modern payment experiences, generate new fee revenue and compete with fintechs on speed and convenience.
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| ISAM Consulting
Mr. J.W. Dukes, jwdukes@isamconsulting.com
Atlanta, GA
www.isamconsulting.com
Community Bank Consulting / Commercial Banking / Policies & Procedures / Credit Quality / Special Asset Management / Capital Markets / Note Sales / Executive on Retainer
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| Peak Strategic Consulting
Mr. Sam Drennen, sam@peakstrategicconsulting.com
Watkinsville, GA
www.peakstrategicconsulting.com
Peak Strategic Consulting provides senior-level advisory services focused on operational efficiency, in-house AI integration, risk and fraud management, growth strategy, and human capital performance. The firm delivers immediate operational value while strengthening controls and building sustainable foundations for long-term growth.
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| Prolific Banking
Ms. Robin Holtson, robin.holtson@prolificbanking.com
Atlanta, GA
www.prolificbanking.com
Prolific Open Digital is a cloud-based commercial banking platform that unifies internal and customer-facing applications. With a digital-first model, banks gain automated account opening, treasury onboarding, data delivery, fintech connectivity, and other services tailored to their current needs and future goals.
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Atlanta Man Pleads Guilty in Stolen Check Fraud Scheme
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An Atlanta man has pleaded guilty to federal bank fraud and aggravated identity theft charges tied to a large-scale stolen check scheme involving altered checks taken from the mail.
According to federal prosecutors, Shamarri Tache Brooks used social media to recruit individuals willing to use their bank accounts to deposit fraudulent checks. Investigators said Brooks altered stolen checks, deposited them through ATMs across metro Atlanta and sold online tutorials promoting check fraud and other financial crimes.
When authorities arrested Brooks earlier this year, they recovered more than 600 stolen checks from his residence. The case was investigated by the FBI, FDIC Office of Inspector General, U.S. Secret Service and U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General. Federal officials encouraged the use of tools such as positive pay and close monitoring of account activity to help detect suspicious transactions early. Read more.
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Leadership Conference Slate Featuring Two AI-Focused Sessions
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We’ve got a great crowd building for our Leadership Conference July 13-15 at the Omni Amelia Island, and we invite your bank’s emerging leaders to attend. Bank accountants, bank counsel members and GBA Associate Members are also encouraged to attend.
This year, the Leadership GBA Board of Directors made one thing clear while shaping the educational agenda: attendees want practical, real-world insight into how banks are successfully using AI right now—not theory, but actionable ideas from industry leaders who are already putting these tools to work. The conference will feature two timely AI-focused sessions designed to deliver exactly that.
The conference will feature two timely AI-focused sessions designed to deliver exactly that.
In the first session, GBA chair Philip Williams, The Claxton Bank, will moderate a panel discussion among Jaye Eubanks, chief technology officer for United Bank; Ben Nichols, an AI strategy consultant with Upstate AI; and Ajay John, vice president of data science and AI for CSI, a core vendor. Panelists will share how their organizations began their AI journey, where they are applying AI today and the measurable impact they are seeing. Attendees can expect candid conversation, practical takeaways, and ideas they can bring back to their own institutions immediately.
In the second session, “Tokenized Money: What’s Real, What’s Next,” Kaye Lynch-Sparks, senior director of innovation policy for the American Bankers Association, will give attendees a simple framework to understand tokenized money, practical examples of where the market is heading, and clear guidance on how your bank can engage safely and strategically.
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A big thank you to these confirmed event sponsors:
- Presenting Sponsors: CSRA Business Lending, First Stop Health, Point to Point Environmental
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Platinum Sponsors: Anthem, CRS Data, Steve H. Powell & Company
- Gold Sponsors: FHLBank Atlanta, ServisFirst Bank
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Silver Sponsors: Baker Tilly; McNair, McLemore, Middlebrooks & Co.; Troutman Pepper Locke; The First National Bankers Bank; and Wipfli.
Sponsorships are still available. Click here for information or contact Kathy Friestad to discuss. Exhibit space is also available; click here for that info.
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Registration Now Open for Fan-Favorite Lending Seminars in Macon
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Personal Cash Flow - Oct. 7, MGSU, Macon
Join Shannon Fortson, executive vice president and chief credit officer at Vallant Bank, for an in-depth, comprehensive understanding on how to analyze personal cash flow and personal tax returns. Learn how to calculate sources and uses of personal cash flow to support a borrower’s loan request to ensure a strong and healthy loan portfolio. Get all the details and register here.
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Loan Structuring and Documentation for Loss Prevention Seminar - Oct. 8, MGSU, Macon
Fortson returns for this loan structuring and documentation seminar. Prevention of loan losses is crucial and begins with proper loan structuring and documentation techniques. Connect with peers and walk away with all the best tips and tools. Commercial loan officers, commercial loan personnel, loan assistants and closing specialists will benefit from this program. Get all the details and register here.
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Save the Dates for These Conferences
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2026 Financial Risk Management Conference
- Where: Courtyard Atlanta Decatur Downtown/Emory
- Date: Thursday, Nov. 5, through Friday, Nov. 6
Shout out to these early sponsors:
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Silver Sponsors: FHLBank Atlanta, The First National Bankers Bank, Wipfli
- Gold Sponsor: ServisFirst Bank
Sponsorships are still available! Contact Alison Moreau with questions about this or the conference.
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2026 Credit Conference
- Where: The DeSoto, Savannah
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Date: Thursday, Dec. 3, through Friday, Dec. 4
Grateful for the Associate Members who are already registered to sponsor or exhibit.
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Silver Sponsors: CRS Data, Point to Point Environmental, ServisFirst Bank
- Platinum Sponsor: Steve H. Powell & Company
- Exhibitor: CSRA Business Lending
Sponsorships and exhibitor space are still available! Contact Alison Moreau.
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| More Events and Training Opportunities Coming up
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- Rural Development and Lending Conference - May 18-19, The King and Prince Beach & Golf Resort, St. Simons
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2026 Annual Meeting - June 7-9, The Cloister, Sea Island
- Information Security Officer 101 Seminar - June 23, Middle Georgia State University, Macon
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Understanding Bank Performance Webinar Series - July 9-31, Zoom
- Leadership Conference - July 13-15, The Omni Amelia Island, FL
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BSA Peer Group Meeting - July 22, Middle Georgia State University, Macon
- Fraud Academy - Aug. 18-20, Hyatt Regency, Lexington, KY, or Virtual
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Understanding Bank Performance Webinar Series - Oct. 1-23, Zoom
- President/CEO, Bank Accountant & Bank Counsel Conferences - Oct. 4-6, The Ritz-Carlton Reynolds, Lake Oconee
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ONLINE LEARNING – GREAT FOR FUNDAMENTALS TRAINING
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TRID, Trump Savings Accounts, Motivating Your Team from Good to Great, Call Report Common Issues and More
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Take a look at online training opportunities available to GBA members from OnCourse Learning and the American Bankers Association.
Upcoming hot topic webinars:
Self-paced courses, certificates and reference guides:
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PARTNERS, PRODUCTS & ASSOCIATE MEMBERS
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SUBMISSION DEADLINE IS MAY 22
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Don’t Miss Out on 2026 GBA Compensation Survey Participation
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Employees are a bank’s most valuable assets, and compensation is often its largest non-interest expense. How management teams structure pay has a direct effect on the ability to attract, retain and motivate top talent.
A high-quality, independent salary survey, like the 2026 GBA Compensation Survey, is an essential tool for staying competitive. It provides reliable market data to help benchmark compensation, identify trends and make informed pay decisions. With the market constantly evolving, access to current data is critical.
If your bank needs information for participation, please contact Rhonda Snyder at rhonda.snyder@pearlmeyer.com. She will ensure you have everything needed to get started. The submission deadline is May 22, and survey reports will be published the week of Aug. 10.
Participation guarantees access to timely, industry-specific insights and a significant discount on the survey report ($650 vs. $1,495).
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ASSOCIATE MEMBER DARLING CONSULTING GROUP
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The Five Pillars of a Strong Capital Policy
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A strong capital policy is more than a regulatory requirement, it’s a strategic roadmap for managing growth, risk, and uncertainty. In a recently submitted article, GBA Associate Member Darling Consulting Group (DCG) outlines five core pillars of an effective capital policy: clear governance, well-defined capital targets, actionable contingency plans, alignment with strategic goals, and regular review. Together, these elements help institutions build a policy that can withstand changing economic conditions, examiner scrutiny, and leadership transitions. For bankers, the takeaway is straightforward: a thoughtful capital policy should not sit on a shelf. It should actively guide decision-making and help leadership respond confidently to both opportunities and stress scenarios. Read the full article here.
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ASSOCIATE MEMBER HUB | TAYLOR ADVISORS
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Are We in an Asset Recycling Renaissance?
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Bankers, are you maximizing your asset yields? In a recently submitted article, GBA Associate Member HUB | Taylor Advisors highlights the importance of asset recycling, swapping legacy assets for higher-coupon loans and investments, to boost net interest margin. The article breaks down three key levers: asset mix, selection, and pricing. Asset mix (loans, investments, cash) is the biggest driver of yield, with higher loan allocations typically leading to better returns. Smart selection of loan and investment types, plus disciplined pricing, can further enhance performance. A strong ALCO should regularly review these factors to ensure lasting yield improvements. For actionable insights and strategies, read the full article from HUB | Taylor Advisors. Read more here.
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Atlanta - Pinnacle Financial Partners
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Douglas Hromco has been named chief security officer and will be based out of the Atlanta office. Read more.
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Blakely - First State Bank of Blakely
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Sonny Hall has been appointed president and CEO of the bank and a member of its board of directors, CFO Lori Summerlin has also been appointed to the board of directors.
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Perry - SunMark Community Bank
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Janet Bryan has joined the bank as chief risk officer.
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| The bank hosted a ribbon cutting for a new branch at 120 Drayton Street in Savannah.
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Swainsboro - The Citizens Bank of Swainsboro
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Donna Riner has been promoted to assistant vice president / operations manager.
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Washington, D.C. - Federal Reserve
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Kevin Warsh has been confirmed by the Senate to serve as chair of the Federal Reserve Board.
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Bainbridge - First Port City Bank
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The bank donated $150,000 to Memorial Hospital & Manor through the Georgia HEART Program.
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| Monroe - Legacy State Bank
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The bank participated in and sponsored the “Once de Mayo” Chamber Challenge Golf Tournament in Monroe.
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Rome/Blairsville - River City Bank
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The bank recently hosted Java Joy in Rome and a specialty coffee bar in Blairsville for team members and customers as part of their 20th anniversary celebration.
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| Savannah - Coastal States Bank
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The bank’s Savannah team was the title sponsor of the Maritime After Hours event at the Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum, Inc.
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Read All About It: Send Us Your News
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We want to share your news with your colleagues across the state. Please forward your announcements and photos to GBA's David Oliver and Katina Weiss.
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Recruit, Retain and Develop the Best Bankers with GBA's Job Bank
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GBA will post open positions, free of charge, for GBA members. See the open positions in Georgia here. We will also post professional summaries for bank-job seekers on our Bankers Available page. Contact Katina Weiss, 404.420.2021, with questions or needs.
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