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Philip Williams to Assume Chairmanship; Moss, Perry and Jordan Nominated as OfficersThe GBA Nominating Committee has met and according to its Chair, Rhodes McLanahan, First American Bank & Trust Company, Athens, the committee unanimously recommends the 2025-2026 GBA Chairman-Elect be Susan V. Moss, president and CEO, Planters and Citizens Bank, Camilla. Nominated as Vice Chairman is Timothy M. Perry, president and CEO, The Citizens Bank of Georgia, Cumming, and nominated to serve a three-year term as Secretary-Treasurer is Steven Walker Jordan Jr., president and CEO, Bank of Monticello. Moss, Perry and Jordan will stand for election by the membership at the GBA Annual Business Meeting at 7 a.m. June 15, 2025, at the The Omni Boston Hotel at Seaport, Boston, Mass. We’ll also hear a state of the association speech by current GBA Chairman Brad Barber, president and CEO, First National Bank, Bainbridge; install board members; consider resolutions; and recognize bankers who have served 50 years or more in the industry. As the current Chairman-Elect, Philip Williams, executive vice president and Georgia banking president, The Claxton Bank, automatically becomes 2025-2026 GBA Chairman July 1. Click here for details and registration for the GBA Annual Meeting.
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Georgia Lawmakers Call for CDFI Fund ProtectionU.S. Reps. Sanford Bishop (D-GA02), Hank Johnson (D-GA04), and Nikema Williams (D-GA05) have joined colleagues in urging the Trump Administration to exempt the Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund from proposed federal funding cuts. In a letter to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, they stressed the Fund’s bipartisan success in supporting underserved communities and warned that proposed reductions could undermine its impact. GBA supports preserving the CDFI Fund, which helps community banks and other institutions deliver critical financial services across Georgia. Read the full letter.
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Southeast Banks Hold Steady as Region Sees Modest GrowthThe April 2025 Beige Book from the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta reflects a Southeast economy that continues to grow at a modest pace, with financial institutions maintaining solid footing. Loan volumes were flat overall, but multifamily lending remained a bright spot, and loan quality held steady with no notable rise in delinquencies.
Employment levels were largely stable, and wage growth continued at a modest pace, giving firms more predictability in workforce planning. Home sales increased modestly, and rising inventories may help ease pressure on the market despite ongoing affordability challenges. Transportation activity picked up, particularly at ports and in rail shipments, offering encouraging signs of resilience in logistics.
While consumer spending and tourism dipped slightly, banks and businesses are navigating challenges with caution and confidence, supported by healthy balance sheets and long-term optimism.
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Two Good Upcoming Fed Events for MembersStay current on regulatory priorities and agricultural lending trends with two upcoming events that provide direct access to experts and insights to help your bank make informed strategic decisions.
- Bank Holding Company – Supervisory Perspectives, May 13, 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m.: This half-day virtual session is designed specifically for bank holding company leadership. You'll hear from regulatory and industry experts on the supervisory landscape, emerging challenges and how to navigate governance and compliance expectations. Register here.
- Ask the Fed – Agriculture Update, May 14, 3-4:15 p.m.: Hosted by the Kansas City Fed, this free session is a must for agricultural bankers and members of GBA’s Agricultural Committee. Senior economists Nathan Kauffman and Nicholas Hatz will provide a data-driven update on the U.S. ag economy, including softening commodity prices, rising production costs and credit conditions across farm sectors. They’ll also discuss implications for agricultural lenders and how banks can manage credit exposure in this evolving environment. Ask the Fed® sessions are now open to bank directors as well, making this a great resource to share with your board. Register here.
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GBA Supports Urban League’s Bank On Event to Advance Financial InclusionGBA was proud to sponsor the Bank On event hosted by the Urban League of Greater Atlanta on April 22 at the Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs. The evening brought together leaders from financial institutions, community organizations and local government to promote safe, affordable banking access—especially in underserved communities. Fred Daniels of Citizens Trust Bank represented the industry and joined other speakers in highlighting the importance of financial inclusion and the role banks play in advancing economic opportunity. A number of member banks offer Bank On certified accounts, and many others offer accounts with similar features. Featured speakers included:
- U.S. Rep. Nikema Williams (D-GA05)
- U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson (D-GA04)
- Nancy Flake Johnson, president/CEO, Urban League of Greater Atlanta
- Lisa Frison, head of Financial Inclusion, Citi
- Sterling Johnson, Just Opportunity portfolio director, Partnership for Southern Equity
The Bank On movement is a national effort to connect individuals and families to mainstream banking products and services that can help build financial stability.
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Supporting People at Every Level: Cheryl Winfrey’s Human Resources MissionCheryl Winfrey, vice president of human resources at Bank of Dudley, Dublin, has built a more than 30-year career in banking, starting from a bookkeeping role after leaving a job at a pants factory. Her drive for growth and passion for helping others eventually led her to human resources, a role she finds deeply fulfilling. “Out of all the positions I’ve held, human resources has been the most rewarding because it’s all about being there for people,” she said. Winfrey attributes her success to confidence, persistence and a commitment to work/life balance. A member of GBA’s HR Committee, Winfrey credits her experience across bank departments as helping her relate to employees at all levels, from teller to branch manager. That same desire to care for others once had her considering a career in nursing. A fan of leadership development, she recommends The John Maxwell Leadership Podcast. Read more in this week’s GBA Member Profile.
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Welcome GBA's Newest Associate MembersGBA Associate Membership is offered to individuals and organizations that want to do more business with banks as clients. These members also provide invaluable support to GBA's activities and programs throughout the year through attendance, sponsorships, exhibits and shared expertise. Be sure to get to know these new Associate Members and thank them for supporting the GBA. You can get information about any of GBA's Associate Members by using the Associate Member search function on our website. For more information, contact Bo Brannen at bbrannen@gabankers.com or 404.420.2014.
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Calling all 50-Year Bankers: We Want to Celebrate You!It’s a time-honored GBA tradition to recognize Georgia bankers who have been in banking for 50 years or more. We will formally honor those bankers at our Annual Meeting in June. If you are celebrating that momentous milestone or know of a banker who has reached 50 years in the industry, please let us know! Celebrants do not have to attend to be honored. Complete this brief questionnaire by Friday, May 23. We’ll feature these honorees in our Annual Meeting wrap-up article, so watch for that. Questions? Contact GBA's David Oliver.
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Jackson Spalding Co-Founder and Author to Speak at Leadership ConferenceWe are thrilled to announce a truly exceptional voice among our lineup of insightful educational sessions at the annual GBA Leadership Conference this summer: Glen Jackson, co-founder of the esteemed Jackson Spalding public relations and marketing agency and author of Preeminence: What It Means and How to Sustain It. Jackson’s book provides an inside look at the fundamental pillars to sustain extraordinary excellence in today’s competitive marketplace. He has appeared on numerous podcasts discussing the preeminence subject, including the Andy Stanley Leadership podcast, the Faith-Driven Entrepreneur podcast and the Leadership Foundry podcast. Preeminence will be the topic of Jackson’s talk at our conference, which is July 14-16 at the Omni Amelia Island.
Don't miss this opportunity to invest in your growth! Secure your place now and discover the wealth of knowledge awaiting you.
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A hearty thanks to these Associate Members who are supporting the conference through sponsorship:
- Presenting Sponsors: CSRA Business Lending, First Stop Health, Point to Point Environmental, and Synovus Bank
- Platinum Sponsor: Anthem
- Gold Sponsors: CRS Data, FHLBank Atlanta, Steve H. Powell & Co., and The First National Bankers Bank
- Silver Sponsors: American Bankers Association; Elliott Davis; McNair, McLemore, Middlebrooks & Co.; PointeNorth Insurance; Troutman Pepper Locke; and Wipfli.
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Information Security Officer 101 Seminar June 5 in MaconJoin IT security experts Emily Strickland and Paige Hembree from Safe Systems for our next Information Security Officer seminar on June 5 in Macon at Middle Georgia State University. Strickland and Hembree will take a deep dive into exam expectations and provide the tools and skills ISOs need to succeed in this critical role.
Who Should Attend? This seminar is designed for new and experienced ISOs, but compliance officers, audit committee members, IT Steering Committee members and network administrators will benefit as well from attending this seminar.
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Business Cash Flow Analysis Seminar Coming to South GeorgiaSouth Georgia bankers, don’t miss our next Business Cash Flow Analysis Seminar June 11 at the Center for Rural Prosperity in Tifton. Led by Peter Faser, business strategy advisor, The Profitability Coach, and a faculty member at the Georgia Banking School, this comprehensive seminar is tailored for small business lenders, commercial lenders and credit analysts/underwriters. It provides a practical framework for analyzing business cash flow, helping participants understand critical aspects of lending and underwriting decisions. Learn more and register here.
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Exclusive AI Program – June 26Leveraging Generative AI Tools You Can Actually Use in a Noisy Digital WorldIn today’s fast-paced digital world, banks must stay ahead of evolving technologies to thrive. Join us on June 26 at Middle Georgia State University for Prime, Prompt, Perform: Leveraging Generative AI Tools You Can Actually Use.
This one-day workshop, led by industry expert Nick Schuster, CashTrans, will provide leaders throughout the bank with actionable AI strategies to enhance operational efficiency, prevent fraud and drive strategic success. Through real-world examples and hands-on activities, you’ll learn how to implement AI tools such as custom GPTs and AI notebooks to sharpen your organization’s competitive edge. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain the knowledge and confidence to navigate the AI-driven future of banking.
Who should attend? This has applications for all areas of the bank, not just IT pros.
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More Events and Training Opportunities Coming up
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Webinars - Great for Fundamentals TrainingCoaching Effectiveness for Supervisors and Managers, Opening New Accounts Training Program, The AI Revolution in Banking and MoreHere’s a sampling of upcoming webinars.
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Partners, Products & Associate Members
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How to Make Smarter Compensation Decisions in 2025The Georgia Banking Compensation Survey is open! Haven’t received your invite? Reach out to Rhonda Snyder at rhonda.snyder@pearlmeyer.com to join in. Here’s why participation is a smart move:
- Benchmark Compensation – Access detailed salary and incentive data
- Spot HR Trends – Learn about raises, merit adjustments, and outsourcing
- Stay Competitive – Make informed talent decisions with confidence
- Great Value – Submit data and get the full report for $650 (regularly $1,495)
- Easy Timeline – Submit by May 23. Results available the week of Aug. 11.
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GBA Associate Member CoNetrix/TandemChoosing an Alternative to the FFIEC CATThe FFIEC has announced it will sunset the Cybersecurity Assessment Tool (CAT) on Aug. 31, 2025. With this change, many banks are curious about alternative frameworks. GBA Associate Member CoNetrix/Tandem has come up with some helpful resources banks can use to evaluate other options:
If you have questions about any of these resources, email CoNetrix’s Paul Hodnett at phodnett@conetrx.com.
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GBA Partner Dart Appraisal Offers the Best Custom Appraisal Management SolutionsGBA-endorsed Dart Appraisal combines cutting-edge technology with top-tier service to deliver honest, fast valuations while letting you keep your bank’s preferred appraisal panel. They offer a full range of commercial and residential appraisal products, plus alternative solutions like Fannie Mae’s Value Acceptance + Property Data product. Dart is a nationwide, independently owned Appraisal Management Company with offices in Cobb County. With questions, please contact Lon Bollenbacher at lbollenbacher@dartappraisal.com.
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Georgia's Banking Community
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Community Connections
We like to share all the good work GBA member banks, bankers, Associate Members and Bank Counsel Section members do to support their communities. Here's our latest installment:
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|  | Athens - BankSouth
Bryce McCuin and Michael Lozanski spoke at the Terry FinTech Society’s monthly meeting, where they discussed the evolving role of fintech in community banking and shared about the bank’s summer internship program.
| |  | Atlanta - Citizens Trust Bank
The bank led a “Toolbox for Tomorrow: Budgeting Basics” session at Creekside High School’s Senior Financial Literacy Summit. The presentation provided practical money management tips to tech school- and military-bound seniors.
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|  | Fitzgerald - Colony Bank
For Financial Literacy Month, the bank hosted fraud awareness events across its markets. Team members shared scam prevention tips and were joined by local law enforcement to help raise awareness and protect customers from fraud.
| |  | Greensboro - BankSouth
The bank taught a financial education class titled “Working Hard for the Money” to students at the Pete Nance Boys & Girls Club, encouraging teens to think ahead about career goals and financial independence.
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|  | Hawkinsville - Planters First Bank
Bank representatives served on the panel for Hawkinsville High School’s mock interviews, helping students strengthen their interview skills and prepare for life beyond the classroom.
| |  | Milledgeville - Century Bank and Trust
The bank hosted three classes of first graders from Georgia Military College Preparatory School for a fun and educational visit. Students brought coins, left with $1 bills, and learned how banking works.
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Perry - SunMark Community Bank
The bank partnered with M.E. Roden Library to host an Easter event featuring story time, balloon twisting, snacks, giveaways, and family photos with the Easter Bunny.
| |  | Rome - River City Bank
In celebration of National Volunteer Week, bank team members volunteered at Northwest Georgia Hunger Ministries to support the nonprofit’s mission to fight hunger and poverty in the community.
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|  | Watkinsville - Oconee State Bank
The bank debuted its new Fraud Squad initiative during the Oconee Area Resource Council Seniors Luncheon. The program provides educational resources and workshops to help protect individuals from scams and financial exploitation. The launch included real-life scam scenarios, red flag tips, and interactive Q&A, with plans to expand the initiative across the bank’s markets.
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Newsmakers
Check out our member banks and bankers making news this week.
Atlanta - Coastal States Bank
Terence Lewis has joined the bank as senior vice president, commercial banker in the Atlanta region.
Birmingham, AL - Regions Bank
Angela Santone has been appointed chief people officer, effective May 12.
Greenville, SC - Southern First Bank
Executive Vice President Don Kiser has retired from the bank after 24 years of service. He was honored by Nasdaq with a billboard tribute in Times Square.
Griffin - United Bank
Nathaniel Doughtie has been promoted to senior vice president. Doughtie works in the bank’s Corporate Banking Division.
Louisville - Queensborough National Bank & Trust Co.
Vice President and Human Resources Operations Director Clare Easterlin graduated April 16 from the Graduate School of Banking at Colorado’s Executive Development Institute for Community Bankers® as a member of its 11th cohort. Read more.
Swainsboro - The Citizens Bank of Swainsboro
Milton Gray officially retired from the bank on March 3. He served as president and CEO for 25 years and grew the bank from $51 million to $380 million in total assets. Gray will continue to serve on the bank’s board of directors and an officer of the holding company, Swainsboro Bankshares.
Zebulon - United Bank
David Edwards has been promoted to chief strategy officer.
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| Read All About It: Send Us Your News
Please remember to include the Georgia Bankers Association on the list of recipients for announcements about promotions, new employees and special recognition your bank has received. 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 Job BankHere's a reminder of a longstanding member benefit. 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. To make the process easy and answer any questions, we've developed this Q&A. Please contact Katina Weiss, 404.420.2021, with questions or needs.
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