ADVOCACY

Carver Financial CEO Testifies to Congress

Georgia banks and CDFI-certified institutions were well represented Tuesday by Robert James, CEO of Carver Financial Corporation, during a hearing before the U.S. House Financial Services Committee. James, who is also chairman of the National Bankers Association, voiced support for several bills aimed at improving access to capital and deposits, reforming FDIC insurance and modernizing regulations. He highlighted how Carver State Bank in Savannah and BHM Bank in Birmingham, both under Carver’s holding company, have expanded lending and investment opportunities in their communities through support from the CDFI Fund and other institutions. James noted that Carver State Bank has provided financing in 12 of Georgia’s 15 congressional districts. His prepared remarks begin around the 50-minute mark of the hearing video available here. During the hearing James also fielded questions from lawmakers, including Georgia Rep. David Scott (D-GA13), about the importance the CDFI fund for rural markets, brokered and reciprocal deposits, the Community Bank Leverage Ratio capital regime, minority-owned institutions, and the need to improve the FDIC’s resolution process.

GBA Adds Context to ATM Fee Survey Getting Media Attention

A recent survey from Bankrate about ATM and account service fees is getting some headline attention this week. Locally, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and WSB-TV picked up the story, focusing on the survey’s claim that Atlanta has the highest average out-of-network ATM withdrawal fee in the nation. We welcomed the opportunity to provide some context for the AJC story, while also pointing out that only 10 of the 81 FDIC-insured banks in the Atlanta MSA were surveyed. “The survey’s own national data shows the average total ATM fee is exactly the same as it was 10 years ago,” said GBA President and CEO Tripp Cofield. “What other on-demand service can consumers say that about? Further, many banks in Georgia cover the cost of ATM fees, including any out-of-network fees.” He also provided background on what the fees cover when people use ATMs other than their bank’s. “Like other convenient on-demand services, there are real costs to providing immediate access to your cash anytime and almost anywhere you want it,” Cofield said. “This includes the costs for the ATMs themselves, as well as secure armored cash transport, fraud protection and 24/7 network connectivity.”

Donalsonville Lions Club Gets GBA Update on Georgia Banking

Bo Brannen, GBA senior vice president, was the guest speaker at the Donalsonville Lions Club this week, where he shared an update on the banking industry and highlighted the important role bankers play in helping customers stay safe from fraud. His remarks included practical tips for individuals and businesses to better protect themselves from financial scams. A special thank-you goes to Bradley Grantham, PeoplesSouth Bank, for extending the invitation to GBA. Speaking engagements like this are part of our ongoing effort to tell the story of banking beyond the headlines and connect directly with communities across Georgia. For questions or to schedule a presentation for your organization, contact David Oliver at 404.420.2036.

2025 Georgia BankPAC Update

The 2025 BankPAC campaign to raise funds for the GBA StatePAC and GBA FedPAC is going strong, and we hope that you will consider contributing. Contribution forms along with all BankPAC information may be accessed on the advocacy page of gabankers.com with instructions and options for making these contributions. As a reminder, state-chartered banks or national bank holding companies may contribute to the StatePAC, while eligible individuals may do so to the FedPAC. If you have questions, contact Elizabeth Chandler at 404.372.7893 or Bo Brannen at 404.731.9886.

Contributing to the GBA StatePAC recently are:

• Northeast Georgia Bank, Lavonia, Bill Hogan, CEO
• South Georgia Bank, Glennville, Bran Thompson, CEO.

And, contributing recently to the GBA FedPAC are those eligible employees, officers and directors of:

• Bank of Dudley, Sam Beall, president & CEO
• Georgia First Bank, Soperton, Maury Beasley, president & CEO
• Great Oaks Bank, Richmond Hill, Brad Brookshire, CEO
• Northeast Georgia Bank, Lavonia, Bill Hogan, CEO.

MEMBER NEWS

Synovus’ Tracy Rudolph Named to Most Powerful Women in Banking NEXT 2025

Tracy Rudolph, head of treasury product management at Synovus, has been named to American Banker’s Most Powerful Women in Banking NEXT 2025 list, debuting at No. 12.

Rudolph joined Synovus in 2021 and has overseen several large-scale technology and treasury initiatives, including platform consolidations and product enhancements that have increased efficiency and revenue. She also serves on committees with The Clearing House and the Federal Reserve Bank’s Cash Advisory Council.

The Most Powerful Women in Banking NEXT program recognizes rising leaders in the industry for their professional achievements, leadership skills and impact on their organizations.

Brannen Smith on Ownership, Trust and Leading with Kindness

Brannen Smith, commercial banker at Morris Bank in Statesboro, carries two guiding principles into his work each day: don’t waste time complaining about something hard work can solve, and always lead with kindness—you never know what someone else may be going through.

Those early life lessons from his parents continue to shape his approach to leadership and service. “It’s about partnering with our clients and neighbors to strengthen our communities and help people achieve their dreams,” he said, reflecting on a recent experience helping a longtime client open her own business after years of planning. “Sitting with her at the closing table was a powerful reminder of why we do this work.”

Smith believes in giving team members space to grow, too. A mentor once told him that as long as he kept his “house in order,” he would have the flexibility to manage his time. He continues to apply this model of accountability and trust today. Read more in his GBA Member Profile.

Related: Smith is the head grader for the Georgia Banking School and serves on the school board of directors, which has been hard at work planning next year’s session. Enrollment is now open for the 2026 Georgia Banking School, April 26 - May 1 on the UGA campus in Athens. Learn more and enroll here.

GBA NEWS

Kevin Hagler to Be Honored at Upcoming Tri-Conferences in Savannah

We’re excited to share that recently retired Georgia Banking Commissioner Kevin Hagler will be our guest of honor during the opening reception and dinner at the upcoming President/CEO, Bank Counsel and Bank Accountant conferences. “We’re so grateful for Kevin’s steady and thoughtful leadership throughout his career at DBF, and with more than 140 Georgia bankers, bank accountants and bank attorneys set to attend these conferences, the GBA Board and Community Bankers Committee thought it represents the perfect opportunity for members to show their appreciation.” said GBA Chairman Philip Williams, The Claxton Bank. The conferences are Sept. 28-30 at the JW Marriott Plant Riverside in Savannah. Click here for the detailed conference agenda and registration access. Contact Kathy Friestad with questions.

Operation and Technology Peer Group Meeting

GBA’s Operations & Technology Peer Group met Wednesday in Athens. The meeting was facilitated by Operations & Technology Committee Chair, Sam Drennen, First American Bank & Trust Company. The member-led peer group meets a couple times a year and gives members the opportunity to share best practices, check in on emerging issues and help each other overcome a variety of bank ops/tech challenges. A big thank you to Liberty Technology for sponsoring the event. The committee is working on dates and locations for 2026.

GBA Retirement Services Annual 401(k) Training Seminar 

The dates for the GBA Retirement Services Annual 401(k) Training Seminar are Nov. 18 in Duluth and Nov. 19 in Macon. HR administrators of banks or Associate Members in the Trust may attend either session at no cost. We will cover plan administration, website demos, testing review, compliance updates, overview of investments, financial wellness tools and participant education. Is your plan not a part of our Master Trust? We invite you to come to either session and learn more about our services. Give us a call to find out how our program is helping thousands of Georgia bankers be fully prepared for retirement. We promise you won’t be disappointed. Have questions? Contact Mandy Richards at 678.549.4167 for more information. Register for the Duluth seminar here or the Macon seminar here.

INDUSTRY NEWS

FDIC to Host Money Smart Town Hall on Protecting Older Adults

The FDIC will host a national Money Smart Town Hall Thursday, Sept. 25, from 12-1 p.m. ET focused on protecting older adults and their families from scams, fraud, cyber threats and other forms of elder financial exploitation.

The program, held in advance of National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, will highlight resources from Money Smart for Older Adults, success stories from community programs and practical tips to help people recognize and avoid threats such as imposter scams, romance scams, phishing, smishing, vishing and investment schemes. Register here.

TRAINING & EVENTS

All-Star Agenda Announced for 2025 Financial Risk Management Conference

The agenda is set for the Financial Risk Management Conference, happening Nov. 6-7 at The DeSoto in Savannah. Highlights include:

• Economic update from Ryan Hayhurst, president, The Baker Group LP
• Public funds strategies panel moderated by David Oliver, GBA EVP & COO, with Patrick Rutledge, FHLBank Atlanta, and Dave Still, IntraFI
• Liquidity panel moderated by Luke Soper, Wipfli, with Haynes Standard, First State Bank; Robbie Eidson, Southeastern Bank; and Martha Brown, Planters & Citizens Bank
• Exam panel moderated by Jonathan Hightower, Fenimore Kay Harrison, with Mark Dennard, Pineland Bank; Holt Redding, South Coast Bank; and Chris Bond, Morris Bank
• Audit panel moderated by Chad Hargrove, Classic City Bank, with David Attaway, Symphona; Lacey Goggans, Nichols Cauley; and Ron Mitchell, Mauldin & Jenkins
• AI session with Tod McKenna, global head of data science and artificial intelligence, Citi Securities Services.

The two-day program is designed to deliver practical insights and peer-driven discussions on the most pressing risk management issues facing Georgia banks. Hotel room block cutoff is Oct. 15.

A huge thank you to our sponsors!

• Gold Sponsor: Ncontracts
• Silver Sponsors: BOK Financial; Carr, Riggs & Ingram; FHLBank Atlanta; FHN Financial; ServisFirst Bank; and Wiplfi.

Secure Your Spot for GBA’s Next Internal Audit Peer Group Meeting

Sign up now for GBA’s next Internal Audit Peer Group Meeting, our forum designed exclusively for internal auditors. The meeting is Nov. 18 from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. in Macon at Idle Hour Golf & Country Club. The upcoming program will include educational session led by Rhonda Norris of Symphona, followed by an intensive roundtable discussion facilitated by David Attaway of Symphona. Attendees will have the opportunity to submit topics during registration, which will generate discussion among their peers, as well as topics provided by our facilitator.

Hotel Deadline Sept. 29!

GBA Compliance Conference
Oct. 20-22, The Westin Jekyll Island

Register Here

More Events and Training Opportunities Coming up

• South Georgia Community Bank Symposium - Oct. 8, Valdosta State University

• New Account Documentation & Compliance Bootcamp - Oct. 8, Middle Georgia State University, Macon

• Succession Planning Online Workshop Series - Nov. 3 & 17, Virtual

• BSA Peer Group Meeting - Nov. 4, Virtual

• Credit Conference - Dec. 4-5, UGA, Athens

• Marketing Peer Group Meeting - Dec. 9, Methodist Home for Children & Youth, Macon

• GBA Compliance School - April 26 - May 1, 2026, UGA, Athens

WEBINARS – GREAT FOR FUNDAMENTALS TRAINING

Cyber Security 101, 2025 Head Teller Training, Strategic Planning for Your Institution and More

Here’s a sampling of upcoming webinars.

• Cyber Security 101 – Sept. 18
• Do We Have a Generation Gap: A Sales Workshop – Sept. 24
• Accounting Basics/Refresher for Financial Professionals – Sept. 29
• Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity – Oct. 1
• 2025 Head Teller Training: All-Day Streaming – Oct. 2
• Small Business Lending Training Program – Oct. 7
• Strategic Planning for Your Institution: It’s All About Your Strategy! – Oct. 9
• What To Do When Your Vendor Gets Hacked – Oct. 15
• Welcome to Banking - Oct. 16
• Coaching Tellers to Excellence – Oct. 16 

 Want to see the full webinar schedule?

PARTNERS, PRODUCTS & ASSOCIATE MEMBERS

Fresh Insights from the 2025 Georgia Banking Compensation Survey

The results of the 2025 Georgia Banking Compensation Survey, conducted by GBA in partnership with Pearl Meyer, are in and available for purchase. This year’s survey provides Georgia banks with valuable benchmarking data to guide pay, incentive, and talent strategies.

The 2025 survey includes input from 69 Georgia institutions, covering more than 5,200 incumbents and 177 positions, plus a Policies and Practices Report detailing base salary programs and incentive plans. The effective date of the data is April 1, 2025.

Report prices are:

• $650 – Participants
• $1,495 – Non-Participants

Pearl Meyer has emailed all participants with purchase instructions. Non-participants, or anyone who has not received an email, may contact Rhonda Snyder at rhonda.snyder@pearlmeyer.com.

Sept. 30 at 2 p.m. - Vendor Management FAQ

When it comes to vendor management, no two banks face the same challenges, but many share the same questions. Join experts with GBA Strategic Partner NContracts who will answer the most common (and complex) vendor management questions, including how to address fourth-party risk, evaluate AI tools, oversee cloud vendors and more. They’ll cover:

• How to identify and manage fourth-party risk in your vendor ecosystem  
• Best practices for evaluating AI tools and their vendors  
• What to watch for when working with cloud providers  
• Practical tips to address emerging vendor management challenges.

Register Here

Oct. 9 at 11 a.m. - Does Fair Lending Still Matter? 

The simple answer: yes. With the shifts in control in Washington and within federal agency leadership, this is a common question. From disparate impact to redlining, fair lending has undergone a wave of scrutiny. Join experts with GBA Strategic Partner NContracts to learn more about why fair lending remains a top priority. They will cover recent regulatory shifts, examples of technical violations and the importance of a strong compliance management system. They will also address how being prepared can protect your bank when future examinations include longer-than-expected lookback periods.

Register Here

GBA-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 AMC with offices in Cobb County. With questions, please contact Lon Bollenbacher at lbollenbacher@dartappraisal.com.

GBA Strategic Partner StrategyCorps is pleased to offer BaZingBiz, a modern small business checking solution, to empower banks and small-to-medium-sized businesses. This comprehensive offering provides best-in-class benefits that enhance financial security, purchasing power, and data protection. Key features include:

• Buyer’s Protection and Extended Warranty covers accidental damage or theft of newly purchased items up to $5,000 within 180 days.
• Cyber Liability protection provides up to $50,000 for data breach costs and $10,000 for ransomware payments, safeguarding businesses against cyber threats.
• Business ID Theft Aid offers credit monitoring, dark web surveillance, and full restoration services.
• BaZingBiz also supports financial wellness with estate planning, tax assistance, and bill negotiation services that save businesses money.

To learn more, please contact StrategyCorps’ Will Jones at Will.Jones@strategycorps.com.

COMPLIANCE CORNER

Compliance Alliance Introduces Certified Cybersecurity Training for Banks

The GBA co-owned Compliance Alliance has partnered with Dr. Kevin Streff to launch The Cyber Institute, offering certified cybersecurity training designed specifically for bankers and bank directors. This new program provides unique, tailored courses aimed at improving information security awareness, fulfilling regulatory requirements, and safeguarding customer data. Developed by experts in both banking operations and cybersecurity, the training offers practical, real-world education suitable for institutions of all sizes.

Participants can earn Cybersecurity Awareness Credits by covering essential topics such as secure network practices, data breach prevention and incident response. Courses are offered in various formats and can be customized to fit each bank’s size, complexity, and structure. Learn more and explore course options at The Cyber Institute.

NEWSMAKERS

Cincinnati, OH - Fifth Third Bancorp

The bank has been selected as program manager for the U.S. Treasury Department’s Direct Express federal benefits debit card program serving approximately 3.4 million largely unbanked Americans.

Columbus - Colony Bank

Mitch Watkins has joined the bank as senior commercial banking manager, senior vice president. Read more.

Dawsonville - Farm Bureau Bank

Will Wade has joined the bank as its newest commercial banking market executive for northwest Georgia. Read more.

Dublin - Citizens Bank of Laurens County

Keyton Lanford has been promoted to community banking associate and Angie Willis has been promoted to head teller.

Douglas - Douglas National Bank

Suzanne Carelock joined the bank as teller.

Fitzgerald - Colony Bank

Gov. Brian Kemp issued an official commendation recognizing the bank’s 50th anniversary. Read more.

Griffin - First National Bank of Griffin

Our condolences to the family, friends and former colleagues of David Newton, who passed away Sept. 6. Newton served as a director of the bank for many years. Read more.

Milledgeville - Exchange Bank

Heather Cook has been promoted to assistant vice president - business development. Read more.

Louisville - Queensborough National Bank & Trust Co.

Scott Rasplicka, owner of Delta Metals Inc. of Savannah, has joined the bank’s board of directors. Read more.

Washington - F&M Bank

The bank recently added three new team members: Abbey Kay Moore in loan operations, Amanda Robb at the Washington main office and Lauran Bentley at the downtown Washington office.

Waycross - WB&T Bankshares, Inc.

Josh Dukes has been promoted to chief information officer and assistant vice president, and Jackie Tillman has been promoted to ITM and customer care center manager and assistant vice president.

Atlanta - Georgia Department of Banking and Finance

Melissa Sneed has been appointed senior deputy commissioner. Kevin Vaughn has been appointed deputy commissioner for supervision, and Amy Patterson has been appointed deputy commissioner of legal affairs. Read more.

Atlanta - Georgia House of Representatives

Our condolences to the family and friends of former State Representative Judy Manning, who passed away Sept. 5. Manning served in the House from 1997 to 2012 representing Cobb County and chaired committees including Natural Resources, Child Services and Appropriations. Read more.

Washington, DC - Office of the
Comptroller of the Currency (OCC)

The OCC appointed agency veteran Stephen Lybarger to the newly created role of Senior Deputy Comptroller for Chartering, Organization and Structure.

COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS

Aiken - Security Federal Bank

The bank sponsored the 44th-Annual Freedom Fund Banquet hosted by the Aiken County NAACP. The bank also sponsored the Greater Augusta Black Chamber of Commerce’s 5th Annual CSRA Black Business Summit and hosted a blood drive with Shepeard Community Blood Center at its Walton Way branch.

Bainbridge - First Port City Bank

The bank presented a $2,500 check to the Alzheimer’s Association to support local fundraising efforts. The bank also shared a meal with the Donalsonville Fire Department in appreciation for the service.

Columbus - Synovus

The Russell Henley Junior Championship presented by Synovus was held Labor Day weekend at Green Island Country Club. More than 80 junior golfers competed, with proceeds including a $22,000 donation to Truth Spring, a Columbus nonprofit.

Dublin - Bank of Dudley

Bank team members Matthew Weigel and Chris Adams led a budgeting and finance class for students in the Q.U.T.E. and G.Y.M. programs at East Laurens High School.

Dublin - Morris Bank

The Morris Bank Community Foundation awarded a $5,000 grant to St. Nick’s Necessities, a student-led nonprofit providing essential items for at-risk teens in Jones County and foster care.

Milledgeville - Exchange Bank

Bank employees donated food and supplies to the Animal Rescue Foundation, Inc.

Perry - SunMark Community Bank 

The bank supported Atrium Health through a $75,000 donation made possible by the Georgia HEART program.

Thomasville - Thomasville National Bank

The bank donated $1,500 to English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) programs in Thomasville City Schools.

Read All About It: Send Us Your News

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.

Recruit, Retain and Develop the Best Bankers with GBA's Job Bank

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.