Dec. 4, 2025

ADVOCACY

IRS Issues Interim Guidance on ACRE Act Tax Benefit

Members are encouraged to take a look at newly released IRS interim guidance implementing the tax benefits of the Access to Credit for our Rural Economy (ACRE) Act. The guidance outlines how banks may apply the new tax law allowing them to exclude from gross income 25% of interest earned on loans secured by rural or agricultural real property. The provision was included in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act as a key industry priority long supported by GBA. The IRS is accepting public comments as it prepares formal regulations. GBA is reviewing the guidance and welcomes member input on issues that may need to be raised in a comment letter. Contact Tripp Cofield, Elizabeth Chandler or Bo Brannen.

Agencies Seek Input on Call Report Burden

The federal banking agencies are requesting information aimed at identifying and reducing regulatory reporting burden tied to the Consolidated Reports of Condition and Income (Call Reports). Announced this week, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Federal Reserve Board and FDIC invite banks to provide feedback on pain points or inefficiencies associated with the FFIEC 031, 041 and 051 reporting forms. The request for information applies to all institutions that file Call Reports, including community banks. Comments are due Jan. 30, 2026. Read more.

2025 Georgia BankPAC Update

The 2025 BankPAC campaign to raise funds for the GBA StatePAC and GBA FedPAC is winding down at year-end. If you have been thinking about contributing, now is the time. Contribution forms, along with all BankPAC information, can be accessed on the advocacy page of gabankers.com, which includes 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. Contributing recently to the GBA FedPAC are those eligible employees, officers and directors of the following banks:

The Citizens Bank of Laurens County, Dublin, Jeff Cannon, market president
Renasant Bank, Alpharetta, Brad Serff, regional president, Georgia and Northeast Florida.

If you have questions, contact Elizabeth Chandler at 404.372.7893 or Bo Brannen at 404.731.9886.

Reminder: Register for the Feb. 5 BankPAC Sporting Clays Tournament

Make plans today to join GBA’s eighth-annual Sporting Clays Tournament supporting the GBA State BankPAC. The event is Thursday, Feb. 5, at Old Hudson Plantation in Sparta. This four-person scramble is a fun, relationship-building opportunity to bring legislators, directors, customers and friends together for a day on the course. Registration includes 100 targets, a cart, one mulligan, an entry in the Cotton Ball Drop Contest and a barbecue lunch. You may register as an individual, a four-person team or a team with a stand sponsorship. Additional event sponsorships are also available.

REGISTER HERE

If you’re still finalizing your team, go ahead and register—we’ll remind you when it’s time to submit names. Contact GBA’s Kathy Friestad or Mary Frances Miller with questions.

Thank you to our sponsors already confirmed: Commercial Banking Company, CSRA Business Lending and Point to Point Environmental.

* The GBA StatePAC contributes only to candidates running for state-level office such as the Georgia General Assembly, the Governor’s office and the Lieutenant Governor’s office. Contributions can be made by an individual, from bank funds if you are a state-chartered bank or from a national bank holding company if the contribution is made from funds other than those resulting from the operations of the national bank.

INDUSTRY NEWS

Southeast Ag Lenders Expect Tougher Conditions Ahead

Members have been loud and clear to us that it is a challenging time for their ag-related customers. A recent national survey of agricultural lenders by the ABA also points to tough times for ag interests nationwide. Respondents note tightening farm profitability, rising credit concerns and growing reliance on debt as producers navigate high input costs and weaker commodity pricing. While Georgia-specific data was not included, the survey offers a look at conditions across the Southeast.

Southeast Takeaways

Lenders in the South report the lowest borrower profitability expectations in the country, with only 45% of borrowers projected to remain profitable in 2025 as cotton markets lag and cost pressures persist.
The South is the only region showing a decline in ag loan demand over the past year, and one in three lenders expect demand to drop again next year—an outlier compared to national expectations for growth.
Poultry-heavy lenders across the Southeast express elevated risk concerns linked to avian diseases, including HPAI and aMPV, with more than half anticipating higher delinquencies and increased financing needs tied to disease impacts.
Despite farm profitability challenges, Southeast lenders expect farmland values to hold relatively steady, with about two-thirds forecasting little to no change in 2026.

IRS Issues New Guidance on Children’s “Trump Accounts”

The IRS and U.S. Treasury Department have released guidance and outlined upcoming regulations for “Trump Accounts,” a new individual retirement account for children under 18 created by Congress earlier this year.

Parents and guardians may open accounts starting July 4, 2026, with annual contributions capped at $5,000. Eligible children born between Jan. 1, 2025, and Dec. 31, 2028 will receive a one-time $1,000 federal pilot contribution. Certain governmental entities, charities and employers may also contribute; employer contributions up to $2,500 are excluded from the employee’s taxable income.

The IRS has posted a draft Form 4547 for establishing accounts and enrolling in the pilot program. Public comments on proposed regulations are due Feb. 20, 2026. Read more.

Penny Phaseout Update: New Resource Page Available

As the federal phaseout of penny production continues, banks are seeing gradual shifts in circulation and occasional change shortages. To support institutions navigating these developments, ABA has released a new Penny Phaseout Resource Page featuring updated FAQs, customer communication tools and the latest industry news.

The page also highlights ongoing advocacy efforts and the work of the Penny Work Group, which meets weekly to track circulation trends and discuss operational impacts for banks. Access the full resource hub here.

Related: For members wanting to better understand the economics of pennies and theories of optimum coin denominations, the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta this summer published an interesting article that dives deep into the possible benefits of taking pennies out of circulation.

Bank Reports PPP-Targeted Scams as FBI Warns of Account Takeovers

Bankers nationwide are reporting an uptick in sophisticated impersonation scams, including new schemes targeting former PPP borrowers and a broader surge in account takeover fraud, according to alerts from a peer association and the FBI.

The Minnesota Bankers Association shared that one of its member banks has seen a rise in spoofing attempts directed at past PPP recipients, activity believed to stem from publicly available loan data that fraudsters can easily scrape. Meanwhile, the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center has issued a national consumer alert warning that criminals are posing as financial institutions to access online banking, payroll or health savings accounts. IC3 has logged more than 5,100 complaints this year, with losses exceeding $262 million.

If your bank has encountered similar PPP-related fraud attempts or increased account takeover activity—or if you would support a coordinated PSA effort—please contact Tripp Cofield, 617.909.9530, and David Oliver, 404.520.6311, so we can assess next steps and share insights across the membership.

Related: ABA’s free #BanksNeverAskThat campaign offers turnkey resources to help banks strengthen fraud-prevention messaging.

GSCCCA Restores Systems After Cyberattack; No Data Loss Confirmed

In an update to news we shared last week, the Georgia Superior Court Clerks’ Cooperative Authority (GSCCCA) reports that all systems are back online with no evidence of data loss or alteration following the recent cyberattack. GSCCCA says its IT teams worked around the clock to remove any footholds and harden systems, and forensic analysis remains ongoing as investigators continue to review the incident. Get details here from GSCCCA.

Beige Book: Southeast Economy Stable Amid Mixed Conditions

The Southeast’s economy held steady through October and early November, according to the Federal Reserve’s latest Beige Book. Price pressures eased in some areas such as construction materials, while software and insurance costs continued rising. Larger firms managed tariffs more effectively than smaller ones, and many expect only modest price increases early next year.

Employment remained steady overall, with selective hiring and low turnover. Some firms trimmed hours or staff as demand fluctuated. Bankers reported rising credit use among households and cautious consumer spending, though commercial real estate showed slight improvement, especially for high-end office properties.

Manufacturing activity was flat, and regional loan growth slowed slightly, led by weaker construction and auto lending. Still, demand for energy (particularly natural gas, solar, and wind) remained strong, reflecting steady business investment despite global uncertainty.

ATTENTION ATTORNEYS!

Status of Important Cases for December 2025

The latest ABA Newsbytes Banking Docket is now available. Read about the status of important cases here. Each article contains a “Read more” link with access to additional details on the issues, case summaries and links to related documents.

GBA NEWS

Looking In on GBA Credit Conference

GBA's 2025 Credit Conference is in full swing this week. Georgia bank credit and lending professionals are gathered in Athens to explore the latest economic, business and banking trends as we’re closing in on 2026. With a packed house and vibrant discussions, the conference wraps up Friday. Stay tuned for next week’s highlights and session recaps!

TRAINING & EVENTS

Learn How to Co-Pilot through Growth, Change and Innovation at Operations & Technology Conference

Join Georgia bank IT and operations professionals in Savannah, Feb. 25-27, at The DeSoto. This annual event is hosted by GBA’s Operations & Technology Committee under the leadership of Chair Sam Drennen, First American Bank & Trust Company, Athens, and Vice Chair Kristy Harrell, First National Bank, Bainbridge.

Sessions will include:

Conference Keynote Speaker – Dr. Melissa Furman, MS, DBA, President & Founder, Career Potential, LLC.
Project Management, Change Management and Employee Change Management – Brett Rawls, PRI
Protecting Banks and Their Customers from Telecom Focused Threats – Scott Helms, Momentum
Next Steps in the M365 AI Chain – Eric Delgado, SafeSystems
Fraud Trends & Best Practices
Leadership and Workforce Development – John Brantley, The Auxin Leader
Roundtable Discussion.

REGISTER HERE

GBA member banks, Strategic Partners and Associate Members are invited to sponsor this event. Thank you to our sponsors already confirmed:

Gold Sponsor: Advantage, powered by JMFA
Silver Sponsor: ICI Consulting

Fundamentals Training: Understanding Bank Performance Returns in January

The fully virtual Understanding Bank Performance program returns this January for GBA members in partnership with the Washington Bankers Association. The nationally attended course brings together peers from 30 state banking associations and gives new and experienced bankers a deeper grasp of how to interpret financial statements and measure performance.

Held online each Wednesday and Thursday from Jan. 8-30, 2026, the program offers a flexible way to build financial acumen. Participants will explore key components of bank financials, performance metrics and the insights that support better decision-making. It’s well-suited for early-career bankers, seasoned professionals looking to sharpen their analysis and anyone responsible for evaluating bank results.

Join a nationwide community of banking professionals and strengthen the skills that support your institution’s success.

REGISTER HERE

Loni Porta and Peter Faser

Two Skill-Boosting Seminars: IRA Academy, Business Cash Flow Analysis

GBA is offering two targeted skill-building programs this February to help bankers deepen their technical expertise across IRA administration and credit analysis.

IRA Academy, led by longtime IRA expert Loni Porta, returns Feb. 3-5 in Macon with three stand-alone workshop days. Day 1 covers IRA Basics, Day 2 dives into Advanced IRAs, and Day 3 focuses on Operations, Administration and Reporting. Participants can attend one, two or all three sessions depending on their training needs. Register here.
Later in the month, lenders and credit analysts can sharpen their analytical toolkit at Master Business Cash Flow Analysis, held Feb. 24 at the Cherokee Conference Center in Canton. Led by Peter Faser of The Profitability Coach and Georgia Banking School faculty, this full-day seminar offers practical, hands-on instruction in identifying financial trends, analyzing operating cycles and applying a structured, four-step approach to evaluating loan requests. Register here.

Secure Your Spot for 2026!

Georgia Banking School &

GBA Compliance School
April 26 - May 1
UGA, Athens

More Events and Training Opportunities Coming up

Marketing Peer Group Meeting - Dec. 9, Methodist Home for Children & Youth, Macon
The BSA Summit - Jan. 12-15, Lanier Islands Resort, Buford
Legislative and Economic Forum & Reception - Jan. 28, The Ritz Carlton, Downtown Atlanta
HR Professionals Institute - March 25-27, The DeSoto, Savannah
Marketing Conference & Customer Insights Workshop - March 25-27, The DeSoto, Savannah

ONLINE LEARNING – GREAT FOR FUNDAMENTALS TRAINING

Year-End Wrap Ups on Deposits and BSA, Nailing Your Job of Head Teller, Using AI for Writing and More

Take a look at online training opportunities available to GBA members from OnCourse Learning and the American Bankers Association:

Deposit Year-End Wrap-Up – Dec. 11
BSA Year-End Wrap-Up – Dec. 16
Nailing Your Job of Head Teller – Dec. 18
Using AI as Your Writing Assistant – Jan. 12
Managing a Successful Call Center – Jan. 13

PARTNERS, PRODUCTS & ASSOCIATE MEMBERS

UPCOMING STRATEGIC PARTNER WEBINARS

Strengthen Your Fair Lending & Information Security Programs

Georgia banks face high expectations around compliance, cybersecurity and risk management. GBA Strategic Partner NContracts is hosting two webinars this month, designed to help your bank navigate these issues with clarity and confidence.

Dec. 9 at 2 p.m.: Regression Analysis & Fair Lending: Making Sense of the Story Your Data Tells
Understanding your lending data is essential to building a fair, consistent and defensible lending program. Regression analysis offers one of the most powerful ways to uncover patterns, identify disparities and evaluate potential risks. Read more about it here. Yet, many banks still struggle to interpret the results. In this session, Ncontracts’ fair lending expert Cassandra Wayman will break down regression analysis in clear, practical terms. Click here to register.
Dec. 18 at 2 p.m.: How to Risk Assess Your Information & Data Security Program
Banks safeguard some of the most sensitive information in the economy, and both regulators and threat actors are aware of it. A strong information security program begins with a well-structured risk assessment that goes far beyond IT checklists. This is a valuable session for IT leaders, information security officers, risk managers, and anyone responsible for maintaining a secure and compliant environment. Click here to register.

STRATEGIC PARTNER ADVANTAGE, POWERED BY JMFA

Three Reasons a Core-Only Overdraft Strategy Falls Short

Many bank leaders ask, “Can’t we just use our core for overdrafts?” The answer isn’t as simple as it seems. While core systems are essential for processing transactions, new research highlights significant limitations when relying on core functionality alone for overdraft strategy, compliance, and account holder experience. From evolving regulatory expectations to the need for transparent communication and consistent limit management, today’s environment demands more than basic system logic. This article from GBA Strategic Partner ADVANTAGE breaks down three key reasons banks should rethink a core-only approach, and how strategic oversight, structured processes, and specialized support can strengthen performance and reduce risk. Visit www.advantage-fi.com to learn more.

GBA Partner Banc Card of America Offers the Best Local Support for Any Type of Merchant

GBA Partner Banc Card of America (www.banccard.com) offers valuable services to retailers, restaurants, hotels, B2B, In-home and online merchants, allowing them to accept all major credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover and Diners Club), and on-line and off-line debit cards. Best of all, one of their seven in-state, local representatives is never more than a short drive away from your bank or your merchant customers. Contact Jim Staples with Banc Card to find out how they can help, 770.314.3505, jstaples@banccard.com.

ASSOCIATE MEMBER PAYROC

Unlocking Hidden Revenue Through Merchant Services

Many banks still view merchant services as a basic operational function, but today’s payments landscape offers far more. A well-designed program can create steady non-interest income, strengthen business-client loyalty, and enhance your competitive position. Nearly 70% of small business owners prefer getting payment services from their bank when the experience and pricing are competitive, underscoring the opportunity.

Modern payment tools also improve client efficiency, cash flow, and risk management. Reporting insights can spark treasury and cash-management conversations. Read more from GBA Associate Member Payroc here.

ASSOCIATE MEMBER DARLING CONSULTING GROUP

Five 2026 Loan-Budgeting Pitfalls You May Be Missing

As banks prepare their 2026 plans, even the strongest institutions can stumble into budgeting traps that quietly derail performance. Associate Member Darling Consulting Group recently highlighted five surprisingly common pitfalls and why they matter in today’s rate and liquidity environment. Are your growth assumptions masking hidden runoff? Could your prepayment expectations be setting you up for a margin surprise? And is your budgeting process too dependent on a single rate outlook? This quick read challenges conventional thinking and offers a fresh lens for building more resilient, cash-flow-driven forecasts.

NEWSMAKERS

Athens – Classic City Bank

Jason Cawthon has joined the bank as vice president, IT manager, and Tanya Wood has joined the bank as banking officer, loan operations specialist.

Atlanta – Truist Securities

Truist Securities has announced several new hires to expand its Equity Research coverage across biotechnology, energy, financials, technology and utilities. Read more.

Braselton – Exchange Bank

The bank announced plans to open a new full-service branch in Braselton in spring 2026. The location will be at 6700 Hwy. 53. Read more.

Carrollton – (former) West Georgia National Bank

We are saddened to share that Kay Moon, a longtime dedicated GBA volunteer and former member and chair of the Security Committee, has passed away. She played a key role in creating the Bank Security School (later Bank Security Academy). Read more.

Columbus/Nashville, TN – Synovus & Pinnacle Financial Partners

State and federal regulators have approved the merger of equals between Synovus Financial Corp. and Pinnacle Financial Partners Inc. The deal is expected to close Jan. 1, 2026, with newly formed Steel Newco Inc. ultimately adopting the Pinnacle name.

Fitzgerald/Thomasville – Colony Bank/TC Federal Bank

Colony Bankcorp, Inc. has completed its merger with TC Bancshares, Inc., the parent company of TC Federal Bank, effective Dec. 1. Read more.

Atlanta – MetroCity Bank/First IC Bank

MetroCity Bankshares Inc., parent of Metro City Bank, has completed its acquisition of First IC Corp., parent of First IC Bank. The merger includes a combination of stock and cash valued at approximately $110.6 million, with MetroCity continuing as the surviving corporation and Metro City Bank as the surviving bank.

Savannah – Great Oaks Bank

Keith Parker has joined the bank as office manager and small business banker at its Savannah Southside location. Read more.

(From left) Steven Jensen and Sue Strickland

(From left) Tony O'Reilly and Carol Brooks

Savannah/Atlanta – SBAC & Ameris Bank

The Small Business Assistance Corporation (SBAC) recognized outstanding entrepreneurs and partners at its 2025 Holiday Awards Luncheon. Honorees included Steven Jensen, VP and senior business banker at Ameris Bank, named Lender of the Year, and Carol Brooks, senior vice president at Ameris Bank, recognized as SBAC Advocate of the Year. Read more.

Dondra Clark and Sheri Dockweiler

Rochelle Hehir and Jenny Smith

Pine Mountain – First Peoples Bank

The bank announced several hires as part of its growth strategy:

Dondra Clark, chief development officer
Sheri Dockweiler, chief credit officer
Rochelle Hehir, controller
Jenny Smith, branch manager, McDonough branch.