GBA Joins BankChain Alliance to Help Georgia Banks Prepare for the Future of Payments
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GBA has joined with 38 other state bankers associations to form BankChain Alliance, a developing bank-owned payment network designed to give banks of all sizes access to modern digital-payment tools through shared infrastructure. The Alliance is selecting a technology partner and targeting a 2027 launch.
For Georgia banks, the Alliance is designed to:
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- Make new payment technology more accessible to banks of all sizes.
- Help banks stay competitive as customer payment needs evolve.
- Give participating banks a voice in how the network develops.
- Help keep deposits and lending within local communities.
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“Payments are changing, and we want Georgia banks of every size to have a seat at the table and the tools to compete and innovate,” said GBA Chairman Susan Moss, president and CEO of Planters and Citizens Bank in Camilla. “BankChain Alliance gives us another way to help banks embrace new payment technology that benefits their customers, strengthens their communities and supports Georgia’s economy. For 134 years, GBA has helped Georgia banks thrive, and this is a natural extension of that tradition.”
Read our news release and read a one-page backgrounder
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Georgia-Headquartered Banks Post Strong Year-Over-Year Growth, Maintain Solid Financial Position
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FDIC’s Quarterly Banking Profile data came out this week, and GBA’s analysis shows the 124 FDIC-insured Georgia-based banks posted strong year-over-year growth through June 30, with double-digit gains in assets, deposits and loans, higher net income and continued strength in margins and capital.
Smaller banks also performed well. The 111 Georgia banks with less than $1 billion in assets grew loans 9.5% and deposits 5.6% year over year, while six-month net income rose 8.5%. Their 1.69% return on assets was well above the 1.32% national average for similarly sized banks.
Because merger and acquisition activity makes the FDIC’s published year-over-year state comparison less representative of current banks’ performance, GBA conducted a special analysis comparing the 124 institutions reporting in second-quarter 2026 with those same banks’ results a year earlier.
See a detailed summary here.
"Georgia banks are supporting the state's continued economic growth by lending to businesses, families and communities," said Tripp Cofield, GBA president and CEO. "These results are encouraging, especially given the higher costs and economic uncertainty businesses and families continue to navigate, and they show banks that are strong, growing and maintaining solid capital and credit quality, which positions them well to meet their customers' needs as conditions change."
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Deadline to Order Peanut Bank Week Supplies is Next Week! Order by Aug. 31
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The 50th-annual Georgia Peanut Bank Week is set for Oct. 19–23, and this year’s theme, “Peanuts…Georgia’s Golden Investment,” celebrates the collaboration of banking and agriculture.
Hosted by GBA and Georgia Peanut Commission, this yearly tradition gives banks a chance to showcase their peanut pride and connect with customers using fun, printable activities for kids and, of course, the famous promotional packs of Red Bag Peanuts.
Please place your order by Aug. 31 to receive your supplies in time.
Questions? Contact Maddie Frost at maddie@gapeanuts.com or 229.386.3470.
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Georgia Banking Compensation Survey Results Now Available
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The 2026 Georgia Banking Compensation Survey results are here, and they are packed with valuable insights to help your bank compete for talent with confidence. Produced by the GBA in partnership with Pearl Meyer, this trusted report gives Georgia banks timely, reliable compensation benchmarking data tailored to the banking industry. Highlights from this year’s survey campaign include:
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- Robust participation: Data from 68 Georgia banks and 188 Southeast banks, representing more than 5,600 incumbents in Georgia and more than 23,600 across the Southeast.
- Extensive position coverage: Compensation information for 169 Georgia positions and 300 Southeast positions.
- Practical planning tools: A Policies and Practices Report covering base salary programs and incentive plans.
- Current, decision-ready data: Effective as of April 1, 2026, the data makes the report a powerful resource for budgeting, recruiting, retention and board-level compensation discussions.
- Participant pricing: $650 for either the Georgia or South Atlantic Banks report, or $1,050 for both.
- Non-participant pricing: $1,495 for either report, or $1,995 for both.
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Do not miss this opportunity to strengthen your compensation strategy with data built for banks like yours. Pearl Meyer has emailed participants with purchasing instructions. To purchase the survey results, or if you did not receive your purchase email, contact Rhonda Snyder at rhonda.snyder@pearlmeyer.com.
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GBA Retirement Services on the Road for Participant Education
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GBA Retirement Services and our partners at American Trust enjoyed meeting with members in middle and southeast Georgia this month for a series of 401(k) Committee meetings, employee group education meetings, and individual employee sessions. Our thanks to the banks and teams that hosted us:
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Altamaha Bank & Trust, Brent Sammons, president & CEO
- Durden Banking Company, Wade Johnson, president & CEO
- Exchange Bank, John Childs, president & CEO
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Georgia First Bank, Maury Beasley, president & CEO
- Great Oaks Bank, Brad Brookshire, CEO
As a reminder the GBA Retirement Services Board meets quarterly to review the GBA master plan to ensure we offer a competitive, high quality retirement product for our members. We strive to help participants have successful outcomes in retirement. Please reach out if we can help your bank or company. Contact Mandy Richards at mrichards@gabankers.com.
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Update on Georgia BankPAC Campaign
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The 2026 BankPAC campaign is making great progress. Contribution forms along with all BankPAC information may be accessed on the advocacy page of our website with easy-to-follow options for making these contributions.
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A contribution for the GBA StatePAC was received this week from Classic City Bank, Athens, Colin Stokes, president & CEO.
Contributions to the GBA FedPAC have come from eligible employees, officers and directors of:
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- Ameris Bank, Atlanta, Palmer Proctor, CEO
- F&M Bank, Washington, Ed Pope, president & CEO
- Great Oaks Bank, Richmond Hill, Brad Brookshire, CEO
- The Citizens Bank of Americus, Rick Whaley, president & CEO
- United Bank, Griffin, Jim Edwards, CEO
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Southeastern Bank, Darien, Jay Torbert, president & CEO
- South Georgia Banking Company, Tifton, Glenn Willis, CEO
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CONFERENCE & EVENT SPOTLIGHTS
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HR Professionals Peer Group Meeting
Next Week -- Still Time To Join Us
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Next Thursday, Sept. 3, Georgia’s bank HR professionals will come together for a day of real conversations, shared experiences, and practical solutions at the GBA HR Professionals Peer Group Meeting.
This banker-driven meeting is designed to give you the opportunity to connect with HR colleagues from across the state and discuss the issues that matter most, from talent acquisition and employee engagement to compensation, benefits, compliance, and workforce development. You can help shape the conversation by submitting hot topics during registration, ensuring the discussion is timely, relevant and focused on the challenges you're facing.
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Understanding Georgia’s New Transaction Hold Law – Convenient Webinar
Free to GBA Members – Sept. 14
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Georgia’s new Financial Institution Transaction Hold Authority is now in effect. Join Kevin Vaughn of the Georgia Department of Banking & Finance and GBA President & CEO Tripp Cofield for a discussion about what banks need to know to implement the new law.
Learn about key requirements, including training, policies and procedures, notifications, investigations, recordkeeping, trusted contacts and transaction holds. Attendees will also have an opportunity to ask questions and hear directly from the Department about implementation.
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Don't Miss This Event for
South Georgia Bankers
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Hosted in partnership with the Harley Langdale Jr. College of Business Administration at Valdosta State University, this regional event is designed for bank leaders and teams to learn, connect and focus on the issues that matter most to our industry in south Georgia. Here are highlights of the program:
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Economic Outlook - Dr. Elvan Aktas, Professor of Finance, Valdosta State University
- Credit Quality Overview and Outlook - Stewart Thigpen, Steve H. Powell & Co
- GBA Advocacy Update / Regulatory Update and Issues - Kevin Vaughn, Deputy Commissioner for Supervision, Georgia Department of Banking and Finance & Tripp Cofield, GBA
- State AG Update: Jody Redding, Director at Office of Governor Brian Kemp
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Ops/Tech Peer Group Meeting Sept. 22, Athens
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Jim Stewart of Vallant Bank and GBA Operations & Technology Committee member will facilitate the meeting covering industry hot topics. Participants can help shape the discussion by submitting topics during the registration process. Sponsorships are available. Click here for sponsorship information.
Click here to register or for more information. Contact GBA’s Alison Moreau with questions.
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Join your peer Georgia bank compliance professionals for this annual conference. Get practical insights on today's top compliance issues, exchange ideas with peers from across the state and return with solutions you can put to work right away, all while enjoying outstanding networking in a relaxed coastal setting. Check out the agenda below.
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- Year in Review with Chris Willis of Troutman Pepper Locke
- Fraud on All Fronts, featuring perspectives from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, banking security, and Georgia’s Division of Aging Services
- Industry & Advocacy Update with GBA leadership
- Keeping Positive in Compliance Chaos. an interactive session focused on resilience and navigating the demands of compliance
- AI Tabletop Exercise: Putting AI to Work in Compliance, where participants will use AI to tackle real-world compliance scenarios
- Findings from Recent Reviews, Cause for Pause, and Trends
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When Legal Meets Compliance, covering garnishments, subpoenas, POAs, estates, and secured transactions
- Roundtable Discussion, featuring attendee-submitted questions and hot topics
- Enforcement Actions and the practical lessons banks can take from recent regulatory actions.
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Georgia's top multi-day conference for bank CFOs and finance teams, the Financial Risk Management Conference, is set for Nov. 5-6 at the Courtyard by Marriott Atlanta Decatur Downtown/Emory. Agenda highlights include:
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GenAI is the New Electricity – David Peterson, Chief Innovation Officer, FNBB
- Expansion & Strategy Panel Discussion moderated by Jonathan Hightower, Fenimore Kay Harrison with Scott Wilson, Vallant Bank; Daniel Stanford, SunMark Community Bank; Amy Lucas, Century Bank & Trust; Connie Mathis, River City Bank
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FHLB Pledging Class, Kevin Wyckoff, Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta
- ALM Panel moderated by Holt Redding, South Coast Bank, with Joel Foster, Raymond James, Jim Ashurst, Stifel, Nicolaus & Company; Paul Clanton, The Baker Group
- Review of the 2026 Election Outcome, John Ashford, The Hawthorn Group.
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Important: Hotel room block cutoff is Oct. 13.
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This event, planned by the GBA Credit Committee, covers the full spectrum of market intelligence, credit trends, underwriting, risk management and business development topics essential for growing, thriving banks. The event provides participants the opportunity to network, share best practices and learn from nationally known experts in an away-from-the-bank environment to foster creativity and connections.
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Customized for Georgia: New Account Documentation Bootcamp
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Protecting your institution starts at the new account desk. This two-day, highly interactive bootcamp is designed to equip frontline staff, supervisors and compliance professionals with the knowledge and tools needed to confidently open and manage consumer, business and trust accounts, while staying fully compliant with state and federal regulations.
Day 1 | Consumer & Business Accounts – October 14
Start with the accounts your frontline staff encounter every day. Day 1 focuses on consumer and business accounts, providing practical guidance on documentation, regulatory expectations, and legal requirements, including the details that can create significant compliance risk when missed.
Day 2 | Trusts & Fiduciary Accounts – October 15
Take on the more complex side of account opening. Day 2 dives into trusts, fiduciary accounts, and court-appointed accounts, with a particular focus on revocable trusts and changes to FDIC insurance coverage.
Whether you're a seasoned frontline professional looking for a refresher or new to the account-opening process, you'll leave with practical tools and greater confidence to handle even the most challenging account-opening scenarios. Give your frontline team the tools to get it right the first time
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GBA Fall Advocacy Play Day – Oct. 14!
Two Great Events, One Important Cause
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BankPAC Golf and Inaugural Mahjong Mingle
River Forest Golf Club, Forsyth
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BSA Peer Group Nov. 4
All the Insight, None of the Travel
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This interactive session for BSA/AML/CFT and OFAC professionals gives you the opportunity to exchange ideas, share best practices, and tackle the challenges that matter most, all from the convenience of your desk.
You can help shape the conversation. Submit your hot topics during registration and bring your questions and experiences to the discussion.
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Related
Registration for BSA Summit is Now Open!
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Conquer Compliance at the 2027 BSA Summit. If you enjoyed the opportunity to connect with your BSA peers through GBA’s BSA peer group meetings, mark your calendar for the 2027 BSA Summit, January 11–14 at Atlanta Evergreen Lakeside Resort in Stone Mountain.
Now in its fifth year, the BSA Summit is designed to give BSA officers, analysts, auditors, and support staff the knowledge, tools and confidence to strengthen their BSA/AML/CFT and OFAC programs. During this multi-day summit, expect practical guidance, timely regulatory updates, real-world strategies and plenty of opportunities to connect with fellow BSA professionals, all led by experienced industry experts from Saltmarsh.
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Marketing Peer Group Nov. 13, Macon
Your Challenges, Your Peers, Your Conversation
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Step away from the day-to-day and spend a day with the people who get it. The GBA Marketing Peer Group brings bank marketers from across Georgia together for a day of candid conversation, idea sharing and practical problem-solving. No sales pitches. No one-size-fits-all presentations. Just bank marketers talking to bank marketers about what’s working, what’s not and what’s next.
Facilitated by Beth James, Vice President and Marketing Director at Queensborough National Bank & Trust Company, the meeting is entirely peer-driven. Submit your hot topics during registration and help shape the conversation around the challenges and opportunities that matter most to your bank. Come ready to share and leave with new ideas.
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Registration Opening Soon - Georgia Banking School 2027
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2027 Spring session of the Georgia Banking School will be opening soon. The Georgia Banking School Board met recently to review curriculum. Dates for the Spring session are: April 25-30 in Athens.
The Georgia Banking School has been preparing banking leaders for more than 60 years. Learn more about the school here. Look for details and registration for the 2027 session soon. With questions, contact Alison Moreau.
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ONLINE LEARNING – GREAT FOR FUNDAMENTALS TRAINING
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Consumer Collections 101, Dealing with Artificial Intelligence in Banking 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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GBA STRATEGIC PARTNER NCONTRACTS
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From Scramble to Strategy: Using AI the Right Way in Compliance
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AI is transforming compliance management for banks, offering much-needed efficiency and proactive risk detection. Nearly 40% of institutions run compliance with just one or two people, making it challenging to keep up with evolving regulations and complaint patterns. By automating research and regulatory tracking, AI frees compliance officers to focus on strategic decision-making and relationship-building. Purpose-built AI tools, designed specifically for compliance, provide traceable, verifiable outputs, while human oversight ensures sound judgment. Although AI adoption is still in early stages, the potential for improved satisfaction and effectiveness is significant. To learn more about leveraging AI in compliance, read this article from GBA Strategic Partner Ncontracts. Visit www.ncontracts.com for more information.
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Now Available: 7th Edition Bank Record Retention Quick Notes
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The GBA, in partnership with the Massachusetts Bankers Association, is pleased to offer the 7th Edition Bank Record Retention Quick Notes, authored by GBA Compliance School instructor Carl Pry. This streamlined reference covers six key areas—General; Deposits & Operations; Loans; Securities; Human Resources; and Tax—and incorporates the latest guidance from FinCEN, CFPB, OCC, NACHA, IRS, SEC, FDIC, FRB, and more.
The 7th edition contains numerous updates to retention requirements, and other notable rule revisions include:
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New records added to better protect banks over appropriate time periods in case of potential regulatory enforcement and/or litigation.
- Updates to retention-related federal laws and regulations since the last edition, particularly in light of the dynamic regulatory environment over the past few years.
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Numerous 'best practice' suggestions are now included in the guide.
Place your order here. (Requires registration on the Mass Bankers online store)
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Blakely – First State Bank of Blakely
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Tabitha Lyles has been promoted to Assistant Vice President. Christie Troupe has been promoted to Head Teller. Vanessa Freeman has been promoted to Customer Service Representative.
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Hazlehurst – Bank of Hazlehurst
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Hazlehurst Investors, Inc., the holding company of Bank of Hazlehurst, announced Aug. 24 that it has entered into a definitive merger agreement with Brighton Capital Corporation, an investor group based in Alpharetta. Following completion of the transaction, the organization will operate under the name Peachtree Banking Company and plans to expand in North Metro Atlanta. Bank of Hazlehurst will continue operating under its existing name as a division of Peachtree Banking Company.
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Amy Childers has joined the bank as Branch Manager at its soon-to-open new branch in Macon.
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| Moultrie – First National Bank
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Anne Kathryn Cannon has been promoted to Treasury Management Specialist. Read more here.
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Tifton – South Georgia Banking Company
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Allison Ray has been promoted to Senior Vice President, Director of Loan Operations. Read more here.
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| Richmond Hill – Great Oaks Bank
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The bank’s Richmond Hill team recently discussed fraud prevention and tips to protect finances with the Magnolia Manor community.
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Warner Robins – SunMark Community Bank
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The bank is proud to partner with local organization Sleep in Heavenly Peace, collecting donations at all branch locations in September to help provide beds to children in need.
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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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