MEMBER NEWS

Cynthia Day Nominated for ABA Board

Georgia’s banks will have a strong voice on critical industry issues at the American Bankers Association (ABA) over the next few years. Citizens Trust Bank President and CEO Cynthia Day has been nominated to its board of directors. Day and others on the slate will be presented for election at the ABA Annual Meeting Oct. 21 in Charlotte, N.C. Day, a past member of the GBA Board of Directors, is also a member of the board of directors of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta. “Cynthia’s experience and leadership will be a tremendous asset to the national conversation. It’s especially meaningful to have one of our own GBA members representing Georgia bankers at this level,” said Tripp Cofield, GBA President and CEO. Also of note with a Georgia connection, the current Chair Elect and nominee to be ABA Chair is Kenneth Kelly, chairman and CEO, First Independence Bank, Detroit. Kelly and his family make their home here in Georgia and he commutes regularly to the bank. He spoke at the GBA Annual Meeting in 2022.

GBA NEWS

Bank Security Committee Preps for 2026 Conference

The GBA Bank Security Committee met this week in Macon. Shane Bell, Planters First Bank, committee chair, welcomed members and introduced vice chair Vance Green, Planters and Citizens Bank, along with new members Chris Acker, American Commerce Bank, and Monica Gleerup, Southern Bank Equipment & ATMs. The committee also welcomes new committee member, T.K. Gordon, United Community Bank.  Members shared security updates from their institutions and markets. Some of the hot topics included setting up special fraud departments and task forces, training for frontline employees to recognize security threats and fraud, ATM security and physical-security related technology enhancements. The group also put in motion plans for the 2026 Bank Security Conference, set for April 13-15 at The Westin, Jekyll Island. Look for details and registration information soon. With questions, contact Aimee Corcoran, 404.420.2035.

INDUSTRY NEWS

Sign Up Now for Free Fraud Prevention Campaigns Launching Oct. 1

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, and your bank can get ready by signing up for two nationwide efforts to help customers spot and avoid scams. The #BanksNeverAskThat and #PracticeSafeChecks campaigns are free for all banks and provide ready-to-use resources. Participants receive a tool kit with videos, social media posts, a refreshed #BanksNeverAskThat quiz and website, and new #PracticeSafeChecks content tailored for small business customers. Both campaigns officially launch Oct. 1 with a coordinated, industry-wide rollout for maximum impact. The more banks that join, the stronger the message to consumers about how to stay safe from fraud and scams. Questions? Email banksneveraskthat@aba.com.

ADVOCACY

2025 Georgia BankPAC Update

As the next election cycle gains momentum, the BankPAC campaign to support the GBA StatePAC and GBA FedPAC is off to a strong start. We invite you to join this effort by making a contribution that helps ensure Georgia’s banking industry has a strong voice in the political process. All contribution forms and details are available on the Advocacy page of gabankers.com, including instructions and options for giving. State-chartered banks and national bank holding companies may contribute to the StatePAC. Eligible individuals may contribute to the FedPAC. If you have questions, contact Elizabeth Chandler at 404.372.7893 or Bo Brannen at 404.731.9886.

Contributions to the GBA StatePAC were recently made by:

• Bank of Monticello, Walker Jordan, president & CEO
• Morris Bank, Dublin, Spence Mullis, chairman & CEO.

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

• Bank of Monticello, Walker Jordan, president & CEO
• Georgia Bankers Association, Tripp Cofield, president & CEO
• Morris Bank, Dublin, Spence Mullis, chairman & CEO
• PrimeSouth Bank, Waycross, Jim Walker, president & CEO
• United Bancshares, Peachtree Corners, Monty Watson, Regional President.

TRAINING & EVENTS

Secure Your Spot at the 2026 Georgia Banking School

Registration is open for the 2026 session of Georgia Banking School, GBA’s flagship three-year program that builds the technical knowledge, strategic thinking and leadership skills needed for long-term success. Since 1961, the school has prepared thousands of bankers to lead in every area of their institutions.

Quick Facts

• Who should attend?
  Bankers with potential—your A-players eager to learn and ready to grow.
• When and where?
  April 26 – May 1, 2026 | Athens, GA
• How much?
  $2,600 early-bird tuition (includes housing, most meals, materials and instruction)

Students gain a comprehensive view of banking and build peer relationships that last a lifetime.

Registration Now Open: The BSA Summit, Jan. 12-15, 2026, Lanier Islands Resort

Are you ready to elevate your BSA/AML/CFT and OFAC compliance programs? Registration is officially open for the third-annual BSA Summit, Jan. 12-15, 2026, at the beautiful Lanier Islands Resort. Just as climbing a mountain requires the right gear, navigating today’s compliance landscape demands knowledge, preparation and strategy. With regulatory scrutiny intensifying and fraud on the rise, this program is your opportunity to gain practical, actionable insights that will help safeguard your institution.

Registration Now Open: IRA Academy, Feb. 3-5 in Macon

Your roadmap to IRA mastery is here! The GBA IRA Academy delivers three stand-alone, workshop-style days—attend one, two or all three depending on your training needs.

• Day 1: IRA Basics – Build a solid foundation in IRA setup, contributions, distributions, transfers & rollovers.
• Day 2: Advanced IRAs – Dive into inherited IRAs, conversions, recharacterizations & qualified charitable distributions.
• Day 3: Ops, Admin & Reporting – Focus on compliance, reporting, error correction & transaction accuracy.

Pick the days you need, or maximize your learning by attending all three.

Three Weeks Away!

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

Register Here

More Events and Training Opportunities Coming up

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

• BankPAC Golf Classic - Oct. 15, River Forest Golf Club, Forsyth

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

• 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

2025 Head Teller Training, Strategic Planning for Your Institution, Welcome to Banking 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
• Fraudulent Cashier’s Checks: Best Practices for Avoiding Losses – Oct. 29

 Want to see the full webinar schedule?

Special Offer: Save 15% when you purchase two or more webinars, workshops, training programs, bundles/series or live streaming events through Oct. 14 with promo code LearnB2G15Off.

Hot Topic Webinar: Avoiding Check Fraud Liability

Check fraud remains one of the most common and costly threats to banks. Join us Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025, from 11 a.m.–1 p.m. ET for a webinar about Avoiding Check Fraud Liability: From Prevention to Loss Allocation, presented by Terri Thomas. This session will cover fraud trends, liability rules under the UCC and practical steps your bank can take to strengthen fraud detection and reduce risk.

Who should attend: tellers, customer service representatives, branch managers, new accounts staff, fraud and security officers, investigators, examiners, and financial institution attorneys.

PARTNERS, PRODUCTS & ASSOCIATE MEMBERS

Time to Refresh Your Record Retention Guide

GBA, in partnership with the Massachusetts Bankers Association, is pleased to announce the availability of the 7th Edition Bank Record Retention Quick Notes, authored by Carl Pry. This edition is designed to be a fast and easy-to-use reference on the most common types of record questions that bankers encounter in a completely digital format.

Highlights of the 7th Edition:

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 changes to retention requirements, and other notable rule revisions include:

• 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.
• Numerous 'best practice' suggestions are now included in the guide.

How can we order?

Visit this page.

1. Log in or register on the platform if you have not done so already.
2. Select the number of licenses you wish to buy ($165 each). For orders of five or more licenses, please contact Bo Brannen, bbrannen@gabankers.com, before placing your order.
3. Go to ‘Your Cart’ and check out using a credit card.
4. Access credentials will be sent to the email address associated with the order within three business days of processing. If multiple licenses are purchased, the credentials will allow for simultaneous logins equal to the number of licenses.

Note: Banks that purchased the 6th Edition in 2025 will automatically receive free access to the 7th Edition.

Abrigo, endorsed by the GBA for its industry-leading lending, risk and fraud solutions, is revolutionizing banking with its new, expanded AI suite. Abrigo AI accelerates loan origination, financial crime investigations, and regulatory reporting while ensuring compliance. New tools such as AskAbrigo, Lending Assistant, and AML Assistant save time, reduce errors and enhance efficiency. Learn more in Abrigo’s announcement. Visit their website to see Abrigo AI in action.

Related Free Webinar: Sept. 25 at 2 p.m. The Impact of AI on Financial Institutions: What’s Next for Innovation

Commercial real estate lending is at a pivotal moment, with commercial banks and private credit increasingly competing and collaborating. In this one-hour session, experts from the S&P Global News and Research team will provide insights into rising risk expectations for commercial banks’ CRE loan portfolios, the impact of private credit and real estate debt funds, and evolving non-bank maturities. Discussion will also cover key sector data from SNL, the growing role of private equity and NDFIs, and strategies to navigate the CRE maturity wall. Start Q4 with a forward-looking discussion designed to equip you with data-driven insights and strategic perspectives on the future of commercial real estate finance. Register here.

As customer expectations rise, mobile and contactless payment methods are transforming retail operations. Digital wallets such as Apple Pay and Google Pay offer secure, seamless transactions, appealing especially to younger consumers. Smart mobile terminals provide real-time data access and scalability, while tap-to-mobile technology turns smartphones into payment devices without extra hardware. QR-code payments offer low-cost, flexible solutions, and unattended payment systems enable self-service kiosks for faster, modern customer experiences. These innovations not only enhance customer satisfaction but also streamline operations, improve security, and boost efficiency—helping retailers stay competitive in a rapidly evolving market. Read more about these trends in this article from Associate Member Payroc. With questions, contact Bob Balogh at bob.balogh@payrocsales.com.

NEWSMAKERS

Atlanta - Coastal States Bank

SJ Lofton has joined the bank as Akers Mill branch team leader.

Athens - BankSouth

The bank was named September’s Small Business of the Month by the Athens Area Chamber of Commerce.

Augusta - Queensborough National Bank & Trust Co.

The bank received an ABA Brand Slam Award at the 2025 ABA Bank Marketing Conference for its “LOCAL Hats” social media campaign tied to the Masters Tournament in Augusta. Beth James, vice chair of the GBA Marketing Committee and Georgia Banking School graduate, leads marketing efforts for the bank. Read more.

Blackshear - First Southern Bank

The bank opened its new branch at 221 Ware Street in Blackshear.

Hawkinsville - Planters First Bank

Bobbie Clemons has been promoted to Hawkinsville branch manager, and Brandice Carter has been promoted to Hawkinsville head teller.

Sandy Springs - Coastal States Bank

Ronye Cooper joined the bank as Sandy Springs branch team leader.

Washington, D.C. - Federal Reserve

The U.S. Senate confirmed Stephen Miran to serve on the Federal Reserve Board of Governors. Read more.

COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS

Aiken - Security Federal Bank

Tiffany Slaven, AVP–Retail Floating Branch Manager, and Kizzy Harris, AVP–Retail Banking Manager, volunteered at the Aiken Technical College Wellness Fair.

Bainbridge - First Port City Bank

Bank team members visited students at Grace Christian Academy to read the educational book “Money, Money, Honey Bunny!”

Dublin - Morris Bank

The Morris Bank Community Foundation partnered with the Lindsey Student Support Center in Houston County to support its mission of providing resources for students, families and the community. Foundation funds will help purchase washing machines and dryers for community use.

Greensboro - BankSouth

The bank sponsored the University of North Georgia Oconeefest, an event that raises scholarship funds to help students complete their degrees.

Lawrenceville - Embassy National Bank

The bank collected supplies for the North Gwinnett Co-Op Summer Drive, helping support neighbors in need.

Macon/Perry - Planters First Bank

Team members in Macon helped United in Pink with an office move. In Perry, the bank served as presenting sponsor of this month’s Business at Breakfast, joining Walker Insurance and the Georgia Chamber to discuss small business health benefits.

Rome - River City Bank

The bank supported Vital Grace by sponsoring the 2025 Bless the Heroes Luncheon, honoring first responders.

Warner Robins - SunMark Community Bank

The bank presented its August Casual Cause donation, along with an additional contribution, to Haven Hope House at a Warner Robins City Council meeting. The new shelter will provide housing, job assistance and a path toward independence for community members.

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.