Speak Up: Encourage Lawmakers to Support ACRE Act for Expanded Rural Credit Access
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Rising input costs and limited access to affordable credit continue to strain farmers, ranchers and rural communities across the country. Legislation now before Congress, the Access to Credit for our Rural Economy (ACRE) Act, S. 838 and H.R. 1822, aims to ease that burden. To date, Georgia Representatives Buddy Carter (R-GA1) and Sanford Bishop (D-GA2) are co-sponsors of the House bill.
The ACRE Act would expand access to lower-cost credit in rural areas, helping support agricultural production and rural economic growth. Recent polling shows three out of four Americans support congressional action on this issue.
GBA encourages members to contact their lawmakers and urge them to cosponsor the ACRE Act and support rural America.
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Cofield to Join Atlanta Fed for Fed Listens Roundtable
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GBA President and CEO Tripp Cofield will represent Georgia's banking community at the upcoming Fed Listens event hosted by the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta June 4 from 8:30-10 a.m. Members are welcome to sign up for online access to the event. Cofield will join 11 other leaders from a variety of business sectors in Georgia in the discussion, which will be moderated by Atlanta Fed President Raphael Bostic and Federal Reserve Governor Lisa D. Cook.
Get details and register here.
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FDIC QUARTERLY BANKING PROFILE
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Georgia Banks Open 2025 with Strong Results Across the Board
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Georgia’s 138 FDIC-insured banks had a strong first quarter in 2025, reporting steady growth in loans, deposits and income. Banks across the state saw improvements in key measures such as net interest margin and credit quality.
All 138 FDIC-Insured Georgia Banks (compared to Q1 2024):
- Total Assets up 2%
- Loans up 1%
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Deposits up 2%
- Net Income was $587 million, a 24% increase
- Net Interest Margin improved by 6%
- Capital levels remained robust
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Noncurrent loans down slightly, signaling continued credit strength
- 97.8% of banks were profitable, and 71.7% reported higher earnings.
For the 123 Georgia banks with less than $1 billion in assets (compared to Q1 2024):
- Total Assets up 5%
- Loans up 6%
- Deposits up 5%
- Net Income rose to $156 million, up 10%
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Net Interest Margin increased by 1%
- Credit quality continued to be excellent, with only slight increases noncurrent loans
- Capital ratios remained strong and supportive of lending growth
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97.6% of community banks were profitable, and 71.5% had earnings gains.
How Georgia banks compare nationally:
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Net Interest Margin for all Georgia banks (3.84%) outpaced the national average (3.25%)
- Return on Asset and Return on Equity were well above the national ratios.
- More Georgia banks were profitable and had earnings gains compared to national averages.
“It’s great to see Georgia banks off to a solid start this year. Loan and deposit growth, better margins and strong earnings all point to a healthy economic and banking environment. What’s especially encouraging is that so many banks were profitable and saw their earnings improve. That says a lot about how well they’re serving their communities and adapting to this competitive market,” said Tripp Cofield, GBA president and CEO.
Access a Detailed Table
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New GBA Board Members Elected
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As specified by the GBA Bylaws, the membership elects directors to represent GBA’s North, Central and South Groups to three-year terms. The following bankers, elected by their peers, will begin a three-year term on the GBA Board of Directors on July 1, 2025. They will be installed at the GBA Annual Business Meeting, June 15 in Boston.
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North Group: Bartow Morgan, CEO, Georgia Banking Company, Atlanta
- Central Group: Scott Swafford, president, United Bank, Zebulon
- South Group: Brad Brookshire, CEO, Great Oaks Bank, Richmond Hill
The incoming Chairman also makes an At-Large appointment each year for a three-year term. Philip Williams has appointed Nikki Stephenson, head of Commercial Banking, Regions Bank, Atlanta.
Jay Torbert, president & CEO, Southeastern Bank, Darien, will serve in the position designated for the chair of GBA Services, Inc., as well as continue to serve as a South Group board member.
Ed Pope, president & CEO, F&M Bank, Washington, will serve as the Community Bankers Committee representative as he’s chairing the committee this year.
Also joining the board in the designated position of Leadership GBA Chair will be Robert Duvall, first VP, branch manager, Bank of Madison.
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GBA Retirement Services Welcomes Fifth New Member in 2025
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GBA Retirement Services, Inc. is excited to welcome its fifth new member for the year to the GBA Master 401(k) Trust: South Georgia Bank, Glennville, Branford Thompson, CEO. We have enjoyed meeting with employees from the bank this week as we prepare for them to join our program in July. We look forward to providing outstanding service for these plan participants in the years to come.
Some of the advantages of being part of the GBA Master Trust include:
- GBA’s dedicated staff support as a primary resource and oversight of service providers.
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American Trust Company as an investment manager and discretionary Trustee.
- Reduced fees with high-quality service providers.
- Ongoing investment education and retirement planning sessions for employees.
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Personalized Managed Account Solution geared to each participant’s needs through the Unified Plan at no additional cost for participants.
- Added value: Your bank’s business customers are eligible to participate through referral from you as an add on service.
We would love to do a plan review and show you why all of our members are pleased with the service and performance provided by GBA Retirement Services! Contact Mandy Richards at 678.549.4167 for more information about how GBA Retirement Services can help design or improve your retirement plan.
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Last Call to Register: Upcoming GBA Seminars
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Two valuable seminars are just around the corner—don’t miss your chance to register!
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Information Security Officer 101 Seminar - June 5, Middle Georgia State University, Macon
Join IT security experts Emily Strickland and Paige Hembree from Safe Systems for a deep dive into exam expectations and essential tools for Information Security Officers. Ideal for new and experienced ISOs, as well as compliance officers, audit committee members, IT Steering Committee members, and network administrators.
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Business Cash Flow Analysis Seminar -June 11, Center for Rural Prosperity, Tifton
Led by Peter Faser of The Profitability Coach and Georgia Banking School, this seminar provides a practical framework for evaluating business cash flow. A must-attend for small business lenders, commercial lenders, and credit analysts/underwriters.
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Ops/Tech Peer Group Meeting Sept. 10 in Athens
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Registration is open for GBA's next Operations & Technology Peer Group Meeting, set for Sept. 10 at the University of Georgia Center for Continuing Education & Hotel in Athens. Led by Sam Drennen, EVP, Chief Operating Officer, First American Bank & Trust, this event will foster in-depth peer discussions on the critical challenges and opportunities facing bank operations and technology professionals today.
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Hotel Deadline June 13!
Leadership Conference
July 14-16
Amelia Island, FL
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More Events and Training Opportunities Coming up
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WEBINARS – GREAT FOR FUNDAMENTALS TRAINING
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Commercial Lending Training, Treasury Management, AI, Microsoft Excel and More
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Here’s a sampling of upcoming webinars.
Want to see the full webinar schedule?
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PARTNERS, PRODUCTS & ASSOCIATE MEMBERS
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Complimentary BOLI Assessment & Due Diligence Review from GBA Partner EBS
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GBA Strategic Partner EBS specializes in the placement, servicing, and administration of Bank Owned Life Insurance (BOLI). Their solutions help banks finance employee benefits and fund nonqualified executive benefit plans through cost-effective, tax-advantaged strategies. If your bank already has BOLI—or is considering a new provider—EBS offers the expertise needed to ensure compliance and deliver the reporting your board and regulators require. Their team includes professionals with designations such as CPA, JD, CLU, and CFP, and each client is supported by a dedicated service team. As a benefit to GBA members, EBS is offering a complimentary BOLI Assessment Report and Carrier Due Diligence Review Report to help you evaluate and enhance your current program. Partner with EBS to strengthen your BOLI strategy with guidance from seasoned professionals and access to top-rated carriers. Please contact Michael Pounds at mpounds@ebscomp.com.
EBS, a bank consulting company, does not engage in the practice of law or accounting. Any questions concerning legal, tax or accounting advice should be referred to your appropriate counsel or advisors.
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Free Third-Party Risk Management Bootcamp - June 24-26
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GBA Strategic Partner NContracts is hosting an exclusive Third-Party Risk Management Bootcamp next month—featuring six focused sessions over three days designed to strengthen your organization’s risk management practices.
Whether you're looking to refine your existing program or build a more resilient framework, this bootcamp offers actionable insights and expert guidance. You’ll get:
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A deep dive into key topics shaping today’s third-party risk landscape
- Practical tips to identify and assess vendors for safety, reliability, and compliance
- Solutions to overcome the most common challenges in third-party risk management
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Proven best practices to elevate your program and position your organization for long-term success
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EXCLUSIVE OFFER FOR GBA MEMBERS
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Limited-Time Paper Promotion – Just $34.99 per 10-Ream Carton
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Copy paper is a daily essential for every business, and GBA Strategic Partner ODP Business Solutions is here to keep you stocked and saving. For a limited time, GBA members can get up to 3 cartons of Boise X9® copy paper for just $34.99 per carton with their next order. Take advantage of this special offer and count on ODP Business Solutions as your trusted partner for office essentials. Access the Paper Promo Coupon Codes.
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Community Capital Bancshares, Inc., the holding company for AB&T, announced that Jim Bacon has been named Chairman of the Board of Directors following the retirement of former Chairman Luke Flatt. Read more.
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Our sympathies to the family, friends and former colleagues of Phil Larkins, who passed away on May 20. Larkins was a frequent economics speaker and communications resource for GBA members during the Great Recession. He began his investment career in 1970 at the Fulton National Bank (now part of Bank of America). In 1996, he co-founded high-net-worth wealth management firm Legacy South, which was acquired in 2003 by Northern Trust Company.
Read more.
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Atlanta - Southern States Bank
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Steve Cope joined the bank as commercial portfolio manager in Atlanta.
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Claxton - The Claxton Bank
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Val Holton has been promoted to Claxton market leader.
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The bank is celebrating its 50th anniversary.
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Jacksonville, FL - The Claxton Bank
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Felicia Cox joined the bank as vice president, professional banking executive.
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Jacksonville, FL - The Claxton Bank
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McKee Riley joined the bank as senior portfolio manager.
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Milledgeville - Exchange Bank
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A street dedication ceremony for Henry Pope Way was recently held on at the Milledgeville – Baldwin County Industrial Park. Pope was the bank’s longtime CEO who died in 2019.
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Moultrie - First National Bank
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Anne Kathryn Cannon has joined the bank’s Moultrie team as a relationship specialist.
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Savannah - TC Federal Bank
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The bank was named Best Bank in Savannah for 2025 by Connect Savannah.
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Statesboro - Queensborough National Bank & Trust Company
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The bank installed Statesboro’s first Interactive Teller Machine (ITM) at its branch located at 201 South Main Street. Read more.
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The bank celebrated its 75th anniversary last week. Pictured from left are: GBA's Bo Brannen, Bank President Ed Pope and Senior Vice President Jim Baston.
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Atlanta - American Pride Bank & Planters First Bank
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Both banks sponsored and participated in the BAPS Charities Walk/Run, which benefited Jay’s Hope, a nonprofit supporting children with cancer and their families.
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| Milledgeville - Exchange Bank
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The bank awarded its 2025 Baldwin County area scholarship to Caden Loyd, a graduating senior at Georgia Military College Preparatory School. Read more.
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Perry - SunMark Community Bank
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The bank partnered with Hunt Elementary and Big Brothers Big Sisters Heart of Georgia to teach 4th graders the basics of budgeting, saving, and financial decision-making.
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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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