Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from GBA

From our GBA family to yours, we wish you a joyous holiday season filled with love, laughter and peace. May your holidays be bright and your New Year prosperous. We'll be taking a short break from our regular Bulletin next week. Please look for our next edition on Tuesday, Dec. 30.

ADVOCACY

ACTION ALERT

Join GBA in Advocacy to Close Stablecoin Loophole

There's a troubling loophole in the GENIUS Act, which regulates stablecoin issuance, that puts bank deposits and lending at risk. Today we joined 51 other state bankers associations and the ABA in urging the Senate to close a loophole being exploited by the crypto industry to offer yield to customers who hold stablecoins on their platforms. To protect consumers and prevent bank deposit flight, the GENIUS Act properly prohibits issuers from offering interest on stablecoins, but Congress should further clarify that the prohibition also applies to exchanges and third-party affiliates. A U.S. Department of Treasury study notes a significant risk of trillions in deposit outflows from banks, and this ABA whitepaper estimates about the possible effects on Georgia banks as $3.5–$6.9 billion in deposit outflows and $2.5–$5 billion in lending at risk. Closing the loophole will help protect consumers and preserve lending in Georgia’s local communities.

We ask that Georgia bankers contact U.S. Sens. Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff to ask for their support on this issue. Direct constituent outreach really does make a difference.

Key points to share:

• Stablecoins paying interest could be mistaken for insured bank deposits.
• Community banks are especially vulnerable, as they depend heavily on local deposits to finance consumer and small business loans. Fewer deposits mean fewer loans—and the consequences are significant.
• Congress should clarify that the interest prohibition applies to stablecoin issuers, crypto exchanges and third-party affiliates.

Take Action Here.

GBA, Others Support Narrower Approach to CFPB Small-business Data Rule

GBA joined ABA and 51 state bankers associations recently in supporting most of the proposed revisions to the CFPB’s small-business lending data collection rule. In joint comments about the proposal, we agree the scaled-back scope better targets core lending activity and reduces unnecessary burden on banks and small businesses. GBA also supports the revised Jan. 1, 2028, compliance date and additional flexibility in determining loan-volume thresholds. Read the letter here.

Amicus Briefs Contend Colorado Law Threatens Daul Banking System

GBA joined ABA, the Bank Policy Institute and 51 state bankers associations in filing an amicus brief supporting a legal challenge to a Colorado law that caps interest rates and fees on loans made to Colorado residents by out-of-state, state-chartered banks. Under longstanding federal law, state-chartered banks are permitted to export their home-state interest rates nationwide. Last year, a federal district court issued a preliminary injunction blocking Colorado from enforcing the law, but the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals recently reversed that decision. If upheld, the law would require state banks (but not national banks) to apply varying interest rates based on a borrower’s location at the time of each transaction, including when customers travel or use credit cards and online lending platforms. The OCC and FDIC also filed amicus briefs this week opposing the Tenth Circuit’s ruling, as did several state attorneys general from across the nation, including Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr.

INDUSTRY NEWS

Regulatory Agency Roundup

There were a couple of headlines of note from Federal regulatory agencies this week.

• Banking agencies announce mortgage loan threshold adjustments
  The CFPB, Federal Reserve, and OCC raised the threshold for higher-priced mortgage loans subject to special appraisal requirements from $33,500 to $34,200, effective Jan. 1, 2026. Agencies also set the Regulation Z and Regulation M coverage threshold at $73,400 or less for most consumer credit and lease transactions, updated HOEPA and QM thresholds, and increased the FCRA disclosure fee cap from $15.50 to $16. Read more.
  
  
• GAO: Federal Home Loan Banks play ‘key role’ for small banks
  A Government Accounting Office (GAO) report finds Federal Home Loan Banks provide critical funding support for small banks — particularly those under $10 billion in assets — with borrowing linked to increased real estate lending, lower risk of bank distress and improved coordination with regulators during periods of financial stress. Read more.

MEMBER NEWS

GBA Members Recognized in 2026 List of America’s Best Regional Banks

Congratulations to the GBA member banks recognized on Newsweek’s America’s Best Regional Banks & Credit Unions 2026 list. This national recognition highlights institutions that demonstrate strong financial performance, customer satisfaction and a commitment to serving their communities.

The following GBA members earned a place on the 2026 list:

• AB&T, Albany
• Ameris Bank, Atlanta
• Capital City Bank, Tallahassee, FL
• Colony Bank, Fitzgerald
• East West Bank, Pasadena, CA
• First Carolina Bank, Rocky Mount, NC

• First National Bank of Griffin
• Georgia Community Bank, Albany
• Georgia First Bank, Soperton
• Peach State Bank & Trust, Gainesville
• Renasant Bank, Tupelo, MS
• TC Federal Bank, Thomasville

GBA NEWS

GBAIT Leadership Meets with Wellness Partner

GBA Insurance Trust leadership was pleased to host our valued partners from First Stop Heath (FSH) this week. FSH has been serving Trust members and their families since its inception more than eight years ago, and FSH’s clinical expertise and services in behavioral health, urgent care, wellness and case management offers immense value to Trust members. If you have not done so already, please visit FSH at www.firststophealth.com or simply click on the FSH tab on your Allied Benefits portal. Keep in mind, the Trust covers the cost of these services, so there is no out-of-pocket cost for our members.  

TRAINING & EVENTS

Agenda Announced for 2026 Operations and Technology Conference

The agenda is set for the Operations and Technology Conference, taking place Feb. 25-27 at The DeSoto in Savannah. Click here to review the scheduled sessions. The theme for this three-day program is how to manage growth, change and innovation. Hotel room block cutoff is Feb 2.

Agenda highlights include:

• Navigate, Elevate, Accelerate: Leading Growth & Change – Melissa Furman, Career Potential
• Project and Change Management – Brett Rawls, Profit Resources
• Protecting Banks and Their Customers from Telecom-Focused Threats – Scott Helms, MOMENTUM
• M365 AI Chain 2.0: What’s New, What’s Next and How to Stay Ahead – Eric Delgado, UFS
• Industry and Advocacy Update – Tripp Cofield and David Oliver, GBA
• The Fight Against Fraud – Paul Benda, American Bankers Association

• Fraud Panel and Roundtable Discussion

• The Evolution of Leadership – Leading Humans in a Changing World – John Brantley, The Auxin Leader

A huge thank you to our sponsors:

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

Video introduction from presenter Andy Keusal

Virtual Commercial Lending Courses to Build Better Commercial Bankers

• Breaking into Banking 101: Fundamentals of Commercial Lending - Feb. 25, Zoom
  This introductory course is perfect for those new to the industry, offering a clear and thorough understanding of commercial lending fundamentals. Learn more and register here.

• Breaking into Banking 201: Analyzing Repayment Sources - March 25, Zoom
  Building on the 101 course, this advanced training dives deeper into analyzing financial statements, collateral, and risk ratings. Using case studies, participants will enhance their financial analysis and credit document preparation skills. Learn more and register here.

Loni Porta

IRA Training for 2026 Coming Up Feb. 3-5

Your roadmap to IRA mastery is here! The GBA IRA Academy set for Feb. 3-5 at Middle Georgia State University in Macon 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. This event will be led by Loni Porta, director of education, Convergent Retirement Plan Solutions.

Hotel Deadline is Mon., Dec. 22!

The BSA Summit
Jan. 12-15
Lanier Islands Resort, Buford

More Events and Training Opportunities Coming up

• Legislative and Economic Forum & Reception - Jan. 28, The Ritz Carlton, Downtown Atlanta

• Call Report Seminar - Feb. 3, Middle Georgia State University, Macon

• Georgia BankPAC Sporting Clays Tournament - Feb. 5, Old Hudson Plantation, Sparta

• Business Cash Flow Analysis Seminar - Feb. 24, Cherokee Conference Center at The Bluffs, Canton

• HR Professionals Institute - March 25-27, The DeSoto, Savannah

• Marketing Conference & Customer Insights Workshop - March 25-27, The DeSoto, Savannah

• Georgia Banking School - April 26 - May 1, University of Georgia Center for Continuing Education & Hotel, Athens

• GBA Compliance School - April 26 - May 1, University of Georgia Center for Continuing Education & Hotel, Athens

ONLINE LEARNING – GREAT FOR FUNDAMENTALS TRAINING

Using AI as Your Writing Assistant, Teller Basics, ACH Basics and More

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

• Using AI as Your Writing Assistant – Jan. 12
• ABA AI In Banking Workshop – Jan. 12-Feb. 6
• Managing a Successful Call Center – Jan. 13
• 4 Pillars of Exceptional Supervision: Your Toolbox for Success in Leading a Team – Jan. 16
• Teller Basics: Upskill for a Digital World
• Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) Regulations' Current Requirements: Succeeding Today While Planning for the Future (All-Day Streaming) – Jan. 22
• CRE Appraisals: Regulations and the Review Process – Jan. 29
• ACH Basics: Understanding the ACH Network – Feb. 3

PARTNERS, PRODUCTS & ASSOCIATE MEMBERS

Now Available: 7th Edition Bank Record Retention Quick Notes

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 digital reference about the most common types of record questions that bankers encounter.

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 purchase ($165 each). For orders of 5 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 3 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.

Your bank processes large volumes of sensitive customer and financial information every day. The Shred-It program, available exclusively from the GBA to member banks and associate members, offers significant savings to support compliance and data security needs.

Members can receive:

• A 30% discount on document destruction services and media/hard-drive destruction.
• A 35% discount for organizing Community Shred Days.

Services include regularly scheduled document shredding, on-demand clear-outs, hard-drive/media destruction, locked containers, mobile on-site shredding, bar-code tracking, secure recycling, certificate of destruction and an annual environmental sustainability certificate. To setup or inquire about Shred-it service, please fill out the contact form or contact Kevin Kroboth at 704.299.1623 or Kevin.Kroboth@Stericycle.com.

• Jan. 14 at 2 p.m. - From Hype to Implementation: Making AI Work for Banks
  This session will focus on practical, bank-ready applications of AI. What’s working today, what isn’t, and how to move from experimentation to execution responsibly. Click here to register.

• Jan. 20 at 2 p.m. - Hot Topics in AML & Fraud: What to Watch in 2026.
  Experts will break down emerging risks, regulatory expectations, and fraud trends that banks must be prepared to address in the year ahead. Click here to register.

COMPLIANCE CORNER

Compliance Hub Features:

• Comprehensive Compliance Tools – Access 1,800+ downloadable, editable tools covering regulations across all bank functions.
• Expert Guidance On Demand – Document reviews plus a live compliance hotline via chat, email or phone.
• Training & Education – 70+ new training videos annually, live webinars with reference manuals and role-specific resources. Webinars can be used annually to meet CRCM continuing education requirements for all employees.
• Always Up to Date – Daily regulatory news, weekly newsletters, FAQs, easy-to-read summaries and a monthly magazine.
• Built-In Convenience – Regulatory calendar, compliance minutes and segmented tools to streamline oversight and exams.
• Bank-Wide Coverage – Support for every department, from tellers to executive leadership and the boardroom.

Learn more here.

Sign up for a free demo and 48-hour trial:

• Tuesdays at 11 a.m.
• Thursdays at 2 p.m.

NEWSMAKERS

Athens - Classic City Bank

Lee Grahl, president of Grahl Construction, has been appointed to the bank’s board of directors.

Augusta - Queensborough National Bank & Trust

Loren Fields and Jessica Elkins have joined Queensborough Investments in the North Augusta market. Read more.

Bainbridge - First National Bank

Heather Ramer has been promoted to banking officer and BSA officer. Read more. Michaela Calhoun has joined the team as a relationship specialist.

Bonaire - SunMark Community Bank

Tucker Moody has been promoted to community banker at the bank’s Bonaire branch.

Braselton - Exchange Bank

Tripp Conner has been named senior vice president and market president, leading efforts for the upcoming Braselton branch set to open in spring 2026. Read more. Schaun Crane has joined the bank as vice president and commercial lender, supporting business development and the launch of the new location. Read more.

Fitzgerald - Colony Bank

Christi Rubio has been named Chief of Brand and Business Development, a newly created role focused on strengthening brand awareness, expanding sales initiatives and fostering a sales-driven culture. Read more.

COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS

Cordele - Planters First Bank

Team members spread holiday cheer with a Candyland Christmas float in the 2025 Lions Club Downtown Cordele Christmas Parade. The bank also supported the Cordele Police Department’s Shop With a Cop program.

Griffin - First National Bank of Griffin

The bank welcomed upperclassmen from Stepping Stones for an educational visit that included remarks from Chuck Copeland, a behind-the-scenes look at debit card operations and hands-on financial learning. Team members also rang bells for the Salvation Army.

Lake Oconee - Exchange Bank

The bank recently contributed $35,000 to St. Mary’s Good Samaritan Hospital through the Georgia HEART Rural Hospital Tax Credit Program. Read more.

Moultrie - First National Bank

A $1,500 donation was presented to Heritage Kids, supporting the organization’s mission to provide clean water to communities in Honduras.

Statesboro - Statesboro Bank

Employees volunteered at TMT Farms, lending their time to help collect donations and support local community efforts.

Washington - F&M Bank

With the support of customers, $3,000 was donated to Blood Cancer United, including a $1,500 match from the bank to amplify the community’s impact.

Watkinsville - Oconee State Bank

Lottie Davenport proudly served as Grand Marshal of the 2025 Watkinsville City Christmas Parade. A beloved team member with 38 years of service, Davenport was honored for her decades of dedication to customers and the Watkinsville community.

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.