Senate Confirms Bowman as Fed Vice Chair for Supervision
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The U.S. Senate has confirmed Federal Reserve Gov. Michelle Bowman as Vice Chair for Supervision. A former community banker and Kansas state bank commissioner, Bowman brings valuable insight into the unique challenges facing community and regional banks. “We’re pleased with the confirmation of Gov. Bowman as Vice Chair for Supervision,” said GBA President and CEO Tripp Cofield. “She has been accessible and open to GBA member feedback during multiple visits over the years. Her background in community banking, understanding of rural markets and consistent focus on tailoring regulation to fit banks of all sizes make her exceptionally well-suited for this role.”
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GBA Joins Industry Push for ACRE Act in Federal Budget Bill
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As part of our ongoing advocacy for the Access to Credit for our Rural Economy (ACRE) Act, GBA joined 51 other state bankers associations and the ABA in urging the U.S. Senate to include the bill in the budget reconciliation package under consideration. The ACRE Act would expand access to credit for farmers and residential borrowers in rural areas. It would also help level the playing field for banks competing with credit unions and Farm Credit. This unified industry effort underscores the importance of strengthening rural economies and the banks that serve them. Read the letter here.
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Williams Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Help Military Veteran Homebuyers
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U.S. Rep. Nikema Williams (D-GA 5) has introduced the bipartisan VALID Act to help more veterans access VA home loans. Despite Georgia having one of the largest veteran populations—about 700,000—many eligible veterans don't use the benefit. In 2023, more than 22,000 VA home loans were issued in Georgia, averaging $326,395. The bill would update FHA disclosures to include VA Home Loans alongside FHA and other common loan options. The bill also aims to provide lenders with information about an applicant’s military service so they can share information about the VA loan option early in the homebuying process.
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Cofield Shares Georgia Bank Insights During Fed Listens Event
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GBA President and CEO Tripp Cofield shared industry insights on behalf of Georgia bankers during the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta’s June 4 “Fed Listens” event. We appreciate the Federal Reserve's invitation to participate as one of 11 panelists representing a range of industries. Cofield highlighted the solid performance of Georgia banks, including healthy loan demand and credit quality. He also addressed challenges members are facing, including economic and trade policy uncertainty and increasing fraud threats. In response to a request for feedback about Fed communication, he encouraged the Federal Reserve and other regulators to take a more active role in public education efforts to help combat fraud. Watch the replay of the event, with Cofield's comments beginning around the 1:02:00 mark.
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Related: Bostic Urges Patience on Interest Rates Amid Uncertainty
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In a June 3 message, Atlanta Fed President Raphael Bostic said the Fed should be patient with interest rate changes due to growing economic uncertainty related to tariffs, fiscal and tax policy, and regulatory changes. He shared that business leaders are adjusting to the uncertainty by slowing hiring, delaying capital projects and reconsidering pricing strategies. Although inflation remains above the Fed’s 2% goal, Bostic said it hasn’t yet been driven up by tariffs. Still, with so many unknowns, he believes a cautious path is best.
Read the full message: Pervasive Uncertainty Calls for a Patient Policy Stance.
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Mail Theft Crackdowns: Master Key Scheme and Fake Recruiting Site Fuel Bank Fraud Cases
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Federal prosecutors recently secured convictions in two major mail theft and fraud cases—one involving stolen USPS master keys and another using a fake recruiting website to harvest IDs—highlighting ongoing efforts to protect banks and consumers from check fraud and identity theft.
In Augusta, three defendants await sentencing after pleading guilty to charges tied to the theft of USPS master keys and stolen mail. The defendants admitted to using stolen keys to access blue mailboxes, steal checks and carry out bank fraud. One search uncovered check images totaling $485,000. The defendants also face aggravated identity theft charges and each could serve up to 30 years in prison.
In a separate case in Americus, a 26-year-old was sentenced to more than six years in prison for leading a fraud ring that stole mail, altered checks and used a fake solar panel recruiting website to steal personal information. The defendant and 14 co-defendants forged or deposited stolen checks totaling more than $165,000 across multiple banks. The defendant also stole the identities of 28 individuals through the fake site, collecting driver’s licenses, Social Security numbers and other sensitive documents. The scheme was uncovered after a local church reported forged checks in 2021.
Authorities say both cases reflect rising concerns around postal-related financial fraud. Investigators credited coordinated efforts among local and federal agencies, including the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, for disrupting the operations and holding those involved accountable.
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Status of Important Cases for June 2025
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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.
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Congrats GSBLSU Graduates
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Join us in celebrating the success of eight Georgia Bankers who were among the 166 bankers who graduated from the Graduate School of Banking at LSU last week. Congratulations to:
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Treamon Andrews, Ameris Bank, Atlanta
- Walker Curtis, First Peoples Bank, Pine Mountain
- William Giannars, First Port City Bank, Bainbridge
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Kamaris Grier, Georgia Department of Banking & Finance, Lilburn
- Ryan Hammock, Pinnacle Bank, Watkinsville
- Adam Smith, PrimeSouth Bank, Douglas
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Stuart Smith, Synovus Bank, Monroe
- Daniel Sohn, Georgia Department of Banking & Finance, Monroe
Georgia was well represented throughout the session. Our full state contingency is pictured above. Deon Coombs, Tandem Bank, served as an officer for the 2026 class, and Lee Lister, Great Oaks Bank, was elected to serve on the freshman class advisory council. Ryan Earnest, president and CEO, First National Community Bank, and Perry Revell, CEO of AB&T, serve on the school board of trustees along with GBA’s Tripp Cofield. Earnest is also the school’s executive committee vice president. Earnest and Cofield attended a reception in honor of the students from Georgia last Thursday. GBA is among the 15 state bankers associations sponsoring the school, and with this year’s class, 1,742 Georgia bankers have completed the intensive 3-year program conducted during two weeks in successive years. See details about the school here.
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GBA Retirement Services Welcomes Sixth New Member in 2025
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GBA Retirement Services, Inc. is excited to welcome its sixth new member for the year to the GBA Master 401(k) Trust: Rochelle Bank, Dennis Bedley, President & 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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Register Now! President/CEO, Bank Accountant, Bank Counsel Conferences
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Registration is now open for our annual President/CEO, Bank Accountant, and Bank Counsel Conferences, Georgia’s only President/CEO-level concurrent conferences focused specifically on top-management skill-building, intelligence sharing and connections. This fall, we’ll be back in Savannah at the JW Marriott Savannah Plant Riverside District, Sept. 28-30. The event features exceptional educational content tailored to meet the distinct needs of its three audiences. Continuing education credit will be offered to accountants and attorneys. Make sure your bank or firm is represented!
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Upcoming Lending Seminars in Macon – Sign Up Today!
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Personal Cash Flow - Aug. 26
Join Shannon Fortson, EVP, Chief Credit Officer of Pinnacle Bank, for an in-depth, comprehensive understanding on how to analyze personal cash flow and personal tax returns. Learn how to calculate sources and uses of personal cash flow to support a borrower’s loan request to ensure a strong and healthy loan portfolio. Get all the details and register here.
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| Loan Structuring and Documentation for Loss Prevention Seminar - Aug. 27
Fortson also leads our popular Loan Documentation Seminar. Prevention of loan losses is crucial and begins with proper loan structuring and documentation techniques. Connect with peers and walk away with all the best tips and tools. Commercial loan officers, commercial loan personnel, loan assistants and closing specialists will benefit from this program. Get all the details and register here.
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Don’t Miss These Member-Favorite Events
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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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More Events and Training Opportunities Coming up
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WEBINARS – GREAT FOR FUNDAMENTALS TRAINING
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Treasury Management, AI and Microsoft Excel, 8 Keys to Teller Excellence 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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Protecting Your Bank from Check Fraud: When to Obtain a GBA Thumbprint Signature
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Despite continuous developments in the technology to safeguard our money, we unfortunately continue to hear about regular cases of check fraud among our membership. It’s still happening at banks big and small. Your bank can lower the odds of being affected by participating in GBA’s Thumbprint Signature Program. The program was designed to deter check fraud by collecting a thumbprint “signature” from non-customers when cashing checks. A thumbprint signature should be obtained when:
- A non-customer presents an on-us or not-on-us check for cashing. (This includes employees of commercial account customers who present payroll checks drawn on the bank.)
- A non-customer presents an on-us check for exchange to a cashier’s check.
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A non-customer presents a government check for cashing.
To learn more about participating in the Thumbprint Signature Program, please contact GBA’s Bo Brannen, 404.420.2014.
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Free Webinar: Mitigating Loss: Combating the True Cost of Fraud, June 25 at 2 p.m.
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Fraud continues to be top of mind for banks, with hard dollar losses growing at an all-time high. In this session, free to GBA members, Abrigo’s Terri Luttrell will discuss the true cost of fraud, new types of fraud affecting banks and the practical steps banks can take to mitigate the risks.
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5 Ways to Elevate Your Institution’s TPRM Program
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While third-party service provider relationships enhance your bank’s services, they can also introduce challenges, such as operational and cyber risks. Is your vendor management program equipped to handle today’s risks and flexible enough to scale with your institution’s growth? Refer to these five tips from GBA Partner NContracts to strengthen your vendor management program, cultivate stronger relationships, and enhance your overall risk management strategy. Visit www.ncontracts.com to learn more.
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Strengthen Your Financial Strategy with Tools from GBA Partner S&P Global
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As your institution navigates evolving market conditions, executive, financial planning, marketing, and commercial lending teams need reliable, forward-looking data to stay competitive. Discover how GBA Partner S&P Global’s tools can support your bank’s strategy. Schedule a demo to learn more about the following tools:
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SNL Financial Institutions Regulatory Data - gives you access to bank, credit union, and financial service companies' financial statement filings, allowing you to assess your financial standing relative to your peers at a granular level.
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SNL U.S. Bank Branch Data - gives you access to all US branch information for banks and credit unions captured daily from company websites, filings, merger news and government sources.
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U.S. Demographic Data from Claritas - provides Financial Product Demand data and Household Segmentation to effectively analyze current and prospective markets.
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Deposit Market Share - enables peer comparison of Market Share and Deposit Growth in any specific City, County, State or MSA using data from the FDIC's Annual Summary of Deposits.
- Mapping - The mapping tool overlaps your branch data with U.S. Market Demographics.
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Augusta - Queensborough National Bank & Trust Company
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Vice President and Commercial Banker Robert Mize was named among the Top 10 in 10 Young Professionals to Watch in 2025 by the Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce and Augusta Magazine. Read more.
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| Eric Clark has joined the bank’s Atlanta team as a commercial banker.
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Robert Mann has joined the bank’s northwest Atlanta team as a commercial banker.
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| Brittany Mullis has been promoted to director of operations.
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Greenville, SC - Southern First Bank
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Southern First Bancshares, Inc., holding company for the bank, announced the appointment of three new board members effective June 1: Jennie Cluverius, attorney, shareholder and director for Maynard Nexsen, PC, in Greenville, SC; Darrin Goss, president and CEO of the Coastal Community Foundation in Charleston, SC; and Billy McClatchey, CEO of Chaucer Creek Capital in Raleigh, NC.
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Richmond Hill - Great Oaks Bank
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Carl Varnedoe and Kelly Johnson have been elected to the bank’s board of directors. A Hinesville native, Varnedoe is the founder of Carl R. Varnedoe, LLC, a Savannah-based personal injury law firm that represents clients throughout Georgia. Johnson, a broker and managing partner of RE/MAX Accent, is a respected leader in the real estate industry with over three decades of experience in the coastal Georgia market. Read more.
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Rhett King has joined the bank’s Monroe team as a commercial banker in Walton County.
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FDIC announced the retirement of Pat Mitchell, director of the Division of Insurance and Research.
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The Morris Bank Community Foundation recently presented checks to Brave Meadows Therapeutic Riding Center, Haseya in Houston County and the Statesboro Food Bank.
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| The bank hosted a Shred Day event at its Lake Oconee branch, where more than 80 customers safely shredded their documents.
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| Milledgeville - Century Bank and Trust
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The bank teamed up with Northridge Christian Church to pack Blessing Bags for local students.
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Vienna - South Georgia Banking Company
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Team members from the bank’s Vienna branch visited the local Senior Center to lead a financial literacy presentation focused on recognizing and avoiding common scams.
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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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