GBA’s Associate Members this week elected Jim Foyt, Managing Partner, Executive Benefit Specialists, LLC (EBS), as their representative to the GBA Board of Directors for a two-year term beginning July 1. EBS has been an active associate member since 2001. Foyt and other associates at the firm have a history of participating frequently with the GBA. Outgoing board member Omar Esposito, AVP/Senior Relationship Manager, Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta said, “It has been an honor to have represented my fellow Associate Members on the GBA Board the past two years. The GBA Board works hard to ensure the Georgia banking industry has an open and competitive environment in which to operate. I’ve been impressed with the seriousness these banking leaders approach complex issues affecting our diverse industry and how intentional they are in making certain all voices are heard. They have sought input from the Associate Members on major policy issues, and it’s a privilege to have been part of those discussions,” he concluded.  Click here to learn more about Foyt, EBS and GBA Associate Membership...

Several Georgia bankers took FDIC up on the offer to attend a conference in Washington this week to hear the latest thoughts and trends important co community banks. FDIC Chairman Martin Gruenberg opened the conference with an upbeat talk about the important role community banks play in local markets and reinforced the agency’s support for a supervision model tailored to the complexity of the bank’s business model. Signaling FDIC was interested in fostering new bank formation, Gruenberg made a surprise announcement that the period of heightened supervision for de novo banks would be reduced from seven to three years. Throughout the day, panels of regulators, community bankers and consultants spoke on topics ranging from marketplace trends, the effect of recent rulemakings, managing technology challenges, ownership models and succession planning. Former GBA Chairman Rick Whaley, Citizens Bank of Americus attended and said, “The conference was a great opportunity to hear a number of interesting community banking themes as well as discuss pressures facing the community bank model. I was encouraged by the FDIC's views regarding the critical role community banks play in our banking system and learn about various regulatory initiatives to assist in the progress of community banking.”

Philip Williams learned about hard work from a young age and began to realize that the most valuable aspect of any business is the people, both employee and customer. Williams is now president and CEO of The Claxton Bank and the GBA Group 1 representative on the GBA board of directors. Check out our latest GBA Member Profile online to learn more about how Williams got into banking as a career and his views about the biggest challenges for his bank. Read the profile on Williams here…

Tom Hoenig, Vice Chairman of the FDIC, has long been a strong advocate of the community bank charter and in a speech this week, he fleshed out his current thinking on what it will take to tackle the growing regulatory burden piling on community banks. “…the community bank model has come under enormous competitive and operational pressure -- so much so that some are asking if the model is sustainable. In my view it is, but not without some fresh thinking and concerted effort,” he said. Hoenig went on to discuss the consolidation trend that’s been ongoing for some time, but growing in recent years. In his view, four factors contributed to the trend...

As a relatively new compliance officer, Tina Collins, Vice President and Compliance Officer for New Peoples Bank in Honaker, VA, was looking for training options. In compliance for less than three years, Tina came across the GBA Compliance School and enrolled in the 2015 session. Says Tina, “I would highly recommend GBA Compliance School to any compliance officer - whether experienced or not. I’m excited about coming back this spring to continue to learn as much as I can!” We hope you or someone from your bank will be there, too. Enrollment is open through April 15. Click here for more the details or to enroll online. Questions? Contact GBA’s Kathy Friestad at 404.420.2024. 

Congratulations to Patricia Powell from Southwest Georgia Bank in Moultrie for earning the ABA Bank Financial Management Diploma. ABA Diplomas and ABA Certificates are highly recognized in the banking and financial services industries, and earning one can take years of commitment. There are six diploma programs and 15 certificate programs GBA members can access from ABA. Certificates build the skills necessary for a specific position in the bank and can be taken entirely online as a certificate curriculum. Diplomas provide broader and more in-depth coverage of banking as a profession. For more information, contact Alison Moreau, 404.420.2034.

Wouldn’t it be great to have sort of a “professional GPS,” a surefire directional tool you could use to get you exactly where you want to go in your professional life? The Georgia Banking School can help you to navigate your trip by providing the single, most comprehensive resource you need to move down that road to professional success. On May 1, about 125 bankers will convene for the 2016 on-campus session of Georgia Banking School in Athens, and we invite to join them. Take a look at the brochure, course descriptions and more, by clicking here. So where do you want to go? Plug the Georgia Banking School destination into your professional GPS! Enrollment is open through April 15. Questions? Contact GBA’s Kathy Friestad at 404.420.2024.

We're just waiting for the Governor's signature for Georgia to have an updated garnishment statute. Don’t miss your opportunity to learn about the new provisions that will affect all banks at GBA’s The 411 on Georgia’s New Garnishment Law webinar at 2:30 p.m. on April 14. The provisions are the result of legislation passed to address a judge's ruling last year that parts of the previous statute were unconstitutional. Adam Cleveland, Thompson, O'Brien, Kemp & Nasuti, P.C., who served on the study committee that developed the legislation, will lead the webinar covering the changes for both banks and consumers, including...

The U.S. consumer payment space is under constant disruption from technology players such as Google, PayPal, Facebook and more. And large banking coalitions and merchant solutions compete for the front of your wallet and first-in app selection. Sam Maule, Head of Digital, Carlisle & Gallagher Consulting Group, Inc., Jacksonville, FL, will discuss the 2016 payment landscape, consumer payment trends and the key technology areas in which community banks should invest their time and capital investment strategies. GBA’s 2016 Annual Meeting will be held on June 12-15 at the JW Marriott in Austin, TX. Meeting brochures were mailed last week. If you didn’t receive one, you can access the brochure and register online on the GBA website.

One of GBA Retirement Services many benefits is the employee education provided to its members. Unlike most providers, professionals from GBA Retirement Services offer to visit every member bank on an annual basis to meet personally or in a group with all of the bank employees. We also provide quarterly webinars to review investment returns, industry trends, and hot topics. We find that often times it is difficult for people to maneuver through investing for retirement without the guidance of professional help; having us on your side to help guide you to the best path to retirement is invaluable. Find out about upcoming ways GBA Retirement Services can educate you and your employees about planning for the future...

The percentage of older Americans experiencing financial abuse dipped to 17 percent in a recent survey compared to 20 percent in 2010. The survey showed higher levels of investment knowledge among those over 65, with only 14 percent failing to answer two out of four investment questions, compared to 44 percent in 2010. Learn more and Find out about what you and your bank can do to make this trend continue...

There’s still time to register to learn how to craft a statement of cash flows, improve the quality of credit decisions and increase the understanding of how a potential borrower will repay your loan at GBA’s Cash Flow Analysis seminar April 13 at The Brickyard Golf Club in Macon. With 20 years’ experience in the banking industry, Peter Faser of SunTrust Robinson Humphrey will provide an introduction and practical approach to cash flow analysis for lenders who are new to banking operating companies or who need a refresher on this topic. Participants will learn to...

Bank Security Conference - April 18-19, St. Simons

Conference Addresses Foremost Concerns of Bank Security Professionals

If you've got the job as your bank’s security professional, you know you've got to protect and ensure security on a number of fronts: the security of your bank’s physical plant and that of your employees, the security of your customers’ information; and the security of your bank’s information. To be successful in your role, you have to remain vigilant and be proactive in learning all you can about the dangers out there and how to combat them. At GBA’s 2016 Bank Security Conference, April 18-19 at the King and Prince Beach & Golf Resort on St. Simons, you’ll have the opportunity to...

Cyber and data security remain a priority issue for banks. Criminals keep probing for creative new ways to get money and sensitive information from banks and customers through theft, fraud, information technology and even human vulnerabilities. Zach Duke, Executive Vice President, Safe Systems, Inc., Alpharetta, will tell us about the most common types of cyber-attacks and share steps your bank can take to beef up your information security and reduce risk from cyber threats. Click here to learn more about Duke's session or access the complete brochure and online registration...

Instructor-led ABA online courses have weekly assignments as well as midterm and final exams. All you need is a computer, printer and Internet access. Please register two weeks in advance to secure a "seat." For more information, contact Alison Moreau, 404.420.2034. Click here for a list ABA instructor-led courses for April and May…

The GBA Job Bank is among the most popular and valuable benefits we provide to member banks and bankers. The Positions Available and Bankers Available sections on our website consistently are among the most visited pages. Best of all, the service costs nothing for member banks and bankers. To make the process of posting a job or resume easier and to answer any questions you may have, we've developed this Q & A document as a resource. It outlines how to submit open positions and resumes, our deadlines and timelines for posting, and other helpful details. If you have any questions, please contact GBA’s Kenyetta Parks at 404.420.2035.

One of the most consistent themes we've heard from GBA member banks in the past few years has been the search for new sources of loan growth and revenue. One possible avenue is the Corserv Account Issuer credit card program. Corserv can help a bank systematically build a predictable, profitable, easily managed credit card portfolio. Consumer, small business and corporate card programs available. Learn more about Corserv here...

We want to share all the good work GBA member banks, bankers, Associate Members and Bank Counsel Section members do to support their communities. Share your Community Connections by sending a brief paragraph and any photos of activities you have to us and we'll publish them at our earliest opportunity. Send information to Bo Brannen and David Oliver. Here's our latest installment...