|
Reminder of Hurricane Recovery ResourcesWhile coastal areas may be affected by storm surge into Thursday evening, thankfully effects from Hurricane Milton on Georgia so far appear to be relatively minimal. That’s a big relief, we know, for members still working to help their communities recover from Helene. For easy access to a variety of state and federal agencies and resources, here’s a link to our Hurricane Resources website and a downloadable pdf that includes a QR code for easy mobile phone web browser access you can share with customers and others in your community.
In the Augusta area, Associate Member CSRA Business Lending has partnered with the Small Business Administration and the CSRA Regional Commission to open an Augusta SBA Business Disaster Recovery Center at 3626 Walton Way Extension, Suite 1, Augusta, Georgia 30909. For more information, contact Randy Griffin, rgriffin@csrardc.org, 706-210-2010.
Please contact Tripp Cofield or any GBA team member if you need assistance with locating resources or with outreach to local, state and federal officials. Also, check out the Community Connections section below to see some of the extraordinary efforts members are taking to help their customers and communities recover. Please share your stories about employee and community relief efforts so we can amplify them. Email David Oliver and Katina Weiss with details and photos.
| |
|
Georgia Peanut Bank Week Starts Oct. 21More than 70 GBA members in over 85 communities will celebrate and promote Georgia peanuts later this month during the annual Georgia Peanut Bank Week, co-sponsored by GBA and the Georgia Peanut Commission. See the list of participating banks. For this year's Georgia Peanut Bank Week, our friends at the Peanut Commission are offering print and digital resources to distribute. The official poster, recipe card, peanut fact sheet, press release template, and children's activity sheets are on the Peanut Bank Week page. Please contact Maddie Frost at bankweek@gapeanuts.com or 229.326.0141 if you have any questions.
| |
|
Blair Blackburn on Banking Relationships and 'Treating' the CommunityIn the latest GBA Member Profile, Blair Blackburn, CFO of AB&T in Albany and South Group Rep. for the Leadership GBA Board of Directors, shares how her passion for community banking led her from public accounting to her current role. “I love that this career affords me the opportunity to help those within our community flourish and meet their personal and financial goals,” she said. In her commitment to community service, Blackburn got the bank team to rally around the idea of a fall event called AB&Treats, a trunk-or-treat in its parking lot where local kids can play games and get free candy. “I really believe it’s the little things like this that show our community we’re there for them,” she said. Read more here.
| |
|
Quarterly Small Business Index UpIt was encouraging to see the latest Small Business Index Survey results from MetLife and U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Here are some highlights:
- The quarterly index score reached 71.2, close to the survey’s highest score of 71.7 recorded in Q1 2020, just before the pandemic.
- 73% of small business owners expect their revenue to increase in the next year, the highest reading recorded since the start of this survey in 2017.
- 44% anticipate increasing staff in the next year, which is near Q2 2023’s high water mark of 47%.
- 78% of small business owners say the economy and inflation should be the top priorities for the next president and Congress.
| |
|
Brokered Deposit Rule Comment Period ExtendedMembers now have until Nov. 21 to comment on the FDIC’s proposed change to its brokered deposit rule. The agency extended the comment period for another 30 days this week. The proposed rule expands the definition of brokered deposits to capture more deposits, increasing regulatory scrutiny for sweep deposits and those related to fintech and crypto. It revises a 2020 rule deemed too narrow by the FDIC chairman. Full details here.
| |
|
Schedule Your GBA Retirement Services Participant Education MeetingsOne of the many benefits of being a member of the GBA Retirement Trust is the ongoing education offered for 401(k) participants. If your bank is part of the group that normally meets during fourth quarter (Territory 4 on the list you receive each quarter), please look out for information about setting a date for your employee and/or Plan Administrative Committee meetings. We can do group meetings, individual meetings or virtual meetings. We are proud that 64% of participants in the Master Trust are on track to replace at least 70% of their current income in retirement. The national average is below 30%. Ongoing education, communication and participant reminders help our success rates remain strong. We recently met with Oconee State Bank (pictured), which meets at least annually at the Plan Sponsor level and also ensures annual education is provided for their employes by GBA Retirement Services and American Trust. Contact Mandy Richards at 678.549.4167 for more information.
| |
|
Please Do Not Forget to Make Your BankPAC ContributionsAs fall is upon us, this is a gentle reminder to please make your contributions to the GBA StatePAC and GBA FedPAC. With the general election just around the corner, GBA staff and bankers have been busy delivering contributions to candidates who are already friends of banking and others who we hope are future friends of banking. The contribution forms include all payment options for the StatePAC and the FedPAC. As a reminder, state-chartered banks or national bank holding companies may contribute to the StatePAC, while eligible individuals may do so to the FedPAC. If you have questions, contact Elizabeth Chandler at 404.372.7893 or Bo Brannen at 404.731.9886.
| |
|
Recruit, Retain and Develop the Best Bankers with GBA Job BankHere's a reminder of a longstanding member benefit. 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. To make the process easy and answer any questions, we've developed this Q&A. Please contact Katina Weiss, 404.420.2021, with questions or needs.
| |
|
Reserve Your Spot Today! Legislative and Economic Forum & Reception Registration Now Open
Join the GBA Board of Directors, Public Affairs Committee and BankPAC Board Jan. 29, as they host GBA’s annual Legislative and Economic Forum, followed by GBA’s annual Legislative Reception honoring members of the General Assembly, Constitutional Officers, statewide Judiciary and other dignitaries. The forum will be from 3-6 p.m., followed by the reception from 6-7:30 p.m. at the Ritz-Carlton Downtown Atlanta.
Who Should Attend: Any members with management, finance, business development or government relations-related responsibilities or interests.
Sponsorships Available! Your company or firm may choose to support this event through sponsorship; click here for more information. Thanks to ServisFirst Bank for their event sponsorship!
| |
|
2024-2025 sessions starting soon!Join Senior Lending Officer RoundtablesWe still have room for a few more lenders in all four groups of GBA's Senior Lending Officer Roundtables. Mike Allen of Three B’s Advisors serves as facilitator. With 45+ years of banking/credit expertise and experience, Allen is among the most respected lending experts in Georgia. For those looking to join, email GBA's Alison Moreau, amoreau@gabankers.com, for information. See a brief summary of this and other roundtables on our website's Roundtables page.
| |
|
CE credits available!Compliance Conference, Oct. 23-25, The Westin, Jekyll IslandAmerican Bankers Association (ABA) Professional Certifications has approved the GBA Compliance Conference for: 14 CRCM, 7.25 CERP, 2.75 CAFP credits. Sharpen your skills, elevate your bank’s compliance management program, connect with peers, and earn your continuing education credits! Get all the details and register here.
The GBA Compliance Committee, chaired by Lindsay Holloway, The Four County Bank, and Renee McCullar, vice chair, BankSouth, would like to thank these GBA Associate Members who are showing their support through sponsorship – Platinum: Steve H. Powell & Company and Centrant Community Capital and Silver: Mauldin & Jenkins, Carr, Riggs & Ingram, Compliance Alliance, Ncontracts, and Troutman Pepper. With questions, contact Aimee Corcoran, 404.420.2035.
| |
|
Financial Risk Management Conference - Nov 7-8Special Session: Fraud Management Tools and Best PracticesWe’ve got a great peer panel set for this conference that will walk through three different-sized banks' policies, work processes and technologies to defend against fraud, with a focus on check fraud. Panelists are Sam Drennen, EVP, Chief Operating Officer, First American Bank & Trust Company; Dana White, SVP, Chief Operations Officer, Compliance, IT, Risk Management, AB&T; Greta Wood, VP, Digital Banking Manager, United Bank. The team will present survey findings from the GBA Ops and Tech Conference attendees and the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance, insights from the ABA’s Paul Benda and techniques to balance manual processes with technology for the right blend of fraud prevention strategies. This is one of many outstanding sessions planned for the conference. Get all the details and register here. With questions, contact Alison Moreau, 404.420.2034.
| |
|
Marketing Peer Group meeting coming up!Dig in to Data Analytics and Peer Networking Nov. 6GBA’s Marketing Committee is excited to host our next peer group meeting Nov. 6. The meeting will begin with a deep dive on data analytics with Hunter Young, president of the HIFI Agency. Young was a hit at last year’s Marketing Conference, and the committee wanted to bring him back for a more thorough how-to-workshop for members. The afternoon will be dedicated to peer exchange with a roundtable discussion tackling all the latest marketing trends. Get all the detail and register here.
| |
|
Our peer groups are growing!Internal Audit Peer Group Meeting - Nov. 19 in MaconOur inaugural internal audit peer group meeting was a great success and you wanted more, so we are extending our next meeting to a full-day program. Register now for the next peer group meeting at Georgia Farm Bureau’s headquarters in Macon on Nov. 19. Event highlights include:
- Effectively Communicating Audit Results - Learn best practices for communicating audit findings to stakeholders and overcoming resistance.
- The Modernization of Internal Audit - Discover how to embrace data analytics, agile auditing, and fraud detection to modernize your audit processes.
- Roundtable Discussion - Participate in an interactive roundtable where industry challenges and trends will be discussed with peers and experts.
Get all the details and register here. With questions, contact Aimee Corcoran, 404.420.2035.
| |
|
Enrollment is Now Open for Georgia Banking School April 27 - May 2The Georgia Banking School has developed generations of Georgia bank leaders who shape the industry in our state. The three-year school offers everything you want and expect from an investment in banker education, specifically preparing the next generation of bank leaders, building the pool of management-level talent in your bank, and connecting students to the most knowledgeable industry experts and a community of fellow bankers. The Georgia Banking School Board, led by Darron Burnette of Synovus Bank, has been hard at work reviewing the curriculum and planning next year’s session. Details and enrollment access here.
| |
|
Compliance Alliance – Question of The Week
Question: Our bank knows that a commercial/business purpose loan will be excluded from HMDA unless that loan is a home improvement loan, a home purchase loan, or a refinancing. But would such a loan/transaction be reportable under Section 1071?
Answer: Transactions and loans that are otherwise HMDA-exempt as business purpose loans but meet the other section 1071 criteria could be reported under the small business lending rule, as the analysis of the final rule outlines here:
"Finally, the Bureau notes that section 1071 will capture business credit transactions that are secured by real estate but are not presently captured under HMDA. For example, section 1071 will capture transactions secured by non-dwellings as well as business loans secured by an applicant's primary residence or residential investment property as collateral for inventory financing or working capital (such loans would not be captured under HMDA because they do not involve a home purchase, home improvement, or refinancing). The small business lending rule will also capture transactions secured by dwellings located on real property used primarily for agricultural purposes." 88 FR 35150
Live Demo Signups for Compliance Alliance:
| |
|
Credit Conference - Dec. 5-6Breakout Session Spotlight: Housing and Ag Policy UpdatesOur Credit Conference this year has two high-impact breakout sessions. They are:
- Housing: Life After Fed Rate Cuts and the 2024 Election, John Hunt, ViaSearch/MarketNsight
What effect will falling interest rates have on housing demand? What will be the fallout from this year's election cycle? Join us as we finish out 2024 and look ahead to 2025 and beyond!
- National Agricultural Policy Update, Bob Redding, President, The Redding Firm
Redding will discuss agricultural economic conditions, the 2024 Farm Bill, outlook for short-term economic assistance and other major agricultural policy issues.
| |
|
Fundamentals Course Oct. 29Understanding Bank Performance Course Helps Bankers at All LevelsSee why bankers of all experience levels are raving about this program, helping them understand their impact on a bank’s performance. Starting on Oct. 29, with two sessions per week for a month, students will learn to assess and analyze a bank’s financial performance using real data and become familiar with balance sheets and income statements while also learning how to apply key performance metrics to data in those documents. The program will finish with students undergoing a pro forma capstone evaluating Silicon Valley Bank.
This is a great way to help newer employees learn how the banking industry works or to help experienced individuals further their careers.
| |
|
Webinars - Great for Fundamentals TrainingEstablishing a Culture of Compliance, HMDA and Its Data Points, Commercial Lending Program and MoreHere’s a sampling of upcoming webinars.
Want to see the full webinar schedule? Check out our webinar calendar for a full list of upcoming webinars.
| |
| | Registration Opening Soon!
| |
|
GBA Community Connections
We like to share all the good work GBA member banks, bankers, Associate Members and Bank Counsel Section members do to support their communities. Here's our latest installment:
Atlanta - Wells Fargo
The bank contributed more than $1 million throughout the Southeast to the American Red Cross and others to help communities recover from the impact of Hurricane Helene. Wells Fargo’s response included a $50,000 contribution to the United Way of Central Savannah River Area. Read more here.
| |
|  |
Bainbridge - First National Bank
Bank team members volunteered at the Flint River ticket booth.
| |  | Douglas/Valdosta - Colony Bank
The bank and team members distributed almost 2,000 hot meals in Douglas and Valdosta to members of the community affected by Hurricane Helene.
| |
| | |
|  |
Manchester - F&M Bank and Trust Company
Through an employee connection, bank team members donated items that were included with a truck of supplies going directly to those affected by Hurricane Helene.
| |  | Marietta - Bank of America
The bank recently presented MUST Ministries with a $25,000 grant to help the MUST Hope House emergency shelter in Marietta. Read more here. | |
| | |
|  |
Milledgeville - Century Bank and Trust
The bank hosted its annual shred event at its Northside branch.
| |  | Perry - SunMark Community Bank
The bank was a Platinum Sponsor for the Sherrif Cullen Talton Golf Outing benefiting the Georgia Sheriff Youth Homes.
| |
| | |
|  |
Pine Mountain - First Peoples Bank
The bank was the Eagle Sponsor for the Harris County Chamber of Commerce’s Per-Tee Golf Tournament.
| |
| | |
|
GBA Newsmakers
Check out these Georgia bankers making news this week:
Albany - Colony Bank
William Fryer has been voted Best Bank Teller in the Albany Herald’s 2024 Readers Choice Awards.
Atlanta - Georgia Banking Company/Georgia Primary Bank
Georgia Banking Company, Inc., the parent company of Georgia Banking Company, and Primary Bancshares Corporation, the parent company of Georgia Primary Bank, jointly announced the signing of a definitive agreement under which Primary Bancshares Corporation will merge with and into Georgia Banking Company, Inc. Read more here.
Bainbridge - First National Bank
Lee Hatcher has joined the bank as a marketing associate.
Byron - SunMark Community Bank
Tucker Moody has been promoted to portfolio manager in the bank’s Byron branch.
Cordele - Planters First Bank
Shane Bell and Scott Fisler have joined the bank as commercial lenders. Bell will serve the Crisp and Dooly markets, and Fisler will lead lending efforts in the Pulaski market. Read more here. Mary Howell has joined the bank’s Cordele team as a teller.
Jackson - United Bank
Sherveca Head has joined the bank as a mortgage lender serving the Butts and Henry County markets.
Perry - Planters First Bank
Jennifer Greene has joined the bank’s Perry team as a teller.
Albany - Watson Spence, LLP
GBA Bank Counsel Section Member Alfreda Sheppard has been selected to serve as the new United States Magistrate Judge for the Middle District of Georgia's Albany Division. Read more here.
| |
| Read All About It: Send Us Your News
Please remember to include the Georgia Bankers Association on the list of recipients for announcements about promotions, new employees and special recognition your bank has received. 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.
| |
|
Calendar of Training and Events by subject/topic:
| |
|
|
