Business View Magazine | Volume 8, Issue 9

131 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 8, ISSUE 9 BVM: What is on the minds of Georgia’s bankers today? Brannen: Based on what we hear from our members, the questions currently on bankers’ minds fall into two buckets– growth and talent. For growth, banks always strive to provide great service, serve customers in new ways and fulfill ever-changing preferences. They are investing even more in technology, adapting their banking channels and creating capacity to support more lending. Fortunately, we haven’t seen a significant increase in problem loans because of the pandemic, so bankers can focus on cultivating new business. For talent, banks are on the hunt for smart, innovative, and driven talent in all fields. There are good careers in banking for people with technology, security, human resources, marketing, sales, and almost any other business skill you can name. What really works as the pitch is that young professionals want to make a difference and help people, and that’s right in the wheelhouse of what bankers do every day. GEORGI A BANKERS ASSOC I AT ION BVM: How does the Georgia Bankers Association help bankers around the state serve their customers and hometowns? Brannen: A group of bankers got together way back in 1892 to start the Georgia Bankers Association. It was a grassroots movement. So, I really think the GBA is a case of our state’s bankers recognizing the need for an organization through which they can serve each other. That track record of success is centered on the fact that GBA is a truly volunteer-led community of banking professionals comprised of every Georgia-based bank and most other banks doing business in the state. More than 300 bankers serve on 23 boards and committees that determine the resources needed from GBA for every professional discipline in the bank. What’s really neat is that the core priorities for the association, set by the members, haven’t changed in 129 years. Bankers rely on the association as a resource in four key areas. One priority is advocacy. That’s our collective