SPOTLIGHT
BROTHERS SERVING OTHERS Neil & Mark Stevens Share insights on serving as CBA chair For the first time in CBA’s history, two brothers have served as Chair of Community Bankers Association of Georgia. Neil Stevens, President & CEO, Oconee State Bank, Watkinsville, is serving as the current chair for the 2023-2024 year and his brother, Mark Stevens, Regional President, SouthState Bank, Macon, served as chair for the 2011-2012 year. Once before, a father and son both served as chair, but never brothers. Neil and Mark were kind enough to sit down with CBA and share the banking climate during each term, how they got into banking and what is it that has made them step up to serve their fellow community bankers in Georgia.
What was the community banking/economic climate like when you served?
Neil: Many headwinds. We are facing major consolidation in the industry, rapidly changing digital technology advancements and companies that are not banks competing for the wallet share of businesses and consumers. We are facing an impending recession. Banks have to work diligently to manage funding costs and liquidity. However, I have never experienced a year when there have been no headwinds. The best banks figure out how to turn headwinds into tailwinds, and I know CBA can be part of helping banks in Georgia face these headwinds and effectively manage them. Mark: The banking climate was challenging. The industry was struggling to exit the Great Recession with many banks still under an enforcement action. Numerous displaced bankers, due to the crisis, and the industry was quickly evolving to fewer banks both in Georgia and nationwide. The surviving banks were dealing with loss share and working out of problem real estate loans. Banks were being closely monitored by the regulators, with a major emphasis on adequate capital, liquidity, and conservative loan underwriting.
Share some of the biggest challenges during your time as chair:
Neil: Much of what I mentioned regarding the banking climate today. But – specific to the association, it’s the challenge of thinking differently than we ever have in the past. We must consider how to collaborate with other organizations to maintain our independence, while gaining economies of scale. Banks are consolidating and will continue to consolidate. We must be thought leaders so we can continue to emerge as a premier banking association. Mark: With great leadership and support from then CEO Carolyn Brown and the CBA staff, my term was focused on how the board could improve the Association and further support our member banks. Thankfully there were no difficult issues other than pending legislation unfavorable to community banks arising from the Great Recession. 2 2 | ww w. cbao fga.com | Fal l 2023
What would you say are some of the biggest opportunities during your time as chair:
Neil: The opportunity to partner with the CBA leadership team and the banks in Georgia to enhance leadership for all of our banks – which is my passion. Everything rises and falls on leadership. In addition, there is a great opportunity to partner with other associations in other states, as it relates to things like education, etc. Mark: Traveling the state representing CBA, making new friends, and building new relationships. Truly enjoyed participating in the fly-ins to Washington to meet with Georgia’s political representatives and lobby for sound banking legislation.
How did you both happen to go into banking?
Neil: Mark is the reason I chose banking as a career. He is 15 years older and I have always looked up to him as a role model. We had a GREAT father who raised us well. I view Mark somewhat like a father and certainly a mentor. This has a lot to do with the difference in age. Mark was a very successful banker when I was in college. I was impressed with what he was doing in his career, and I decided to follow in his footsteps. He suggested that I try out the industry, and I did, not knowing I would make a career of it. Here I am 34 years later and loving every minute of it. I owe a lot to Mark for being a role model and encouraging me to consider banking as a career. Mark: I was a married college student to my wife Deborah and needed a job. She started her student teaching, and I was looking for employment. My late father-in-law introduced me to R.C. (Neal) Ham who was a founding father of CBA (Independent Community Bankers Association of Georgia at the time) and served as its second chairman from 19711973. Mr. Ham was the president of Central Bank of Georgia, ultimately becoming First Union. He was a true mentor and under his leadership I learned to love banking. I never envisioned at the time that I would someday serve as Chair of CBA 38 years later.