Winter Issue 2020-1 SOUTH BANKERSCAROLINAASSOCIATION
PALMETTO Banker
Where flowers so does hope.
— Lady Bird Johnson bloom
Register Today at www.scbankers.org For more information, please call Carolyn L. Bradley at 803.779.0850 or carolynbradley@scbankers.org.email • One of the premier state banking programs in the country • Integrated and complete set of usable courses covering all aspects of banking, as well as overall bank management • Academic and social interactions with fellow bankers conducive to joint bank problem solving later in the workplace • Acquire a better knowledge of the total scope and role of the financial services industry in today’s economy • Provides benefits for the duration of one’s banking career 2020 SOUTH CAROLINA BANKERS SCHOOL July 12-17, 2020 | Lander University | Greenwood, SC
Calvin C. Hurst, Southern First Bank
Bradley R. Cantrell, Countybank
SCBA BOARD OF DIRECTORS
J. Carlisle Oxner III, Arthur State Bank
2019-20 SOUTH CAROLINA BANKERS SCHOOL BOARD
Thomas Bouchette, The Citizens Bank
SCBA Staff
R. Thornwell Dunlap III, Countybank
2019-20
Marvin E. Robinson, Jr., Ameris Bank Past Chairman Ford P. Menefee, The Bank of South Carolina Directors Richard N. Burch, South Atlantic Bank
Chairman Samuel L. Erwin, IBERIABANK
James R. Clarkson John C. Griggs III, Synovus W. David Keller, The Citizens Bank Francis A. Townsend III, South State Bank
Elizabeth S. Steifle, Bank of Travelers Rest
Chair Elizabeth S. Steifle, Bank of Travelers Rest Chair-Elect Allison B. Cranford, TD Bank, N.A.
Legislative Profile Meets with
Chairman
Annette L. Scott, Countybank Chair-Elect
Jennifer T. Jones, CBL State Savings Bank
Austin J. Goforth, Southern First Bank
Senior Vice President & Counsel A. O’Neil Rashley, Jr., Esq.
Director, Advertising & IT M. Caroline Snijders
Robert L. White, Bank of Travelers Rest
Contents5611121516181921262830President’sMessageFeatureStoryABAUpdateLegislativeReception
David R. Torris, SunTrust Bank
Administrative Assistant Bonnie E. Nelson
Course Coordinators
Arnold A. Zipperer III, 1st Federal Savings Bank
SCBA COMMUNITY BANKERS DIVISION BOARD
Congressmen 2019 SCBA BankPAC Education & Professional Young Bankers Division Welcome New Members Personal Transactions Banking DevelopmentNews
Robert P. Hucks II, Coastal Carolina National Bank
Executive Vice President & CFO Donna S. Taylor
J. Ted Nissen, First Community Bank
2019-20
James A. Bennett, First Citizens Bank First Vice-Chairman K. Wayne Wicker, South Atlantic Bank
Curtis T. Evatt, Oconee Federal Savings & Loan Boyd B. Jones, Synovus
YOUNG BANKERS DIVISION BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Rose Buyck Newton, Bank of Clarendon
Thomas R. Britt, Jr., Bank of Travelers Rest Laurence S. Bolchoz, Jr., Coastal Carolina National Bank
Treasurer Fleetwood S. Hassell, The Bank of South Carolina Immediate Past Chairman David L. Morrow, CresCom Bank
Fred L. Green III, South Carolina Bankers Association
John D. Kimberly, Carolina Alliance Bank
Chair
Fred Gilmer III, Southern First Bank Directors
SCBA President & CEO
Chairman-Elect
John M. Leighton, South State Bank
Michelle A. Coletta, South Atlantic Bank Vaughan R. Dozier, Jr., First Community Bank Rufus T. Dunlap V, Countybank Casey L. Earl, United Community Bank Margi M. Fleming, The Citizens Bank
Directors J. Neal Anderson, Anderson Brothers Bank
Lauren D. Greene, First Citizens Bank Othniel W. Laffitte, GrandSouth Bank Everette J. Livingston, First Citizens Bank Jared A. Polk, Enterprise Bank of SC Charles H. Redmond, South State Bank B. Oneal Staples, Ameris Bank H. Gibson Tucker, First Palmetto Bank
2019-20
Annette L. Scott, Countybank
President & CEO
Fred L. Green III
The Palmetto Banker is a publication of the South Carolina Bankers Association. The magazine exists to serve its members by communicating news of interest, education and SCBA activities.
2019-20
Senior Vice President Carolyn L. Bradley
Jamie O. Morphis III, Carolina Bank & Trust Co. C. Kyle Thomas, Blue Ridge Bank
2nd Immediate Past Chairman
First Vice Chairman David P. Looper, Wells Fargo Past Chairman Charles K. Talbert, The Bank of South Carolina Directors Thomas H. Anderson, South State Bank
SCBA EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
J. Ted Nissen, First Community Bank
SCBA
Senior Vice President E. Anne Gillespie
2009 Park Street I PO Box 1483 Columbia, S.C., 29202-1483 803.779.0850 I Fax: 803.779.0890 www.scbankers.org
Immediate Past Chairman
Joseph A. Painter, First Community Bank Michelle B. Seaver, United Community Bank J. Reeves Skeen, First Citizens Bank Mze Wilkins, Ameris Bank
Marion E. Freeman, The Conway National Bank L. E. Griffin, Home Federal Savings & Loan James A. Kimbell III, Coastal Carolina National Bank Richard N. McIntyre, First Reliance Bank Dominik Mjartan, Optus Bank
Items from members are welcome, however the editor reserves the right to refuse copy. With the exception of official announcements, the SCBA disclaims responsibility for opinions expressed and statements made in articles published in the Palmetto Banker.
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With every edition of The Palmetto Banker, my message is always written last. I do this so that I can comment on the more recent issues that might arise. In this case, I have held the production of The Palmetto Banker hoping we would have more certainty about COVID-19 and its impact on our world, country, economy, industry, banks, and family. Unfortunately, we will be living in this era of uncertainty longer. Also, things are happening at warp speed and any issue we discuss today is old news tomorrow.
I said on one of our calls that every bank in the industry was vilified and painted by the same brush during the financial crisis. Our industry had a negative image even though most of us were doing the right things and helping our customers and our communities. I hope our industry will be recognized after this crisis as being a major part of the solution.
Sometimes in the heat of the battle we might take things for granted. I am always amazed at the caring, hardworking, selfless professionals that wake up every day doing everything they can to help. So let me end by thanking the 30,000 South Carolina bankers for what you do.
OUR INDUSTRY ServeContinues to
WINTER 2020 • PALMETTO BANKER 5
It was suggested that we cancel this edition because of the uncertainty and the logistics of working remotely. I chose to go forward with printing this edition because it allows us to look back over the last several months and to have optimism we will return to this environment in the near future.
Your association has tried to keep up with all of the changes that are happening almost minute by minute. We are trying to interpret the information and communicate it to our members in real-time, and in a concise, accurate, and actionable format. All of you are running your banks, helping your customers, and taking care of your team members and families. Our role is a small one, but hopefully it will allow you to better focus on yours.
P resident ’ s M essage
Every banker who reads this message can think of the hundreds of customers you have helped. The Federal Government recognized the important role we play in helping customers and helping the economy. Our industry will be available as a conduit for rapid distribution of the economic stimulus that will keep many small businesses operating and many people employed.
Fred L. Green III, President & CEO South Carolina Bankers Association
“There’s so much competition these days. And creditworthy customers are already getting plenty of offers for credit. They don’t have to come into a bank where they don’t know anyone and ask for a loan.”
“Back then banking wasn’t nearly as competitive as it is today,” said Garrett, who is chairman and CEO of GrandSouth Bancorporation, the parent of GrandSouth Bank. “You took what came to you. The notion was ‘I won’t call on your customers if you don’t call on mine.’
for MORE THAN FIVE DECADES A Banking Profession Mason Garrett:
Garrett joined Citizens Bank a couple of years after graduating from Erskine College in 1964 with a degree in Science and minor in Music. He first worked in his father’s real estate development
and his partner had nine sons between them and I could see that it was going to be difficult to accomplish what I wanted in my life given that there were many others around me who were the same age as me,” he said. “So when I got an opportunity to get into banking I took it.”
Mason Garrett’s banking career spans more than five decades. To hear the founder of Greenville’s GrandSouth Bank talk about his early days in the industry, a young banker might confuse the practices of the late 1960s with those a century earlier.
F eature s tory
“The fact was, there wasn’t a whole lot of banks, relatively speaking, so competition was somewhat limited,” he added. “You just opened your doors and waited for people to come to you.”
Garrett said he’s witnessed a sea change over the decades in how bankers approach their craft.
At his first assignment as a branch manager, Garrett did it all. He operated the location by himself, opening the office, serving as teller and then closing the branch at 1 p.m. so he could return to the bank’s headquarters and count the money taken in each day.
When Garrett started his first bank, he needed to raise just $1.3 million in capital, compared to the approximately $30 million required today. Nearly half of that $1.3 million came from his own pockets or those of family members.
“Today, if you just made loans to people who came in and said ‘I want to borrow money,’ you wouldn’t last five minutes,” he said.
Garrett wasn’t a stranger to the industry or Citizens Bank. His work at the development company, listening to his father discuss deals around the dinner table and friendships with executives from the bank made the transition to a new line of work easier.
“Mybusiness.dad
6 FALL 2019 • PALMETTO BANKERWINTER 2020 • PALMETTO BANKER
Consider: When Garrett, now 77, began, signatures on checks were examined by hand against those kept in a ledger, likely by an individual wearing a green eyeshade.
The same year Garrett joined Citizens, 1967, it was acquired by Southern Bank & Trust, then one of the largest institutions in the state.
Yet, he began his career in rather inauspicious surroundings, starting at tiny Citizens Bank in Fountain Inn, Garrett’s hometown.
During his career, Garrett has started four banks, served as chairman of the South Carolina Bankers Association in 1997 and was named the Outstanding Young Banker by the SCBA in 1981. Today, GrandSouth has locations ranging from the Upstate to the Midlands to the Lowcountry.
WINTER 2020 • PALMETTO BANKER 7
In 1997, while leading First United, Garrett served as chairman of the South Carolina Bankers Association. During his term the SCBA expanded considerably, recalled Bankers Association President and CEO Fred Green.
“When Mason was chairman of the SCBA, I was the treasurer. Together we approached the Community Financial Institutions of
STEPPING OUT
At that time, being a banker didn’t require the skills that are needed now,” he said. “Of course, I’d been to the LSU Graduate School of Banking, which helped, and we had a lot of mature middle management people who were very supportive.”
“Banks didn’t really pay a whole lot bank then, so the money was as important as the position,” he said.
Within a few years, Citizens & Southern of South Carolina acquired Carolina National Bank, and in 1984 Garrett decided to start his own bank.
From that would blossom a three-bank financial services holding company, First United Bancorporation, which would also include Spartanburg National Bank, the Community Bank of Greenville and Quick Credit Corp., a consumer finance company that had 24 offices in South Carolina.
Southern Bank & Trust concentrated on commercial loans and then began to get into the automobile loan business, with auto loan terms being limited to three years, Garrett said.
“In the mid-1980s a bank was started in Greenville (Greenville National Bank) with $2 million in capital,” he said. “Regulators based the amount of capital needed for a startup on the size of the community the planned bank would serve, and I calculated that the OCC would allow us to start a bank in Anderson for a relatively small figure. We were able to get Anderson National Bank up and running by raising $1.3 million. My children and I came up with $500,000 of the $1.3 million.”
Working at Southern Bank & Trust opened up new opportunities for Garrett, but there were considerable restrictions on what banks could do more than 50 years ago. In the late 1960s, commercial banks didn’t make many mortgage loans, and federal regulators determined how much financial institutions could pay in interest on deposits. Because savings and loans were allowed to pay a quarter of a percent more interest than banks, they received the vast majority of deposits and made the vast majority of mortgage loans.
When Carolina National Bank, a $30 million bank headquartered in Easley, came calling for a CEO in 1975, it was partly because the bank’s chairman respected Garrett’s assertive approach to seeking out “Thebusiness.gentlemen who offered me the opportunity to be the CEO of Carolina National Bank was impressed by my willingness to go out and knock on doors,” Garrett said, adding that the boost in salary from $20,000 to $25,000 a year, which might seem small today for a bank CEO, also helped him with his decision.
Despite his relative lack of experience, with less than a decade of banking under his belt, Garrett said he wasn’t daunted by the prospect of being a chief executive officer.
By 1970, Southern had tapped Garrett to open a branch in Easley, then had him do the same in Anderson three years later.
“We’re committed to hiring the best people, only bankers that will work well within our model; to never sacrificing our commitment to credit quality; and to having a very aggressive sales culture,” he Thesaid.results
In addition, the elder Garrett’s presence is a positive that cannot be “Hismeasured.optimism is one of the most important things he brings to the table,” J.B. Garrett said. “And he understands the ins and outs of banking better than anyone I know. He’s always happy to share that knowledge with those around him, and that is an irreplaceable asset.”
F eature s tory 8 WINTER 2020 • PALMETTO BANKER
South Carolina about merging into the SCBA and then negotiated an agreement,” Green said. “This helped strengthen the SCBA by expanding our membership to all the thrifts in the state.”
The following year First United was acquired by the parent of Alabama-based Regions Bank.
Garrett doesn’t hesitate to highlight Schwiers’ role in GrandSouth’s “Weaccomplishments.wouldn’tbe where we are today without J.B. Schwiers,” he said. “All our metrics are better since he joined the company.” In return, Schwiers said Garrett’s efforts have been just as critical to GrandSouth’s progress since he came aboard.
The bank moved into Columbia and Orangeburg in 2016, and Charleston the following year.
Growth at GrandSouth has picked up steam in recent years. In June 2015, the bank brought in longtime banker J.B. Schwiers as executive vice president and chief operating officer. He was named president and CEO of the bank the following year.
That same year, Garrett started GrandSouth Bank in his hometown of Fountain Inn. He moved the headquarters to Greenville in 2002, and today the bank has additional offices in Anderson, Charleston, Columbia, Greer and Orangeburg. It is currently the sixth-largest South Carolina-based financial institution, according to FDIC data.
“Among the changes we made were reworking our credit department, introducing an incentive plan and expanding statewide,” he added. “We changed the way we looked at things.”
“And we’ve still got some growing to do,” Schwiers said. “There’s still opportunity out there. If we stick to our three fundamentals I think the sky’s the limit.”
Mason Garrett said that one of the things he’s proud of is being a good steward of shareholders’ money. His banks have also provided jobs and helped grow the region and the state.
Finding and keeping good bankers is one of three keys to GrandSouth’s success, according to Schwiers.
“When Mason recruited me in 2014 I don’t think he was happy with having just four branches, all in the Upstate. He wanted to be a statewide bank with more branches,” Schwiers said. “After he hired me, we sat down and mapped out a plan for the bank.
Schwiers and Garrett first met in 1980, when Schwiers, fresh out of The Citadel, joined the training program at Southern Bank & Trust, where Garrett was working.
Schwiers said he’d like to open offices in at least four more markets: Lexington, North Charleston/Summerville, Rock Hill and Spartanburg. But he won’t move until he finds the right bankers.
Garrett’s son, J.B, who serves as the bank’s chief financial officer, said his father has the benefit of having witnessed numerous economic upturns and downturns. As such, he’s been able to position the institution so it’s prepared for slumps and booms.
“I’d like to think I’ve done well for the people who invested in the banks I’ve been a part of, those who worked for me, and those we’ve served,” he said.
“It’s all about the people,” he said. “If you find the right team for a market, you build a branch around them.”
have been proven over the past four-plus years. Since Garrett hired Schwiers the bank has grown from $375 million in assets to $911 million as of Dec. 31, 2019.
“Mason is a wealth of knowledge, and the contacts he’s made over the years are just invaluable,” Schwiers said. “I take him on customer calls and I take him on recruiting calls when I’m looking to add a banker. He’s got friends and contacts all over the state, and you can’t put a price on that kind of experience.”
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10 WINTER 2020 • PALMETTO BANKER Peter Shand 803.744.0305PShand@BDCofSC.orgPresident Rob Evans Senior Vice President SBA Lending 803.744.0308REvans@BDCofSC.orgOfficer Nat Green Senior Vice President SSBCI Lending 803.744.0309NGreen@BDCofSC.orgOfficer Ted Crosson Vice President SBA Lending 803.744.0312TCrosson@BDCofSC.orgOfficer A Leader in Small Business Lending BDCofSC.org Look Again BDC’s Second Look Program for Bankers Do you have a good quality loan request that you can’t get done at your bank? BDC can help. BDC’s Second Look Program could give you the opportunity for a “second look” on loans that just can’t be approved through your bank due to high LTV/LTC, low down payment, reliance on projections, industry risk, or insufficient collateral. If you have a loan request that needs a second look, contact one of our lenders today to find out if one of our innovative loan programs can help get your loan approved.
Safe Banking for Seniors. This ABA Foundation program provides turnkey presentation materials and resources for bankers to use with seniors and caregivers.
countermeasures, from educational efforts to fraud monitoring and partnerships with APS, the better off our customers and communities will be.
Elder Fraud
DOING SOMETHING ABOUT SEEING, SAYING AND
training for frontline staff. That’s up from 71 percent in 2017. It also found that more banks are reporting suspected elder abuse and fraud to Adult Protective Services, with 81 percent of survey respondents listing that as standard procedure, up from 62 percent in 2017. And more than 60 percent say they now have at least one employee specifically designated to lead efforts on elder financial abuse and fraud prevention.
Signprograms.upfor
In addition to protecting one of our country’s most vulnerable populations, these efforts demonstrate banks’ commitment to their customers and communities and reflects well on the industry. That’s why I’m making sure policymakers are aware of all banks are doing. It’s also why I’m encouraging more banks to join the fight.
Rob Nichols, President and CEO American Bankers Association nichols@aba.com
a B a u P date
Read the Older Americans Benchmarking Report. It tells you what banks in your asset range are doing and spotlights innovative
As disheartening as this sounds, there’s actually some positive news amid all the data surrounding elder financial fraud.
So for those banks that have room to start or grow their efforts in this area, I offer three simple steps:
All of these resources are free and available at aba.com/Seniors. (Undoubtedly your state association has even more, since state associations have been true pioneers in this field). Take advantage of these resources so that fewer crooks will take advantage of your customers.
As one banker in our survey said, the older generation wants so badly to leave a legacy and remain self-sufficient, but they also are so trusting they don’t always see a scam for what it is. “That’s where our role as bankers is so critical as we… help them navigate these difficult situations to ensure their legacies and livelihoods are protected.”
It found, for example, that the vast majority (90 percent) of respondent banks now require additional, specialized
Banks aren’t just focused on spotting and reporting fraud. They’re also increasingly preventing it by teaching seniors in their communities the art of self-defense. One banker shared how her institution created fraud packets with brief brochures and “scam cards” to educate older customers on schemes and how to report them. Another said his institution developed a brochure for caregivers to help guide conversations on sensitive topics like developing a will or sending duplicate account statements for review. And half of the banks surveyed said they offer in-branch training for older customers on new banking technologies, such as online or mobile banking.
Odds are your bank has a story that illustrates a disturbing trend affecting older Americans today. Perhaps one of your tellers noticed a regular customer suddenly showing up at the bank with a new “best friend.” Or staff detected unusual activity in an elderly customer’s account, such as large withdrawals or unpaid bills.
The ABA Foundation has documented that good news in its 2019 Older Americans Benchmarking Report. The biennial report shows that banks are going well beyond the “see something, say something” threat mantra and are proactively working to educate and protect their older customers.
321
These are two of several red flags that can signal elder financial abuse, and banks are increasingly noticing—and reporting— such cases. According to a FinCEN analysis released in December, suspicious activity reports related to elder financial exploitation have increased dramatically in recent years, jumping from 2,000 filings in October 2013 to nearly 7,500 filings in August 2019.
A Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Report issued in February 2019 offers similar statistics and adds that 80 percent of SARs related to elder financial exploitation involved a monetary loss to older adults and/or the institution that filed. The average loss for customers was $34,200, while the average loss to institutions filing was $16,700.
With 10,000 Baby Boomers turning 65 every day (a trend that will last until 2030), and with older Americans holding 70 percent of deposit balances in the U.S., the elder financial fraud threat is bound to get worse before it gets better. But the more bankers are engaged in
Enroll in FinEdLink. This is a relatively new service from the foundation that allows us to pair banks with community groups or schools that are interested in having a banker present on age-appropriate personal finance topics, including senior fraud prevention.
One of our best attended and most important meetings is our Legislative Reception. Always held on the evening of the first day of the Legislative Session, the South Carolina Bankers Association hosted this reception on January 14th. Our bankers always enjoy the opportunity to talk with our elected officials, thank them for their support of a business favorable agenda, and discuss items particularly important to the banking industry. Over 300 bankers, associate members, and elected officials attended this year’s event.
LEGISLATIVE RECEPTION
12 WINTER 2020 • PALMETTO BANKER L egis L ative r ece P tion
2020
WINTER 2020 • PALMETTO BANKER 13
14 WINTER 2020 • PALMETTO BANKER L egis L ative r ece P tion
After a seven weeks of filibuster and debate, the Senate was able to reconcile their differences and passed the bill on March 5th, sending it back to the House. Hembree was especially proud of how the Senate came together for passage. “In my eight years in the Senate, I have never seen this body work harder on any single issue than the work we have done on this education reform effort.
He received his B.B.A. in Economics from the University of Memphis and his law degree from the University of South Carolina School of Law in 1986. He was admitted to the South Carolina Bar in 1986 and has also been admitted to the United States Supreme Court. In the Senate, besides the Education Committee, he also serves on the Finance, Transportation, Rules and Corrections committees. Senator Hembree and his wife Renee have three children and four grandchildren. They live in Little River and are members of Ocean Drive Presbyterian Chairmanchurch.
Education reform did dominate the first part of the session but Hembree will also be involved with the ongoing debate about the
[We] made a very clear statement of what we expect our classrooms to look like, and how we expect our teachers to be treated by their leadership and in their classrooms.”
WINTER 2020 • PALMETTO BANKER 15
HEMBREE’S LEADERSHIP Helps Move Education Reform Through the Senate
He hopes through this debate that South Carolinians better appreciate issues such as the state of South Carolina spending $14,500 on each child each year to educate them and that the key to teacher retention is not just increased pay, but also preparation of expectations. Finally, he was able to preserve a section of the bill concerning personal finance instruction in high school. As the chair of the Education Committee he strongly supports financial literacy instruction in the school system as it is critical to all communities and banking.
Senator Greg Hembree (R – Horry and Dillon) was elected to the South Carolina Senate in 2012 after serving fourteen years as the circuit solicitor for Horry and Georgetown counties. In his first year he became the junior member on the influential Senate Education Committee that oversees all legislation for K-12 as well as higher education, and by January 2019 he was the chairman of the Education Committee. His election to chair of that committee was greeted with the introduction of S419, the Senate’s version of education reform.
Hembree’s passion for quality education for South Carolina’s children was a significant factor in S419’s passage. Hembree knows that the bill will not solve all of South Carolina’s education problems, but as the chairman of the Senate Education committee he is ready to tackle future issues.
Hembree is originally from Memphis, Tennessee and remembers fondly that his grandfather was a banker that worked for Union Planters bank, a multi-state bank that eventually became part of Regions Bank. His grandfather focused mostly on agricultural banking but also was part of a group that went to Honduras to establish its banking system. This left in Hembree a deep impression of the importance of banking to a community and he sees this at home with not only the real estate and tourism industries along the Grand Strand, but also in the agricultural and rural areas of Horry and Dillon counties.
Although he had been a senator for seven years, it was also his experience as a circuit solicitor that helped him most in guiding this significant piece of legislation through the committee and ultimately to Senate passage— enduring a seven-week filibuster of the bill on the Senate floor.
saw that the greatest challenge with passing an education reform bill wasn’t that there might have been opponents to reform; but that since there were so many interested constituencies, it was difficult to get a consensus on a bill that strove to solve many problems in one bill. Teachers, administrators, school districts, parents, taxpayer groups and many others weighed in
future of Santee Cooper; an issue he feels is the single largest decision the General Assembly will make and one that affects his district as Santee Cooper serves much of his area. This and the fact that he is on the Senate Finance committee that adopts the state budget will keep him busy throughout the remainder of the session.
L egis L ative P ro F i L e
As circuit solicitor, he prosecuted some of the community’s most dangerous criminals and brought innovative solutions to the criminal justice system. Yet being a prosecutor not only honed his litigation skills, it also created an ability to see issues from different views, to work with others in obtaining an objective —while still persuading them on his points. Particularly, he feels that working with victims over the years gave him a deeper appreciation on how to see the world from someone else’s perspective. Jump forward to 2019 and the numerous and sometimes contentious views involved in the education reform debate immediately put these skills to the Hembreetest.
with excellent ideas; yet these groups also differed with each other on issues. This left senators with the difficult decision of voting for a bill that would simultaneously please one group but cause opposition by another.
SOUTH CAROLINA BANKERS MEETING Congressman William Timmons and Joe Wilson while they are in South Carolina.
16 WINTER 2020 • PALMETTO BANKER
Congressman
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Thank you to the following institutions, their directors and employees who supported the banking industry by contributing to the 2019 SCBA BankPAC campaign raising over $97,000. Your support is graciously appreciated.
Farmers
Pinnacle Bank Regions SecuritySandhillsBankBankFederal Bank ServisFirst Bank South Atlantic Bank South State Bank Southern First Bank Spratt Savings and Loan WellsTheTheTheSynovusSunTrustAssociationBankBankBankofClarendonBankofSouthCarolinaCitizensBankFargoBank,NationalAssociation THE SOUTH CAROLINA BANKERS ASSOCIATION’S POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE SAYS Thank You 18 WINTER 2020 • PALMETTO BANKER
1st Federal Savings Bank of SC Abbeville First Bank, SSB Ameris AndersonBankBrothers Bank
Aquesta Bank
Bank First Reliance Bank MutualKingstreeIberiabankHomeGrandSouthFirst-CitizensBankFederalSavingsandLoanAssociationFederalSavingsandLoanAssociationSavingsBank
Bank
Arthur State Bank Bank of Greeleyville Bank of the Lowcountry Bank of Travelers Rest Bank of York Blue Ridge Bank Branch Banking and Trust CarolinaCompanyAlliance Bank
First
Officer, TD Bank, N.A., Columbia, SC; Michelle B. Seaver, President, Greenville County, United Community Bank, Greenville, SC; Jill N. Waters, Senior Vice President, Commercial Banking, GrandSouth Bank, Greenville, SC; and Brenda T. Wheeler, CTFA, Senior Vice President and Wealth Advisor, First Citizens Bank & Trust Company, Columbia, SC. The panel was moderated by Tricia P. “Trish” Springfield, Founder and President, Energize2grow, Greenville, SC.
Speakers from across the nation, including some of the country’s top bankers and business executives, were on hand to relate experiences.
The Wonder of Women in Banking and Beyond, presented by Tycely R. Williams, Chief Development Officer, America’s Promise, Washington, DC concluded the program. She shared with the women banking leaders her beliefs on leadership and made many powerful statements during her presentation. One of her comments was “We need to look within ourselves to be mindful that we have good ideas, that we have logical reason to think that we can do something that has never been done before.”
Among others who spoke were Rose Buyck Newton, Board of Directors, South Carolina Bankers Association and Chairman, Bank of Clarendon, Manning, SC; Jana M. Schmidt, Chief Executive Officer, Harland Clarke, Atlanta, GA; Tricia P. “Trish” Springfield, Founder and President, Energize2grow, Greenville, SC; Lindsey M. Piegza, Ph.D., Managing Director Chief Economist, Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Inc., Chicago, IL; and Betsy Polk, Co-president, The Mulberry Partners, LLC, Coaching & Consulting, Durham, NC.
2020
LEADERSHIP SYMPOSIUM
The symposium also featured a leadership panel, which included Allison B. Cranford, Mortgage Loan
The symposium got off to a great start with a presentation by Laurie L. Stewart, Chair, 2019-2020 of the American Bankers Association; President & CEO, Sound Financial Bancorp, Inc. Seattle, Washington. We were extremely honored to have Laurie as being chair of the ABA keeps her all over the nation and Washington, DC advocating for the banking industry.
The speakers had great messages about how they found mentors and sponsors to help them move up in their companies and then became both mentors and sponsors themselves. Attendees enjoyed hearing about the speakers’ life experiences. Much appreciation to all who attended and to the generous sponsors!
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS SAPPHIRESILVER GOLD WINTER 2020 • PALMETTO BANKER 19
More than 90 individuals turned out for the seventh annual Women in Banking Leadership Symposium held January 28-29, in Columbia.
20 WINTER 2020 • PALMETTO BANKER
Results that transform
wipfli.com/fi WINTER 2020 • PALMETTO BANKER 21 2020 Young Bankers Division Scholarship Golf Tournament MONDAY, OCTOBER 5TH Columbia Country Club, Columbia , SC 2020 Young Bankers Division BankPAC Sporting Clays Tournament Fundraiser WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 18 Palmetto Shooting Complex, Edgefield, SC Save the Dates!
Wipfli and Porter Keadle Moore have joined forces to provide consulting, audit and tax solutions that empower our financial institution clients to achieve their goals and plan for future success.
— Jim Smith, President & CEO, Sandhills Bank
y oung B ankers d ivision
This year, 180 students representing 21 colleges and universities from across the state attended Banking Careers 101. The event was held on Wednesday, February 12th, at Seawell’s in Columbia. Students divided into five groups
22 WINTER 2020 • PALMETTO BANKER
Following, there was a luncheon which provided ample networking opportunities for both students and bankers.
Each year, the Young Bankers Division coordinates an annual educational banking program. Banking Careers 101 is designed to help students with interest in banking, finance and/or accounting learn more about the world of banking. We know our industry is about more than just numbers and opening accounts. Not only do our bankers help with financial needs, but we are also very wellrespected and active within each of our communities. Our goal is to recruit and attract bright, young talent to become part of our rewarding career.
“I recently interviewed a young man who recently graduated college. He originally went to school to become a teacher but changed his mind and finished with a general business degree. When I asked him what led him to a specific interest in banking, his answer was astounding. He attended the Banking Careers 101 event this winter, and it opened his eyes to how much more there was to banking than he previously realized. How cool is that? It’s a testament to what a great impact our Young Bankers are making! That young man’s name is Daniel Graves, and I’m proud to say he is now a member of our team!”
The day was a success and students gathered a wealth of knowledge about the banking industry.
2020
and spent 25 minutes in five different sessions, each of which focused on a specific area of banking: Private Banking/Retail/Investments, IT/Operations, Lending, Compliance/Credit Risk/Accounting/Risk Management and Corporate Social Responsibility/Marketing/HR. This year, Event Chair Margi Fleming suggest that we offer a place for students to take headshots to use during their job search. The students were already dressed for the part and this was a very well received perk.
Banking Careers101
WINTER 2020 • PALMETTO BANKER 23 2021 SESSION MAY 24 – JUNE 4
IMPORTANT PART OF A BANKERS SCHOOL:
For more information on the SC Bankers School, contact Carolyn L. carolynbradley@scbanker.orgBradley,
Over the three-year program, there are many informal peer groups created that last years, if not decades.
Each year at the conclusion of the school, the Bankers School Board of Directors and Course Coordinators evaluate the curriculum, the instructors, the facilities and the “student experience.” And as such, each year we make adjustments based on this feedback so we can improve every year. We have added classes such as
“I’m honored to join a Board that is committed to evaluating the school’s curriculum,” said Annette Scott, Chair of the South Carolina Bankers School, and Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Countybank. “Our goal is to position the South Carolina Bankers School as a leading banking school that provides professionals with a well-rounded education preparing them to serve as future leaders in banking. This opportunity should be top of mind for banks looking to develop their teams.”
In today’s competitive environment, it is critical for bankers to remain knowledgeable in the banking sector. One of the most comprehensive approaches to ensuring the professional and personal growth of a banking executive is through the completion of the South Carolina Bankers School. The SCBS lays the foundation for bankers to continue on to highly successful careers while also cultivating relationships that will last a lifetime.
One of the School’s greatest assets is its faculty, which is composed of the “best of the best.” There are more than 30 instructors, all professionals with expert subject matter experience. Instructors include senior level banking officers, university professors, and business professionals from other industries. Most have been associated with the program for many years.
Banker’s Career
Driving Digital Transformation in Banking, Effective Negotiating, Sources of NonInterest Income and Understanding CAMELS Ratings/Working with Regulators over the past three years.
This year we expect around 180 first, second, and third-year students to participate in the 2020 session of Bankers School, which will be held July 12-17 at Lander University in Greenwood.
s outh c aro L ina B ankers s choo L 24 WINTER 2020 • PALMETTO BANKER
This year’s graduation ceremony is scheduled for Thursday, July 16. I hope many of you can attend, especially if a student(s) from your bank are graduating from the school.
There are almost 3,000 bankers that are alumni of the South Carolina Bankers School during its 60-year history.
The goal of the school is to educate bankers, regardless of their current role, on how banks are run successfully. We feel it gives every student an opportunity to better understand the bigger picture and to have a feel for how they can contribute to the success. In addition to a more traditional classroom curriculum for the first two years, the third year is devoted to a bank simulation program. The Bank Exec program requires students to work as a team, to make decisions on running a bank and to explain those decisions in delivering an annual report at the end of the session.
Of course, other intangible benefits are the relationships created by interacting with other bankers throughout the state. Even though the schedule and work are demanding, the School provides time for building relationships through socialization outside of the classroom.
WINTER 2020 • PALMETTO BANKER 25
NOTIFICATION OF NON-RENEWING ASSOCIATE MEMBERS
The SCBA reports the following companies did not renew their membership and ask that you please update your listings to reflect these changes: ARM USA, EddystoneLLCCapital, LLC
26 WINTER 2020 • PALMETTO BANKER n ew M e MB ers
We thank these companies for their past support and would welcome each of them to rejoin.
Renasant Mortgage Lending is a division of Renasant Bank headquartered in Tupelo, MS, serving clients from the East coast to the Midwest. As a Secondary Mortgage conduit, Renasant Mortgage provides a multi-tier platform from which clients can deliver their customer’s residential mortgage loans. Those tiers range from fully delegated correspondent loan delivery to Third Party Originations (TPO) and options in between. In addition to the delivery choices, Renasant Mortgage provides ancillary service options such as loan processing fulfillment services to assist clients as their mortgage lines of business change with the economic demands of our industry.
First Community Mortgage Inc. 275 Robert Rose Dr. Murfreesboro, TN 37129 (615) Steven.Hage@fcmpartners.comMurfreesboro,www.fcmpartners.com896-4141StevenHage275RobertRoseDr.TN37129(615)896-4141
Welcome
Human Mortgage by First Community Mortgage is the Southeast’s local lender. First Community Mortgage is who we are, and Human Mortgage is how we conduct business. Owned by a local community bank in Tennessee, we offer conventional, FHA, VA and USDA loans through our wholesale or correspondent channel. Our goal is to help you close loans faster, with less headache and with a human touch.
We are fortunate to have an active and engaged roster of Associate members and proudly welcome these new members:
Renasant Mortgage Lending 89 Sonja Drive Greer, SC 29650 (864) www.renasantconnect.com848-3608RobertG.Boone(Bob)45LakecrestDriveColumbia,SC29206(803)269-3191bob.boone@renasant.com
110 East Court Street, Suite 501 Greenville, SC 29601 (864) pweston@route2capital.com484-9371
R2CP seeks to provide its limited partners with superior risk-adjusted returns, and the partners’ proven track record of identifying and strengthening established, profitable and growing companies with strong management teams favorably positions R2CP to realize attractive exit opportunities.
With all of the evolving financial industry changes, we are thankful for business alliances that meet our members’ needs. The SCBA is dedicated to supporting and promoting cutting-edge industry providers to our member banks. For more information about Associate Membership, please contact SCBA Senior Vice President Carolyn Laffitte Bradley by email at carolynbradley@scbankers.org
The partners’ long-term relationships and ability to reliably deliver innovative junior capital solutions uniquely position R2CP as a value-added investment partner. We understand the challenges and opportunities that lower middle market operating companies face and work with management to achieve their specific goals.
WINTER 2020 • PALMETTO BANKER 27
Founded in 1995 and servicing the transaction accounts of over 30 million consumers and business owners, Velocity Solutions is the leading provider of revenue-driving solutions for community banks and credit unions. Our Velocity Intelligent Platform™ powers all of Velocity’s solutions, using machine-led intelligence that delivers powerful analytics and drives revenue, deposits and loans to our client financial institutions. Our solutions address the changing regulatory landscape, evolving technology and consumer needs. Our ability to swiftly and proactively develop innovative new solutions stems from our seasoned leadership team, providing a powerful mix of financial, analytical, legal, marketing and technical backgrounds. This unique blend of expertise allows us to develop a true consultative relationship with our clients and help them succeed within the ever-changing economic, technological and regulatory environments.
Route 2 Capital Partners is a private investment firm providing $3–$15 million of flexible mezzanine and equity capital solutions to lower middle market companies, primarily in the southern United States. The firm maintains offices in Charleston and Greenville, SC.
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33346 (954) wwwmyvelocity.com847-5200SteveSwanstonPOBox460939
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33346 (954) sswanston@myvelocity.com841-5200
To view our Associate Membership Directory, click here.
The Wheelhouse Group is a marketing technology agency that focuses on new customer acquisition, coordinating interconnected online and offline channels with 1 to 1 communication at a record level. We specialize in small to large sized financial institutions with small marketing teams. Channels in which we can reach your prospect with 1 to 1 marketing include direct mail, email, video, in-app and inbrowser display, social media, connected TV, and programmatic radio.
Route 2 Capital Partners
The Wheelhouse Group 108B Trade Street Greer, SC 29651 (864) tcollins@thewheelhousegroup.netwww.thewheelhousegroup.net525-3389ToddCollins108BTradeStreetGreer,SC29651(864)616-8778
Velocity Solutions PO Box 460939
110 E. Court Street, Suite 501 Greenville, SC 29601 (864) www.route2capital.com484-9371R.PatrickWeston
ANDERSON BROTHERS BANK
Keri Wise has joined as Head of Retail Sales as part of their community banking leadership team. ransactions
FIRST RELIANCE BANK
TD BANK, N.A.
Jonathan Strauss has joined the growing Columbia team of United Community Bank as a Vice President/Commercial Relationship Manager.
Brenton Mackie has joined First Reliance Bank as Regional Executive Midlands.
UNITED COMMUNITY BANK
HOMETRUST BANK
Kathy Cribbs has been promoted to Marketing Data AndersonSpecialist.Brothers
South State Bank has added the following team members: Matt Cotner, middle market banker, Greenville; Ben Hagood, commercial banker, Anderson; Derek Raper, middle market banker, Midlands; and Barrett Slaughter, commercial banker, Grand Strand. Dale Zeglin joins South State as Grand Strand region president.
SOUTH ATLANTIC BANK
Brent Williams has been promoted to Senior Director of Marketing and Sales Strategies.
Robert Dozier has joined First Reliance Bank as Chief Banking Officer. He will oversee commercial sales management and community development for all markets.
Jaci Giglio has joined South State Bank’s Private Wealth team as a vice president and wealth advisor.
TD Bank has named Steven Hicks as Senior Relationship Manager, serving the Midlands, S.C. market.
Travis A. Minter has been promoted to chief banking officer. He will continue to oversee the bank’s mortgage and retail banking division.
Tina GaineyKathy Cribbs
Steven Hicks
Owen Willis Keri Wise David Zabriskie
Melinda Davis Lux has joined United Community Bank’s executive leadership team as Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary.
Luther A. Gasque
Melinda Davis Lux
Brothers Bank announces the transition of Tara Tannebaum to Loan Officer. She will be based in the Grissom Parkway office in Myrtle Beach.
Richard Linden is now South State Advisory’s new senior portfolio manager for South State Bank.
Synovus Financial Corp. announced Kevin Blair as president. He will continue in his role as chief operating officer. His expanded responsibilities include HR, Credit administration, and all other customer-facing support functions.
28 WINTER 2020 • PALMETTO BANKER
Jonathan Strauss
Linda Torres
David Zabriskie has joined HomeTrust Bank as a Senior Vice President and Commercial Relationship Manager.
SYNOVUS
BLUE RIDGE BANK
Linda Torres has joined the Bank as Loan Operations Specialist.
COASTAL JustinNATIONALCAROLINABANKOwens has joined the CCNB team as Vice President and Commercial Relationship Manager.
P ersona L t
Kurt Walters
Tina Gainey has joined the Bank as a Senior Vice President and Deposit Operations Manager.
Kentley Lipps has been promoted to the position of Loan Officer. She will be based in the bank’s Market Common office in Myrtle AndersonBeach.
Tim McCoy Travis A. Minter
Bank announces Kimberly B. Driggers as Branch Operations Coordinator in the Latta Office located at 100 E. Main Street; Luther A. (Luke) Gasque as Assistant Vice President/City Executive for the Mullins Offices; Tim McCoy as Vice President Mortgage Banking based in Myrtle Beach; Kurt Walters as Mortgage Loan Office in Myrtle Beach; and Owen Willis as Mortgage Loan Office, based in the Market Common Office, Myrtle Beach.
SOUTH STATE BANK
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B anking n ews
WELLS FARGO
SOUTH STATE BANK
UNITED COMMUNITY BANK
Wells Fargo announced a new boost to diverse small businesses in South Carolina with a $500,000 grant from the Wells Fargo Foundation, to South Carolina Community Loan Fund (SCCLF), focusing on helping small-business owners with lending, technical assistance and community relationship-building with historically underserved smallbusiness owners as a way to stimulate local economic growth.
CAROLINA ALLIANCE BANK
Anderson Brothers Bank donated $2500 to the American Cancer Society, Relay for Life of Dillon County to kick off its 2020 year.
CountybankCOUNTYBANK
CenterState Bank Corporation (“CenterState”), the parent company of CenterState Bank, and South State Corporation (“South State”), the parent company of South State Bank, jointly announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which the companies will combine in an all-stock merger of equals with a total market value of approximately $6 billion to create a leading Southeasternbased regional bank. The merger is expected to close in the third quarter of 2020.
ANDERSON BROTHERS
fulfillingdonation
They said they would continue to operate as Carolina Alliance Bank and that was the plan. Since then it has become clear that to provide the best customer experience possible, they should join the other affiliate banks in the Park National network to unite under a single name and promise. This change emphasizes access to broader resources, a larger branch network, and the same level of personal service customers have come to expect, all delivered by the same local bankers.
and Greenwood Capital donated $47,002 as part of their annual campaign to United Way of Greenville County. Associates from both organizations made personal pledge donations totaling $37,002 as part of the employee campaign, while the Countybank Foundation provided an additional campaign contribution of $10,000.
Earlier this year, Carolina Alliance joined 11 other banks in the Park National Bank family. They did this because of common values, a like-minded approach to customer and community service, and to gain access to greater resources to serve you more.
30 WINTER 2020 • PALMETTO BANKER Compass South Appraisals specializes in appraising commercial and agricultural properties, which is a rare find in the appraisal industry. Locations Served • Agriculture and Timberland appraisals are provided in all counties • Commercial property appraisals provided in the blue highlighted counties Typical Examples Include • Offices • Agricultural & Timberland • Retail Spaces • Orchards • Industrial Buildings Credible. Timely. Competitive. www.CompassSouthAppraisals.com Email Requests to: officemanager@CompassSouth.com | 843-538-6814
United Community Banks, Inc. and Three Shores Bancorporation, Inc., the Parent of Seaside National Bank & Trust, have announced a merger agreement whereby UCBI will acquire Three Shores, including its wholly-owned subsidiary, Seaside National Bank & Trust.
The ServisFirst Bank Correspondent Bank Division has partnered with the South Carolina Bankers Association as the Preferred Vendor for agent credit card program. ServisFirst Bank’s card program is tailor-made for community banks who are looking for a simple, transparent and turn-key solution for credit cards.
The SCBA stamps our “seal of approval” on these companies. If you are looking for a vendor to deliver top quality performance and reliable results, checkout our Preferred Vendors section on our website.
For more information or to speak to a representative of ServisFirst Bank, please contact Will Fountain at 205-578-4680. To learn more about ServisFirst Bank, please visit www.servisfirstbank.com.
ServisFirst Bank is a full-service correspondent provider and currently issues cards for over 100 community banks around the country, including many that have recently converted from other agent credit card programs. Through the program, SCBA members will be able to issue credit cards to their customers, both commercial and retails, with their own bank’s logo.
SCBA selected the ServisFirst Bank Correspondent Bank Division’s card program based on the clear revenue share model, innovative solutions and focus on superior customer service for their partner banks. Through this partnership, SCBA members can now offer bank branded credit cards to their customers at no additional cost to the member banks.
Contact Carolyn L. Bradley with the SCBA at carolynbradley@scbankers.org or 803-779-0850 for more information.
ServisFirst Bank Correspondent Bank Division is also the exclusive agent credit card program for the American Bankers Association.
2009 Park Street • PO Box 1483 Columbia, SC 29202-1483