Florida Banking August 2023

THE MAGAZINE OF THE FLORIDA BANKERS ASSOCIATION WWW.FLORIDABANKERS.COM SEPTEMBER 2020 Barwick Banking Company Preserving Hometown Hospitality THE MAGAZINE OF THE FLORIDA BANKERS ASSOCIATION WWW.FLORIDABANKERS.COM AUGUST 2023

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Editorial & Executive Offices 1001 Thomasville Road, Suite 201 Tallahassee, FL 32303 850-224-2265 www.floridabankers.com Advertising & Production Offices 250 Prairie Center Dr., Ste. 300 Eden Prairie, MN 55344 952-835-2275 www.nfrcom.com For advertising information, contact Erica Nelson Advertising Sales Executive 763-497-1778 Erica@NFRcom.com For reprints or single issues, contact 800-336-1120 Statements of fact and opinion are made on the responsibility of the authors alone and do not imply an opinion or endorsement on the part of the officers or members of FBA. Florida Banking is published 11 times annually with a combined issue in December/January. Subscription price is $50 per year for nonmembers. Postmaster, send address changes to Florida Bankers Association, P.O. Box 1360, Tallahassee, FL 32302. Copyright 2022 Alex Sanchez President and Chief Executive Officer

THE MAGAZINE OF THE FLORIDA BANKERS ASSOCIATION

VOLUME 38

NUMBER 7

AUGUST 2023

ON THE COVER Barwick Banking Company: Preserving Hometown Hospitality CONTENTS 4 �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �Chair’s Message 6 �� �� �� �� �� ��Straight Talk from the President’s Desk 12 �� �� �� �� Government Relations: House Bill 3 to Combat Corporate Activism is Now Law 14 �� �BancServ Endorsed Partner: 5 Steps for Easing into ERM 16 �� ��FBA’s 2023 Annual Meeting 24 �� �Florida Bankers Educational Foundation (FBEF) Donors 25 �� �� �� �� �� �� FBA Staff Spotlight Payton Fewell 26 �� �� �� �� ��Personal Transactions 27 �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� ��Kudos 30 �� �� �� �� �� �� ��Upcoming Events 31 �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� Did You Know? 31 �� �� �� �� �� Advertising Directory 8

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Florida Bankers Association asanchez@floridabankers.com Pamela Ricco Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Florida Bankers Association pricco@floridabankers.com Brooke Harrison Publications Director Florida Bankers Association bharrison@floridabankers.com

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Jose Cueto Chair

Derek Jones Chair-Elect

Bill Penney Immediate Past Chair

Fab Brumley Second Immediate Past Chair

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On the Cover: Barwick Banking Company Executive Vice Chairman Jim Bange and President and CEO Chad Bowling Photos by Daniese Betito, Images for Business, Orlando, Fla.

Florida Bankers Association: The voice of Florida banking since 1888.

©istock.com: sanjeri; ipopba; monkeybusinessimages

CHAIR’S MESSAGE

TAKEAWAYS FROM OUR 135TH ANNUAL MEETING

BY JOSE CUETO, FBA CHAIR

FBA CHAIR JOSE CUETO RECENTLY TOOK OVER AS PRESIDENT AND CEO OF GROVE BANK & TRUST

I t was great to see so many familiar faces at the FBA’s recent 135th Annual Meeting in Orlando. “FBA Fest 2023” was one for the books. It was a huge honor to welcome financial journalist and author Maria Bartiromo as our Keynote Speaker; Bartiromo is a friend to our industry and often gives the FBA a platform to speak about banking issues. But this year’s event was also bittersweet, as it was Alex Sanchez’s last convention as FBA President and CEO. We know that his are big shoes to fill! We had the opportunity

rates and this possible mild recession will continue to gradually slow the pace of inflation in the economy. In her keynote speech, Bartiromo gave excellent remarks about her career, the economy, national security and growth. She too confirmed that we’re seeing an erosion of purchasing power and rising credit card debt. In her remarks, she cautioned against giving our purchasing power to China. “Our search for growth can’t play second fiddle to our national security,” Bartiromo warned. She ended her remarks

to celebrate Alex’s service and contributions to the industry over his 30-year career. Thanks to those of you who wore your “Sanchez Farewell Tour” T-shirts to help us surprise Alex. I’m always grateful for the opportunity to network with peers and to hear from our knowledgeable speakers and panelists. Our industry has certainly faced challenges in the first half of the year; we have battled bad legislation and misinformation, and we’re fielding questions

by giving us some hope by pointing out areas for growth within the economy. Whatever the future holds, our industry will continue to be vigilant and serve our customers well. This is why it is so important for us to stay informed and involved. Thanks again to the FBA team for putting on an excellent event with impressive speakers to both educate and entertain us. I’d also like to congratulate our deserving award winners and new officers. Other

“IN HER KEYNOTE SPEECH, BARTIROMO GAVE EXCELLENT REMARKS ABOUT HER CAREER, THE ECONOMY, NATIONAL SECURITY AND GROWTH.”

from our customers and local communities about the future of our economy. Luckily, our sessions, panels and workshops addressed these timely topics. I wanted to share a few of my takeaways both for those who need a refresher and for those who couldn’t be there: Economist Sean Snaith, Director of UCF’s Institute for Economic Forecasting, explained that many of the major economic issues we’ve faced since 2020 (inflation, supply chain failures, high oil and gas prices) are rooted in COVID-19 policies. The United States is on the brink of a mild “pasta bowl” shaped recession, meaning it won’t be as deep as the previous recessions of 2020 or 2008. Snaith believes the higher interest

highlights of the 135th Annual Meeting included our vendor trade show, BankPac Silent Auction, and our final gala with awesome musical entertainment by The Flashback Four. If you couldn’t join us, there are plenty of other opportunities to get involved in the latter half of the year. Check your inbox for more information about upcoming events. I hope to see you at one or both of our leadership events in September for FDIC Chair Martin Gruenberg and FDIC Vice Chair Travis Hill. These events are a great opportunity for discussion and Q&A with our federal banking regulators. Until then!

4 — FLORIDA BANKING THE VOICE OF FLORIDA BANKING

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STRAIGHT TALK FROM THE PRESIDENT’S DESK

STRESS TESTS SHOW OUR NATION’S BANKS ARE STRONG AND DIVERSE

BY ALEJANDRO “ALEX” SANCHEZ, FBA PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

H ey, talking heads on TV business shows, take notice of the facts: On June 28th, the Federal Reserve Bank of the United States stress-tested the nation’s largest banks and concluded that they are well positioned to weather a severe recession and to continue lending to households and businesses even during an economic downturn, according to the results of Dodd-Frank Act-mandated stress tests.

United States has the most diverse, well-capitalized, and safest banking industry globally. All 23 banks above $100 billion in assets that were tested remained above their minimum capital requirements during the hypothetical recession, despite total projected losses of $541 billion, according to the Fed. Under stress, the aggregate common equity risk-based capital ratio — which provides a cushion

And while the tests were for the nation’s largest banks, it confirms what regulators, the FBA and others have said, which is that there is no safer place to deposit your hard-earned money than an FDIC insured bank account. Talking heads claim to be experts, and unfortunately have a platform to express their opinions about subjects they know little about. It is important that groups like the FBA fight back against these so-called experts. America needs a diversity of banks to fund an economy dominated by small businesses where 60 percent of Americans work. Most of the funding for those

against losses — is projected to decline by 2.3 percentage points to a minimum of 10.1 percent. This year’s test modeled a severe global recession with a 40 percent decline in commercial real estate prices, a substantial increase in office vacancies, a 38 percent decline in house prices and an unemployment rate peaking at 10 percent. For the first time this year, the Fed conducted an exploratory market shock on the trading books of the largest banks, testing them against greater inflationary pressures and rising interest rates. The Fed said the exploratory market shock will not contribute to banks’ capital requirements

“THE FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF THE UNITED STATES STRESS-TESTED THE NATION’S LARGEST BANKS AND CONCLUDED THAT THEY ARE WELL POSITIONED TO WEATHER A SEVERE RECESSION AND TO CONTINUE LENDING EVEN DURING AN ECONOMIC DOWNTURN.”

small businesses comes from community and regional banks. However, we also need a strong sector of large banks to ensure that large American corporations have access to credit, rather than turning to banks in China that continue to balloon in size in global rankings. The

but was used to further understand the risks with their trading activities and to assess the potential for testing banks against multiple scenarios in the future. The results showed that the largest banks’ trading books were resilient to the rising rate environment tested.

6 — FLORIDA BANKING THE VOICE OF FLORIDA BANKING

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Barwick Banking Company Executive Vice Chairman Jim Bange and President and CEO Chad Bowling at the construction site of the bank's new St. Augustine branch.

8 — FLORIDA BANKING THE VOICE OF FLORIDA BANKING

Preserving Hometown Hospitality Barwick Banking Company:

F ounded in 1907 in Barwick, Ga., Barwick Bank has a longstanding history within the community and embraces the southern hospitality of its hometown. When new ownership took over the 116-year-old bank in early 2020, it was important that they respected the bank’s legacy while tactfully implementing plans to modernize and expand the footprint from South Georgia to North Florida. “The Barwick community really embraced us,” said Barwick Bank President and CEO Chad Bowling. “We weren’t sure how that was going to go, initially, with us Floridians coming up to be a part of their hometown bank. We promised that we weren’t going to come in and change everything, or take things away.” Bowling was part of a group of businessmen from St.

“Our customers were very happy to have debit cards and online banking capabilities,” Bowling said. “The advancements have been well received in both Barwick and Florida. Without branches on every corner, it’s important for us to have that technology for our business customers.” In just three years, the bank has experienced significant growth. “When we purchased the bank, it was a $13 million bank. Very conservative. Now we’re $370 million in assets. So over three years, we’ve grown quite a bit,” said Executive Vice Chairman Jim Bange. “We came in and converted the bank to a core system. But in that time, we’ve also worked to preserve the culture of hometown hospitality and care for the community.”

Augustine who purchased a majority interest in the bank. The group reassured former President Fred Jones that they planned to keep the Barwick branch open, having recognized its value to the community. The bank was born out of a dream of some local families to bring banking to their town; since its founding in 1907, the bank has been locally owned. Jones was appointed president in 1979 and continues to serve on the board of directors today. While the bank charter is in Georgia and the original Barwick branch continues to have local management, the holding company is headquartered in St. Augustine.

The bank’s team of four has grown to 53 to accommodate the digital banking launch and rapid growth. Many of Bowling’s management team previously worked with him at Reunion Bank of Florida (which sold to Alabama National in 2015), including Bange. “Chad and I and the rest of our team have worked together for a number of years,” Bange said. “We know each other’s strengths and weaknesses, and we take care of each other. That’s important to us.” The team has very little employee turnover and is particularly proud of the loyalty of both its staff and customers. As

“WE CAME IN AND CONVERTED THE BANK TO A CORE SYSTEM. BUT IN THAT TIME, WE’VE ALSO WORKED TO PRESERVE THE CULTURE OF HOMETOWN HOSPITALITY AND CARE FOR THE COMMUNITY.”

- JIM BANGE

Bowling and Bange assured former bank president Jones, they intended to preserve and nurture the culture of hometown hospitality that was so deeply felt in Barwick. In St. Augustine, bank customers appreciate the fitting “coastal vibe.” The bank’s market executive has surfboards in his office; when the waves are good, surfing with other locals is a great opportunity to do business. Bange says the team forgoes coats and ties. The bank branch in Daytona Beach has a beer tap (sourced by a local brewery, of course). The check stands and boardroom table are made from local wood. Barwick Banking Company, Continued on page 10

“We were very involved with the Barwick team on a daily basis, and always asked for their opinions. We wanted to grow and evolve the bank while using the processes that were already in place,” Bowling said. “I think including them in those kinds of decisions was crucial. We’re all in this together. We didn’t want to run the bank like a dictatorship. We wanted to do what was best for the communities, clients and shareholders.” One key change was implementing new technology and a core provider. Before its sale in 2020, Barwick Bank had no debit cards or online banking. The staff ran ledger books and didn’t have an electronic banking system.

WWW.FLORIDABANKERS.COM AUGUST 2023 — 9

brand-new building will likely open within the next year. In May, the team expanded into Boston, about 10 miles east of Barwick, having been approached by the city to fill a need in the underserved community. When the previous local bank left town, it refused to let another bank move into the space. So Barwick

“We try to source everything locally,” Bange said. Bowling adds,“That’s also how we operate the bank. We take in our deposits locally and we lend locally. We spend our time and money here.” The bank’s tagline is “For Locals. By Locals.” The Barwick Banking Company, Continued from page 9

bank is involved in the local community — sponsoring little leagues, surf competitions — and strongly encourages employees to serve and donate their time. Leadership hires people within the markets to manage each branch. Bowling, for example, has lived in St. Augustine for nearly 20 years. When it comes to hiring, Bowling prioritizes character and work ethic over banking experience. “We can teach the nuts and bolts of banking,” Bowling said. “But you can’t teach customer service skills, or ethics.” Today, Barwick Bank has

Bank moved into City Hall, and City Hall moved into the old bank building. “We’re going to focus on growing in the markets we’re in,” Bange said. “Our customers who have banked with us for a long time have needs, and they’re growing. We get a lot of business from those customers’ referrals. They tell their friends and family, who then come to bank with us. We’ve grown organically.” While bank leadership is certainly proud of the bank’s growth in the last three years, they are most grateful for a successful transition and for the

“WE TAKE IN OUR DEPOSITS LOCALLY AND WE LEND LOCALLY. WE SPEND OUR TIME AND MONEY HERE.”

- CHAD BOWLING

branches in Barwick and Boston, Ga., as well as St. Augustine, Daytona Beach and Gainesville. The Daytona Beach office opened in early spring. The St. Augustine branch is under construction while leadership works out of a temporary office; the

favor of their communities. “I think our employee and customer loyalty is the best thing to be proud of,” Bowling said. “I feel like we’re making a difference in the communities we serve.”

The Barwick Bank senior management team, from left: EVP / Chief Lending Officer Mark Chastain, EVP / Chief Financial Officer John Hodas, Executive Vice Chairman Jim Bange, EVP / Chief Operations Officer Gail Baker, and President & CEO Chad Bowling.

10 — FLORIDA BANKING THE VOICE OF FLORIDA BANKING

JIM BANGE, EXECUTIVE VICE CHAIRMAN

Jim Bange is a Florida native, born in Miami and raised in Lake Park. After graduating from Stetson University, Bange went to work for local State Representative Sam Bell, who helped Bange get into banking as a credit analyst at American Pioneer Savings Bank in Daytona Beach. He then worked as a credit analyst and credit manager for Barnett Bank / Volusia County until he was approached by Tom Ingram and Jimmy Ford at SouthTrust Bank to become a commercial lender. After stints at SouthTrust and Colonial Bank, Bange helped start Reunion Bank of Florida in 2008 with Mike Sleaford. It was after Reunion Bank of Florida sold in 2014 that Bange began having discussions with Chad Bowling and Mark Chastain about starting a new community bank. When they heard about a bank in Barwick, Ga., for sale, the team met with the CEO of Barwick Banking Company and quickly agreed on a purchase that closed January 1, 2020. Bange lives with his wife, Kelley, in Flagler Beach, and together they have a family of four grown children.

CHAD BOWLING, PRESIDENT AND CEO

Chad Bowling has been in banking for over 22 years. He began his banking career as a teller at SouthTrust Bank and has held a variety of positions with experience on both the retail and commercial side of the business. Bowling currently serves on the Board of the St. Augustine YMCA and is a member of the Rotary Club of St. Augustine. Bowling’s favorite aspect of banking is being able to apply a common sense approach to find a solution that will serve the various needs in the community. He enjoys spending time with his wife and two children, boating, sports, and traveling.

WWW.FLORIDABANKERS.COM AUGUST 2023 — 11

GOVERNMENT RELATIONS

HOUSE BILL 3 TO COMBAT CORPORATE ACTIVISM IS NOW LAW

BY ANTHONY DIMARCO, FBA EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT AND DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS

H ouse Bill 3 is now law. The bill requires all Florida state-chartered banks (and credit unions) to attest that they are aware of the new law and are in compliance. Since these attestation forms were due on July 1, you should have already signed and returned them to the Office of Financial Regulation (OFR). You must sign a new attestation form under penalty of perjury every July 1. The form requires the bank to attest whether it is in compliance with the new law. The new law is intended to stop discrimination by woke financial companies. The law affects qualified public depositories (QPDs), securities firms, money services businesses, trust companies, consumer finance companies, and other financial services companies that are regulated by OFR. The bill also applies to investment companies and other financial services related companies that invest state dollars, create bond issuances, and the like. For state-chartered banks, HB 3 creates the “unsafe and unsound practice” to Chapter 655, F.S. to deny or cancel its services to a person, or to otherwise discriminate against a person, on the basis of: • The person's political opinions, speech, or affiliations; • The person's religious beliefs, exercise, or affiliations; • Any other factor that is not a quantitative, impartial, and risk-based standard; or • A social credit score. Moreover, the bill recognizes that banks must make determinations about the provision or denial of services “based on an analysis of risk factors unique to each individual customer or member.” Should a bank fail to sign the attestation, or fail to comply with the new law by discriminating, the

bank is deemed to engage in an “unsafe and unsound practice.” The OFR may then take the administrative actions available under Chapter 655. Furthermore, such a failure of compliance will subject the bank to a violation of the Florida Unfair and Deceptive Trade Practices Act (FUDTPA) with one-way attorney fees for the Attorney General should the bank lose the case. Finally, the bill prohibits OFR from using the “wild card” statute under s. 655.061, F.S. to permit a state-chartered bank to do an activity permitted by a national bank. We do not believe that the bill applies to a national bank or an out-of-state state bank. This is based upon federal preemption and other state and federal laws and regulations. Please let us know if you are approached by OFR and you are not a Florida state chartered bank. The portion of the bill dealing with qualified public depositories (QPDs) has similar language for unsafe and unsound practices, however, a violation results, in part, in losing the ability to be a QPD. The QPD attestation form is due to the Department of Financial Services (DFS) on November 30, which is the date the annual report is due. Even though the attestation form is not due until November 30, the law took effect on July 1. Therefore, all QPDs must comply with anti discriminatory portions of the new law. Please note that this law took effect nearly immediately after HB 3 was signed by the Governor. Many have questions about the law’s applicability and reach. We will keep you updated on any more information we receive or any steps the FBA takes concerning the law. As always, please reach out to us if you have any questions or comments about the new law.

12 — FLORIDA BANKING THE VOICE OF FLORIDA BANKING

Z 2023 SILENT AUCTION DONORS

A sincere thank you to all of the banks and individuals who contributed to the 2023 BankPac Silent Auction.

THANKS TO YOUR GENEROUS CONTRIBUTIONS, $70,000 WAS RAISED FOR OUR STATE BANKPAC!

Finemark National Bank & Trust Harlan Parrish First Bank, Clewiston Carey Soud First Federal Bank John Medina First Horizon Bank Mario Trueba First National Bank Coastal Community Moyle Fritz First National Bank of Mount Dora Bob White First National Bank of Pasco Jim Esry First National Bankers Bank Chris Alexander Lourdes Mendes Richard Robey Rob Trott First State Bank of the Florida Keys William Kemp Robert Spottswood FirstBank Florida Jose Maria Lacasa Florida Bankers Association An thony DiMarco Membership Department Gulfside Bank Dennis Murphy Haberfeld Brett Walburn Interamerican Bank Isis Pacheco Velasco Intercredit Bank, N.A. Simon Cruz International Finance Bank Jose Cueto

Intracoastal Bank Ryan Page Mainstreet Community Bank of Florida Angie Clifton Ben Flowers Marine Bank & Trust Bill Penney Ocean Bank Alfonso Macedo Pacific National Bank Carlos Fernandez-Guzman ServisFirst Bank Guillermo Chiang STS Group A dam Stephens Sunstate Bank Lloyd DeVaux Surety Bank Ryan James Taylor Advisors / HUB Wes Taylor Terrabank Antonio Uribe Trans Fund Beth Parrett United Southern Bank Connie Nelson Wauchula State Bank Bill Crews Winter Park National Bank Sid Cash

Akerman LLP

Ginny Childs Amerant Bank Jerry Plush American National Bank Ginger Martin Anthem Bank & Trust Rodger Shay BancServ Brian Hickey Bank of Belle Glade Steve Prielozny BankFlorida Bud Stalnaker Barwick Banking Company Jim Bange BMO Private Bank Amy Hale Capital City Bank Tom Barron Central Bank John Thompson Citizens Bank & Trust Greg Littleton Citizens First Bank Lindsey Blaise City National Bank of Florida Jorge Gonzalez Commerce Bank & Trust Ray Colado Community Bank Jason Crowe Community Bank of the South Bill Taylor Dorsey Consulting Joe & Karen Dorsey Eastern National Bank Lou Ferreira

Michael Crisante David Dotherow

And thank you to Seven Hills Auctions & Buddy Lee for the awesome paddles and fine auctioneering services!

Many thanks to our auction sponsor, First National Bankers Bank

WWW.FLORIDABANKERS.COM AUGUST 2023 — 13

BANCSERV ENDORSED PARTNER: NCONTRACTS

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5 STEPS FOR EASING INTO ERM

BY MICHAEL CARPENTER, VICE PRESIDENT OF RISK MANAGEMENT, NCONTRACTS

B uilding out an enterprise risk management (ERM) program can be overwhelming for financial institutions and others in the financial services industry. Risk management is a broad umbrella covering a wide range of risks, including operational, cybersecurity, compliance, reputation, and financial risk, among others. With so many areas to cover, it’s hard to know where to begin or how to get it all done. One common mistake banks make when faced with an overwhelming task like building out a risk management program is to kick the can down the road. They decide they are too busy, and the job is too big, so they’ll dig in once things quiet down. This creates two problems: Problem No. 1: A quieter time isn’t coming We all like to imagine that a simpler, quieter time is just down the road. We just need to reach a deadline or milestone and we’ll have plenty of time to tackle our backlogged to-do lists. The problem is that a quieter time isn’t really coming. When Aristotle said,“nature abhors a vacuum,” he probably wasn’t talking about project management, but he may as well have been. New projects are always coming to take the place of those that are finished. It’s rare to finish a project and then wonder “What should I do next?” The next thing has already been defined and mapped out. There is no pause. Problem No. 2: Exposing the institution to unknown amounts of risk The goal of risk management is to identify, assess, measure, mitigate, and monitor risk to ensure your financial institution isn’t taking on too much or too little risk. Your institution’s risk exposure needs to align with its risk tolerance. The longer you wait to build out a risk management program, the longer your institution is exposed to unchecked risk.

5 tips for simplifying your ERM program buildout

Now that you know why you shouldn’t put off building out your ERM program, let me show you the five things you need to know to get the job done. 1. You don’t have to do it all at once. Rome wasn’t built in a day and your risk management program doesn’t have to be either. Like any project, risk management should be broken down into phases. For example, you might decide that it will take three years to completely fully build out your risk management program — but that doesn’t mean you won’t get any value from the program for at least three years. Any time you manage risk, you’re helping your institution. Whether its compliance risk, cybersecurity, or corporate governance, each building block of risk management will help make your institution stronger and more resilient. Choose one approach to risk management and start. 2. Decide where to begin. When building out a risk management program, there are two recommended approaches to choose from: • Start with a strategic goal or initiative. When starting with the goal in mind, begin by identifying all the objectives and hurdles. What do you need to do? What might stand to prevent that from happening? • Start with the highest inherent risk (i.e. the risk that exists naturally when there are no safeguards in place to avoid trouble). Both approaches help you “right size” your risk management. Often it makes the most sense to start with a strategic goal or initiative and then define inherent risk. Whichever route you choose, gather and update existing risk assessments to determine the highest inherent risks and identify the controls in place.

14 — FLORIDA BANKING THE VOICE OF FLORIDA BANKING

3. Leverage your data to assess risk. Risk management empowers your institution to evaluate threats and opportunities to better understand how significant a risk is, how well it’s being controlled, and what else, if anything, needs to be done to better manage it. Starting with areas of high inherent risk not only makes risk management more manageable, but it also maximizes the value of your risk management investment by helping you remediate risks that could have a major impact on your institution. Sure, you could start with something small and easy, but if it’s not going to have a big impact on your risk profile, you’re better off starting with something else. Inherent risk is best understood with relevant, recent and quantifiable data, including test results, audits, and exams. Have you had feedback from examiners about your BSA (Bank Secrecy Act) program? Or maybe your institution has identified risks relating to data security, vendor management, regulatory compliance, UDAAP (Unfair, Deceptive or Abusive Acts or Practices) and fair lending, or attracting and retaining employees? Use the available data to identify and prioritize areas with the greatest inherent risk. Then identify the controls that help mitigate the risks. 4. Dig into controls. Once you identify inherent risk and the controls to mitigate them, it’s time to identify key controls (controls that are automated or expected to prevent a risk). Decide who will assess these controls and when, remembering that some controls are provided by vendors and may have already been reviewed by your vendor management program. Go through one cycle of control assessments to get a feel for how effective the process is and how well it works with other areas of risk management including business continuity and compliance. It’s also a good idea to create key performance indicators (KPIs) to help measure risk (and whether you are within your institution’s risk tolerance) and progress towards strategic goals. Once you’ve knocked out your biggest areas of inherent risk, continue down the list. Knock out other high-risk areas working your way down to other, less critical areas of risk. By now you’ll have learned what works best for your institution, so it should go quicker and more smoothly. Since risk management touches every area of a financial institution, each new area added to the program will build on what was already 5. Work your way through areas of lower inherent risk.

created, making the program stronger and more effective. Risk management is a cumulative activity. As you build out the program and expand into different areas, your institution will benefit from having a more well rounded view of risk and the information the board and management need to make more informed strategic decisions. Don’t let analysis paralysis stop your financial institution from adopting enterprise risk management. Know that your ERM buildout is a journey — one that will take a while but will offer many rewards along the way. It’s okay to ease into risk management. Michael Carpenter is vice president of risk management at Ncontracts, the leading provider of risk and compliance management solutions to the financial services industry. An indispensable risk management, compliance, and vendor management resource, he is an advocate of building stronger, more proactive and more resilient institutions. Prior to joining Ncontracts, Carpenter served as the vice president of risk management at several banks and credit unions. His broad base of industry knowledge is the result of building and running programs—including director training and reporting, compliance management, information security, BSA/AML, among others—at both small community financial institutions and larger institutions such as KeyBank and Chase Bank. He is a veteran of the U.S. Army.

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FBA’S 2023 ANNUAL MEETING RITZ-CARLTON GRANDE LAKES, ORLANDO

PHOTOGRAPHS BY DANIESE BETITO, IMAGES FOR BUSINESS, ORLANDO, AND BROOKE HARRISON, PUBLICATIONS DIRECTOR, FBA T he FBA held its 135th Annual Meeting at the Ritz-Carlton Grande Lakes in Orlando on June 11-14. “FBA Fest 2023” was a music-themed celebration of the FBA’s 135th anniversary. The FBA was honored to welcome financial journalist and author Maria Bartiromo as Keynote Speaker. Bartiromo gave excellent remarks about her career, the economy, national security, and growth. Attendees also enjoyed informative panels and workshops as well as networking opportunities and entertainment.

In keeping with tradition, the FBA presented awards to a select group of deserving bankers, recognizing their dedication and contributions to the FBA and Florida’s banking industry. The 2023 award winners were: Lifetime Achievement Award Lamar Roberts, retired Banker of the Year Alfonso Macedo, President & CEO, Ocean Bank (Miami) Chairman’s Award Mindy Markwardt, SVP, Director of Compliance at Seacoast Bank (Stuart) Horizon Award McHenry Kane, EVP and Co-General Counsel at City National Bank of Florida (Miami)

Outgoing FBA Chair Bill Penney passed the torch to incoming FBA Chair Jose Cueto, president and CEO of Grove Bank & Trust. FBA’s new officers and board of directors began their terms and celebrated the service of past officers.

WELCOME RECEPTION

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WELCOME RECEPTION

SILENT AUCTION

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SILENT AUCTION

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SILENT AUCTION

GENERAL SESSION, AWARDS AND LUNCHEON

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GENERAL SESSION, AWARDS AND LUNCHEON

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GENERAL SESSION, AWARDS AND LUNCHEON

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CLOSING GALA

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SPECIAL THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS DIAMOND LEVEL

GOLD LEVEL

BRONZE LEVEL

PATRON LEVEL

GOLF TOURNAMENT

FRIEND LEVEL

Compliance Systems

Diebold Nixdorf

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Z FLORIDA BANKERS EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION (FBEF) DONORS CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED FOR THE 2023-24 FISCAL YEAR THROUGH JULY 1, 2023 COMPANY AND CONTACT NAMES ARE LISTED AS THEY WERE AT THE TIME THE DONATION WAS MADE. Thank you to all FBEF donors! Your annual contributions help support the FBEF's mission to help Florida bankers advance their careers through education. We appreciate your support of the FBEF.

BankFlorida James S. Stalnaker, Jr. Barwick Bank James J. Bange Caldwell Trust Company Kelly Caldwell, Jr Century Bank of Florida Jose Vivero Citizens Bank & Trust Greg Littleton Community Bank Fred Leopold Customers Bank Joseph Nowland First State Bank of the Florida Keys Gary Carney Flagship Bank Robert B. McGivney

Florida Capital Bank Mark Johnson Intracoastal Bank Bruce E. Page Locality Bank Keith Costello Madison County Community Bank Edward Meggs Mainstreet Community Bank of Florida W. Ben Flowers Marine Bank & Trust Company William J. Penney One Florida Bank Frederick G. Pullum Prime Meridian Bank Sammie D. Dixon, Jr.

Raymond James Bank N.A., Steven M. Raney Sunstate Bank Lloyd DeVaux TIAA Bank Curt Cunkle United Southern Bank Greg L. Nelson U.S. Bank Sandra Fleming U.S. Century Bank Luis de la Aguilera Wauchula State Bank James W. Crews, Jr. Winter Park National Bank David R. Dotherow

The FBEF is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation registered with the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services, Registration #CH7621. Contributions to the FBEF are tax-deductible. Organized in 1956, the FBEF continues to help bankers throughout Florida. If you are interested in making a tax-deductible contribution to the FBEF, contact Letty Newton at 850-701-3522, lnewton@floridabankers.com, or PO Box 1360, Tallahassee, FL 32302-1360. A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE 800-435-7352 WITHIN THE STATE. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE. www.FloridaConsumerHelp.com Working to advance your career through education? The Florida Bankers Educational Foundation (FBEF) is here to help. FBEF funding can be used by bankers working for a bank or a trust company in Florida while attending a FBEF participating university. Applications and eligibility information can be found online at FloridaBankers.com/FBEF. If you are thinking of applying for FBEF funding, please contact FBEF Director Letty Newton at (850) 701-3522 or lnewton@floridabankers.com for more information on how the FBEF can help you.

24 — FLORIDA BANKING THE VOICE OF FLORIDA BANKING

FBA STAFF SPOTLIGHT

Name: Payton Fewell Title: Event and Member Service Coordinator At FBA since: June 2023 Education: Dedman College of Hospitality, Florida State University Hometown: Crawfordville, Florida

Describe your role for the FBA. As the Event and Member Service Coordinator, my job is to ensure a seamless event by reserving spaces, negotiating and editing contracts, and creating programs. I will coordinate all events for the FBA including meetings, conferences, and seminars. Favorite thing about the FBA? Because I’m about four weeks new to the FBA, I would say my coworkers have been my favorite thing so far. I was able to get to know my coworkers and our members at the Annual Meeting and it was quite the introduction! Everyone was so welcoming and I am excited to be here! How do you spend your free time? When I am not in the office, I like to stay busy! I enjoy taking my pup to the dog park, cooking, going

to the river or beach, attending concerts, and cheering on the Noles! If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go? I haven’t had the opportunity to travel out of the United States yet, although my first trip (hopefully) will be to Ireland to watch the Florida State football game in 2024. I get to travel and watch my favorite team? Sounds like a win to me! Do you have pets? I am a proud dog mom of one. Luna is a Lab/ Catahoula mix and boy does she keep me busy!

CONTACT OUR SALES REP FOR MORE INFORMATION Erica Nelson Advertising Sales Executive (763) 497-1778 | erica@nfrcom.com Reach more than 5,000 banking professionals throughout Florida in the FBA Bulletin, the official e-newsletter of the Florida Bankers Association. The FBA Bulletin is published monthly and offers expanded advertising reach.

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PERSONAL TRANSACTIONS

DOTHAN

Junior Achievement Board member. Rigby currently serves on the Board of Win Within, a nonprofit started by current Philadelphia Eagles and former Florida State Seminoles star Janarius Robinson. ST. PETERSBURG

MidSouth Bancorporation, a community bank dedicated to serving communities in Alabama and North Florida, announced that Amanda Jowers has joined the bank as private banking officer and vice president in the Bay County, Fla., market. An Alabama native,

BayFirst National Bank announced that Thomas Quale has been promoted to executive vice president after more than four years overseeing the success and growth of the banking centers in the Sarasota area and commercial lending for the bank. The 40-year banking

Jowers

Jowers has more than 26 years of experience in the financial industry. Jowers has held leadership positions for several national banking institutions. Jowers received her undergraduate degree from Auburn University, her master’s in business administration from Florida State University, Panama City, Fla., and she is a certified financial planner.

Quale

industry veteran and 35-year Sarasota resident has served as BayFirst’s chief lending officer since 2021 and market president since 2018, utilizing his community banking knowledge, commercial lending experience, and community connections to drive loan and deposit growth and strengthen the bank’s partnerships in Sarasota and Manatee counties. Quale oversaw the purchase of the building BayFirst has rented in the Newtown area of Sarasota, with plans to convert what was previously a loan production office and financial resource center into a full-service banking center. In addition to his chief lending officer duties, Quale will continue to manage regional strategy, commercial and consumer business development, and local banking operations in Sarasota and Manatee County, as BayFirst looks to increase its presence in both. Quale is co-chair for the advisory board of the Children’s Cancer Center. He has previously served as a board member for the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce and the Economic Development Corporation. TAMPA Tampa Bay market. Trump has strong ties to the banking community in Florida, bringing more than 20 years of commercial and consumer banking experience in the Greater Tampa Bay area. Her previous roles include West Florida business development officer for Capital One, senior vice president of commercial banking for Seacoast Bank and senior vice president and Pinellas County executive for NorthStar Bank. Trump holds a Bachelor’s Degree in finance and economics from the University of South Florida and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. A lifelong resident of Pinellas County, Trump is passionate about giving back to her community. She has served 12 years on the board of Direction for Living, a non-profit providing services focused on healing and preventing trauma. Trump Republic Bank & Trust Company announced the addition of Katrina Trump as the Pinellas County Market Manager. Trump will lead a team of associates to implement Republic Bank’s strategic plan, while developing new business opportunities in the Greater

MidSouth Bancorporation announced Heidi Logue has been named as the new branch manager for the Tallahassee, Fla., location. As a Tallahassee area native with more than 20 years of experience, Logue has spent her entire financial career assisting North Florida and South

Logue

Georgia customers. Logue began in banking as a lender and progressed quickly to gain experience in branch operations by serving in key leadership positions, most recently as a regional manager. FORT MYERS Darlene Ottervanger has joined for assisting customers with personal and business banking transactions. Ottervanger is a seasoned banking professional with close to 40 years of banking experience working at various national and regional financial institutions. PANAMA CITY Ottervanger Sanibel Captiva Community Bank as a customer service representative at the bank’s Winkler Branch. She is responsible

ServisFirst Bank announced the addition of LJ Rigby to the Panama City office. Rigby joins the bank as a commercial banking officer. Prior to his employment with ServisFirst Bank, Rigby worked at Regions Bank for over 10 years and brings with him a wealth of knowledge

Rigby

and experience to his new role. During his time at Regions Bank, Rigby had several roles from business banking, branch management, and most recently as a mortgage loan officer. He was a top performer at Regions, being recognized as a Chairman’s Club winner. Rigby is a Panama City native who served honorably in the U.S. Navy as a Corpsman and was formerly the Treasurer of the East Bay Rotary Club. He is also a past member of the Military Affairs Committee and a former

26 — FLORIDA BANKING THE VOICE OF FLORIDA BANKING

KUDOS

Marine Bank’s Williams Elected to Board of Mortgage Bankers Association of Florida

S anibel Captiva Community Bank and Fort Myers High School celebrated the groundbreaking of the $1 million renovation of the school’s track and field facilities at Edison Stadium and Sam Sirianni Field. In February, the bank announced a $275,000 donation to Fort Myers High School to support the renovation, which fulfilled the $1 million needed to fund the project. In 2022, the Lee County School District approved the construction of a state-of-the-art stadium renovation including the installation of synthetic turf and a new rubberized track. In recognition of the bank’s donation, Fort Myers High School has given the bank exclusive corporate sponsorship of the school’s athletic complex, including Edison Stadium and Sam Sirianni Field. The bank joins other generous donors, including the National Football League, Dr. and Mrs. John Kagan and other community donors in successfully raising the funds needed to complete the project. For the last eight years, the field has not been able to maintain healthy grass and has undergone five major field renovations. Construction began in June and is expected to take three months to complete. “Operating local and donating local is part of Sanibel Captiva Community Bank’s ethos,” said Kyle DeCicco, president and CEO of Sanibel Captiva Community Bank. “We work and live here, and believe it is our M arine Bank announced that its Executive Vice President and Chief Lending Officer Shaun Williams has been elected to the Mortgage Bankers Association of Florida’s board of directors for a two-year term. The board, chaired by Yvette Clermont, sets the strategic direction for the association, which is the leading advocate for the real estate finance industry. The organization addresses some of the mortgage industry’s most pressing issues, including housing affordability, minority homeownership, diversifying the industry and regulatory and legislative activities. With 25 years of experience as a lending professional, Williams is responsible for managing the bank’s loan portfolio, building client relationships, and ensuring long term growth while minimizing risks. In 2022, Marine Bank closed more than $424 million

in commercial and residential loans — a 28 percent increase over 2021. “In his five years with Marine Bank, Shaun has proven his commitment to our community’s business owners and homeowners,” said Bill Penney, president and CEO of Marine Bank. “His unique insight and network

Shaun Williams

of contacts has enabled Marine Bank to introduce our exceptional service to a broader audience of clients.”

Sanibel Captiva Community Bank, Fort Myers High School break ground on track and field facility renovation

responsibility to support our community. Edison Stadium and Sam Sirianni Field truly represent the rich history and traditions we have here in Southwest Florida.” Fort Myers High School opened in 1911, making it the oldest school in Lee County and one of the oldest schools in the state of Florida. It offers students the International Baccalaureate Program, Advanced Placement, dual enrollment, vocational, honors and general education classes. The school also has 30 FHSAA athletic teams and is rich in traditions. Sanibel Captiva Community Bank and Fort Myers High School celebrated the groundbreaking of the $1 million renovation of the school’s track and field facilities on Friday, June 16 at Edison Stadium and Sam Sirianni Field.

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