Florida Banking August/September 2024

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 six times annually. Subscription price is $50 per year for nonmembers. Postmaster, send address changes to Florida Bankers Association, P.O. Box 1360, Tallahassee, FL 32302. Copyright 2024 Kathy Kraninger President and Chief Executive Officer Florida Bankers Association kkraninger@floridabankers.com Pamela Ricco Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer A

THE MAGAZINE OF THE FLORIDA BANKERS ASSOCIATION

VOLUME 39

NUMBER 7 AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2024

ON THE COVER 8 - - - FirstBank Florida: Fostering Strong Community Relationships CONTENTS 4 --------- Chair’s Message: Highlights of Our 136th Annual Meeting 6 - - - - - President's Perspective: Rebuilding Trust to Counter the Regulatory Tsunami 12 -------- Trust and Wealth Management Mini Feature: United Southern Bank’s Trust Department: Deep Community Involvement and Service 14 - - BancServ Endorsed Partner: What Financial Institutions Should Look For in an HSA Partnership 17 - - - - - - Silent Auction Donors 18 - - - - - Government Relations: Elections Will Be Here Soon 20 - - - - Faces of the Foundation: Meet Rebekah Refford 22 - - - - Affordable Housing Needs All Hands on Deck 24 - - - - - - Personal Transactions 26 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Kudos 29 - - - - - - - FBA Staff Spotlight: Suellen Wilkins 30 - - - - - - - - Upcoming Events 31 - - - - - - Advertising Directory 31 - - - - - - - - - -Did You Know?

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Florida Bankers Association pricco@floridabankers.com Suellen Wilkins Director of Communications Florida Bankers Association swilkins@floridabankers.com

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Derek Jones Chair

6

Keith Costello Chair-Elect

Jose Cueto Immediate Past Chair

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On the Cover: FirstBank Florida Executive Vice President and Florida Business Director Jose M. Lacasa

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

Photos by Steven Martine Photography

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