North Carolina’s banking industry contains a wealth of knowledge, experience and insight. Whether you belong to a larger institution or one of our state’s many community banks, everyone can benefit from the chance to discuss issues with a group of like-minded peers. By joining a peer group, you gain access to a professional network exchange ideas and insights in a confidential setting. With the help of our member engagement team, these peer groups will also allow bank members to further engage with and gain a better understanding of the North Carolina Bankers Association.

All peer groups will meet on a quarterly basis. Join these facilitated platforms to share information, exchange ideas and discuss important issues with peers!

Chief Financial Officers Peer Group

Chaired by: Dave Sauls, Southern Bank & Trust Company

The role of the bank CFO/Controller is becoming increasingly challenging as interest margins are compressed, the accounting, tax and regulatory environment remain in a state of flux and competition is intensified.

Chief Credit Officers Peer Group

Chaired by: John Parker, KS Bank | Staff Liaison: Rocky Herring

Join this discussion with fellow Chief Credit Officers and similar roles. This peer group will facilitate conversations on essential information to make their banks and lenders more profitable and competitive.

Human Resources Peer Group

Chaired by: Amanda Lloyd, North State Bank | Staff Liaison: Lauren Perry

The role of HR administrators became even more crucial with the COVID-19 pandemic. This group will meet to discuss how similar financial institutions are coping with evolving federal guidelines and suggested HR policies, such as navigating employee sick leave, keeping the work environment safe, and the vaccine rollout with the different phases.

Bank Trainers Peer Group

Chaired by: Ryan Morgan, North State Bank | Staff Liaison: McKenna Gorham

This group will meet to discuss the emerging trends in the training and bank education sector, such as virtual training, hot topics in the industry, and hosting safe, in-person training.

Compliance Peer Group

Chaired by: Camilla ‘Cammy’ Downing, TowneBank | Staff Liaison: Lynn Johnson

Compliance in the banking industry is always evolving and it’s important for compliance officers to stay informed with new legislation and regulations coming out of D.C. This peer group is intended for compliance, security, and BSA officers.

Bank Security Peer Group

Chaired by: Bill Galipeau, Truist | Staff Liaison: Nathan Batts

This peer group will host discussions on both physical and cyber security within the financial institutions, along with emerging threats and how to combat them.

Mutual Peer Group

Chaired by: Mark Yount, Belmont Savings Bank | Staff Liaison: Lynn Johnson

The mutual peer group, open to employees of mutual depository institutions, will serve as a gathering place to discuss issues unique to mutually-owned banks as well as important industry trends.

Bank Marketing Peer Group

Chaired by: Beth West, First Carolina Bank | Staff Liaison: Blair Kennedy

This group will provide bank marketers with a platform to discuss technology, strategy and results in a confidential setting.

Risk Officer Peer Group

Chaired by: Sandra Gaskell, Piedmont Federal 

This peer group will focus on risk management issues at the bank and other duties of risk officers.

Retail Peer Group

Chaired by: Abby Dela Cruz, First Carolina Bank | Staff Liaison: Blair Kennedy

In recent years, the retail banking landscape has undergone a major transformation. Join this group to discuss hot topics and important issues in retail banking with your peers.

Carolinas CRA Resource Collaborative

Co-Chaired by: Sedrick McCallum, SouthState Bank & Lethia Mann, Regions Bank | Staff Liaison: David Bennett

The Carolinas CRA Resource Collaborative is a networking group for bank CRA professionals in North and South Carolina. The Collaborative meets several times per year, providing a forum for CRA professionals from banks of all sizes to learn, educate, collaborate and share CRA practices in order to better develop CRA programs that meet the needs of the communities they serve.