Attorney Robert E. James, II, of Carver State Bank of Savannah was elected Chairman of the National Bankers Association (NBA), the Washington, DC headquartered trade association that represents our nation's minority-owned banks. The election took place on October 13, 2020, during the business session of the NBA Convention that was held virtually. James, II succeeds Kenneth Kelly of First Independence Bank of Detroit, Michigan who chaired the Association for 2 years. James, II previously served as NBA Board Secretary and Legislative Committee Chair.

Founded in 1927, Association’s membership includes banks that are owned by African Americans, Hispanic-Americans, Asian-Americans, Native Americans and women. Recognized as the voice of minority banking in America, the NBA’s mission is to create an inclusive financial services industry and a vibrant business environment for minority financial institutions, their customers and the communities they serve. Member banks are located in twenty-two states and the District of Columbia.

While working as an associate in the Atlanta firm of Troutman Sanders, James, II first entered banking 20 years ago when he was elected a Director of Carver State Bank. In addition to serving as a member of the board, he is the bank’s Director of Strategic Initiatives and President of the Carver Community Development Entity (CDE), a subsidiary of the bank’sholding company that successfully deployed Carver’s 2017 allocation of $30 million in New Markets Tax Credits (NMTCs) throughout Georgia, creating 389 permanent jobs and 227 construction jobs.

On July 15, 2020, Carver Financial Corporation became the recipient of a second allocation of $50 million in NMTCs from the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund.

In addition to his leadership roles with the National Bankers Association, James, II is also a Director of the Community Development Bankers Association.

After graduating from Savannah Country Day School in 1988, James, II earned the Bachelor of Arts Degree at Howard University in Washington, DC, in 1992. He earned the Juris Doctor degree at Harvard Law School, Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1995.

He is the father of Lauren Connally James, age 15.