Members of the Georgia Bankers Association (GBA) have elected and installed officers and six new members to the Leadership GBA Board of Directors for the 2026-2027 program year.

Zach Giddens, senior lender and executive vice president at SunMark Community Bank in Warner Robins, was installed as chair. Members elected Luke Lanier, city president at Durden Banking Company in Metter, as chair-elect. Bert Durand, senior vice president at Citizens Bank of Georgia in Cumming, was elected vice chair. 

“Leadership GBA continues to play an important role in developing and connecting emerging leaders across Georgia’s banking industry,” said Susan Moss, GBA chairman and president and CEO, Planters & Citizens Bank, Camilla. “This year’s board reflects a combination of talent, perspective and enthusiasm, and I’m confident they will continue building on the program’s strong foundation while preparing future leaders for success in our industry.”

A section of the Georgia Bankers Association, Leadership GBA supports the advancement of career bankers by providing leadership development training, serving as a forum through which career bankers can network and exchange ideas and promote industry advocacy activities at the local, state and federal levels.

In addition, five new board members representing the association’s geographic divisions have been elected by their peers or appointed to At Large positions. They are:

• North Group: Rick Tatum, executive vice president and chief operating officer, Northeast Georgia Bank, Lavonia. 
• Cole Pitts, Moultrie market president at First National Bank, will serve a one-year term representing the North Group to fulfill the unexpired term of Bert Durand.
• Central Group: Rachel Thompson, chief financial officer, Bank of Newington.
• South Group: Matthew (PK) Huling, Bulloch County president, Citizens Bank of the South, Statesboro.
• At-Large: Josh Crews, vice president, retail/consumer/mortgage lending, Bank of Dudley, Dublin.

Tim Finney, vice president and correspondent sales manager at ServisFirst Bank, Statham, was elected to the Leadership GBA Board of Directors as an Associate Member representative.