Briley C. Edwards, Vice President, Commercial Lender   with Colony Bank, Albany Market  attended the 2017 on-campus session of the Georgia Banking School as a first-year student.  Established in 1961, the Georgia Banking School is a three-year specialized school run by the Georgia Bankers Association. The purpose of the school is to prepare bank managers to effectively and profitably serve their hometowns by developing a thorough understanding of banking practices, regulations and management principles.

During the course of the three-year program, participants complete an annual one-week residence session at the University of Georgia in Athens as well as home study problems between sessions. The school provides a well-balanced curriculum featuring UGA faculty members, veteran bankers and other industry experts and specialists.

“For the past 56 years this school has been a highly effective resource for developing the leadership talents of Georgia bankers,” said Banking School Director Darron Burnette, CEO of Sea Island Bank, a division of Synovus, in Statesboro. “It is common for graduates of the program to go on to become senior executives and bank CEOs as their careers grow.”

Established in 1892, the Georgia Bankers Association is the trade and professional organization representing Georgia’s commercial banks and thrift institutions. For 125 years, the GBA has provided Georgia’s banks with top-quality professional development, revenue-enhancing products and services, government relations and public advocacy.