Bankers Serving the State of Georgia

With the 2022 elections behind us, there are more than fifty new lawmakers serving in the General Assembly. Several of these freshmen are already familiar with the banking industry, currently serving as a director on a bank board or employed by a bank. Many veteran lawmakers are also affiliated with a community bank.

In preparing for this publication, I asked each of these legislators the same question: What tool or skill have you learned from banking that helps you in your legislative role? Any unique perspectives? Below are their answers and other critical information about each of them. Freshman lawmakers are listed first.

A successful government relations program is always focused on stakeholder education. With this group of well-respected new and returning lawmakers, the community banking community has advocates well-positioned within the House and Senate. Together with our staff and membership, I look forward to continuing to educate other legislators about the critical role our community banks play in their districts.

Community bankers are as diversified as the communities as they serve. Since legislators are a representation of their communities, it is not surprising that these bankers have had and will continue to have an impact in the overall well-being of Georgia.

Community banking and the legislative process are more similar than one may think. Finding out what the true needs of your community are and negotiating a solution that works best for all parties by listening, learning, and working together to strengthen where things began.

Rep. Scott Hilton

SouthState Bank, N.A. Senior Vice President, Commercial Banking Vice Chairman, Creative Arts & Entertainment

I talk to small business owners every day and hear all of their everyday concerns. We deal with numbers every day as a banker and it helps me dive into the budget discussions and any discussion on tax credits.

• Previously served in House from 2017-2019.

• Elected in 2022.

• Served as Executive Director of the Georgians First Commission during Governor Kemp’s first term.

Sen. Mike Hodges

Ameris Bank President of the Southeast Georgia Coast Market Secretary, Banking & Financial Institutions

The tool or skill learned in 48 years of banking that helps me most in the Legislature is the ability to listen and learn.

• Elected in 2022 and named one of Governor Kemp’s floor leaders in his first term.

• Founding Director and Senior Officer of First Bank of Brunswick.

Century Bank & Trust, Milledgeville

Incoming Chair of Independent Community Bankers of America®