Georgia Bankers Association

What Georgia Bankers Association does

Georgia Bankers Association (GBA) is a non-profit trade association founded in 1893 (corporate history note: one firmographic field lists 1892) and headquartered at 1475 Peachtree St. NE, Atlanta, GA. It represents banks operating in the state of Georgia, providing state and federal advocacy, professional development, peer networking, and a curated portfolio of endorsed products and services to its member institutions. GBA also administers two public deposit collateral pool programs (Georgia State Pledging Pool and Georgia Secure Deposit Program) on behalf of the Office of the State Treasurer.

GBA operates three wholly-owned subsidiaries that constitute its core product surface: GBA Insurance Trust, Inc. (health, life, and disability benefits for member banks, established 1965), GBA Retirement Services, Inc. (pension, profit-sharing, and Section 401(k) plans, established in the 1970s and expanded in 1987), and GBA Services Inc. (endorsed strategic partner distribution). A co-owned entity, Compliance Alliance, delivers subscription-based regulatory compliance advisory, assurance services, and fractional virtual compliance officers to member banks.

Revenue is not publicly disclosed; GBA describes itself as "run by bankers with a focus on service, not profit." Recurring revenue streams include membership dues (subscription), GBA Insurance Trust and GBA Retirement Services premiums/contributions (subscription), professional development fees (conferences, schools, webinars), and revenue share from approximately 20 endorsed strategic partners across compliance, credit risk, insurance, payments, talent, appraisal, and operational categories. Distribution is direct (staff-led member engagement plus event-driven education) and via channel partners (BankTalentHQ for jobs, PointeNorth and others for insurance broker services). GBA operates 25 banker-led boards and committees with 300+ annual volunteer participants, functioning as the central coordination node for Georgia's community banking industry.

Name

Georgia Bankers Association

Legal name

Georgia Bankers Association

Website

https://gabankers.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1893

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

The Georgia Bankers Association is a non-profit trade association founded in 1893 and headquartered in Atlanta that advocates for, educates, and provides insurance, retirement, and endorsed strategic-partner services to banks operating in the state of Georgia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Banking Trade Association Services

NAICS

Health and Welfare Funds (52512), Pension Funds (52511), Other Insurance Funds (525190)

SIC

Insurance Agents, Brokers & Service (6411), Accident & Health Insurance (6321), Life Insurance (6311)

akta.pro primary industry

Reconciliations, Controls & Financial Operations (GL, Nostro/Vostro, Suspense) (FSABALAI)

Keywords

• Banking trade association
• Bank advocacy services
• Banking compliance training
• Bank insurance programs
• Retirement plan services

Headquarters

HQ city

Atlanta

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: GBA generates revenue through annual membership dues from Georgia banks of all sizes. The association is run by bankers with a focus on service, not profit.
2. GBA Insurance Trust: Established in 1965, the Insurance Trust provides health, life, and retirement plans to member banks. Run by bankers for bankers with no profit motive.
3. GBA Retirement Services: Since the 1970s, GBA has provided pension and 401(k) plans to members. Banks of all sizes, particularly community banks, receive affordable retirement plan options.
4. Strategic Partner Programs: GBA earns revenue through endorsed strategic partner relationships with vendors serving the banking industry, providing member discounts and GBA revenue sharing.
5. Professional Development: Revenue from conferences, schools, seminars, webinars, and certification programs for banking professionals.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

GBA is a member-owned trade association that represents Georgia's banking industry through state and federal advocacy, regulatory engagement, and professional education, and operates shared back-office services for its member banks. Its subsidiary, GBA Insurance Trust, provides group property/casualty insurance pooling, while GBA Retirement Services administers 401(k) and ESOP retirement plans for bank employees. Additional offerings include an online bank directory, compensation and benefits surveys, public-deposit collateral pool programs (e.g., the Georgia State Pledging Pool and Georgia Secure Deposit Program), career and talent services, and a co-owned shared compliance platform (Compliance Alliance).

Product overview

Georgia Bankers Association operates as a member-driven industry association offering a portfolio of member services and endorsed strategic partner products. The core offerings include GBA Insurance Trust (health/life insurance established 1965) and GBA Retirement Services (pension/401(k) plans since 1970s). GBA also administers Public Deposit Collateral Pool Programs including the Georgia State Pledging Pool and Secure Deposit Program. Member support services include GBA Career Solutions (job bank), GBA Bank Directory Online, Compensation and Benefits Survey, Holiday Closing Decals, Thumbprint Check Fraud Deterrent Program, and the Bank Record Retention Guide. Strategic partner products include credit risk/compliance solutions (Abrigo, Compliance Alliance, NContracts), insurance products (ABA Insurance Services, PointeNorth, EBS, KeyState, Holmes-Shaw), lending solutions (ServisFirst credit cards, Dart Appraisal), merchant services (Banc Card of America, Discover Debit), operational services (Shred-it, Office Depot), marketing services (Financial Marketing Solutions), tax credits (Monarch Private Capital), talent recruitment (BankTalentHQ), overdraft compliance (ADVANTAGE), and retail checking optimization (StrategyCorps).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• GBA Insurance Trust: Health and life insurance plans for GBA member banks, established in 1965
• GBA Retirement Services
• GBA Services Inc.

Products and services

• GBA Membership Annual membership offering for Georgia-chartered and state-national banks, providing access to advocacy, professional development, networking, and member-priced shared services.
• GBA Insurance Trust Group property and casualty insurance pooling program operated through a GBA subsidiary, providing member banks with bank-specific insurance coverage at group-pooled rates.
• GBA Retirement Services Retirement plan administration services (including 401(k) and ESOP plans) offered through a GBA subsidiary for member banks and their employees, with custom-quoted pricing.
• Compliance Alliance Shared, subscription-based compliance platform co-owned by GBA, providing member banks with regulatory tracking, compliance resources, and audit support.
• GBA Bank Directory Online Online directory of Georgia banks providing contact and firmographic data for member banks and other users.
• Compensation and Benefits Survey Industry compensation and benefits survey offered with tiered pricing: discounted for participating banks and a higher fee for non-participants purchasing the published results.
• Georgia State Pledging Pool Public-deposit collateralization program that allows member banks to pledge collateral for Georgia public funds held on deposit.
• Georgia Secure Deposit Program Collateralization program providing above-FDIC insurance coverage for uninsured depositors at participating member banks.
• GBA Career Solutions Bank-specific job board and career services platform that connects member banks with banking industry job seekers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 71% reduction in check fraud reported by a major Georgia bank using the Thumbprint Signature Program
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Monarch Private CapitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGBA endorses Monarch Private Capital as a strategic partner for state and federal tax credits including Low Income Housing, Film & Entertainment, Alternative Energy, and Historic Rehabilitation. MPC has facilitated over 600 projects generating $3 billion in tax credits since 2005.
• Public Deposit Collateralization PoolscoreOthersGBA administers two public deposit collateral pool programs for the Office of the State Treasurer: the Georgia State Pledging Pool (Single Bank Pool) and the Georgia Secure Deposit Program (Multibank Contingent Liability Pool). Programs manage collateral for public deposits.
• AbrigocoreTechnology or IntegrationGBA Strategic Partner offering credit risk and ALM solutions, loan origination software, and portfolio management tools for community banks. Provides 15% discount plus additional 5% per additional bundle purchase.
• Compliance AlliancecoreTechnology or IntegrationGBA co-owns Compliance Alliance providing subscription-based regulatory compliance advisory with live hotlines, document reviews, assurance services, and virtual compliance officers for member banks.
• NContractscoreTechnology or IntegrationGBA Strategic Partner providing comprehensive vendor, compliance, risk management, and lending compliance solutions. Serves over 4,000 financial institutions with cloud-based software and expert services.
• BankTalentHQcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGBA Strategic Partner providing premier talent management site for financial industry careers. Partnership with 37+ state banking associations enables regional job pools and career networking for Georgia banks.
• Executive Benefit Specialists (EBS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGBA Strategic Partner specializing in Bank Owned Life Insurance (BOLI) programs, providing implementation, plan design, administrative services, and BOLI Assessment Reports for member banks.
• PointeNorth InsurancecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGBA-endorsed full-service insurance agency providing personal and business insurance solutions. Serves as broker for GBA-endorsed ABA Insurance Program covering D&O, bond, property, casualty, and cyber insurance.
• ABA Insurance ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGBA Strategic Partner providing bond, D&O, cyber liability, property & casualty, and excess liability insurance to financial institutions. Has provided over $100 million in cumulative distributions to eligible banks over 34 years.
• Holmes-ShawminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGBA Insurance Trust representative since 1965 offering medical, life, disability, dental, and voluntary insurance products. Now part of PointeNorth Insurance Group.
• KeyState CompaniescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLargest provider of captive management and investment portfolio services to community banks. Offers Bank Captive Program for banks with over $1 billion in assets, providing enterprise risk management and insurance savings.
• Dart AppraisalcoreTechnology or IntegrationGBA Strategic Partner providing nationwide appraisal management services with offices in Georgia and Michigan. Founded 1993, operates in all 50 states with panel of licensed appraisers living within 8 miles of subject properties.
• ODP Business SolutionscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGBA Strategic Partner providing Office Depot group purchasing program with discounts up to 80% off MSLP on over 800 frequently ordered products. Available to members, associate members, and bank counsel.
• Shred-itminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGBA Strategic Partner offering document destruction, hard drive destruction, and media destruction services. Provides 30% discounts on destruction services and 35% discount for Community Shred Days.
• Financial Marketing Solutions (FMS)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGBA Strategic Partner providing niche branding and marketing services for financial institutions. Helps banks maximize marketing dollars and deliver measurable results through strategic discovery and customized tools.
• Thumbprint Check Fraud Deterrent ProgramcoreOthersGBA program providing fingerprinting touch pads to deter check fraud. Participating banks report average 71% reduction in check fraud. No database maintained; prints shared with law enforcement only in fraud cases.
• Banc Card of AmericacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGBA Strategic Partner established in 1997 providing merchant services and credit card processing with local face-to-face support. Six regional representatives cover Georgia with relationship-centric approach.
• Discover DebitcoreTechnology or IntegrationGBA Strategic Partner offering superior economics, simplified rules, fee transparency, and unmatched program flexibility for debit programs. Features fraud protection and convenience for cardholders.
• ADVANTAGE, powered by JMFAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGBA-endorsed overdraft compliance service provider with industry-leading 100% written compliance guarantee. Offers account acquisition, retention services, contract negotiation, and FinTech strategy services.
• StrategyCorpscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGBA-endorsed provider of retail checking services generating average $500,000 new revenue per billion of assets. Offers prescriptive analysis of checking portfolios and products for consumer engagement.
• ServisFirst BankcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGBA-endorsed agent credit card program used by 90 community banks. Banks issue credit cards with their branding; ServisFirst handles underwriting, servicing, collections, and shares 20% of net profit with member banks.
• Pearl MeyerminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGBA Associate Member conducting annual Georgia Banking Compensation Survey providing detailed data on banking compensation and pay practices. 2024 Survey offered in partnership with GBA.
• Partners Benefit GroupminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMarketing and service partner for GBA Insurance Trust, handling inquiries and support for member benefit questions.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• American Bankers Association: The national trade association for the U.S. banking industry. It is a broader incumbent in the same industry space as GBA, offering overlapping advocacy, education, and insurance services (including the ABA Insurance Services endorsed by GBA) but at a national rather than state level.
• Independent Community Bankers of America: National trade association exclusively representing community banks. ICBA is a broader incumbent that competes for community bank attention and advocacy influence, with overlapping services in compliance, education, and insurance that parallel GBA's member offerings.

Direct peers

• Florida Bankers Association: Direct state-level peer operating an almost identical business model: state banking association providing advocacy, professional development, insurance, and endorsed strategic partner services to member banks within Florida. The most directly comparable trade association in the Southeast.
• Alabama Bankers Association: Direct state-level peer serving Alabama banks with the same suite of advocacy, education, and member services. Comparable to GBA in mission, structure, and product mix (membership, education, strategic partner endorsements).
• South Carolina Bankers Association: Direct state-level peer serving South Carolina banks with advocacy, education, conferences, and member services analogous to GBA. Same model, same target customer (state-chartered and national community banks), and overlapping strategic partner ecosystem.
• North Carolina Bankers Association: Direct state-level peer providing advocacy, professional development, and member services to North Carolina banks. Operates with a very similar business model and product set as GBA, including education, insurance, and endorsed partners.
• Tennessee Bankers Association: Direct state-level peer representing Tennessee banks, with parallel offerings in advocacy, education, compliance, and member benefits. Closely comparable in size, mission, and revenue model to GBA.
• Bankers Association for Finance and Trade: Trade association serving the banking and trade finance industry, with a similar advocacy, education, and member-services model. Broader geographic footprint but comparable structure to a state-level banking trade association like GBA.

Others

• Bankers' Bank: Bankers' Bank is a banker-owned correspondent banking services provider serving community banks across multiple states. While not a direct peer in the trade-association sense, it serves the same community-bank customer base and competes for share-of-wallet on services adjacent to GBA's strategic partner offerings.

Emerging players

• Compliance Alliance: Subscription-based regulatory compliance advisory co-owned by GBA. Provides compliance hotlines, document reviews, assurance services, and virtual compliance officers. Sits at the intersection of GBA's existing business and the broader bank-compliance services market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/GABankers
• Facebookfacebook.com/GeorgiaBankersAssociation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/georgia-bankers-association

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Georgia Bankers Association