Peach Buzz Spring 2026

For fraudsters, cheating people and stealing money is a business. Unfortunately, check fraud is on the rise … but not at Peach State Bank. In fact, our bank had zero check fraud in 2025, thanks to a highly skilled fraud team, superior technology and ongoing customer education.

According to our Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) Officer and Fraud Analyst Pamela Willis, Peach State Bank was presented with 295 fraudulent checks last year, totaling $1.5 million. However, not one was paid by the bank. Rather, the fraud was detected up front by the bank’s sophisticated Q6 Cyber digital underground monitoring, and prevented from payment by our Positive Pay fraud prevention service. Positive Pay flags check discrepancies, which allows customers to review and approve (or disapprove) payment within 24 hours.

“We investigate every one of these checks to see how they were altered, where they were intercepted and what steps we can take to protect our customers and the bank,” Pamela says. “Unfortunately, much of the fraud is happening as mailed checks make their way through the postal service. Typically, the checks are stolen and the account information is sold on the dark web. This theft can be devastating for individuals and small businesses.”

The bank’s fraud prevention team is committed to educating customers about how to deter fraud and protect their assets. Join us at the Spout Springs Library on Thursday, February 26th from 11:30am to 1pm where you’ll learn the essential red flags of financial fraud.

In the meantime, if you have any questions about check fraud, Pamela welcomes your inquiries at pamelawillis@peachstatebank.com

By Ron Quinn | President and CEO

The economy has thrown a lot of surprise punches in the past year, forcing businesses here and across the country to be ever more resilient and efficient – much like the recent football season for my beloved Georgia Bulldogs.

The Dawgs fielded their youngest team in over a decade amid the new world of NIL deals and the transfer portal. Yet, the team still fell just a few yards short of potentially playing for another national championship.

In a different arena, businesses have been similarly challenged this past year, but workers once again demonstrated the power of American ingenuity.

The rise in U.S. tariffs – particularly their unpredictability – caused a lot of stress for companies sourcing materials from imports. One example is a local customer at our bank who manufactures scoreboards for sports stadiums. Seemingly overnight, they faced a 125 percent tariff on circuit boards made in China. It was either lose money or cancel contracts.

It wasn’t easy, but the company held on until trade negotiations dropped their tariff rate to around 10 percent. Now they’re marching full speed ahead to restock under more favorable pricing before the tariff winds shift again.

Local homebuilders have faced similar challenges from higher mortgage rates. Sales have been flat but they’ve adapted by pulling back on spec homes and patiently building more custom homes. As mortgage rates finally approach the neighborhood of the low 6 percent range, I’m certain that housing inventory and home buying will begin to increase by this spring.

Blue Ridge Connector

In its recent local economic report, the Greater Hall Chamber points to a robust 2026. Leading the way is the much-talked-about Blue Ridge Connector, an inland port that will connect our region by rail to Savannah later this year. Already, the construction has benefited hometown companies like Carroll Daniel Construction and Simpson Trucking & Grading. The facility is estimated to create thousands of more jobs in Hall County and regionwide, and you can bet many more businesses will pop up here to support this economic engine.

Barring a war or other unforeseen crisis, I, too, am confident of a strong economy – at least through the first half of this new year. And even with the inevitable fumble or two, there’s no doubt that our business leaders here and nationwide will continue to push for the goal line and ultimately score in this new age of change and adaptability.

Affordable housing is hard to find. But for three decades, Habitat for Humanity of Hall County has stepped in to bring people together “to build homes, community and hope.”

“We’re a hand-up, not a hand-out program,” says Executive Director Lila Weaver. “We help hard-working, low-income families build self-reliance and purchase their own homes.”

Qualifying for a Habitat home is a rigorous process. For example, applicants must meet citizenship, residency and income thresholds, as well as complete 240 hours of volunteer work. After their house is constructed, Habitat homeowners assume an interest-free mortgage loan.

“To date, we’ve built 72 houses, and — with lots of help — we’re planning for four more in 2026,” explains Weaver.

In addition to donations of time, talent and money, volunteers are needed on build sites, and in Habitat’s ReStore. “We’re always seeking furniture, home goods, and building materials,” Weaver explains. “Just call to schedule a pickup.”

Habitat also has a program called Aging in Place, which helps low- and moderate-income homeowners with home repairs and maintenance, and they’ve recently launched a new event and meeting space, Habitat Hall, available to community members and groups.

To learn more about Habitat for Humanity of Hall County, visit www.habitathallcounty.org

The numbers below represent Peach State Bank’s partnership with the nonprofits of our local communities – from Gainesville to Braselton – through our investment in donations and volunteer hours.

These local organizations bank with Peach State. In turn, our bank lends out their deposits to support local businesses and the economy.

In addition to our time, talents and financial support, our bank donates ALL income from our after-hours parking fees at our Gainesville location to support these 30 churches, 38 nonprofit organizations, and 22 schools.

Like a grand “circle of life,” it’s a perfect illustration of how Peach State and community banking work in harmony for the good of our hometown region.

Kristi Perry has been in the banking business for 20+ years — and she loves her job as head teller in Peach State Bank’s Gainesville branch. Whether she’s supervising the lobby, helping customers, managing the bank’s team of tellers, or coordinating cash from the Federal Reserve, Kristi’s enthusiasm and expertise always shine through.

A Gainesville native, Kristi has been with Peach State since 2018. “I really enjoy our customers,” says Kristi. “I understand them, and I know the fastest way to get their needs taken care of. I also just like chatting with them and hearing about their families.”

Kristi believes in the power of community banking. “When people call, we answer,” she says. “Customers feel comfortable asking us questions and they trust us with their finances. Our whole team is here in North Georgia, with all of our decision-making right here in the branch. I think that sets us apart.”

When she’s not working, Kristi spends her time on three favorite pastimes: football, shopping and flying. “I just love to watch football — especially the Georgia Bulldogs. And I love shopping with my daughter and flying with my son, who is chief flight instructor at North Georgia Aviation.”

Next time you’re in the Gainesville branch, say hi to Kristi!

Directly depositing your payroll checks into your checking account is a smart way to ensure immediate access to your funds: no waiting, no physical payroll checks to manage and no trip to the bank. And though we always enjoy seeing you in person at our Peach State Bank branches, we’re happy to offer you a simple direct deposit tool — Pinwheel Switch — that lets you move your direct deposit to Peach State Bank hassle free.

With just a few clicks, you can automate your payroll check deposit. This is especially helpful for customers who switch jobs or payroll providers. For new Peach State customers, you can easily set up direct deposit when you open your checking account.

We now offer a new service that makes managing your recurring payments even easier! Through Online Banking, you can seamlessly switch your automatic debit accounts to Peach State—no phone calls, paperwork, or hassle.

Our system identifies your existing recurring ACH payments and helps you transfer them, so they’re all paid directly from your bank account. This means your monthly bills—such as utilities, subscriptions, insurance, and loan payments—can be consolidated and managed in one secure place.

With automatic debits through Peach State, you can say goodbye to manual payments and late fees. Your payments are processed automatically on their due dates, keeping your account in good standing without any extra effort on your part.

To learn more about Pinwheel Switch, visit one of our branches or our website www.peachstatebank.com, or give us a call at your convenience.

We are pleased to announce that Peach State Bank was named to Newsweek’s list of America’s Best Regional Banks and Credit Unions 2026.

Our ranking — an impressive number 37 out of 500 — highlights our institution’s reliability as well as our support for local businesses and community projects. As the announcement said, “With deep roots in the regions they serve, these institutions build personal relationships with customers, allowing them to tailor their support to local needs.”

The recognition was based on credit quality, profitability, net loans and leases, press coverage and a large-scale independent customer survey of more than 71,000 U.S. citizens, 1.9 million social media reviews, and 129 million social app reviews. We are happy to have earned the confidence of our treasured customers and are committed to being your trusted financial institution.

Thank you for your support!

_{As reported by Plant-A Insights Group for Newsweek.}