Peach Buzz Summer 2026

Have you heard our big news? Peach State Bank is merging with our Hall County neighbor, United Community Bank, to expand our services and locations further across the region.

United Community Banks, which is publicly traded (NYSE: UCB), announced its acquisition of Peach State on April 21 in a $100 million merger that catapults United into Hall County’s No. 1 bank in deposit share. Together, our two banks currently hold approximately 26 percent of customer deposits in Hall County.

Our president Ron Quinn has been named chairman of United Community Bank-Hall County. He will be working closely on transition plans with Jack Keener, United’s state president for North Georgia, and Mitch Ralston, president of United’s Hall County bank.

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“This is a perfect culture fit that was extremely important in our decision to merge,” Quinn said.

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“United Community Bank reinvests its Hall County deposits back into the community just like Peach State, and we both feature the region’s top bankers. This is a win-win for our community as well as our customers and shareholders.”

For customers, the transition should be seamless because both banks share many of the same products and services. You’ll also benefit from more branch locations in Gainesville, Oakwood and Clermont, while United’s customers in South Hall will now have access to our new Braselton location.

“A lot of customers know Peach State for our special events such as the annual BLT sandwich luncheon, and you’ll be happy to know that United will continue to support these popular gatherings,” Quinn said.

As Peach State has grown in size, it was only a matter of time before we expanded outside our Hall County base. “With this local merger, we achieved our growth strategy while both banks are fulfilling their mission as community banks.”

You won’t see many changes such as new signage until early next year. But we will continue to keep you informed throughout our transition in this newsletter and on our website.

By Ron Quinn | President and CEO

Did you ever play “Connect the Dots” puzzles as a kid? Hidden pictures were revealed by connecting a series of numbered dots in 1-2-3 succession.

In today’s economy, consumers and businesspeople would be well served to draw lessons from that popular childhood game. From GNP to interest rates, we see a lot of numbers in the news, but very few people truly understand or put them to good use in their financial decisions. You should.

In early April, the war in Iran was in full swing. Despite its distance from our shores, the ripple effect from surging oil prices has had a tremendous impact on our economy, trickling down to households and companies in our own community. While we pray the conflict ends soon, it is critical that we follow the numbers ever closer.

Keep Watch Over Personal Debt

Here in Hall County, consumer spending is up, a positive sign. However, just like the rest of the country, overdrafts on checking accounts have doubled. In my committee work with the Independent Community Bankers of America, I also hear banks reporting more customers dipping into their home equity lines (HELOC) to pay off credit cards.

These trends are concerning. In your own home, keep an eye on the U.S. prime rate because it will forecast your future HELOC rate. When the Fed raises the Federal Funds rate – the measuring stick of our economy – the prime rate follows in tandem, bumping up the interest you pay on consumer loans.

Thinking about buying a home? Pay attention to the 10-year Treasury bill. If yields go up, so goes your mortgage rate. Plan accordingly.

Looking for a new job? Follow unemployment rates. Locally, your chances of finding a job and negotiating a decent paycheck are a lot better than the rest of the country where unemployment is almost double our rate here at home.

Business Cash Flow is Key

On the business side, companies should follow their own financials carefully to manage cash flow. That’s most important. At the same time, you can’t ignore the outside world.

• Interest rates: Bankers watch T-bills and other financial predictors every day. Businesses should be just as vigilant. Rates on loans and lines of credit directly impact cash flow.
• Inflation: Before the Iranian conflict, the cost-of-living index was tracking downward. Until the war is behind us, companies like homebuilders and manufacturers especially need to watch rising fuel prices and raw-material costs.
• Supply chain: Stay ahead of disruptions that cause delays in your product shipments. Have a contingency plan to keep your inventory well-stocked.
• Cybersecurity: Yes, scams can happen to you, too. Work with your bank to protect your assets and operations from digital theft.
• Technology Investments: When you do spend money, invest wisely in technology such as robotics and AI to make your business more efficient.
• Strategic planning: Few businesses have a business plan beyond the next day. A three-to five-year strategy is critical and should be updated annually.
• Cash reserves: Finally, build your cash reserves to guard against downturns and other disruptions in your business environment.

Just like those picture puzzles from childhood, keep a steady eye on the numbers. It may not be as fun, but you’ll certainly begin to see the big picture (and clearer focus) no matter what the world throws your way.

Every year, hundreds of children in Hall and Dawson Counties enter foster care due to abuse and neglect. In 2025, Hall-Dawson CASA provided trained, screened and supervised volunteers to advocate for 387 of these children as they navigated the court system. Last year, thanks to CASA volunteers, the organization saved the county nearly $600,000 that would have been spent on court-appointed attorneys.

“Our goal is to get these children into a permanent living situation as soon as possible, whether that’s with their family, through adoption or permanent guardianship,” explained Joy Green, the organization’s development specialist. “CASAs — Court Appointed Special Advocates — help identify resources for these children and their families, and advocate as sworn officers of the court to help get the children into a permanent home.”

Becoming a CASA volunteer is a multi-step process involving an application, references, a background check, 30 hours of training and 10 hours of juvenile court observation. “In 2025, we had 99 volunteers, but we need about 50 more,” said Peach State Bank Executive Vice President Andy Stewart, who is also chair of the Hall-Dawson CASA board. “We’re only serving about 70% of the kids who need us.”

According to Green, there are three main ways to help the organization. “Our biggest need is volunteers, but we also appreciate financial support and help in spreading the word about us,” she said. “We’re happy to come talk to your clubs and civic organizations — we have great stories to share.”

To learn more, visit halldawsoncasa.org or contact Joy Green at joy@halldawsoncasa.org or 770-531-1964.

Peach State Bank’s MyPeach app is a mobile solution that lets you manage your accounts, deposit checks, pay bills, transfer funds and make person-to-person payments via Zelle — all from your phone or other mobile device.

We encourage you to give MyPeach a try. Just download it from Google Play or the Apple App Store.

Here are a few tips to keep MyPeach — and all banking apps — more secure:

• Keep your PINs, passwords, card numbers and one-time verification codes private. Do not share them. Note that we will never ask for this information through texts, emails or phone calls.
• Be wary of unexpected texts, emails or calls that claim to be from a bank, especially those that create a sense of urgency. Best practice: Don’t “reply” or click a link to respond -- log in directly through the official banking app or website.
• Avoid accessing bank accounts and apps using a public Wi-Fi.
• Turn on transaction alerts to catch suspicious activity early.
• Use good digital security habits such as unique passwords, two-factor authentication or biometrics.
• Report anything unfamiliar or concerning to us immediately.

When you meet Jana Lovell you can tell right away: Jana is a real “people person.” She likes helping people, talking to people, and solving problems. These attributes — combined with her common sense and efficiency — serve her well in her job as assistant branch manager at Peach State Bank’s Gainesville branch. She’s a natural!

Jana has been in the banking industry for 27 years, and at Peach State Bank since late 2016. She started her career as a teller, worked her way through various promotions and departments, and has been in her current job for about a year. Among her responsibilities are training and supervising newly hired employees and helping with new account openings.

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“I think of my coworkers as family, too,” Jana said. “We are all committed to serving the needs of our community. I love working with my colleagues and customers.”

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“The Gainesville area is growing and we have a lot to offer our neighbors and business owners,” said Jana. “People who are new to town find Peach State to be different from other banks. They appreciate our friendly, personal approach. We’re here for them.”

A Gainesville native, Jana and her husband Chad are parents to two young adult children. When she’s not at work, Jana enjoys traveling, hiking and shopping. Jana’s mother also lives nearby, and all the Lovells enjoy spending time together as a family.