Vol. 21 | Winter 2025
Community Development Board Ready to Serve in Braselton
To complement our beautiful, brand-new branch building and expanded presence in Braselton, Peach State Bank has launched our Braselton Community Development Board — an enthusiastic group of executives and entrepreneurs dedicated to promoting community banking.
The board, comprised of six local community leaders, is charged with developing deeper community ties in the area, identifying potential business customers, marketing and supporting the bank as we expand our footprint and impact in North Georgia.
The Community Development Board is separate and independent from Peach State Bank’s board of directors, but just as invested in advancing the community by helping entrepreneurs, business owners, homeowners and families achieve their goals. Board members will provide guidance to bank leadership and assist with special events such as customer appreciation cookouts, holiday breakfasts and other community outreach.
The board has already had its first meeting, and the group’s energy was high.
“We’re all eager to help the bank thrive and succeed in Braselton and beyond,” said board member Kathy Fauscett.
“Peach State Bank has a hometown feel unlike any other, with special programs and outreach that make a difference. We’re all excited to help the bank grow and continue to serve the local community.”
The New Braselton Community Development Board Members
Kathy Fauscett, Associate Broker, The Fauscett Team, Keller Williams Realty Lanier Partners
Jennifer Kidd-Harrison, City Manager of Hoschton
Brian Steines, CFO of Northeast Georgia Health System
Tonya Parrish, City Manager of Flowery Branch
Jennifer Scott, City Manager of Braselton
Caryn McGarity, Owner, House of Boykin Consignments and Fine Furnishings
LOCAL WINDOW ON THE ECONOMY
Moving Past Inflation with a Little Help From AI
President & CEO
For what seems like forever, the scourges of inflation dominate the daily headlines. However, something peculiar has happened with our collective psyche. We’ve been experiencing rising costs for so long that I believe we’ve become numb to the pain. Inflation is certainly bad, but consumers seem to have accepted it’s not going to leave us any time soon – at least until 2028 when some economists have predicted it will reach a more acceptable rate.
The Federal Reserve’s 2 percent inflation target has been frustratingly just out of reach since 2019, but it’s been steady lately around 2.9 percent and certainly much better than many other countries around the world.
For different reasons than consumers have, the Fed and U.S. policy makers also seem to be shifting their focus. They’re not sticking their heads in the sand over inflation but simply beginning to put more emphasis on addressing unemployment.
The theory goes that putting more people to work will at least soften the impacts of inflation. Unemployment has ticked up slightly nationally to just over 4 percent – not too bad but enough to cause concern and certainly more attention.
In technical terms, Jerome Powell, the Federal Reserve chairman, describes this strategy shift as a “more neutral policy stance.” I would translate that to mean the Fed is going to gradually reduce interest rates not for fear of an imminent recession or rising unemployment but more so to get ahead of potential problems.
Some describe the Fed’s job of balancing inflation with unemployment as being stuck between a rock (stubborn inflation) and a hard place (weakening labor markets). It’s a delicate balance but here in Hall County we can take comfort that the scales are much more tilted in our favor.
Hall Business Expanding
Locally, inflation mirrors the national economy. However, our unemployment recently was at 2.8 percent, an enviable rate compared to the state of Georgia’s own low rate of 3.4 percent. After all the political changes in Washington with tariffs and immigration policies, loan activity that had been stuck in neutral has undergone a strong positive shift since June at Peach State Bank and other lending institutions across North Georgia. Likewise in other parts of Georgia, we are seeing rising investments in manufacturing facilities as businesses respond to the new world of increasing import taxes. The announcement of a $2.7 billion investment to expand Hyundai’s plant in South Georgia is one of the more visible examples.
The residential market is also poised for a slow but steady comeback. Even though the Fed now appears to be reducing short-term rates, 30-year mortgage rates (based on the 10-year Treasury bill) will take longer to catch up. By 2026, I predict we will see those rates fall into the high 5 percent range – which should convince our neighbors to begin building and buying new homes again.
AI Innovation hitting home
On the flip side of low unemployment, what’s good for workers can be a challenge for companies recruiting in a shallow pond of prospects. However, I have been amazed at the adaptive innovation of companies who are increasingly turning to AI (Artificial Intelligence) to become more efficient in their operations.
One of our bank’s commercial customers is a contractor for the Department of Defense that is led by a group of Georgia Tech engineers. They have figured out how to use AI to reduce the timeline for a metalwrapping process to upgrade aging F-15 fighter planes from 12 weeks down to a week.
Our local physicians are using AI to save countless hours in transcribing notes on patient visits, while Hall County and Gainesville schools have developed guidelines for the ethical use of AI. Banks like Peach State use AI to prevent cyberfraud.
We’re just seeing the tip of an emerging technology that is not necessarily replacing workers but creating opportunity to develop more highly skilled labor positions.
As this amazing technology continues to shape our next generation, I can only hope that our longtime obsession with inflation will soon take a backseat and fade away with time like old battle scars.
Community News
GA ON MY MIND: (top left)We were proud to partner with the Da Vinci Academy for the presentation of “Georgia on My Mind — A Museum Experience,” created by their 8th-grade students on Monday, October 6th.
FRAUD LUNCHEON: (top right) Our recent Cybersecurity Luncheon, hosted by our Fraud Department members Pamela Willis, Sarah Boone, and Shelbie Conde, drew a record crowd of 80+ attendees. A second date was added to accommodate community interest in fighting fraud.
BREAD AND COFFEE: (bottom) Led by Alayna Elizalde, we held our second annual ‘Pan con Café’ event on Friday, October 1st to celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month.
Service News
FROM ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TO MARRIAGE...
Around the World and Back with Peach State
by John Vardeman
My daughter, Ella, has lived in small towns and big cities. She has traveled afar to places like Norway, Morocco, Holland and Poland. Most recently, at age 28, she finished a season of life living and working in New York City where she completed her doctorate in plant sciences.
Now, after her April wedding in New Orleans, she has returned much closer to Gainesville, where she grew up and where her parents and grandparents still live. Much to my delight, Ella and her husband, Charles, have settled in Decatur, GA, where she will work at Emory University in scientific research. That’s a lot of living in just three decades. Many years later, as I reflect on Ella’s homecoming, I look back and see Peach State Bank alongside her all the way.
It all started at Enota Elementary School, where Peach State had a “branch bank” that served as an early education tool for students. Ella opened her savings account there and learned the principles of saving and earning interest.
Before I could blink an eye, my little girl was off to the University of Georgia. Back when I attended college in Athens, students typically set up a checking account at an Athens bank or at a national bank – the more ATM locations, the better. With Peach State in her pocket, none of that was necessary for Ella.
She expanded her Peach State account with online banking, which allowed me to easily transfer funds from my own Peach State account for her food and housing – unlike my college days when I had to wait days for a deposit check from my parents to arrive in the mail. Also, with free ATM use of any bank in town, Ella was the envy of all her college friends.
The same convenience applied to Ella’s international travels after she moved to New York. Every ATM on every corner of the world was a Peach State Bank. Now that she is “Dr. Ella” and married, she and her husband are making it on their own. However, the familiar constant in their new life together is that they have opened a joint checking account at Peach State. Their decision was an easy one – and it came without even seeking my advice.
“No matter where I’ve gone, Peach State has always been there with me,” Ella says. “I’ve used my Peach State debit card to travel through New York subways, withdraw foreign currency abroad, or to simply pay my power bill with an automatic draft.”
Ella also has peace of mind that her money is safe from scams with security systems at Peach State that are as advanced, and likely even safer, than at large national banks who are less familiar with their customers.
“I treasure having grown up in Gainesville,” says Ella, “and Peach State Bank allows me to carry a piece of home with me wherever life may take me.”
customer spotlight | Elachee Nature Science Center
Discover, Learn & Play
Nestled in the 1,400-acre Chicopee Woods Nature Preserve is a Gainesville gem — the Elachee Nature Science Center, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to promoting environmental understanding through education, conservation, and fun. While Elachee has entertained and enlightened generations of children since its founding in 1978, it’s now launching an expanded phase of education with a wider variety of programming and visitor spaces.
New Spaces, New Adventures
Elachee's one-of-a-kind Discovery Dome Astronomy Theater opened in October with a state-of-the-art planetarium offering immersive shows and hands-on activities that inspire curiosity about space science.
Construction is also complete on Elachee’s Learning Center, which adds a spacious community room for programs and two future exhibits, including an Augmented Reality Sandbox that brings earth science concepts to life.
These recent building projects have transformed the Elachee campus, doubling the indoor space available for field trips, summer camps and visitors.
Learning & Fun for Kids & Adults
While many Gainesville residents enjoy Elachee’s kids’ programming, the center offers unique and fun events for adults and families, too. “Our goal is to get people to fall in love with nature,” said Elachee President and CEO Sarah Bell. “To that end, we offer engaging programs for visitors of all ages.”
For example, coming up:
Women of the Woods Club – First Friday of the Month — This monthly gathering helps women feel comfortable hiking and enjoying nature. Hikers of all levels are welcome.
Elachee (Taylor’s Version) – December 13, 2025 — Swifties of all ages can celebrate Taylor Swift’s birthday Elachee-style — with Swift-themed adventures, activities and many nods to the natural world that inspires her music.
Glow Wild: Glow in the Dark Nature Party — December 31, 2025 — Ring in the new year with a party that glows wild! Join us for a celebration of nature’s most magical light-makers — from fireflies to bioluminescent fungi — and enjoy an evening of fun, crafts, and outdoor exploration.
Backyard Bird Bash Discovery Saturday — February 7, 2026 —Join us on this special Discovery Saturday to dive into the world of birds. Meet our new Red-Tailed Hawk and participate in her naming opportunity!
Great Green Get Together — March 14, 2026 — Join us for a shamrockin’ celebration of all things green in the natural world! This family day will highlight the color of springtime growth while sneaking in some science, art, and St. Patrick’s Day magic.
Here for the Community
“Like Peach State Bank, we are here for our community,” Bell said. “We serve over 25,000 students and countless visitors annually, whether that’s hiking on our 12+ miles of trails, participating in a day camp or learning in our PreK-1st grade Nature Academy.”
To learn more about Elachee Nature Science Center, view events, become a member or volunteer, visit www.elachee.org.
digital security tips | Protect Your Data and Identity
Better Online Security Requires Strong Passwords
Many of us do a lot of “living” online — social media browsing, shopping, travel booking and, of course, banking. But this convenience comes with a serious digital security requirement: strong passwords.
A 2025 Verizon report indicates that 81% of data breaches involve weak or stolen passwords.1 With this in mind, it’s important to use good online password practices. Here are some tips for a powerful password strategy to help you protect your online data and identity:
Create long passwords: Use long passwords — at least 12 characters — that include a mix of letters, numbers and symbols. These complicated passwords are hard to hack because each additional character multiplies the number of possible combinations.
Don’t repeat passwords: A recent survey showed that more than 60% of Americans use the same password for more than one account.2 Don’t do it! Obviously, if hackers can figure out the password for one of your accounts, it’s then easy for them to access multiple accounts using the repeated password.
Use a password manager: If it seems impossible to remember a different password for each site, let an online password manager do it for you. A password manager is a digital tool that can generate, save and store passwords for you in a secure online “vault.” Using one master password, you can access your password vault and have it automatically autofill the correct password for each site.
Embrace password alternatives: At some point, passwords will likely be replaced by higher-tech alternatives. Multifactor authentication and biometrics, such as fingerprints or face scans, are already options for many sites. One-time passwords, email links and passkeys are also gaining in popularity.
Peach State Bank is committed to your online safety. Our cybersecurity luncheons are always informative and enjoyable — and often fill up fast. Look for upcoming dates in 2026.
1 Verizon, “2025 Data Breach Investigations Report,” April 2025, https://www.verizon.com/business/resources/reports/Verizon-DBIR-2014.pdf
2 NordPass, “Stop Reusing Passwords: What Recent NordPass Survey Reveals,” April 2025, https://nordpass.com/blog/stop-reusing-passwords/
Santa Claus is Coming to Peach State
If you’ve stayed on the nice list this year, you’re in luck. It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas at Peach State Bank & Trust! Santa will be visiting both branch locations this year! We’re transforming our lobbies into a winter wonderland, complete with a photo setup perfect for capturing the magic of the season. Stop by and see him in Gainesville on December 16th and 18th or in Braselton on December 17th. All visits are from 10 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
EMPLOYEE spotlight | Keith Brady
Four Decades of Community Banking in North Georgia
Keith Brady
Keith Brady’s career at Peach State Bank began in 2016, but Keith has been in the commercial banking business for almost four decades — and he’s been interested in finance since he was very young.
Keith grew up in Toccoa and graduated from Stephens County High School. After earning his undergraduate degree in economics and finance at the University of Georgia, he first joined a bank in Commerce, then made a couple more banking career moves before landing at Peach State.
Along the way, he graduated from the Georgia Banking School, a three-year leadership and professional development program in Athens. He also completed advanced financial education at Louisiana State University Graduate School of Banking, a comprehensive program for experienced bank officers to further hone their skills and knowledge.
This discipline and dedication have been hallmarks of Keith’s career, and over the years, Keith’s colleagues and customers have benefitted from his commitment to helping people reach their financial goals.
“One of the things I appreciate most about Peach State is that, as a local bank, we’re really hands-on with our customers,” Keith said. “We see customers out in the community. We get to know them, their families, and their companies. It’s rewarding to know we’re helping our neighbors fulfill their business and personal dreams.”
Much of Keith’s recent work has focused on construction lending, which he sees as a reflection of the area’s healthy economy. “It’s wonderful to see this beautiful part of the state grow and thrive,” Keith said.
When he’s not working, Keith enjoys playing golf and spending time with his family. He and his wife Amy have been married for 39 years and have two children, Evan and Erin, and three grandchildren. Keith and Amy are members of Riverbend Church, where Keith serves on the elder board.
“I enjoy having our family all in the same town,” Keith said, “and I’m excited to help my customers accomplish the things they want to. It’s easy to get up in the morning because I love what I do.”