Sixty-nine bankers graduate after intensive three-year program at South Carolina Bankers School
July 20, 2026
Sixty-Nine Bankers Graduate After Intensive Three-Year Program
The South Carolina Bankers School (SCBS), hosted by the South Carolina Bankers Association, would like to recognize the graduates of the Class of 2026, who received their diplomas in a ceremony on July 16, 2026, thus ending the 64th annual session of the prestigious School. The week long school was held at The Darla Moore School of Business at The University of South Carolina under the leadership of SCBS Chairman Joseph A. “Drew” Painter of First Community Bank in Columbia.
SCBS was established in 1961 and is recognized as one of the best banking schools in the Southeast. SCBS is regarded as one of the best values available anywhere for investment of education dollars. Approximately 200 banking and finance professionals attend the school per session. Throughout a three-year progressive course of study, students are exposed to general educational experiences in the many phases of banking and are prepared for career advancement. Currently, over 3,600 students have graduated from the school.
The South Carolina Bankers School faculty is a blend of the best from the banking, professional and academic worlds. Faculty and curriculum are carefully evaluated by the SCBS Course Coordinators, Board of Directors, students and School Administrator to ensure that students receive the highest quality and most relevant instruction available. This review of the School continues to assist the personnel of banks in meeting the changing demands of the banking industry.
On Thursday evening, sixty-nine students received their diplomas during the graduation ceremony held at Pastides Alumni Center at The University of South Carolina in Columbia. The graduates’ CEOs and other senior leadership were in attendance to celebrate their three-year accomplishment.
South Carolina Bankers School Class of 2026 Graduates:
Stephanie S. Alexander, The Peoples Bank
Matthew M. Allen, nCino
Matthew Ryan Alls, First Reliance Bank
Mel Atkins, Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta
Stuart Graham Bailey, Coastal Carolina National Bank
Zachary G. Boltin, Palmetto State Bank
Casey Powell Boyce, Carolina Bank & Trust Co.
Hunter D. Broadwater, Anderson Brothers Bank
Amy L. Brock, United Community
Griff Buddin, First National Bank of SC
Jennifer L. Butala-Epperson, SouthState Bank
Robert Carlton, United Community
Sarah A. Carmichael, Anderson Brothers Bank
Avrey Swedeth Colo, SouthState Bank
Chelsea E. Connelly, First National Bank of SC
Dalton C. Coursey, The Citizens Bank
William West Courtney, The Conway National Bank
Felicia K. Devore, Enterprise Bank of SC
Micah W. Duke, United Bank
Stacy Dyer, Western Alliance Bank
Shakeara D. Elmore, SouthState Bank
Douglas Bryan Ernest, Jr., United Bank
Daniel Eubanks, First Citizens Bank
Melissa Fowble, First Reliance Bank
Corey Gilden, First Capital Bank
Lakeshia Ann Grippon, Pinnacle Financial Partners
Mohit Kumar Gupta, SouthState Bank
Sarah M. Hayden, 1st Federal Savings Bank of SC
Joseph Michael Heaton, First Citizens Bank
Cooper James, Ameris Bank
Christopher David Johns, Enterprise Bank of SC
Justin A. Johnson, Optus Bank
Samantha M. Kelly, Beacon Community Bank
Hugh Comer Lane III, The Bank of South Carolina
Nikki R. Lawson, SouthState Bank
Cason P. Lea, Security Federal Bank
Ashley A. Levenstein, Coastal Carolina National Bank
Holly Leigh Manafo, SouthState Bank
Cheryl Matthews, The Citizens Bank
Michael Aaron Meuli, South Atlantic Bank
Elizabeth A. Middleton, First Community Bank
Caitlin Miller-Pomilio, Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta
Marsha R. Mistry, First Horizon
Austin Gary Mizzell, AgSouth
Jessica Morris, First Capital Bank
Carolyn Moscoso, Western Alliance Bank
Samantha A. Murdaugh, Bank of the Lowcountry
Baker Windsor Myers, ArborOne
Jonathan Norris, Carolina Bank & Trust Co.
Adam Nickolas Odom, SouthState Bank
Casey L. Patrick, United Community
Robert Allen Pope, AgSouth
Amber M. Price, Countybank
Michael Reeder, Southern Bank
Travis Robinson, Ameris Bank
Joseph Sabatini, First Bank
Michael Jonathan Samuel, SouthState Bank
Katlin Sawyer, Anderson Brothers Bank
Grant L. Scurry, Pinnacle + Synovus
Takiyah L. Sheppard, SouthState Bank
Joshua G. Sisco, Coastal Carolina National Bank
Logan B. Spires, Security Federal Bank
Malorie Berry Steadman, Anderson Brothers Bank
Shareka Denise Sullivan, United Bank
Jennifer C. Summers, Southern First Bank
Joseph W. Thomas, First Palmetto Bank
Laci D. Thompson, Bank of Clarendon
Andrew Whittier Vinson, Arthur State Bank
Daniel Wooten, First Capital Bank
Another special part of the evening is recognizing the Lillie Magalis recipient. The Lillie H. Magalis Memorial Award is given each year to the graduate with the highest cumulative average for 3 years at the South Carolina Bankers School. Students receive grades on two examinations and six home study problems. All eight grades count one eighth each. The award recipient this year was Christopher David “Chris” Johns, Information Technology Officer, VP with Enterprise Bank of South Carolina in Ehrhardt, with an outstanding GPA of 98.38.
The South Carolina Bankers Association is committed to representing the common interests and welfare of the banking industry in South Carolina. Through providing professional development opportunities to its members and employees, the SCBA aims to serve as a reliable source of information and education while advocating for the industry’s needs in legislative and regulatory matters.
For more information about the South Carolina Bankers Association and its initiatives, please visit www.scbankers.org.
