Sixty-three bankers graduate after three-year intensive program
September 9, 2024
The South Carolina Bankers School (SCBS), hosted by the South Carolina Bankers Association, would like to recognize the graduates of the Class of 2024, who received their diplomas in a ceremony on July 18, 2024, thus ending the 62nd annual session of the prestigious School. For the first time ever, 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 John M. Leighton, SouthState Bank, 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 3,000 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, July 18, 63 students received their diplomas. The graduation was held 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 2024 Graduates
| Name | Organization | City, State |
| Marcos Anaya | Anderson Brothers Bank | Mullins, SC |
| Robert D. Beatty | Anderson Brothers Bank | North Myrtle Beach, SC |
| Holly Berry | United Community Bank | Greenville, SC |
| Kevin A. Braun | First Citizens Bank | Daniel Island, SC |
| Tanner Britt | Bank of Travelers Rest | Travelers Rest, SC |
| Laura E. Brooks | Countybank | Greenwood, SC |
| Aferdita M. Brown | Beacon Community Bank | Charleston, SC |
| Jessica D. Canady | First Citizens Bank | St. George, SC |
| Name | Organization | City, State |
| Teresa B. Carter | Home Federal Savings & Loan | Bamberg, SC |
| Christina Chappell | Security Federal Bank | Irmo, SC |
| Jamie Compton | Greenwood, SC | |
| Bianca Cortner | nCino | Wilmington, NC |
| S. Ethan Cox | First Citizens Bank | Bluffton, SC |
| Peter A. Dade | Beacon Community Bank | Charleston, SC |
| John B. Daughtridge, Jr. | The Bank of South Carolina | Ladson, SC |
| Dallas A. Dial | Ameris Bank | Columbia, SC |
| Gina M. Dodson | First Citizens Bank | Columbia, SC |
| Thomas Floyd | First Reliance Bank | Columbia, SC |
| Jordan G. Formo | Anderson Brothers Bank | Longs, SC |
| W. Scott Goettee | First Bank | Cheraw, SC |
| James T. Hedgepath | Countybank | Greenwood, SC |
| Brittany Hilbert | Pinnacle Financial Partners | Greenville, SC |
| Anita G. Hinson | The Conway National Bank | Conway, SC |
| Heather K. Hubka | United Bank | Greer, SC |
| Moryah Jackson | United Community Bank | Greenville, SC |
| Brandy Lynne Johnson | Coastal Carolina National Bank | Myrtle Beach, SC |
| Jessica R. Johnson | South Atlantic Bank | Pawleys Island, SC |
| Lindsay M. Johnson | Coastal States Bank | Bluffton, SC |
| Stephen M. Johnson, Jr. | Pinnacle Financial Partners | Charleston, SC |
| Jackson S. Kabas | SouthState Bank | Greenville, SC |
| Jody R. Lambert | Anderson Brothers Bank | Georgetown, SC |
| Daniel P. Larisey | ServisFirst Bank | Charleston, SC |
| Nick Layman | First Community Bank | Lexington, SC |
| Karl-Heinz Matthew Leroy | First Citizens Bank | Seneca, SC |
| Efrem M. Lipscomb | Community First Bank | Anderson, SC |
| Justine Clare Macbeth | Park National Bank | Anderson, SC |
| J. Jefferson Manning | SouthState Bank | Columbia, SC |
| Craig McAdams | First Bank | Charleston, SC |
| Will McCutcheon | First Citizens Bank | Lake City, SC |
| Aaron McKnight | Pinnacle Financial Partners | Myrtle Beach, SC |
| Geordan R. Miller | United Community Bank | Charlotte, NC |
| Matthew L. Moody | First Bank | Columbia, SC |
| W. David Mullins | First Reliance Bank | Florence, SC |
| Caleb H. Nobles | Anderson Brothers Bank | Conway, SC |
| Joseph M. Pearson, III | TD Bank, N.A. | Columbia, SC |
| Kayla L. Pennington | First Citizens Bank | Georgetown, SC |
| Weston H. Peters | First Reliance Bank | Mount Pleasant, SC |
| J. Brice Rogers | The Conway National Bank | Murrells Inlet, SC |
| John M. Runion | Pinnacle Financial Partners | Greenville, SC |
| W. Brent Schenkel | Dogwood State Bank | Mt. Pleasant, SC |
| Julia W. Simmons | Countybank | Greer, SC |
| Barrett Slaughter | SouthState Bank | Myrtle Beach, SC |
| Erica Smith | Security Federal Bank | Aiken, SC |
| Mary F. Smith | Coastal Carolina National Bank | Myrtle Beach, SC |
| Ryan J. Spagnolo | TD Bank, N.A. | Myrtle Beach, SC |
| Name | Organization | City, State |
| Audrey Speicher | nCino | Wilmington, NC |
| Madison Spray | Southern First Bank | Charleston, SC |
| Misty H. Tennent | SouthState Bank | Lexington, SC |
| Brittany Timbes | South Atlantic Bank | Myrtle Beach, SC |
| Mike Westman | Pinnacle Financial Partners | Charleston, SC |
| Virginia H. Westmoreland | Bank of York | York, SC |
| Arica Williams | Southern First Bank | Cayce, SC |
| Adam R. Witter | First National Bank | Greenville, SC |
The Lillie H. Magalis Memorial Award was presented by SCBS Chairman John M. Leighton to Ms. Jessica R. Johnson of South Atlantic Bank in Pawleys Island, SC.
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 four home study problems. All eight grades count one eighth each. The award recipient this year was Ms. Jessica R. Johnson of South Atlantic Bank in Pawleys Island, SC, with a GPA of 99.5.
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.
