South Carolina Bankers Association announces 2025 Outstanding Young Banker Award recipient
July 11, 2025
The South Carolina Bankers Association (SCBA) announced Oneal Staples as the recipient of the 2025 Outstanding Young Banker Award. Oneal, who serves as Senior Vice President and Market President for Ameris Bank in Lexington, was honored with the prestigious award at the SCBA annual meeting held on June 24, 2025 at The Coister in Sea Island, Georgia.
The prestigious Outstanding Young Banker honor is chosen by the SCBA Past Chairman’s Club and has been awarded to one deserving banker each year since 1970. Rufus T. “Wells” Dunlap V, the 2024 Outstanding Young Banker from Countybank in Greenwood, had the honor of announcing Oneal as this year’s award recipient at the annual meeting. Commenting on Oneal’s achievements, Dunlap stated, “This acknowledgment is a testament to your dedication, expertise, and commitment to our industry. I couldn’t think of a better person to be honored this year.”
Oneal has been with Ameris bank for 13 years. He graduated from USCA in 2006 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance. Following USCA, Oneal went on to Coastal Carolina University to obtain his Master of Business Administration. During 2015, he graduated from the South Carolina Bankers School, through the South Carolina Bankers Association, and in 2023 he graduated from Louisiana State University with his Graduate School of Banking degree.
In addition to his professional life, Oneal currently serves on the board of directors for Leadership Lexington County (Past Chair), South Carolina Young Bankers (Past Chair) Rotary Club of Lexington, Mission Lexington (Treasurer), The Mason Foundation (Treasurer) and the Lexington Chamber of Commerce (Upcoming Chair 2027) as well as leading the Small Business Council for the Chamber. In 2019, Oneal was named one of the top 20 individuals under the age of 40 in the Midlands by the State Newspaper and in 2021 was selected as the Young Professional of the Year by the Lexington Chamber of Commerce.
“There have only been 55 recipients of this honor, and Oneal has the characteristics of all of them,” said Fred Green, President and CEO of SCBA. “Honorees are chosen by their contributions to their bank, engagement in our industry, and impact in their community. Oneal has excelled in all of these and I am very proud of him for this recognition.”
The South Carolina Bankers Association
The South Carolina Bankers Association is the professional trade association organized to effectively represent the common interest and welfare of the banking industry in South Carolina and to promote the professional development of its members and their employees. The SCBA’s mission is to serve as a reliable and responsive source of information and education regarding areas of importance to the industry and to be the key advocate in helping our member institutions by providing leadership in legislative, regulatory, educational and value-added services. You can learn more at www.scbankers.org.
