FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

RALEIGH, N.C. – The North Carolina Bankers Association (NCBA), has announced a new initiative offered to it membership, the North Carolina Young Bankers (NCYB) division. This group was created to nurture the professional development of North Carolina’s young bankers and prepare them to become the industry’s next generation of leaders. Membership in the NCYB is free to all eligible NCBA members 45-years-old and younger, and will be led by an Advisory Council comprised of 12 enthusiastic young bankers, specifically formed to help build the organization’s structure and guide its activities and efforts onward. The Advisory Council will ensure the activities, events and communication all directly correlate with its mission and goals. Dawn Thompson, vice president, national legislative affairs and associate counsel at the NCBA, will serve as the group’s NCBA liaison.

The NCYB Advisory Council includes bankers from various institutions throughout all regions of North Carolina, all bringing their own unique experiences to the group. Following an election in February, David Allen, senior vice president, Bank of North Carolina, will serve as chairman of the NCYB Advisory Council. Additionally, Hope Moore, treasury services manager/IT manager, Union Bank, was elected as vice chairman, and Meredith Begley, corporate secretary & treasurer, Black Mountain Savings Bank, was elected to serve as secretary. The complete Advisory Council members consist of the following:

  • David Allen, Bank of North Carolina
  • David Beaver, Uwharrie Bank
  • Meredith Begley, Black Mountain Savings Bank
  • Katrina Blumetti, Morganton Savings Bank
  • Kristen Brabble, First Carolina Bank
  • Michael Cortes, TD Bank
  • Jada Grandy, Fifth Third Bank
  • Kelly King, NewDominion Bank
  • Hope Moore, Union Bank
  • John Parker, KS Bank
  • Jason Rapuano, Paragon Bank
  • David Sauls, Southern Bank & Trust

The mission of the NCYB will be multidimensional. First, the group will look to identify and develop the young bankers and emerging leaders in the state’s banking industry. This will be done through professional development and educational opportunities, including events such as lunch-and-learns, networking events, an annual conference, etc.

Additionally, the NCYB’s mission will also help grow and sustain North Carolina’s role in promoting financial literacy statewide. This will be achieved by actively pursuing partnerships with a number of financial literacy programs already in place, as well as spearheading some of its own volunteer initiatives. The group will work to mobilize as many bankers across the state as possible, and will have specific dates throughout the year where it will aim to place as many bankers as possible into classrooms to teach financial literacy lessons to elementary and middle school students. All curriculum and materials will be provided by the NCBA.

“We are excited to announce the 2016-2017 North Carolina Young Bankers Advisory Board and its leadership,” said Peter Gwaltney, president and CEO of the North Carolina Bankers Association. “This group of passionate, hard-working and up-and-coming bankers will undoubtedly serve as wonderful advocates to the organization and its growing membership. I am particularly grateful for the leadership of David Allen as he serves as the Council’s chairman and navigates the new group to great success. We hope the NCYB will become a group that creates lasting friendships, educates the future of the industry and promotes financial literacy across our grate state.”

“I am very grateful for the opportunity to serve as the first chairman of the newly formed North Carolina Young Bankers group,” said Allen. “This organization has been created to provide emerging bank leaders the opportunity to engage with other banking professionals, understand the key issues facing our industry and create a forum for sharing ideas. As chairman, my goal is to create a platform where young bankers are provided the ability to use their talents to give back to the communities in which they serve, further develop their careers and act as advocates for the banking industry as a whole.” ­

Bankers who qualify for membership of the NCYB can join by contacting Dawn Thompson at dawn@ncbankers.org or (919) 781-7979. ­