More than 530 bankers and industry partners joined us at The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island, Florida, for the first annual 2024 MBA|VBA Joint Convention. Attendees enjoyed business sessions as well as social and networking events during their time in Amelia Island.

The event began Sunday with a Welcome Reception sponsored by Investors Title Insurance Agency. On Monday, attendees enjoyed a breakfast sponsored by Stifel followed by the Spouse Guest Program: Turtle Tour & Nature Walk, sponsored by S&P Global Market Intelligence. The Golf Tournament, sponsored by Vericast, was held Monday afternoon at The Golf Club of Amelia Island and a dessert reception was held Monday evening, sponsored by Marsh McLellan Agency, SageView, VBA Benefits Corp. and Voya​.

On Tuesday morning, attendees enjoyed breakfast sponsored by Keefe, Brueyette & Woods. Also Tuesday morning, Victor Branch, Bank of America, was installed as 2024-2025 VBA Chairman, and Tom Cherry, C&F Bank, was installed as 2024-2025 VBA Chairman-Elect.

On Tuesday afternoon, attendees enjoyed a Fun in the Sun Social, sponsored by R&T Deposit Solutions followed by the closing reception, sponsored by Bankers Insurance, and dinner and entertainment, sponsored by FHLBank Atlanta.

A special thank you to 2023-2024 VBA Chairman Litz Van Dyke, Carter Bank, for presiding over the event alongside Ronda McDowell, Sandy Spring Bank and 2023-2024 MBA Chair.

Save the date for the 2025 MBA|VBA Joint Convention June 22-25 at The Ritz-Carlton, Naples, Florida.

Speaker & Session Information

Topics and speakers during this year’s General Session included:​

• Economic Outlook 
  Dr. Lindsey Piegza, Chief Economist, Stifel
• Industry Perspectives Panel
  Julie Thurlow, President & CEO, Reading Cooperative Bank and 2023-2024 ABA Chair
  Reid Tingle, President & CEO, Bank of Ocean City and ICBA Federal Delegate – Maryland
  Moderated by Ramon Looby, President & CEO, Maryland Bankers Association
• A Conversation with Brian Moynihan, Moderated by Bruce Whitehurst, VBA President & CEO 
  Brian Moynihan, Chair of the Board & CEO, Bank of America
• The Geopolitical and Regulatory Outlook 2024 – 2025: How Elections and Markets are Transforming Everything 
  Frank Kelly, Founder & Managing Partner, Fulcrum Macro
• Building Indivisible Teams – How Leaders Can Help Teams Reach Their Full Potential  
  Denise Hamilton, Inclusion Strategist and Author of Indivisible, WatchHerWork

Topics and speakers during this year’s breakout sessions included:

• Your Bank Needs a Payments Strategy 
  Marisa Reynolds, SVP, Fintech & Vendor Relations, Genesys Technology Group
• Bank M&A: Market Update, Key Trends, and Best Practices 
  Christopher Olsen, Managing Partner, Olsen Palmer LLC
• Banking on a Sustainable Future-Opportunities for Community Banks to Finance Renewable Energy Projects  
  Josh Miller, CEO, The KeyState Companies
  Seth Winter, Partner, Troutman Pepper
• Clarity Amidst the Chaos 
  Jason Clayton, Director, Performance Trust Capital Partners

Thank You to Our Sponsors

Pictures from the Event