October 2019 – Pinnacle Bank has served the residents and businesses of northeast Georgia since 1934. Building relationships and creating an exceptional customer experience are two core values that have driven the community bank’s growth and success.

Pinnacle Bank has been an FHLBank Atlanta shareholder for more than 20 years and has leveraged its membership in different ways depending on its business needs, ranging from advance funding to letters of credit to guidance on its mortgage operations. According to Scott Wilson, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at Pinnacle Bank, a great relationship with FHLBank Atlanta has been a constant over the years, regardless of their specific product needs at any one time.

“FHLBank Atlanta has been there for us at different times for different purposes,” said Wilson. “We’ve accessed advances for gap funding, participated in various educational sessions, and currently use the letters of credit product.”

Like many shareholders, Pinnacle Bank uses FHLBank Atlanta’s letter of credit as collateral for public unit deposits. Wilson says that the public deposit business is an important part of the bank’s overall funding and liquidity plan and the availability of the letter of credit enhances the value of this line of business even further.

“The letter of credit has been a good part of our experience with FHLBank Atlanta,” continued Wilson. “It’s efficient, has a reasonable cost, and has changed our liquidity ratios significantly.”

Underlying the relationship is the advice and expertise that FHLBank Atlanta’s staff offers Pinnacle, says Wilson. The bank has taken advantage of educational sessions to help maximize its collateral value and worked with the FHLBank Atlanta team to refine its strategic plans to expand secondary mortgage market activity.

“FHLBank Atlanta’s staff is ready to jump in and provide expertise when and where their members need it,” said Wilson.

The Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta is not a registered investment advisor. Nothing herein is an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities or derivative products. You should consult your own legal, financial, and accounting advisors before entering into any transaction.