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First Southern National Bank announces 4 promotions
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Cliff Wildes

    First Southern National Bank recently announced four staff promotions: Cliff Wildes, vice president; Amy Taulbee, assistant vice president; Shane Geurin, banking officer; and Tammy Phillips, assistant operations officer.

As vice president, Wildes will continue to be involved in all aspects of lending and business development with First Southern National Bank.

Prior to joining First Southern as assistant vice president in 2004, Wildes worked for about five years in the banking industry. He holds a BBA from Georgia Southern University and is a 2006 graduate of the Georgia Bankers Association’s Georgia Banking School.

“We are blessed to have a talented group of employees who have demonstrated their ability to handle more responsibility” said Tommy David, president and CEO, First Southern National Bank. “Cliff’s banking expertise combined with his desire to deliver the best customer service anywhere, are the qualities of the leaders we are looking for to allow First Southern to continue its record growth. Promoting Cliff to vice president is most deserved and a signal that we are counting on him to help lead First Southern to even higher levels of success.”

Wildes is a member of the Downtown Statesboro Rotary Club, president of the Sigma Chi Housing Corporation, and serves on the board of directors of the local chapter of the American Red Cross. He is also an active member of the Statesboro-Bulloch County Chamber of Commerce and a graduate of the Leadership Bulloch Class of 2003. Cliff is also a graduate of the University of Georgia School of Banking. He is married to the former Emily Jane Wynn of Carrolton and has two children, Ford and Wynn.

Assistant vice president Amy Elder Taulbee will direct all activities of the human resources department, head the training department and will continue to oversee all aspects of marketing and advertising for the bank, as well as community service, director relations and employee relations.

Taulbee joined First Southern in July 2002. Prior to that she worked for the office of Gov. Roy E. Barnes in the Governor’s Intern program. She earned her B.A. from Florida State University and her Master’s Degree from Augusta State University. 

 “Amy has done an exceptional job both for the bank and the community in her first five years at First Southern,” said David. “She is a major reason for our tremendous success. Amy is an asset to First Southern and our community and is very deserving of this promotion.”

A native of Snellville, Ga., Taulbee is actively involved with the American Cancer Society Relay for Life, American Heart Association, United Way, Statesboro-Bulloch County Chamber of Commerce and Statesboro Service League. She currently serves as president of the Professional Women of Statesboro, financial advisor for the Kappa Delta Sorority and treasurer of the Delta Lambda House Corp. Taulbee is an active member of the First Baptist Church in Statesboro.  She is married to Wes Taulbee and they have one daughter, Jordan Allison.

Shane Geurin was promoted to banking officer. His responsibilities will include meeting the needs of the community by funding both commercial and consumer loans.

Geurin joined First Southern in May 2001 as an intern in the mortgage department. He has since served as a teller and most recently in the management training program in the First Southern loan department.

 David said, “We are proud to promote Shane to banking officer. He demonstrates all the qualities we are looking for in our officers. Shane is a valued team member who has earned this promotion through hard work and dedication.”

Geurin is a graduate of Georgia Southern University’s College of Business with a degree in Logistics and Intermodal Transportation and an Associates Degree in Banking and Finance from Ogeechee Technical College.

Tammy Phillips, who was promoted to assistant operations officer, is responsible for overseeing the operations department, reconciling all internal GL accounts, all due-from accounts, and maintaining incoming and outgoing wires.

Phillips has been in the banking industry since 1994 and joined First Southern in November 2001.

 “Tammy has been an integral part of First Southern since we first organized the bank,” said David. “She is responsible for all the behind-the-scenes operations. I’m proud to recognize her value with this promotion to assistant operations officer.

A native of Statesboro, Phillips is a member of the New Life Fellowship Freewill Baptist Church. She is married to Tad Phillips and they have one daughter, Shelby

Located at 201 South Main Street in Statesboro, First Southern National Bank is locally owned and operated.  Since its inception in 2002, the bank has grown its assets to more than $200 Million. In addition, First Southern has created nearly 50 new jobs and has become a major supporter of the Statesboro and Bulloch County community.

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