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Employee Insights – Amy Bell

Amy is no stranger to making dreams come true – she recently made the career change to mortgage lending and is excited to help customers see the same thing happen with their dream homes!

It is no surprise then that Amy’s favorite part of the job is the relationship-building aspect, saying, “I absolutely love going to closings with my borrowers and seeing the happiness on their faces once this process is over and they can finally begin moving into their dream homes.”

When she’s not guiding customers through the mortgage process, she’s spending time with her husband of thirty years and their three beautiful daughters, or she’s practicing her swing at the driving range.

Welcome to Pinnacle Bank, Amy!

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Employee Insights – Sabrina Walker

With over 15 years of banking experience, Sabrina Walker brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to her role as Branch Manager at our location in Lavonia. Her first taste of banking came in her hometown of Huntsville, Alabama, when she got a job as a part-time main vault teller. It was here that she developed a passion for serving her friends and neighbors.

On top of her managing duties, Sabrina serves as a Financial Wellness Champion, helping educate the community on common money management practices.

As a recent graduate of the GBA-sponsored Georgia Banking School, she stays updated on the latest industry trends and best practices, ensuring she provides the highest level of service and expertise to her clients.

When she’s not in the office, Sabrina loves to travel and spend time with her children, who are now young adults. She indulges her creative side through crafting and wreath making, always seeking new ways to let her creative juices flow.

Contact Sabrina Walker at sabrinawalker@pinnaclebank.com or call 706-967-6101 to experience exceptional banking services and financial guidance tailored to your needs.

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Employee Insights – Justin Pruitt

Originally from Carnesville, Georgia, Justin Pruitt first got into banking seven years ago as a Relationship Manager. He brings a strong background in leadership and operations to his team at Pinnacle.

At work, Justin enjoys making the interactions between customers and coworkers easy and fun! At home, he loves cheering on the Georgia Bulldogs, cooking and taking trips with his wife.

Thank you for serving Pinnacle Bank and our community, Justin!

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Employee Insights – Jessica Baughman

Hailing from Stone Mountain, Georgia, home of the largest piece of granite in the world,  it only made sense that Jessica Baughman would come to Elberton, the Granite Capital of the World, to serve Pinnacle Bank as a Mortgage Banker!

She employs her bright, people-person personality in guiding customers through the mortgage process and helping her teammates do the same.

When she’s not lighting the path for future homeowners, she’s hiking, traveling and spending precious time with family.

Welcome to Pinnacle Bank, Jessica!

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Employee Insights – Angie Hubble

With her military background and 15 years in banking, Angie Hubble brings a love of consistent customer care and employee mentorship to her new role as Branch Manager of Augusta – Furys Ferry.

When she’s not helping Pinnacle Bank customers with financial planning, she’s spending time exploring new places with her husband,  children and grandchildren.

We’re proud to have you, Angie!

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Top 3 Struggles For First-Year Small Businesses

When starting your own business, there’s nothing more valuable than insight from those who’ve gone before you. And with 20% of small businesses failing in their first twelve months – there’s a great deal of data to glean.

On your journey to success and stability, these are three of the most common challenges for your fledgling business:

FINDING CUSTOMERS

Everyone from 133-year-old Nintendo to your day-old LLC can relate to this struggle. How do you find the people who want to buy your product? Who are they, and what need of theirs are you addressing with your business? 

Many first-year companies have not identified their ideal customer by creating what’s known as a “buyer persona.” This profile helps you tailor your message to a specific audience, targeting them with ads where they are likely to see them and in a way that speaks to their needs.

Before you start, figure out who you’re talking to and how they will most likely see your product (print, radio, television, online, etc.).

FINDING QUALITY LABOR

Every company wants to grow, but finding the right people comes with a cost for many. Drafting job descriptions and onboarding paperwork, conducting interviews, and training new hires all reduce your own productivity and administrative attention.

Throw in a protracted hiring process or bad hire, and you’ve now spent thousands of dollars of your own time that could have gone elsewhere. 

Much like the buyer persona, a great tool in alleviating the cost of hiring is writing “candidate personas.” Using these writeups on hiring platforms like LinkedIn, you provide defined responsibilities for prospects and your organization – reducing downtime during training and overall role redundancy.

FINANCIAL PLANNING

Unclogging cash flow can be the difference between success and failure. Solutions for almost all small business struggles are tied up with the necessary capital to address them. 

With our membership in their Preferred Lender Program, we can provide financing to small businesses when funding is unavailable on conventional terms. In these cases, the Small Business Administration (SBA) guarantees major portions of the loan on behalf of the business. They typically come with lower fixed, variable interest rates and longer repayment terms.

For an inside look at how Pinnacle partners with you via SBA loans, watch our customer testimonials here.

YOU’RE NOT ALONE

If you’re looking to start or strengthen a business, Pinnacle Bank is here to help. If you’d like to talk with us, reach out via customerservice@pinnaclebank.com or call 877.759.7939.

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Employee Insights – Brandi Humphrey

Bringing over nine years of experience in the industry to Pinnacle Bank, Buford-native Brandi Humphrey joins our team as a Branch Manager in Gainesville.

On top of her banking background, Brandi has five seasons under her belt coaching her daughter’s travel softball team – providing a proven team player perspective to her leadership.

Welcome to Pinnacle Bank, Brandi!

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Employee Insights – Lina Cook

As a Colombia-borne banker, Lina Cook comes to Pinnacle Bank as an experienced mortgage banker who is also fluent in Spanish.

Living in Jefferson, Georgia, with her husband and family for almost 20 years, Lina holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and finance and an associate’s degree in computer science – making her a great guide for today’s technologically changing landscape.

Lina loves using her background and skills to help other families start their journeys by guiding them through the home-buying process.

Welcome to Pinnacle Bank, Lina!

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Employee Insights – Megan Ballew

Megan Ballew joins the #PinnacleBank Family as a Branch Manager, working from a debit card clerk to a seasoned banker over the course of 9 years in the industry.

Her greatest professional joy is leading a team to find the best services and solutions for those who trust Pinnacle Bank. When she’s not helping customers or coworkers, Megan is out with her family hunting, fishing, and riding motorcycles.

Pinnacle Bank is proud to have you, Megan!