AFB&T’s Walton County Market Executive Ben Garrett announced his retirement this week after 38 years in the industry and 27 years with Synovus. Ben served the majority of his Synovus career as CEO of the National Bank of Walton County and has continued to serve as Walton County market leader following the consolidation with Athens First Bank in 2009.

Meredith Malcom, currently AFB&T senior vice president of commercial banking, has been named his successor. Malcom has been with Synovus nearly 20 years and brings expertise in commercial and retail banking, as well as private wealth management.

Under Garrett’s leadership, AFB&T has been named Best Bank by the Walton Tribune’s Readers Choice poll since the poll’s inception 18 years ago and has been the FDIC market share leader in deposits for the majority of his tenure. Garrett is a past recipient of the Walton Tribune Community Spirit Award, the J.L. McGarity Citizenship Award, and AFB&T was selected as Walton County’s Best Employer.

“Ben Garrett has been an influential banker and a great advocate for Walton County and the Monroe area. We congratulate him on an outstanding career and wish him well as he moves on to a new chapter,” said D Copeland, Synovus executive vice president and chief community banking officer. “Our team will be in great hands with Meredith, who is an outstanding banker and leader with a strong knowledge of the community and economic development opportunities.”

She is involved with the Walton County Chamber of Commerce, Georgia Bankers Association, Monroe Junior Service League, and is an alumnus of both Leadership Georgia and Leadership Walton. She is a graduate of the University of Georgia with a BBA in Finance and completed the Graduate School of Banking at Louisiana State University.