The Advanced Technology Development Center (ATDC), the state of Georgia’s technology startup incubator, announced a new initiative with the Community Bankers Association of Georgia (CBA) that will identify, develop, and refine financial technology (FinTech) solutions for community banks.

With a key objective to bring forward new ideas, issues, and concerns regarding the technology needs at community banks, CBA members will actively participate with ATDC in the piloting and testing of these new initiatives as well as provide financial support to entrepreneurs across the state. This was made possible through the creation of a CBA FinTech Committee, which will collaborate in the development of educational and outreach programming for the ATDC FinTech community.

“The Community Bankers Association of Georgia and ATDC have complementary missions, especially in the FinTech space,” said Charles Potts, ATDC’s FinTech catalyst. “This partnership will support programs and issues important to Georgia community banks which, like that of ATDC, include critical economic development opportunities and enhance the financial vitality of communities across the state.”

The effort will yield positive results for Georgia’s economy, as well as customer and community banking relationships, said John McNair, CBA president and CEO.

“Finding the most appropriate FinTech solutions to better serve their customers is at the forefront of every community banker’s mind,” McNair said. “The partnership between ATDC and the CBA will greatly accelerate the introduction, implementation, and acceptance of new solutions — all while producing greater economic benefit to the Georgia economy.

“CBA is thrilled to be leading this effort on behalf of Georgia’s great and robust community banking industry.”

CBA is the chief lobbying group for community banks in Georgia. CBA’s 150-member community banks are locally owned and operated, representing $72 billion in deposits with assets ranging from $13 million to $17 billion.

An economic development offering of Georgia Tech’s Enterprise Innovation Institute, ATDC’s collaboration with CBA further advances the incubator’s mission to support the growth and development of FinTech startups in Georgia through the ATDC FinTech Program. Launched in 2015, the ATDC FinTech Program is a unique collaboration between a nonprofit, university-based incubator and major financial services firms to help launch and scale FinTech companies in Georgia.