COBB COUNTY - Donald D. Howard will resume his role as president and CEO of Bank of North Georgia, according to a Wednesday press release from the bank. Howard is also a regional CEO for Synovus and serves as chairman of the board of directors at Bank of North Georgia.

Howard was one of the founding members of Bank of North Georgia, which was formed with the merger of Cherokee Federal Bank and North Georgia National Bank in 1994. At that time, Bank of North Georgia had $177 million in assets, six branches and 55 team members. Since then, the bank has grown to $4.8 billion in assets with 43 branches in 17 metro Atlanta counties and more than 700 team members. The bank is ranked fifth in deposit market share in metro Atlanta.

Throughout Bank of North Georgia's history, Howard has been an instrumental leader. In 1998, the bank became part of Synovus, the Georgia-based financial services company. Howard served as president and COO of the bank until 2003, when he was appointed chairman and CEO. Later that year, Howard was named Synovus Regional CEO for the Atlanta and North Georgia markets. Beginning in 2007, Howard served as the bank's board chairman and as a regional CEO for Synovus, overseeing 11 Synovus banks in North Georgia, Tennessee and Alabama. In 2009, Howard's regional responsibilities changed to leading six Synovus banks in North Georgia and Tennessee.

Kessel D. Stelling Jr., bank of North Georgia's former president and CEO, was selected last month to serve as the new president and COO of Synovus.

"I have thoroughly enjoyed working with Don over the past four years and consider him to be a great mentor and friend," Stelling said. "Don is very well known and highly respected by team members, customers, and our community. He has always had the best interest of our bank at heart and has never wavered in his commitment to serving our customers. Don's 40 years of banking in Atlanta, 16-year history as a leader with Bank of North Georgia and 12 years with Synovus makes me confident that this will be a smooth and seamless transition of leadership."

Synovus Chairman and CEO Richard Anthony said, "We are fortunate to have a leader with Don's experience and market knowledge ready to resume his responsibilities and guide Bank of North Georgia's leadership team."

Howard began his career in banking in 1965. After serving in the U.S. Army from 1967 to 1971, he resumed his banking career. From 1981 to 1987, Howard served as president and CEO of Roswell Bank. He was president and CEO of Northside Bank & Trust Company in Roswell from 1987 to 1988. In 1988, Howard served as an organizer, president and CEO of North Georgia National Bank. He served in this role until 1994, when Bank of North Georgia was formed through the merger of Cherokee Federal Bank and North Georgia National Bank.

Active in the local community, Howard currently serves as board chairman at North Fulton Hospital, member of the board of trustees at Georgia Southern University, secretary/treasurer of the North Fulton Community Improvement District, board vice president at the Roswell Convention & Visitors Bureau, member of the Reinhardt College board of trustees, advisory board member of the North Metro Miracle League, member of the Roswell Rotary Club and member of the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce. In recent years, Howard has also served as president of the Roswell Rotary Club and as a board member of the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce and the North Metro YMCA.

He lives in Canton with his wife, Terri. They have three children and three grandchildren living in the local Atlanta area. For more information, visit www.bankof

northgeorgia.com.