Former M C Bank president leads industry council

Jeremy Callais, formerly of M C Bank, has been appointed chair of the American Bankers Association’s Community Bankers Council for the 2023-2024 membership year. He previously served on the Council’s Administrative Committee.
Callais is the president of Peoples Bank of East Tennessee, a $360 million asset bank based in Tennessee and established in 1997. Peoples Bank of East Tennessee prides itself on providing every customer in the community with the latest technology and products, including free online banking, ATM, debit and credit services, and flexible operating hours. Since 2021, Callais has helped implement this core philosophy and continues the expansion of the bank, which originally started with 18 employees, to over 100 staff members in 10 locations.
“It is an honor to serve as chair of ABA’s Community Bankers Council this year and work with my peers on issues affecting community banks and the customers they serve,” said Callais. “This role allows me to collaborate with other bankers and develop hands-on solutions to help community banks better meet customers’ needs.” 
Callais, who chaired the ABA Community Bankers Council meeting November 13-15, said the bankers discussed public policy, operations, and business issues that might impact the nation’s hometown banks and their communities. Bankers discussed legislative priorities, including the ACRE Act, Credit Card Competition Act, and SAFER Banking Act; regulatory issues, including Section 1033 of the Dodd-Frank Act; debit card interchange fees; and the Administration’s executive order on artificial intelligence. Council members also had a chance to share ways high-interest rates have affected the banking industry and exchange ideas on deposit generation, loan growth, talent attraction and retention, and other business and operational best practices.
Before his time at Peoples Bank of East Tennessee, Callais was president of a M C Bank, where he also held positions of CFO and COO. He has also worked in a conversion training role for a core data processor.
Callais holds a master’s degree in education and attended both ABA’s National Compliance School and Stonier School of Banking. He currently resides in East Tennessee.