Johnson graduates S.C. Bankers School

Kim Johnson, community development officer at the Bank of Clarendon, was one of only 43 bankers from across South Carolina to graduate from the South Carolina Bankers School on July 12, following a three-year intensive program.

“I was pleased to have the opportunity to attend South Carolina Bankers School,” Johnson said on July 18. “It was a great educational experience that will allow me to better perform my job duties for Bank of Clarendon. My attendance over the last three years also enabled me to meet and form long-lasting relationships with my counterparts in the banking industry throughout the state of South Carolina."

J. Barry Ham, president of the Bank of Clarendon, called Johnson “one of our shining stars and a valuable member of our team.”

“She represented us well at the South Carolina Bankers Association,” Ham said July 19, “and does a wonderful job as our community development officer. We are very pleased she is a part of the BOC family.”

Ham added that the S.C. Bankers School is held in cooperation with Lander University and consists of a three-year progressive course of instruction with a one-week residential session for each of the three years and additional home study at various times during the program.

“The third-year students have a unique opportunity to participate in a bank simulation program working in teams of four or five representing banks in direct competition, making real management decisions about bank investment portfolios, loan policy, capital structure, asset liability management, tax strategy and many other components of bank operations,” Ham said.

Established in 1961, the South Carolina Bankers School is recognized as one of the best banking schools in the Southeast, attracting students from outside of South Carolina, according to Teresa Taylor, SCBS Administrator. Since then, more than 2,800 students have graduated from the school. Taylor stated that the SCBS is regarded as one of the best values available anywhere for investment of education dollars.

Taylor added that more than 140 junior level and mid-management officers and administrators from statewide commercial banks, savings institutions, farm credit banks, and even from the Federal Reserve, attended the one-week school hosted at Lander University in Greenwood.