Spotlight On: Cory Jackson, Central Atlanta Market Executive, Synovus Bank
July 2025 — In an interview with Focus:, Cory Jackson, central Atlanta market executive at Synovus Bank, highlighted the bank’s strategies to sustain its success in the Atlanta market: “We are committed to building strong relationships, acting boldly with strategic purpose, and delivering outcomes that benefit our clients, team members, and communities.”
How has the past year been for Synovus, and how is that reflective of the banking industry in Atlanta?
Despite the challenges in the economy, Synovus remained resilient and advanced our strategic growth strategy. We ranked No. 6 on American Banker’s list of top banks by reputation in the United States among customers, which is a testament to how we serve our clients.
Taking a broader view, how have ongoing changes in the market impacted your business?
Tariffs and federal job cuts have presented challenges across the banking industry, but we see them as an opportunity to strengthen client relationships. Rather than simply navigating these disruptions, we’re leaning in — engaging with clients to explore strategies for mitigating the impact and identifying new pathways for growth. This environment deepens our existing partnerships and opens doors to new relationships. In times of market disruption, we believe opportunity emerges for those willing to adapt and lead.
Interest rates remain elevated. How are you helping business clients, especially in capital-intensive industries, to manage cost pressures and adjust financing strategies?
We are a full-relationship bank. That means we can offer more competitive pricing. When bringing in deposits, loans, and personal assets, we have the ability to adjust interest rates based on these factors. At Synovus, we strive to be a one-stop solution for our clients, eliminating the need to seek services elsewhere. This enables us to deliver the best service and competitive pricing by managing everything in-house.
What are some of the most promising opportunities in the local banking landscape, and how is Synovus positioning itself to capitalize?
Atlanta is a thriving hub, with potential across various sectors like technology, healthcare, and finance, with a deep talent pool from colleges and universities. With its status as hosting the busiest airport in the world, the city boasts innovation and growth. By strategically expanding our team of talented bankers in the area, we’re in a great position to harness the diverse economic landscape that Atlanta offers, which is the heartbeat of Georgia. We’re fully committed to helping our clients navigate this dynamic market.
How does Synovus recruit and retain skilled talent?
Attracting and retaining top talent starts with fostering a workplace where people feel valued and empowered. Our recruitment strategy emphasizes identifying individuals who are innovative, collaborative, and client-centric. We actively engage with diverse talent pools and use employee referrals. Retention is equally important, so we offer robust leadership development programs, mentorship, and a flexible work environment. We offer competitive compensation, benefits, and continuous learning opportunities to help team members grow within the organization.
Synovus is the largest bank headquartered in Georgia, and we want to continue to grow our market share in Atlanta.
Have you noticed any disrupted markets or new industries that are coming into Atlanta?
Our team is focused on manufacturing companies, and they’ve been heavily impacted by tariffs and job cuts. We also bank many international companies that deal with export tariffs. It’s important to stay close to those clients and ensure they fully understand what is going on – how they are being affected, how their margins are being compressed, and how they are managing costs.
What steps is Synovus taking to promote a sustainable and responsible banking practice through alternative energy banking solutions in the Atlanta region?
We offer alternative energy banking, with a specialty banker who focuses on renewable energy and solar projects. From solar farms to battery storage, we are helping innovators build what’s next. Since 2024, our alternative energy banking business has led $130 million in financing solutions for energy projects in Georgia, South Carolina, and Tennessee.
What advancements has Synovus made in digital banking to meet the evolving needs of its clients?
We launched Accelerated FX, a foreign exchange platform that allows clients to do international exchanges online through a streamlined portal. We also have Accelerated Trade for clients to issue international letters of credit and gain visibility into the entire process of their international transactions on a single platform. We also have Synovus Accelerate AP to manage accounts payable for our clients. We developed this software to manage client payments so they can focus more on their day-to-day business. We continue to invest in our mobile banking app, where our clients can access live data and insights on their spending.
How is Synovus staying ahead of risk management, both internally and in external operations?
Fraud is a concern for consumers and businesses. At Synovus, we created the Synovus Fraud Prevention Portal, where our clients can get the latest news on scams and how to protect their accounts. We also offer Carefull, an advanced credit and identity monitoring service, as a complimentary benefit for clients and their families. Real-time data is needed to reduce risks, and technology helps to mitigate risks for our clients and the bank. We hold regular conversations with our clients about fraud management.
In the next two to three years, what is Synovus’ growth strategy in the Atlanta region?
Synovus is accelerating its growth by adding new relationship managers, not only in Atlanta, but also across other high-opportunity markets. We are committed to building strong relationships, acting boldly with strategic purpose, and delivering outcomes that benefit our clients, team members, and communities. We have a huge opportunity in Atlanta to win by bringing in new bankers, taking care of our existing clients, welcoming new opportunities, and growing the bank.
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