Kim Eells
Kim is SBA Business Development Officer at Local First Bank. She joined in Local First in September 2022 after serving as SVP in SBA Business Development at Georgia Primary Bank for three years. She has more than 20 years of banking experience. Kim’s responsibilities include establishing relationships with SBA borrowers and managing their loan process from beginning to closing. Kim is active in Georgia Lenders Quality Circle (Board Member), Georgia Association of Business Brokers (Affiliate Board Member) and the Southern Heartland Art Guild. Outside of the office she enjoys spending time with her family, watching football (college and professional), working in her garden, putting up the vegetables that she grows, and painting.
What area do you specialize in as a GABB-affiliated professional?
SBA Lending, specializing in business acquisitions
What led you to banking?
I came into SBA lending kind of by accident. I took a job as an administrative assistant with an SBA department. Within two years, I was the SBA lender for all of their banks in Georgia–21 banks with multiple branches each.
What have you accomplished this year as a GABB Board member?
Not as much as I would have liked! It’s hard for affiliates to be engaged when there’s no in-person networking.
What habits do you have that you think make you successful?
I answer the phone when it rings, and if I can’t, I return the call very quickly.
What else would you like to tell us?
I have enjoyed being a member of GABB and I really like being involved with the Board. I appreciate the opportunities that the GABB members have given me to help their clients buy or sell a business.