Meet the Oconee State Bank Team

Rob A. Matthews

SVP, Commercial Lender
Oconee

Rob specializes in commercial real estate (owner and non-owner occupied), commercial construction, commercial equipment, and business lines of credit. With over 36 years of experience, Rob works diligently with each customer to ensure the smoothest loan process possible. In his free time, you can find him spending time with his daughter, playing golf, or attending any UGA sporting event. Go Dawgs!
(706) 769-3626

R. Alan Brown

VP, Commercial Lender
Oconee

As a commercial lender, Alan specializes in residential construction and raw land financing. Alan has over 25 years of experience in Commercial Lending and Banking. He brings great knowledge to clients in several areas, providing great service. In his free time, he enjoys golfing, fishing and target shooting.
(706) 769-3313

T. Hal Jackson

SVP, Community President
Oconee

Specializing in commercial construction, small business lending, commercial equipment loans, owner and non-owner occupied commercial real estate loans, and commercial lines of credit, Hal brings a great amount of experience and knowledge. With over 20 years of experience, Hal has a demonstrated history of working in the banking industry, providing unmatched service to his clients. Hal loves attending UGA sporting events as well as spending time with his family and playing golf.
(706) 769-3618

Phillip Edwards

SVP, Community President
Athens

Phillip specializes in Commercial Lending for expansion, construction, purchasing needs. Offering small business lending, commercial equipment loans, owner and non-owner occupied commercial real estate loans, and commercial lines of credit. Industries include medical, legal, commercial real estate, and multi-family investors. Phillip builds relationships with his clients to ensure satisfaction through the entirety of the loan process. He enjoys spending time with his kids, wife, and dog!
(706) 310-2180
(678) 316-4870

Joe Godfrey

SVP, Community President
Gwinnett

Joe specializes in small business lending, commercial equipment loans, commercial construction, owner and non-owner occupied commercial real estate loans, and commercial lines of credit. While lending is a vital part of banking, Joe believes that relationships that include multiple products offered by the bank provides the foundation for a long and sustainable relationship with his clients.
(678) 983-9425
(770) 616-4741

Michael Thigpen

SVP, Regional President
Southeast Georgia

Michael brings 20+ years of banking experience to the table. He specializes in commercial real estate, equipment, operating lines of credit and agricultural lending. Michael holds a BBA in Finance from Georgia Southern University, where he was a student athlete on the Eagle baseball team. Additionally, he is a graduate of the Graduate School of Banking at LSU. Michael brings a broad array of lending and cash management experience to his client base, providing them with proven solutions to help their businesses thrive. Michael enjoys classic car/truck hot rods, NHRA drag racing, college football, hunting, The Andy Griffith Show and whatever his three daughters want him to do.
(912) 531-4453

Cayce Reese

Executive Assistant

Cayce Reese started at Oconee State Bank in April 2021 and serves as Executive Assistant. Cayce is grateful to be a part of Oconee State Bank because we truly dedicate our time, efforts, and resources to our communities!

Cayce’s love for non-profits and development has found its home with the Remarkable Foundation. Cayce currently serves at Classic City Church on their women’s ministry team and outreach team as well as wit Restoration Women. She looks forward to expanding her areas of service.

Cayce loves going for bike rides, hosting gatherings, and cheering on the Dawgs!

Andy Hancock

Technology Specialist & Courier

Andy Hancock started as an intern with Oconee State Bank in the summer of 2021 and since has moved to working in IT for the bank. As a Technology Specialist and Courier, he supports internal operations and technology deployment across the bank.

Andy is excited to be a member of the Remarkable Foundation Employee Board to increase his involvement in the community through donations to organizations and volunteering in local community efforts.

Outside of work, Andy is a UGA student pursuing Computer Science and likes going outside for hikes and spending time hanging out with friends.

Dani Williams

Vice President, Loan Administration

Dani Williams has been with Oconee State Bank since 2019 as VP of Loan Administration. She has enjoyed collaborating with departments across the Bank working to realize our vision and accomplish our mission. Being part of a thriving community is highly important to her, and she knows that developing strong relationships is crucial for a flourishing society.

As an employee board member of the Remarkable Foundation, she is eager to participate in good works that will enhance and strengthen our communities.

Dani is a writer and an artist, and she and her husband enjoy tent camping, the rich fellowship of family and friends, and the occasional delightful interaction with strangers (any one of whom might turn out to be an angel).

Kevin Jones

Retail Sales & Business Development Officer

Brooke Waters

Vice President, Marketing and Business Development

Brooke Waters began her career with Oconee State Bank in August of 2022 as Business Development Officer. In this role she is focused on relationship-based sales and customer retention across all markets.

Brooke is passionate about community engagement and volunteers with many organizations including the Athens Area & Oconee Chambers of Commerce, Bethlehem Church, ESP, Leadership Gwinnett, Lydia’s Place, United Way, and many other organizations. Originally from Gwinnett, Brooke now lives in Oconee.

She is married to her high school sweetheart, Austin, and they have three children (Kensie, Tenley & Jake), a pup and two rabbits.

Deesha Hagwood

Vice President, Marketing

Deesha Hagwood has worked for Oconee State Bank for 22 years, currently serving as Vice President, Head of Marketing.

Deesha has a deep love for serving the local community where her family is blessed to live, work, and play. She is currently a member of the Oconee County Tourism Board, the Oconee Area Resource Council Dolly Parton Imagination Library Board, CTAE Executive Committee with the Oconee County School System, as well as serving in multiple peer group and committee roles with Community Bankers Association of Georgia and Georgia Bankers Association and other volunteer roles locally.

Deesha is married to Jason Hagwood and they have two amazing children, Landon and Kinlee.

Monica Wright

Vice President, SBA Operations Manager