D. Wayne Akins

Executive Vice President, Chief Community Banking and Wealth Services Officer

Wayne Akins is executive vice president and chief community banking and wealth services officer for Synovus.

Akins leads teams that deliver comprehensive wealth management and advisory solutions to affluent, high- and ultra-high-net-worth individuals, including families and business owners. With an extensive background in geographic leadership for Synovus markets, Akins also supports the geography-based commercial banking teams and the clients of the bank’s mortgage and payment divisions. Additionally, he manages foundations and endowments through the bank’s institutional trust business.

Akins began his career with Synovus at Sea Island Bank as a commercial lender in 1988. After holding various leadership roles at other financial institutions, he returned to Sea Island Bank in 1997 as president and CEO. He was appointed as Synovus’ chief retail banking officer in October 2014, chief community banking officer in December 2018 and chief community and wealth services officer in October 2022.

Akins has been actively involved on the boards of charitable and civic organizations, including the University of Georgia Alumni Association, Leadership Georgia and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes Southeastern Region. He received the Synovus James H. Blanchard Leadership Award and the University of Georgia College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences Award of Excellence.

Akins earned his bachelor’s degree and MBA from the University of Georgia. He’s a graduate of the Consumer Banking Association Graduate School of Bank Management at the University of Virginia.