GBA University
GBA University is the virtual campus for all of GBA’s learning, career planning and networking offerings that are essential for the continuing education and development for Georgia’s career bankers.

GBA-U is about YOUR continued learning

• AIB courses

• In-person seminars

• Webinars

• Conferences

• Banking schools

Check the GBA-U home page for all the details.

Message from Joe Brannen

Welcome to Your Newest GBA Resource, Exclusively about GBA University

Every great campus has its own publication. And since GBA University is the virtual campus for all of the terrific educational, career planning and development resources GBA offers members, we figured it was high time for a special publication just for GBA-U news. We’ve heard from many of you that it would be helpful to get a regular update that focuses exclusively on our GBA-U resources, so we’ll publish this each month separately from our weekly e-Bulletin and print bulletins. You’ll still get those weekly reminders, but this format gives you focused updates on GBA-U information. We hope this is helpful, trust that it will be yet another valuable benefit of your membership and yet another example of GBA’s commitment to being THE Resource that Empowers your success. Let us know what you think, too. Take our short survey or e-mail us. Comments, suggestions and feedback are welcome and encouraged.

Sincerely,
Joe Brannen
GBA President & CEO

Career Paths for Bankers: Lending, Compliance, Branch Manager Focus

GBA-U’s Career Paths for Bankers^TM is the best-organized, easiest way for you to map your career and find the right learning available. We’ve done all the work for you and your bank. Each month, we’ll pick three of the 44 most common bank jobs we’ve identified and list some key upcoming educational offerings that fit into each Career Path for those positions.
 

These are the courses offered just this month. Of course, there’s much more. Visit our Career Paths for Bankers^TM web site for a full listing of the 44 bank jobs, skills and competencies for each and all GBA-U career development offerings for each. Don’t forget, GBA Strategic Partner TalentQuest can also provide an enhanced performance management system based on our Career Paths for Bankers^TM. With questions, contact GBA's Alison Moreau at 404.420.2034.

Check out these great values on hot topics and incentives for getting in early on GBA U educational programs.

• $99 CRA/RESPA seminar – May 12

• $99 Emerging Bright Spots for Banks webinar – April 22

• Save $50: Early-bird Leadership GBA Conference registration, April 15 deadline

Darron Burnett liked the Georgia Banking School so much he decided to become an instructor. That’s a testament to the quality of the curriculum and benefit bankers get from attending. So, register now for Georgia Banking School, May 3-9 at the University of Georgia. For 48 years, the Georgia Banking School has been the premier resource for career-minded bankers. “Georgia Banking School helps students acquire a broad knowledge and understanding of all the functions in their financial institution," said Burnette, Sea Island Bank, Statesboro. “Students will develop the necessary skills required to lead effectively in today's challenging bank environment. Students are provided hands-on training and expertise from experienced bankers and UGA professors.” For more information, contact Marybeth Jones at 404.420.2032.

Regulatory Update Leads at Rural Development and Lending Conference

Join Ben Pitts with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation as he addresses the most pressing regulatory issues including loan quality, liquidity/brokered funds, and the quality of correspondent banks. This year’s Rural Development and Lending Conference will be held May 14-15 at the Savannah Riverfront Marriott. For hotel reservations, please call the hotel directly at 912.233.7722. For more information, please contact Marybeth Jones at 404.420.2032.

Registration is well underway for GBA’s 2009 Annual Convention June 15-16 at the Renaissance Waverly in Atlanta. Speakers at this year’s Convention include Pat Barron, COO and First VP of the Atlanta Federal Reserve as well as Lee Weatherington, SVP, Goldleaf Solutions, to give us some crystal-ball, “future-of-banking” information. A block of rooms has been reserved at the hotel at a reduced rate of $159 per night for single or double occupancy. Reservations may be made by calling the hotel directly at 888.391.8724 or 770.953.4500. Be sure to say you are with the Georgia Bankers Association to receive this special rate. The cut-off date for reservations is May 22.  With questions about the Convention, please contact GBA’s Susie McGehee at 404.420.2010.

Act Today: Save $50 on Registration for Leadership Conference by April 15

Be sure to take advantage of the Leadership Conference $395 early-bird registration fee by registering before April 15. The conference is July 12-15 at Amelia Island Plantation in Amelia Island, Fla. Attendees will receive timely information that will include an economic update, information from regulators, opportunities for building and maintaining relationships with your customers during difficult times and up-to-date information from the legislative front. With questions about the Leadership Conference or Leadership GBA, please call GBA’s Susie McGehee at 404.420.2010 or Jennifer Stevens at 404.420.2024.

Show Up: Why You Should Attend an In-person Seminar

An important aspect of any job is to receive great training. That’s why GBA-U offers a variety of in-person seminars. What are the advantages of attending an in-person seminar? It allows you to have personal interaction with the speaker, ask specific questions, participate in peer discussions and truly have a more memorable experience while receiving pertinent information. This month GBA-U will host the in-person seminars listed below. For more details, click on the seminar of your choice. See you there!

• Legal Issues of New Account Documentation – April 28, Gainesville, April 29, Macon.
  This seminar teaches new account personnel proper account opening procedures and compliance requirements.

• Consumer Real Estate Lending Regulatory Changes – May 12, Macon.
  Significant changes have been made to the Truth in Lending and RESPA regulations that will greatly affect your institution’s lending compliance program and loan operations.  This seminar will explain the new requirements of these complex regulations in simple terms and provide common-sense solutions for implementing the changes by the mandated deadlines.

• Internal Audit – May 13, Macon.
  This one-day seminar will cover many of the basic concepts regarding community bank internal controls and internal audit techniques.

All webinars are live and allow time for questions and answers. The $250 registration fee gives you access to one web site “seat,” one telephone site license and all handout materials. If you can’t attend the webinar, you may buy the audio CD, handout materials and a password to see the information online. With questions, please call GBA’s Courtenay Pope at 404.420.2015.

• ABA Online Review Course for the CTFA Exam (open enrollment),12 weeks, $795

• Law & Banking: Applications,16 week, $455, May 4

• Money & Banking,16 weeks, $405, May 4

• Principles of Banking,16 weeks, $405, May 4

• Supervisor Certificate,16 weeks, $695, May 4

• Today's Teller: Developing Basic Skills* (open enrollment), 8 weeks, $315

AIB Self-Paced Courses are delivered entirely online, are on average eight hours long and range from business fundamentals to management and leadership to wealth management and trust. Once a student has registered and is approved a student can begin at any time. These courses do not come with a textbook, all reading is completed online. These are pass/fail courses and can be done over a weekend. Click here for a complete list of AIB online self-paced courses.

AIB Classroom is still available and can be offered anytime or anywhere. These are typically requested by banks for a specific area and topic. GBA-U will take care of the details of putting a class together. Classroom courses are beneficial for peer exchange and networking while providing individual attention to those that prefer the classroom setting. If you would like to see a specific AIB course offered in your area or if you have questions about AIB classroom courses, please call GBA’s Alison Moreau at 404.420.2034.

If you like the new GBA-U Edge be sure and forward it to others at your bank. And, if you think someone at your bank should get it, send us an e-mail with their name, title and e-mail address and we’ll add them to our monthly distribution. There’s no better way to share and enhance the value of GBA University as a resource for your bank’s continued success.

Georgia Bankers Association • 50 Hurt Plaza, Suite 1050, Atlanta, GA 30303 • Phone 404.522.1501 • Fax 404.522.9848 • www.gabankers.com