GBA University Edge: The premier education and training resource for banks and bankers
 The premier education and training resource for banks and bankers

Home  I  GBA University  I  Member Services  I  Volunteers  I  Government Relations  I  Calendar of Events

                    May 2010  

About 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:

  • In-person seminars

  • Webinars

  • Banking Schools

  • AIB Courses

  • Conferences

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

In This Issue:
 Categorically, the Best Banking Education You Can Get

We're trying something new this month. We've categorized some of our outstanding GBA-University programs by topic area. So, whether you're looking for the latest Security, Operations and Technology, Retail Banking or other training, check out the listings by topic below the news about some key upcoming general events. We also are giving you the opportunity to suggest a course or topic, so weigh in and we'll see what we can do. We're committed to making sure GBA-University is your preferred resource for ongoing banking education, training and development.

Meet the New FDIC Regional Director at June 2 Luncheon

Don't miss the opportunity to meet newly appointed FDIC Atlanta Regional Director Thomas J. Dujenski at a special GBA-sponsored luncheon June 2 at the Renaissance Waverly Hotel in Atlanta. He will share some brief remarks followed by a question and answer session. We encourage bankers, directors, bank counsel members and others to attend. To register, please click here. The registration fee of $45 will help defray the costs of hosting the lunch. With questions, contact Joe Brannen at 404.420.2026 or Susie McGehee at 404.420.2010.

Why Bankers go to the GBA Annual Convention

Don't miss the opportunity to get timely information about critical banking issues at GBA's
2010 Annual Convention. "The program, as in the past, is important to our banking issues. We have many key legislative issues in Congress right now," said Pait Willis, Chairman & CEO of South Georgia Banking Company in Tifton. "The chance to learn where we are on these topics and what we can do is critical to the future of banking in Georgia." Tim Keadle, Partner with Porter Keadle Moore, LLP, in Atlanta also relies on the timely information presented at Annual Convention. "The speakers and interaction with the other convention participants are invaluable." Keadle said. "It invariably prompts new ideas to serve my clients better and one idea can make a profound difference." The 2010 Annual Convention is scheduled for June 13-16 at Charleston Place in Charleston, SC. With questions about the Convention, please contact GBA's Susie McGehee at 404.420.2010.

Leadership Conference Room Reservation Deadline Coming Up

Just a reminder that the room block at Amelia Island Plantation for Leadership GBA's Leadership Conference expires Thursday, June 10. If you have not already done so, make your reservations by calling the hotel directly at 888.261.6165. Be sure to let them know you are with the Georgia Bankers Association Leadership Conference group to get the discounted room rate of $208 per night. With questions, please call GBA's Susie McGehee at 404.420.2010 or Jennifer Stevens at 404.420.2024.

CTFA Exam: Are You Ready? Take the ABA Online Review Course - June 7

Candidates who are planning on earning the prestigious Certified Trust and Financial Advisor (CTFA) designation from the Institute of Certified Bankers will find this course an additional resource and convenient way to review for the exam. It is designed as a companion study tool to the four-volume ABA Wealth and Advisory Personal Trust Series (WAPTS). The four-volume series of workbooks will be provided to participants and the cost is included in the price of the course. Those who already own the current series may buy the online course independently using the "without textbook" option. The study quizzes from the WAPTS workbooks are used for the online course computer-graded quizzes to provide instant feedback. Participants are encouraged to take the pre-test for each exam section first to identify the areas in which they should concentrate their study. After studying the various sections of the study guides, participants can take the review tests from each section. Access to all lessons and quizzes on the online course site is available for the duration of the course and until the date of the Individually Proctored Exam. As a capstone to the course, learners may take a sample exam modeled after the CTFA exam (a feature not available in the WAPTS). There is a discussion board for each section of the course with forums organized according to subject matter. In the discussion board, participants can post questions, share insights and review or discuss other students' questions and comments. Students also have the ability to Instant Message each other. This is a self-paced online course that begins before the Spring and Fall Individually Proctored CTFA exams. The Certified Trust and Financial AdvisorŠ (CTFA) designation is applicable to financial services professionals whose primary function and expertise focus on the provision of fiduciary services related to trusts, estates, guardianships and individual asset management accounts. At the end of the course, participants should be familiar with the following areas:

  • Fiduciary and Trust Activities

  • Tax Law and Tax Planning

  • Investments Management

  • Financial Planning

The start date for this course is June 7 and is $795 ($200 without the textbook) for members. With questions about ABA Online Review Course for the CTFA Exam, please contact GBA's Alison Moreau at 404.420.2034.

Introducing New Pricing for GBA In-Person Seminars!

Introducing GBA's newest cost-effective way to receive much needed training. GBA is now offering registration discounts for multiple bank employees who sign up for a specific seminar. If you register one person for a GBA seminar at the regular $225 rate, each additional employee can register for $175 for that seminar. Listed below are the seminars that we are rolling out with this new pricing system. Be on the lookout for more to come!

With questions or to register, please contact GBA's Courtenay Pope at 404.420.2015.

Sign up now for the Call Reporting Seminar - June 8

Designed for CFOs, operations officers and anyone responsible for preparing call reports, this seminar will offer practical techniques to improve your overall reporting process. Participants will get a detailed, line-by-line review of how to complete each schedule of a Call Report. This one-day seminar will be presented by Mauldin & Jenkins, LLC, Atlanta, and is scheduled for June 8 at the Idle Hour Country Club in Macon. Registration is $225 for members. With questions or to register, please contact GBA's Courtenay Pope at 404.420.2015.

Operations and Technology: How to be a Smooth Operator

The following GBA-U courses will help your bank run better and stay up to date with the latest technology. Don't wait to sign up!

Security: Three Important Security Webinars You Must Not Miss!

Managing, maintaining and improving your security program mean so much to your bank these days. Check out the following GBA-U offerings that can help you succeed.

Retail Banking: How to Build Business and Boost Service

Here are 14 GBA-U offerings your Retail Banking team will find invaluable as you work to earn new business and make sure your service shines. Sign up now!

Advanced Finance Education: AIB's Managing the Bank's Investment Portfolio

Managing the Bank's Investment Portfolio is a six-week required course for the AIB Bank Financial Management Diploma (more info below). After successfully completing the Managing the Bank's Investment Portfolio program, you will be able to:

  • Identify the key characteristics of common investment instruments

  • Calculate the yield on those instruments

  • Describe regulatory and accounting restrictions on the bank's investment portfolio

  • Identify all of the elements that should be included in the bank's investment policy and formulate such a policy

  • Compare the benefits and risk of various investment strategies

  • Evaluate the comparative return of taxable and tax-exempt securities

  • Evaluate total return and option-adjusted spreads on instruments with prepayment risk.

Participants will need access to the individuals who manage their bank's investment portfolio and the information they use daily. Participants should also have a basic familiarity with financial markets and financial instruments. This class uses a number of mathematical concepts and calculations to manage the investment portfolio. The textbook used for this course is Bank Management, 7th Edition, by Timothy W. Koch and S. Scott MacDonald, 2009, Thomson Learning. If you have this edition please be sure to register for the course without the textbook. You will also need Microsoft Excel, Adobe Acrobat Reader, Microsoft Internet Explorer Browser 7.0 or Mozilla Firefox 2.0 or higher. The start date for this course is June 21 and the price is $595 ($475 without the textbook) for members. With questions about AIB Managing the Bank's Investment Portfolio, please contact GBA's Alison Moreau at 404.420.2034.

About the AIB Bank Financial Management Diploma

This AIB Bank Financial Management Diploma is designed for individuals who are involved in the financial management of their bank, including junior officers up through CEOs, CFOs and other senior officers making key decisions that affect bank profitability. The courses required for this diploma cover the analysis of bank performance, the measurement and management of interest rate risk, and the management of funding, liquidity and capital. The core courses all use the same textbook, and each of the courses includes exercises in which participants apply these concepts to their own institution. Candidates should have an understanding of accounting and financial markets before beginning the required courses. Experience in the use of electronic spreadsheets is helpful but not required. The required courses are:

No substitutions or previous college credit will be accepted for this certificate. You can download the PDF of requirements here. The start dates for these courses vary throughout the year; with questions about AIB Bank Financial Management Diploma, please contact GBA's Alison Moreau at 404.420.2034.

Career Paths for Bankers: Your One-Stop Source for Career Planning

GBA University's Career Paths for BankersTM is the fast and easy way to identify job-specific ongoing development courses for key staff members. If there's a job title at a bank, we've summarized it, defined the responsibilities, outlined the skills and competencies needed to succeed and linked it to all of the GBA-U training to help your career. There's simply no other resource like it. Check it out today.

Suggest a Course: Your Needs Drive GBA-U Offerings

We want to make sure we keep putting the "you" in GBA-U. If there's something we don't offer on our regular calendar, let us know what might be helpful. We'll see if we can build a special program based on your suggestion. E-bulletin readers, send our GBA-University staff an e-mail with your suggestion. Be sure to give us some idea about how you'd prefer to get the training such as an in-person seminar, webinar or other channel, and a reasonably convenient location suggestion for in person course suggestions. Or you can fill out and fax back this form.

Like it? Pass It On, or Recommend a Subscription

If you like 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