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Blanton, Edwards and Hall Represent Georgia at National Government Relations Meeting
Georgia was well represented this week at the fall meeting of the administrative committee of ABA’s Government Relations Council. Attending from Georgia were Georgia Bank and Trust CEO Dan Blanton, ABA chairman elect; United Bank CEO Jim Edwards, vice chair of the ABA Government Relations Council; and American Pride Bank President and CEO John Hall. The committee develops the annual policy priorities for review by the ABA Board of Directors. “The meeting allows bankers from Georgia and all over the country to give actionable input for the ABA’s government relations efforts. It’s helpful to be able to share how hometown bank customers are being affected by the major issues and to offer ideas that can help,” Hall said. See examples of the priority policy areas for 2015 that were discussed...
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Advocacy
Farm Credit Risks Outlined in Industry Campaign
Please join GBA in supporting and being active in a national campaign to boost awareness of the risks posed by the Farm Credit System. Anyone can participate by visiting the campaign’s website, ReformFarmCredit.org, and using the advocacy tools it provides. “In today’s banking environment, this is one more example of the government being in direct competition with private enterprise. It’s time for Congress to level the playing field. Our hometown banks are ready, willing and able to make loans to these traditional borrowers and Congress needs to understand how difficult that is when we’re competing with an entity that pays practically no taxes and obtains its funding with long term government guaranteed bonds,” said Steve Wood, WB&T Bankshares, Waycross, who is chairman of the GBA Agriculture Committee. Facts of note include...
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Bank Founder Honored with Bridge Naming
The W.R. Curry Memorial Bridge was dedicated in a ceremony last week honoring Mr. Curry, who was one of the organizers in 1900 of the bank that is now First State Bank of Randolph County, Cuthbert. Charlie Curry (pictured at right with: L-R State Rep. Gerald Greene, nephew Scott Curry, Charlie Curry, and GBA’s Joe Brannen) is president and CEO of the bank and a great nephew of Mr. Curry. He thanked the State of Georgia for the honor and told some heartwarming stories about Mr. Curry’s works. Read more about the bridge dedication and Curry family here...
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Roger Smith Recognized for GBA Board Service
Our thanks to Roger Smith, president and CEO of River City Bank, Rome, for his service on the GBA Board of Directors. He recently completed a two year term on the Board and is shown in the photo receiving a recognition plaque from GBA's Joe Brannen delivered to him at the bank this week. Smith continues to be active as the Group 7 member of the Georgia BankPAC Board and as a participant in one of GBA's President/CEO Roundtables.
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Four Great Reasons to Attend Legislative/Economic Forum and Legislative Reception
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Women in Banking Conference Update
Rep. Stacey Abrams Named a National Public Official of the Year
Rep. Stacy Abrams, Georgia’s State House Minority Leader, graces the cover of Governing magazine this month as one of its Public Officials of the Year. We’re honored that Rep. Abrams will be among the speakers at the upcoming GBA Women in Banking Conference Jan. 29-30 in Atlanta. In 2011, Rep. Abrams became the first woman ever to lead a party caucus in the Georgia General Assembly and is the first African American to hold the top spot for either party in the Georgia House of Representatives. Please join us at the conference to hear more from Abrams about leadership, politics and issues that are important to all Georgians. Click here for more details...
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DBF Adopts New Rules
The Georgia Department of Banking and Finance adopted new rules Dec. 5 that will be effective Dec. 26. The new rules relate to removing a requirement to file a report if you don't close any loans under the Georgia Residential Mortgage Act; eliminating registration for certain out of state bank holding companies; and ongoing changes to the Merchant Acquirer Limited Purpose Bank, mostly related to investments in these entities. Most changes are simply administrative in nature, and the changes of some substance appear to be helpful to the department in reducing redundant or unnecessary filings. Here’s a link to the new rules...
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Senator Calls for End to Credit Union Tax Subsidy
The credit union tax exemption is among a variety of tax breaks Congress should end, says Oklahoma Sen. Tom Coburn in a report he put out this week. The report is critical of more than 165 tax breaks that are worth more than $900 billion this year. The credit union exemption, he says, will cost taxpayers $2.1 billion in fiscal year 2014 and $11.9 billion through FY 2018. See a quote from Coburn and access a link to his full report here...
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Banks Get Top Marks as Trusted Payment Providers
Banks are the most trustworthy payment provider, besting other sources such as PayPal and retailers, according to a recent survey by Ipsos Public affairs. Here’s the breakdown: 79 percent trust banks to process their payments securely, 71 percent trusted PayPal and 69 percent trusted credit card companies. Online retailers scored a 64 percent trust rating, traditional retailers received a 45 percent rating and virtual currencies are trusted by only 15 percent of respondents. Click here for more information and access a link to the entire payments report here...
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Year-End Checklists for upcoming ACA Employer Mandate Rule Available
As the end of the year rapidly approaches, there are a number of things you may need to add to your to-do list to keep up with the ongoing changes related to the Affordable Care Act. Among other things, 2015 is the first year that the employer mandate penalties will apply. In addition, you may need to prepare for significant new IRS reporting rules. The GBA Insurance Trust has posted a comprehensive list of items that need attention before year end. Get links to the ACA lists here....
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Preliminary Agenda Announced for HR Professionals Institute - Feb. 19-20
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Georgia BankPAC Update
Campaign Closing in on Goals, Final Push Underway
The GBA StatePAC has reached 94 percent of goal while the GBA FedPAC has achieved 98 percent of goal. Your bank may still contribute to the StatePAC and your eligible employees, officers and directors may do so to the FedPAC. Won’t you help us reach 100 percent for both funds? See how your GBA Group has progressed so far. With questions, please contact Elizabeth Chandler at 404.420.2027. Thanks go to GBA Associate Member Safe Systems, Inc., Alpharetta, Danny Johnston, president & CEO, for their generous contribution to the GBA StatePAC this week.
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Find a Job, Post a Job with GBA Job Bank
The Georgia Bankers Association offers free job posting resources for our member banks. These listings can be viewed online or through our print publication, the GBA Bulletin, mailed every other week. Resume postings are also available. For more information, please contact Kenyetta Parks.
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GBA Strategic Partner Spotlight
Click the logos below to lern more about these important GBA Partners...
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Other Upcoming In-Person Events
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Read All About It: Send Us Your News
Please remember to include the Georgia Bankers Association on the list of recipients for announcements about promotions, new employees and special recognition your bank has received. We want to share your news with your colleagues across the state. Please forward your announcements and photos to GBA's David Oliver and Bogan Brannen.
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