A Free Way to
Fight Fraud
GBA
member banks can participate in
FinCrime,
a free online, searchable database of fraudulent activity.
Just this week, the City of McDonough police department
posted information on the site about a suspected check
forger they had arrested and asked help from bankers and
other police jurisdictions in finding other instances of
similar activity.
Learn more about FinCrime...
Maximize Marketing Dollars and
Build a Sustainable Brand
Financial
Marketing Solutions
(FMS), a Strategic Partner of the GBA, is a niche branding
and marketing agency solely serving the financial services
industry.
Read more about branding and maximizing dollars...
Attract and Retain Customers with
the Deluxe Experience
Deluxe
Financial Services
works
closely with financial institutions to develop unique
experiences that attract and retain customers and grow
business.
Learn more about Deluxe offerings...
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Bair Meets with
Georgia Bankers, Senators
 FDIC
Chairman Sheila Bair was in Atlanta Wednesday and took time to
meet with a cross-section of Georgia bankers and U.S. Senators Johnny
Isakson and Saxby Chambliss. Our thanks to the Senators for letting GBA
sit in on the meeting. "The bankers seemed to
appreciate the opportunity for a direct conversation with the Chairman
about issues and ideas important to economic recovery and improving the
banking environment in Georgia," said Joe Brannen, GBA
president and CEO.
More about the meeting with Bair...
Legislature In Recess, But Some Good News
The General Assembly was in recess this week, so we don't
have much to report. There was some good news this week,
though:
the Revenue Department announced its first tax revenue
growth since November 2008. Also of note, there's a
tentative hearing scheduled about debit and credit-card
interchange for next Thursday.
Possible effects of interchange legislation and
more Legislative Update...
Reg. Reform Bill
Would Curtail FHLB Lending
 Among
the many concerns we have with the Senate Regulatory Reform
bill is that the current draft contains a "concentration
limit" that could prohibit Federal Home Loan Bank lending to
members in excess of 25 percent of a Federal Home Loan
Bank's capital. This provision, and several other items
related to Federal Home Loan Bank business, could
significantly affect a key funding source for some GBA
members.
We've
written this week to our Senators to help them understand these
concerns.
Access our letter and Learn how much FHLB funding is at
risk...
In the News: GBA Promos Relationship
Banking
The
Savannah Morning News this week published an
article encouraging its readers to get more out of the relationship
with their bank. The article, in part, stemmed from GBA's release in
March of consumer tips about
"How
to be the Boss of Your Bucks." In conjunction with the article, the
paper hosted a
web chat about the topic, with GBA's Joe Brannen as the
expert on line to help consumers with their bank-related questions. With
questions, contact
David Oliver, 404.420.2036.
Mortgage Lenders Entitled to Overtime
Here's
an important note from GBA Strategic Partner
Helms & Green,
Employment Law Compliance. On March 24, the United States
Department of Labor issued its first Interpretation of the
Fair Labor Standards Act under the Obama administration. In
its interpretation, the Department of Labor concluded that
mortgage lenders are entitled to overtime compensation,
contrary to regulations issued in 2004 and a number of
opinions issued over the years. More
about overtime regulations...
Funding, Liquidity
Risk Management Gets Focus
Regulators want to
make sure banks are taking appropriate steps to manage funding and
liquidity risks. This week they issued guidance emphasizing the
importance of cash flow projections, diversified funding sources, stress
testing, a cushion of liquid assets and a formal, well-developed
contingency funding plan as primary tools for measuring and managing
liquidity risk.
More about funding and liquidity management...
FHLBank
Atlanta Announces 2010 Homebuyer Assistance Programs
The Federal
Home Loan Bank
Atlanta announced last week it will make up to $11 million
available as part of its 2010 First-time Homebuyer Program (FHP).
GBA Member banks that are FHLB members can
apply for funds to be used in their own homebuyer assistance programs.
More about the FHP...
Declining Loan Delinquencies in Fourth Quarter 2009 Signal Slight
Economic Improvement
Here's some good economic news for a change.
The ABA reports that consumer loan delinquencies fell in eight of 11
loan categories in the fourth quarter 2009,
indicating a moderate upswing in the economy. Delinquencies
declined in six of eight categories of installment loans,
including auto, marine, personal and property improvement
categories.
More about declining delinquencies...
Georgia Man
Sentenced in Fraud Case Related to Loans Funded by Failed
Bank
Mark Anthony McBride
of East Point, Ga., was sentenced last week to 16 years and
two months in prison, to be followed by five years of
supervised release on charges of conspiracy to commit bank,
mail, wire, and bankruptcy fraud. McBride was also ordered
to pay $2,197,929 in restitution. According to testimony,
dozens of banks and other lenders, including the closed
Omni National Bank, funded fraudulent loans for McBride.
Read more about the fraud case...
Status of Important Banking Cases
 Our thanks to the Office of the General Counsel of the
American Bankers Association for making available the newest
edition of the
Status of Important Banking Cases to the members of
our Bank Counsel Section. This monthly report
provides up-to-date information about litigation involving
banks across the country and is another member benefit for
the attorneys in GBA's Bank
Counsel
Section. With questions about how your bank's attorney can
participate in the Section, please call GBA's
Kenyetta Parks at 404.420.2035.
Newsmakers
Roche |
Lipham |
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
Lydia Thomas. |
YOUR CAREER
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HEADLINE EVENTS
Hot
Topic Webinar!
Getting Ahead of the Headlines: How to Lead Your Bank
through a Tough News Event
April 27
Enroll Now in
Banking School
May 2-7
New!
Executive Management Short Course
May 6-7
In coordination with Georgia Banking School
GBA Annual Convention
Analyst Nancy Bush Keynotes
June 13-16
Leadership Conference
Brochures Coming
July 11-14
Security Conference
Bank Robbery Update on Agenda
April 13-14
Rural Development and Lending Conference
Peer Discussions Featured
May
13-14
Basic Deposit and Operations Compliance
Seminar
Reg. DD, E, CC Covered
April 13
Basic Loan Compliance Seminar
Reg. Z, RESPA Issues Featured
April 14-15
Managing Workouts to Optimize Portfolio Value
April 22
Legal Issues for New Account Documentation
April 27
National Teach Children to Save Day
April 27
Bank Trainer Peer Group Meeting
May 6
AIB Online Instructor Led Courses
AIB Online IRA Training
Introduction to IRAs
Webinars
Full GBA-U Calendar |
