Discounted Pricing Available for Local Market Interest Rate Data

RateWatch offers GBA members discounts on competitive interest rate data to help you with pricing decisions and evaluate your local interest rate markets related to FDIC rules for rate caps.  Read more about the discounts GBA members can receive through a partnership with RateWatch here...
 

ABA Insurance Program: Bond and D&O Coverage

The GBA-sponsored insurance program managed by ABA Insurance Services, Inc. is a bank-owned mutual insurance company founded to provide reasonably-priced insurance coverage for banks. Read more about the specific design of the ABA Insurance Program here...
 

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Career Paths for Bankers^TM

The 44 most-common bank job descriptions, the skills and competencies you need to have those jobs and links to training and development by job title.
 

Last-Minute Shopping: Put GBA Legislative Reception and Forum on Your List

This year's Legislative session will be an active one for Georgia's banking industry. Make sure you're in-the-know about what's in store and don't miss the opportunity to talk to your representative one-on-one at GBA's annual Legislative Reception and Legislative/Economic Forum. The events are Jan. 12 in Atlanta. GBA's Elizabeth Chandler, SVP-Government Relations, was in Athens this week for the biennial legislative conference and talked to many members of the General Assembly. "Legislators from all parts of the state told me how much they were looking forward to speaking to our state's bankers at GBA's annual Legislative Reception," she said. "They appreciate that GBA and its members stage such an event to help them get to know the issues important to our industry. They want to see you there." Click here for more info and registration links...

Fed Proposes 12-Cent Cap on Debit Card Interchange Rates

The Federal Reserve Thursday requested comments on two alternatives for capping debit-card interchange fees. Both proposals include a cap of 12-cents per transaction. Find out more here...

Incoming Banking Committee Chairs Asked to Hold Hearings on Future of Community Banking

GBA has been working with our colleagues at other state bankers associations and the ABA the past two years to gain nationwide support to hear the pleas of community bankers who have been so adversely affected by the downturn. The ABA has asked for hearings on the issue. "It's always been a huge burden for community banks to comply with all the rules and regulations coming out of Washington, and the Dodd-Frank Act will impose thousands of pages of new rules. Adding to that has been unprecedented pressure from regulators and all the accounting and other policies that have severely depressed the economy and eroded bank capital. Community banks are the lifeblood of the communities they serve, and Congress has to wake up and take action," said GBA president & CEO Joe Brannen. More about the letter requesting hearings and our thoughts ...

Westmoreland, Price appointed to House Posts

Two Georgia Congressmen have been appointed to prominent positions within the U.S. House of Representatives. Lynn Westmoreland has been appointed to the House Financial Services Committee. Tom Price has been named to the Ways and Means Committee. We've worked with both members over the years beginning when they were both in the Georgia General Assembly and appreciate their service

FDIC Insurance Fund Reserve Ratio Set at 2 Percent

As expected, the FDIC this week set the long-term designated reserve ratio for the Deposit Insurance Fund (DIF) at 2 percent of estimated insured deposits. The 2 percent ratio is 65 basis points above the Dodd-Frank Act mandated 1.35 percent level required by Sept. 30, 2020. The FDIC upped the ratio as part of a comprehensive DIF management plan proposed Oct. 19 that also scrapped a 3 basis point assessment for 2011 and holds current assessment rates steady through 2018. Read more about the long-term reserve ratio...

Fed Proposes Rules that Would Double Reg Z & Reg M Ceilings
The Fed this week proposed separate rules to amend Regulation Z (Truth in Lending) and Regulation M (Consumer Leasing) to implement a Dodd-Frank Act provision. The provision requires that Truth in Lending Act and Consumer Leasing Act protections apply to consumer credit transactions and consumer leases up to $50,000 -- double the current $25,000 ceiling. Read more about the proposed rules that would affect Reg Z and Reg M...

Prudence Encouraged in Lending to the Ag. Sector, Existing Guidelines Highlighted

At a glance, the U.S. agricultural sector appears positioned for prosperity in the near future and possibly longer. In a cautionary note, though, a Financial Institution Letter from regulators this week encourages agricultural lenders to enforce sound underwriting principles and establish effective risk management procedures to help mitigate unforeseen risks. See highlights of the letter targeted toward agricultural lenders...

PGAP Funds Disbursement Back in the Hands of State Agricultural Departments
We previously reported that GBA had signed on to a Nov. 5 letter to USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack emphasizing that Poultry Loss Contract Grant Assistance Program (PGAP) distributions should be payable jointly to poultry growers and banks, so that funds are not improperly diverted away from lien holders. Vilsack deferred the issue back to the states in a response letter. If you are a banker with a poultry loan guaranteed by the USDA, you will want to keep a copy of the letter on file. Read Vilsack's letter...

SBA News: Two New Programs, One Renewed for Veterans

The SBA this week announced two new loan programs and a three-year renewal of its popular Patriot Express loan product for veterans. The SBA's two new loan initiatives --Small Loan Advantage and Community Advantage -- are intended to increase the number of lower-dollar SBA 7(a) loans going to small businesses and entrepreneurs in certain communities. Read more about the new and extended loan programs...

Compliance Date Set for ATM Accessibility Standards
March 15, 2012, is the compliance date for existing ATMs to meet the new Americans with Disability Act accessibility standards published in the Sept. 15 Federal Register. See analysis of the ATM accessibility rule and some suggestions for implementation...

Large-Bank Capital Floors Proposed by FDIC

New out for comment this week from the FDIC is a proposed rulemaking that would set a risk-based capital floor for large banks. The proposal replaces the transitional floors in the Basel II advanced approaches rule with permanent risk-based capital floors equal to the requirements computed using the agencies' general risk-based capital rules. Read about the intended purpose of the proposed rule and comment on large bank capital floors...

Turtle Dove Prices Skyrocket

The cost of two turtle doves this year is $100, up 78.6 percent this year, according to PNC Bank's annual Christmas Price Index. The good news is that four calling birds, six geese-a-laying and eight maids-a-milking will not set you back any extra this year. Twenty-seven years ago, the chief economist at PNC Bank decided to figure out how much it would cost to buy each of the gifts in "The 12 Days of Christmas." This year, the total price of the 12-days of Christmas is $23,439.38. See how this year's total compares against years past...

The Financial Capability of Georgians Sits Above the National Average According to FINRA Survey

Georgians are less likely to spend beyond their means when compared to the national average and we also are more likely to have a rainy-day fund squirreled away, according to a survey released by the Investor Education Foundation of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). Click through for a full analysis of Georgians' financial capabilities...

Newsmakers:

Read about Georgia bankers making news this week...

McMullan	Hunter	Abraham

 

AIB Analyzing Financial Statements Classroom Course
10-week course begins
Jan. 11, 2011
Atlanta

Today is the last
day for discounted
room rates!
 GBA Legislative Reception and Economic/Legislative Update
Jan. 12, 2011 - Atlanta

Employee Investigations Seminar
Jan. 18, 2011
Macon

Financial
Risk Management Conference
Jan. 19-20, 2011
Atlanta

Bank Trainer Peer Group Meeting
Jan. 26, 2011
Augusta

Problem Loans: Managing Workouts to Optimize Portfolio Value
Jan. 26, 2011
Macon

Analyzing Commercial Financial Statements Seminar
Jan. 27, 2011
Macon

HDMA & CRA Workshop
Feb. 1, 2011
Macon

Operations & Technology Conference
Keynote Speaker:
Lee Wetherington
Goldleaf Technologies
March 2-3, 2011
Atlanta

Georgia Banking School
May 1-6, 2011
Athens

Southern Operations and
Technology School
May 1-6, 2011
Athens

Leadership Conference
July 24-27
St. Simons

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