Looking for a No-Cost, Value-Added Customer Appreciation Program? Affinion Has It

Affinion's Customer Appreciation Program has been increasing customer retention among its clients for two decades. The program allows your bank to offer a $1,000 Accidental Death and Dismemberment policy to customers as a sign of your appreciation for their loyalty and business. Endorsed by the both the American Bankers Association and the Georgia Bankers Association, the Affinion program provides a no-cost, no-risk opportunity to express your appreciation and earn ongoing non-interest income. Learn more about the AD&D program from Affinion...

Higher Fees for Checks and Check Package Delivery Affecting Your program?
Now is an Excellent Time to Talk with Deluxe

GBA partners with Deluxe Corp. for its check printing services because Deluxe offers high-quality check products and Deluxe checks ship in a flat pack that saves you money. Deluxe offers competitive prices for all its valuable products and services, and we strongly recommend you take a look at what Deluxe can offer your bank before extending your check-printing agreement in the coming year. Learn more about what Deluxe has to offer...

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Bank Closure Study Bill Passes House

The bill from Rep. Lynn Westmoreland (H.R. 2056) that calls for the FDIC Inspector General to investigate and report on the impact FDIC resolution procedures for closed banks passed the U.S. House Tuesday. Having been approved by both the House and Senate, it's now on to the President's desk for signature. Congratulations are in order for Westmoreland in getting bipartisan co-sponsorship support including Georgia's David Scott (D) and ranking member, Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.). Georgia Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R) managed the bill in the Senate. Learn more about the Bank Closure Study Bill here...

Governor Deal to Address GBA Legislative and Economic Forum Jan. 11

Gov. Nathan Deal has confirmed that he'll be part of our outstanding lineup at the 2012 GBA Legislative/Economic Forum Jan. 11 in Atlanta. "We appreciate Gov. Deal for making the time to join us, and we think his commitment to doing so speaks volumes about the importance he places on Georgia's banking industry for a stronger economic recovery," said GBA Chairman Rick Whaley, President and CEO, The Citizens Bank of Americus. The Legislative/Economic Forum starts at 3:30 p.m. at the Ritz-Carlton, Downtown. Get more details and sign up for the Legislative line-up here...

High Priced Mortgage Escrow Relief Aim of Barrow Bill

Georgia Rep. John Barrow last week introduced a bill (H.R. 3651) that would exempt banks with less than  $1 billion in assets from Truth in Lending Act (TILA) escrow requirements for higher-priced mortgage loans. We've heard time and time again from members how these requirements implemented by the Federal Reserve in 2009 are forcing banks to either take on additional costs of escrow that make credit more expensive for customers or decide to not offer such loans at all, which also eliminates a source of credit to the community. We've also heard from our members that the rate trigger is also a problem, but that is not part of this bill. Learn more about Barrow's bill...

Key GBA Event Reminders

2012 Financial Risk Management Conference

Join Sharon Stark, Managing Director with Sterne Agee & Leach, Inc. for insight about how to measure, assess and manage your balance sheet in this interest rate environment. Learn more and register here...

Introduction to Loan Documentation Seminar

This one-day workshop offers an overview of standard loan documents and the process of closing a loan. Learn more and register here...

Take Full Advantage of GBA's Interactive Calendar of Events

GBA's online Calendar of Events is a fully-interactive tool that lists all scheduled GBA and AIB courses and events and can be sorted and viewed in many ways to help you quickly find what you're looking for. Get some tips for using the Calendar here...

Good Tidings for 2012?
Jobs, Population Growth Make Positive Moves

We’ve heard some better news on the jobs and population front recently. Georgia’s overall unemployment rate for November experienced its largest one-month decline since 1977. Statewide unemployment fell to 9.9 percent from 10.2 percent in October. The jobless rate was 10.4 percent in November a year ago. The state labor department said Thursday that metro Atlanta’s unemployment rate fell sharply to 9.2 percent in November from 9.9 percent in October. Also, Georgia is still a high-population growth state. Georgia’s population growth was fourth-best nationally from April 1, 2010, to July 1, 2011, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Georgia’s population grew by about 8,530 people per month during that time, for a total of 128,000.

Dueling Georgia Views on CFPB

Thursday's Atlanta Journal-Constitution has opposing opinion pieces about the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau penned by Georgia Reps. Lynn Westmoreland (R-District 3) and Hank Johnson (D-District 4). Westmoreland's piece highlights many of the concerns we've had all along with the bureau: its nearly unlimited rulemaking and enforcement authority, additional regulatory burden and single-director structure that lacks good checks and balances. Johnson argues that without a director confirmed, the CFPB can't implement certain oversight of financial services businesses that are currently unregulated. The columns are worth a read. Learn about how both sides have framed the debate over the President's nominee for CFPB director and what may be in store down the road...

Fed Outlines DFA Large-Bank Requirements

This week's major Dodd-Frank-Act-related activity comes from the Federal Reserve in the form of a proposed rule to implement the enhanced prudential standards and early remediation standards. The proposal's requirements generally would apply to U.S.-based bank holding companies with total consolidated assets of $50 billion or more. But several parts of the proposal -- such as those involving risk management and stress testing -- would apply to bank holding companies with $10 billion or more in assets. The comment deadline is March 31.

Changes Made to CRA Asset-Size Thresholds

Federal regulators this week bumped up the asset-size thresholds used to define "small" and "intermediate small" institutions under Community Reinvestment Act regulations. The new definitions go into effect Jan. 1. Read more about changes to CRA thresholds and learn about GBA's endorsed CRA credit solution...

2011 BankPAC Campaign Update, Congrats to Groups for Exceeding Goals

Thanks to all of the bankers who have made your contribution to the GBA Federal and State PACs this year to support your industry. Congrats to those in in Groups 6, 8 and 9 for exceeding their group State Pac campaign goals, and for those in Groups 2, 6 and the GBA Staff for exceeding their Federal PAC goals. See the companies that contributed to GBA's BankPAC this week...

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from GBA

From our GBA family to yours, we wish you a Merry Christmas and happy holidays. Unless there is some critical breaking news, we won't be publishing a Bulletin next week, so look for our next edition during the first week of the New Year. At the top of our holiday wish list is for everyone to enjoy a festive, safe and memorable season with your families and other loved ones.

Newsmakers

Read about all the Georgia bankers making news this week...

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.

TDR, Loan Disclosure and Allowance Requirements Webinar CD Available

2012 Legislative Reception & Economic Forum
Jan. 11, 2012
Atlanta

Financial Risk Management Conference
Jan. 18-19, 2012
Atlanta

Introduction to Loan Documentation
Jan. 19, 2012
Macon

HMDA + CRA Workshop
Feb. 2, 2012
Macon

Internal Audit Seminar
Feb. 16, 2012
Macon

Operations & Technology Conference
Feb. 29- Mar. 1, 2012
Atlanta

GBA-U On-Demand Webinars

AIB Courses for January

Compliance Calendar

Lending Calendar

Ops/Tech Calendar

HR Calendar

Asset/Liability Calendar

Management Calendar

Security Calendar

Full GBA-U Calendar
 

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.