Legislative Update
10 Days
Remaining in General Assembly Session
During marathon sessions two days this week, the General Assembly
passed dozens of bills in the House and Senate so the other body
could consider the bills this year. Bills passing of interest to
bankers ranged from the Banking Department's housekeeping bills
to a bill that criminalizes the filing of certain false liens.
Up next week is a GBA priority bill that will require local
foreclosure and vacant property registries to follow statewide
standards. We'll also keep working on a problematic bill that
reduces the amount a lender can collector from a guarantor under
certain circumstances.
Read more about all the goings on in
the General Assembly this week and what they're doing that
affects how you do business…
Georgia
Banking Update Available
Our
updated regular summary of all things banking for Georgia is
now available. New this quarter is chart of the number of
Georgia-based banks by asset size as well as a summary of
increasing regulatory and compliance burden.
Click here for
more information and a link to download a PDF of the report...
Deadline Alert
Marketing, HR
and Security Conferences Soon
Three upcoming GBA conferences provide unmatched
insight, expertise and learning. Make sure your Marketing, HR
and Security professionals don't miss out.
Please share with those in your bank who may be
interested and encourage them to attend.
-
Security Conference
Lawsuit prep., online fraud prevention, electronic
security, crisis preparation -
March
29-30
With questions, please contact GBA's
Marybeth Jones
at 404.420.2032.
Keep Up
Pressure against Credit Union Business Lending Hike
It is a critical time for bankers, GBA and others
supporting the industry to keep up opposition to the push to
expand credit union business lending authority. GBA this week
joined the ABA and 49 other state bankers associations in
letters voicing strong opposition to pending U.S. House and
Senate legislation to increase the member business-lending cap
for a handful of large credit unions from 12.25 percent to 27.5
percent of total assets. Two-thirds of Georgia credit unions
don't show any business loans on their books, only six have
above 6 percent and only one non-exempt Georgia credit union
comes close to the cap at 12.08 percent. GBA encourages you to
send letters to your representatives.
Find out how and read more
here...
GBA
Comments on CFPB's Regulatory Streamlining Project
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)
has asked for comments on a project to streamline regulations and
for suggestions about regulations it should
address. GBA last week joined 51 other state bankers
associations and the ABA on a consolidated comment letter
outlining key principles and several suggested areas of focus.
Learn more and read the letter about the Regulatory
Streamlining Project here...
Exam Relief
Bill Introduced in U.S. Senate
GBA supports a bill introduced in the U.S. Senate
this week that would provide significant improvements to the
bank examination process. Senate Banking Committee member
Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.)
introduced the bill, titled the Institutions Examination
Fairness and Reform Act (S. 2160). It is a companion bill to
H.R. 3461 introduced in November. Both bills would require more
timely examination reports, more information about the facts the
agency relied upon to make its exam decisions and more precise,
consistent and understandable classification standards for
commercial loans. With questions, contact
Joe Brannen, 404.420.2026, or
Elizabeth Chandler,
404.420.2027.
Mullis
Recognized for Dublin Downtown Work
Morris
Bank president and president of the Leadership GBA Executive
Committee, Spence Mullis is a prominent part of a
feature in this month's Georgia Trend magazine about
downtown revitalization in Dublin. The story highlights how
Mullis and Morris Bank have provided significant funding for a
developer who has led the way in many of Dublin's downtown
projects.
Read more about Mullis here...
Force-Placed
Insurance in CFPB, Fannie Mae Spotlight
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau plans to
issue regulations on force-placed insurance this year "to prevent
servicers from charging for this product unless there is a
reasonable basis to believe that borrowers have failed to
maintain their own insurance," said CFPB Director Richard
Cordray during
a speech to the National
Association of Attorneys General this week. In related news,
Fannie Mae this week notified lenders it intends to replace
traditional force-placed insurance on its loans with policies
from a provider of its choosing.
More details about
force-placed insurance are available here...
Durbin
Amendment's Effects on Consumers
An
independent Georgia policy group has issued a good article
outlining the effects of the Durbin debit card price cap
legislation on consumers and free markets.
A piece by the Georgia Public Policy Foundation notes some of
the quirks in the law, such as how it limits banks from
recovering the cost of hardware and software to provide
debit-card transactions.
Read the article published by the
Foundation here...
Time
to Update Emergency Contact Info for DBF
The
Georgia Department of Banking and Finance (DBF) is asking Georgia
state-chartered financial institutions to ensure that their
emergency contact information on file with the Department is
current and accurate.
Georgia state-chartered banks can learn
more and update
their information online here...
March
GBAIT Health Focus
Munch
Meaningfully During National Nutrition Month
Just where does that popular
"apple-a-day" saying
come from? Well, apples have lots of health benefits. They can
help your respiratory system, prevent thickening of the
arteries, help with type-2 diabetes, control cholesterol and a
host of
other good things. These apple
facts are part of this month's GBA Insurance Trust monthly
health and wellness focus campaign - National Nutrition Month.
These are among the many resources available through the online GBA Insurance Trust Desktop Doctor Health
and Wellness Portal.
Learn more and visit GBAIT's site
here...
Key GBA Event
Reminders
Collections and
Recovery Seminar March 22
This seminar will provide a comprehensive
overview of fundamental legal principles involved in the
collection process.
Click here for more information and to register...
Southeastern
Community Bank Symposium March 28
Hear About Bank Director Roles and
Responsibilities
Click here for more information and to register
Legal
Issues for New-Account Documentation and Compliance April 10
This seminar will teach new
account personnel proper account-opening procedures and current
compliance requirements.
Click here for more information and to register
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.
