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Given today's tough regulatory environment and rapidly-changing security landscape, banks are focused on making information security a top priority. Gladiator Technology works with more than 650 financial institutions nationwide. Read more about security solutions from Gladiator here...
 

Provide Your Company with Flood Zone Relief for Challenging Times
Federal Flood Certification Corp. calms the Flood Zone Determination process through its cost-effective approach that protects lenders, expedites the closing process, and helps the bottom line. Read more about offerings from Federal Flood here...
 

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Georgia Deposit Rates Below National Average

Funding costs for Georgia banks appear to be on the decline, as one study notes that the average combined rate for certain deposits in Georgia is 0.75 percent, which is below the national average of 0.99 percent. The study by California-based Market Rates Insights averages rates for checking, savings and money market accounts as well as CDs. Nationally, the average rate dropped below 1 percent for the first time in 10 years. Read more about declining deposit rates in Georgia here and what GBA had to say about them...

Clarification on Garnishment Opinion

As we reported last week, the State Bar of Georgia's Standing Committee on the Unlicensed Practice of Law recently issued an opinion stating that a "nonlawyer who answers for a garnishee other than himself in a proceeding pending in a Georgia court of record is engaged in the unlicensed practice of law." An important distinction is that this ruling does not apply to Magistrate Courts as they are not courts of record. While many garnishments are issued through Superior or State Court, we hope that this distinction for Magistrate Courts will minimize the inconvenience created by the Bar's opinion for bankers in communities where Magistrate Court is utilized more often. More clarification of the garnishment ruling affects bankers here...

Card News: Balances Down, Rates Up
and How Protections May be Harmful

Credit card balances are at their lowest levels in eight years and rates are at a nine-year high, say a couple of studies out this week. And, read some pointed criticism about how supposed consumer protections actually lead to higher credit costs. Read the detailed card news...

FHA Fees to Go up for Borrowers

Beginning in October, the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) will raise the annual fees it charges new borrowers. For new borrowers, the increase equates to an average monthly payment increase of $40. Read more about FHA increasing fees to new borrowers here...

FASB Leadership Change May Postpone
New Accounting Rules

In a surprise move, The Financial Accounting Standards Board announced this week that it's chairman, Robert Herz, will retire Oct. 1. The change in leadership is likely to delay ongoing efforts to make FASB policies similar to those followed by the International Accounting Standards Board, including mark-to-market requirements for individual loans. Read about how the FASB's leadership shuffle may affect bankers ...

Recent Mortgage Modifications Fare Better

We've seen a lot of coverage recently debating the effectiveness of various mortgage modification programs. One interesting note is that modifications made within the past year appear to be more effective than those made in 2008, according to a study by a group of 12 state attorneys general and state banking regulators. Read more about the improving state of mortgage modifications here...

2010 BankPAC Campaign Update
The 2010 BankPAC Campaign continues to get good support from our members. See this week's BankPAC update...

Newsmakers: More About Georgia Bankers...

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Career Paths for Bankers^TM
The 44 most-common bank job descriptions, theskills/competencies you need to have those jobs and links to training and development by job title.

New: IRA Online Institute

Get Certified IRA Training Online
Beginning Sept.7

Georgia Community Bank Symposium
Economy, Regulatory Environment on Agenda
Valdosta - Sept. 23

Bank Trainer Peer Group Meeting
Popular Peer Roundtables
Augusta - Sept. 29

President/CEO Conference
Tutterow on the Economy
Oct. 3-5 

Bank Counsel Conference
Dodd-Frank Consumer Issues Highlighted
Oct. 3-5

 Compliance Conference and Security Workshop
Flood Regulation Compliance Issues
Oct. 19-20

 Marketing Conference
The Profitable Link Between Technology and Marketing
Oct. 26-27

BankPAC Golf Classic
Oct. 27

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