Legislature Completes Busy Session - It's a Wrap

Here's what happened this week along with more information about the bills GBA monitored which passed and a few that were not passed. 

• Mortgage Closing Exemption Bill Passes - Class Action Lawsuit Potentially Avoided
• Security Deed Cancellation Bill Passes - Also Addresses Class Action Lawsuits
• Legislature Passes Modest Foreclosure Reform Bill
• Bank Taxation - Two Proposals End with Positive Results Possible
• 19 Other Bills GBA Was Monitoring Passed
• Several High Profile Bills Did Not Pass This Session
• Contact GBA Staff Lobbyists With Questions

Last Call for Credit Conference Mid-Year Update

Registrations are coming in at a steady pace for Leadership GBA’s 48th annual Leadership Conference July 13-16, at the Ponte Vedra Inn & Club in Ponte Vedra, Florida. The Executive Committee has planned a great program you won’t want to miss. But no conference would be complete without an economic update.  Join Dr. Roger Tutterow for a timely overview of the national and regional economic environment.  Topics will include recent challenges to the economic expansion, the role energy prices play in consumer price inflation, recent tightening in the debt market and its implication for corporate activity and

There’s still space available at GBA’s Loan Documentation for Lenders seminar Wednesday, April 16, at the Ramada Plaza in Macon.  Thompson Kurrie, Jr. and Harrison Coleman, partners with Coleman Talley, LLP in Atlanta are the instructors.  Designed for loan officers, loan administrators and credit administrators at every level,  this one-day seminar

The next Compliance Peer Group meeting is April 17, 2008, at the Idle Hour Country Club in Macon.  The topic of this quarter's meeting is the compliance aspects of the Mandatory Purchase of Flood Insurance Guidelines booklet.

• Cash Flow Analysis

• A Systematic Framework for Applying Ratio Analysis

• Financial Projections

• Case Studies for Practical Application of Concepts Discussed

• Early Warning Signals

Designed for entry-level commercial lending officers, credit trainees and analysts, this two-day workshop is designed to introduce and utilize a comprehensive and consistent approach to analyzing commercial financial statements.  Emphasis is placed on a practical methodology to assist bankers in evaluating the creditworthiness of a company. 

Please click here to register or contact GBA’s Courtenay Pope at 404.420.2015 with questions.

The Rural Development and Lending Conference is scheduled for May 15-16 at the Savannah Riverfront Marriott.  The 2007-2008 Agriculture Committee has planned an exciting agenda.   A block of rooms has been reserved until April 14.  Please call the hotel directly at 912.233.7722 to make your reservations.

AIB classes meet three hours each week for two to 15 weeks and are held at a local financial institution.  If you would like to see a specific AIB course offered in your area or if you have questions about AIB classroom courses, please call GBA’s Alison Moreau at 404.420.2034.  Following are the upcoming AIB classroom courses for Spring/Summer 2008:

• Principles of Banking, being taught by Randy Blalock at The Peoples Bank, Winder
  Beginning April 22, 10 weeks, $195, text $65

• Analyzing Financial Statements taught by Peter Faser of Security Bank at Cornerstone Bank, Atlanta
  Beginning June 3, 10 weeks, $195, text $75

GBA will host its annual Legal Issues of New Account Documentation and Compliance on April 29 at Idle Hour Country Club in Macon and April 30 at the Best Western Lanier Centre in Gainesville.  The registration fee is $195 for members and Patrice M. Konarik, CFP with Sunwest Training Corp. in Gilchrist, Texas, is the instructor.

Designed for new accounts representatives, back-up new account personnel, certificate of deposit staff, bookkeeping and accountholder service personnel, and loan secretaries, this one-day seminar teaches new accounts personnel proper account opening procedures and compliance requirements.  With questions, please contact GBA’s Courtenay Pope at 404.420.2015.  Please register here for Macon or Gainesville.

Just a reminder that the following AIB online classes begin the week of May 5.  Please register two weeks in advance to secure a seat in the class.  These courses are instructor-facilitated with weekly assignments and can be taken from the comfort of your home or the convenience of your office.  All you need is a computer, printer and Internet access.  (Classes with an asterisk * require Microsoft Excel Software.)

• ABA Online Review Course for the CTFA Exam (open enrollment), 12 weeks, $795

• Law & Banking:  Applications, 16 weeks, $435

• Money & Banking, 16 weeks, $385

• Principles of Banking, 16 weeks, $385

• Supervisor Certificate, 16 weeks, $695

• Today's Teller: Developing Basic Skills* (open enrollment), 8 weeks, $295

There is still availability in the following AIB Online classes beginning April 28.  Please register as soon as possible to secure a seat in the class.

• Fundamentals of Consumer Lending, 5 weeks, $230

• Marketing Financial Services, 16 weeks, $385

• Trust Basics, 16 weeks, $385

Please see the AIB Online Course Schedule for a complete listing or call GBA’s Alison Moreau at 404.420.2034 with questions.

Security Officers from across Georgia and associate members providing security services attended GBA's annual Security Conference last week in Savannah.  Many thanks to the 2007-2008 Security Committee for putting together a great agenda.  

A special thank you to our sponsors Gladiator Technologies, Inc. and Southern Bank Equipment & Supplies.  For more information about this program, please contact GBA’s Marybeth Jones at 404.420.2032.

The Georgia Bankers Association (GBA), through its subsidiary, GBA Services, Inc. (GBASI), is pleased to endorse Holmes–Shaw/Comprehensive Corporate Strategies (CCS) as a Strategic Partner and preferred provider of Executive Benefits. Many of our members know the associates of the Holmes-Shaw Agency who market our Health and Dental Benefits for the GBA Insurance Trust. The Holmes-Shaw Agency has entered into a partnership with CCS to provide a full array of employee benefit solutions that have proven highly effective at attracting and retaining the best employees and executives.

For many years, GBA members have relied on the association-produced Record Retention Guide to stay in compliance with state and federal retention requirements and to save money by not keeping records longer than necessary.  We are pleased to announce that a newly revised 2008 edition of the GBA Guide to Record Retention is now available.

Why do you need the Guide to Bank Record Retention?
The new GBA Guide to Bank Record Retention will provide the peace of mind that a complete record-retention policy and procedures manual provides.  This guide and manual will help your bank develop a complete, workable and understandable record-retention program that is vital to the bank’s daily routine.

Some of the Services Available Through GBA Services, Inc.

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Georgia Bankers Association • 50 Hurt Plaza, Suite 1050, Atlanta, GA 30303 • Phone 404.522.1501 • Fax 404.522.9848 • www.gabankers.com