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Home I GBA University I Member Services I Volunteers I Government Relations I Calendar of Events April 27, 2012
 

Notice of Georgia Bankers Association Annual Meeting

Edwards to be GBA Chairman; Kryder, Brinson Nominated as Officers

As stated in GBA's bylaws, the GBA annual meeting is held at a time and place set by the GBA Board of Directors. The official GBA business session of this year's Annual Meeting will begin at 7 a.m. Tuesday, June 12, 2012, in the Vanderbilt Ballroom (A&B) of the Grove Park Inn, Asheville, NC. At this meeting, James J. Edwards, Jr., CEO, United Bank, Griffin, will be installed as the 123rd Chairman of the Georgia Bankers Association. Also, the statewide officers of the association will be elected and awards will be presented to bankers who have served the industry for 50 years. The bankers recommended by the GBA Nominating Committee to stand for election to GBA office are: For Chairman-elect, R. Stanley Kryder, CEO, Midtown Bank & Trust, Atlanta; and for Vice Chairman, Remer Y. Brinson III, President and CEO, First Bank of Georgia, Augusta. Kryder is a member of the GBA Public Affairs Committee and the GBA Board of Directors and has previously served as a Group Officer. Brinson has held numerous GBA roles during his career, having served previously on the GBA Board of Directors representing Group 10. He's been a long-time member and is a former chair of the Community Bankers Committee, has served as a Group Officer and on the GBA Nominating Committee. Ray Chitty, President, Guardian Bank, Valdosta will enter his third and final year as GBA Secretary/Treasurer. Each GBA member is entitled to cast one vote at the annual business meeting. Click here to register for the 2012 Annual Meeting, or contact Joe Brannen at 404.420.2026 with questions about officer elections.

 

Edwards Kryder Brinson Chitty

 

Rooms Selling Out Quickly for 2012 Annual Meeting

Rooms at The Grove Park Inn are selling out quickly for GBA’s Annual Meeting. If you have not already done so, make your reservations by calling The Grove Park Inn directly at 800.438.5800. Be sure to let them know you are with the Georgia Bankers Association group to get the discounted room rate of $239 per night. With questions about hotel rates and availability, or the Annual Meeting in general, please contact GBA’s Susie McGehee at 404.420.2010. Make your reservations today!

 

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Governor Signs GBA Priority Derivatives Bill

Our thanks to Gov. Nathan Deal for signing H.B. 886, a GBA priority bill from the 2012 legislative session. The new law will require derivatives exposure to be counted within a bank's legal lending limits. The bill was introduced by Rep. Bruce Williamson (R-Monroe), and Sen. Greg Goggins (R-Douglas) handled the bill in the Senate. The bill was necessary to conform with a mandatory requirement in the Dodd-Frank Act. Otherwise state chartered Georgia banks would have been unable to participate in certain derivatives activities. The most common derivative many community banks use is an interest rate swap to help small business customers manage risk. One of the first bills signed by the Governor this session was another GBA priority bill, H.B. 683, which overturns a Supreme Court ruling that required a garnishment from a court of record to be answered by a lawyer. Bank employees will now be able to provide these administrative tasks. Our thanks to House Judiciary Committee Chairman Wendell Willard for introducing the bill and to Sen. Charlie Bethel (R-Dalton) for handling the bill in the Senate. The Georgia Constitution gives the governor the opportunity to sign or veto a bill up to 40 days after each legislative session adjourns. Otherwise, any bill passed becomes law as of July 1 of that year without his signature.

 

Deal Williamson Goggins Willard Bethel

 

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Swap Dealer Exemption Bill Passes U.S. House

A derivatives-related bill was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives Wednesday. H.R. 3336 by Rep. Vicky Hartzler (R-Mo.) would revise the Dodd-Frank Act to clarify that the exemption from the swap-dealer definition includes banks that provide interest-rate swaps for customers' loans. "This revision of Dodd-Frank is essential to farmers, manufacturers, and small and rural businesses wanting to expand and create new jobs," Hartzler said. Doug Williams, President and CEO, Atlantic Capital Bank, testified to Congress in October about why the exemption is important for community banks and their ability to serve customers, and he's continued to be active in supporting the legislation with the Georgia delegation. The Senate still must pass the legislation. It's a priority for GBA, so we'll keep you posted on its progress. With questions, contact Joe Brannen, 404.420.2026, or Elizabeth Chandler, 404.420.2027.

 

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Westmoreland Signs on as Co-sponsor of ATM Placard Bill

We appreciate Georgia Rep. Lynn Westmoreland for co-sponsoring the bill we told you about last week (H.R. 4367) to remove duplicative ATM fee disclosure regulations. GBA this week communicated our support of the bill to the entire U.S. House delegation representing Georgia, and asked for their co-sponsorship, as well. The bill would protect banks from frivolous lawsuits by repealing the outdated requirement that a placard must be attached to ATMs stating that a fee may be charged. ATM monitors already show such fee disclosures and require customers to opt-in before moving forward with a transaction that would result in a fee.

At least four such lawsuits have been filed recently against GBA member community banks in Georgia. Georgia Rep. David Scott is one of the bill's original sponsors. With questions or comments, contact Joe Brannen, 404.420.2026, or Elizabeth Chandler, 404.420.2027.

 

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Deposit Insurance Fund Update

The FDIC staff projects that the Deposit Insurance Fund (DIF) will reach 1.15 percent by the second half of 2018 at current assessment rates. The balance stood at $11.8 billion, or 0.17 percent, at the end of 2011, and has risen for eight straight quarters. The Dodd-Frank Act requires the FDIC to increase the target ratio to 1.35 percent, and the fund must reach that level by Sept. 30, 2020. The fund has been recapitalized more rapidly than expected, due in part to lower than expected costs for bank closures. The fund should continue to grow relatively quickly, as the FDIC projects it will spend $7 billion less on closures than the agency's last five-year projection in October, while this year's assessments on banks will remain at about the same $13.5 billion level as the previous two years. ABA Chief Economist Jim Chessen said that level of premiums will provide more than $65 billion in revenue to the fund over the next five years -- more than five times what the FDIC expects in bank closure costs. With questions, contact Joe Brannen, 404.420.2026, or Elizabeth Chandler, 404.420.2027.

 

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No Surprise on Rates from Fed, Some Improving Trends

Since Dec. 16, 2008, the target federal funds rate has been set between zero and 0.25 percent and is expected to remain at that level through late 2014. That was the non-news from the Federal Reserve's Federal Open Market Committee meeting this week. The committee, however, did upgrade its economic growth forecast with a prediction of GDP growth this year between 2.4 percent and 2.9 percent, slightly up from January's predications of 2.2 percent to 2.7 percent. The unemployment forecast was also improved, with an outlook of between 7.8 percent and 8 percent, down from January's range of 8.2 percent to 8.5 percent. Here's the official statement from the Fed.

 

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CFPB News about Overdrafts, Arbitration Inquiry

The deadline for comments to the Consumer Protection Bureau about how overdraft programs affect customers is now June 29. The bureau extended the deadline from April 30 to allow more detailed feedback at the request of national trade groups. Also of note from the CFPB this week, the bureau launched an inquiry into how arbitration and arbitration clauses affect consumers, banks and other financial services companies. The study is mandated by the Dodd-Frank Act, which also gives the bureau power to issue regulations based on the study’s findings. The CFPB wants to know about the prevalence of arbitration clauses in consumer financial products and services; what claims consumers bring in arbitration; if financial firms bring claims against consumers; how actual arbitrations affect consumers and companies; and how arbitration clauses outside of actual arbitrations affect them.

 

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Is Your Bank's Pay Still Competitive?

GBA is pre-registering banks to participate in the 2012 GBA Compensation and Benefits Survey. We distributed a pre-registration invitation email this week to member CEOs and HR representatives. We need at least 50 banks to pre-register to provide data and purchase the results for us to have both a good data set for the results as well as cover the minimum cost to GBA to provide the survey, collect the data, provide a comprehensive report of the results and provide the additional tools to help you get the most value from the survey. The results of the survey are extremely affordable, with a cost of only $150 for those banks that provide data for the survey. The survey results will include base salary and incentive compensation data on key banking roles, including 15-20 targeted executive and officer level positions and 45-50 key banking, bank operations, technical and clerical level positions. Other benefit program data will also be included. Information will be broken down in a variety of categories and geographic summaries. The deadline for pre-registration is Tuesday, May 1. Here's a link to the pre-registration form. With questions, contact Bill LaFontaine at Matthews, Young - Management Consulting, 919.644.6962, ext. 1103, or GBA's Kenyetta Parks at 404.420.2035.

 

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New from GBA and Georgia Southern University

Unique Performance Reports for Bank Management Now Available

With first-quarter earnings results rolling in, now's the perfect time to get a thorough snapshot of how your bank compares to peers. We've got a great new product that can help you. GBA has partnered with the Georgia Southern University Center for Excellence in Financial Services to offer its BANKSTAT Management Reporting and Analysis reports to all GBA members. This has been a popular product among banks in Southeast Georgia and GSU has the capability to make these now available to banks statewide. Each quarter, subscribers will get a series of seven summary reports, designed by a former community bank CFO, comparing your bank's performance to a variety of peers and competitors. These reports make it easy to share your story with board members, regulators, shareholders, analysts and employees. Subscribers also get a 2011 year-end summary as a baseline report. So, you get standard reports four times a year plus the 2011 report. New subscribers signing up by June 30 also get complimentary copies of some specialized reports in development. Subscriptions are $600 for the full year. Customization options are available. The standard quarterly reports are: 

1. Flash Report is a summary of key data and ratios available within three days after the call report deadline.
 

2. Board of Director Executive Summary (BES) provides five-quarter trends in snapshot chart form and region/peer group rankings each quarter. Click here for a sample of this report.
 

3. Side-By-Side Comparison Report (SBS). Bank management chooses six other banks for a three-page side-by-side comparison of key performance ratios, capital adequacy, loan portfolio quality, asset/liability mix, yields and rates and liquidity. Click here for a sample of this report.
 

4. Quarterly Statistical Ranking Report (SRR) with 56 ranking exhibits for community banks within your bank's GBA Group.
 

5. Five-Quarter Regional Trend Analysis (5QRT) with year-over-year quarterly comparisons and sequential linked-quarter comparisons for key performance results and ratios related to profitability, capital adequacy, asset quality and liquidity for each bank.
 

6. Five-Quarter Performance Summary (5QPS) for your bank. This is a 40-page report with statistics and charts tracking performance and ratio trends quarterly.
 

7. Peer and Regional Group Comparative Performance Summary (CPS). This report is generated based upon quarterly and year-to-date results. The report contains 41 exhibits with accompanying charts for your bank compared to the GBA Group and your peer group for the most current period. Click here for a sample of this report.

To subscribe or for more information, contact Ed Sibbald, Director, GSU Center for Excellence in Financial Services, 912.478.5061.

 

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Welcome New Associate Members

Congratulations to the following companies that were approved for associate membership at the April 20 GBA Board of Directors meeting:
 

Associate Members have played an important part of the GBA throughout our 120 years. Today, almost 200 businesses enjoy increased visibility and expanded marketing opportunities, and banks have more options for top-quality, cost-effective products and services. Company descriptions and contact information are available on our website, or contact GBA's Kenyetta Parks at 404.420.2035 for more information

 

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Top 5 Reasons to Attend the GBA Rural Development and Lending Conference

 will address current legal issues facing rural and agribusiness lenders including security interests, proper completion of loan documentation, workouts of problem loans and related issues at the The GBA Rural Development and Lending Conference is coming up May 10-11 at the Savannah Riverfront Marriott. Here are five reasons why you should attend:

  • A legal issues update with Sherman Willis of Gardner, Willis, Sweat & Goldsmith in Albany

  • A real estate trends update from Joe Durham, President, J. Durham & Associates, Inc., Albany, and Burke Walters, Regional Manager, F & W Forestry, Albany

  • A regulatory conversation and update from FDIC's Ben Pitts

  • An Agriculture Legislative Update from the  Hon. John Bulloch, who chairs the Senate Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee

  • An Ag. Market and Economic update from Dr. John McKissick of the University of Georgia's Department of Agriculture

Plus, there's plenty of time for quality networking and peer idea exchanges, as always. For hotel reservations, please call the hotel directly at 912.233.7722. Click here to register. For more information about the conference or to register by phone, please call GBA's Marybeth Jones at 404.420.2032.

 

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Popular Income Tax Seminar - May 10

This class will cover the basics of your income tax calculation including current and deferred tax, valuation allowances, and multistate tax. We will review the Financial Statement footnote disclosures, including how to prepare them, the disclosure requirements under FIN 48, and the computation of the amount of a deferred tax asset that is disallowed from your computation of Tier 1 Capital on the Call Report. This seminar will walk through how the income tax expense is computed, the practical aspects of making estimated payments and what creates the deferred tax balances that remain on your balance sheet. GBA will host the Understanding Income Taxes Seminar May 10, at Idle Hour Country Club in Macon. Registration is $195 for members. Adam Polakov and Patrick Tuley with Porter Keadle Moore, LLP will be the instructors. Click here to register. With questions, call GBA's Courtenay Pope at 404.420.2015.

 

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Advanced Consumer Lending Seminar - May 15

How to Improve your Consumer Portfolio, Approve More Loans and Strengthen Loan Quality

Proper analysis of consumer loan requests is more important today than any time in the history of banking as a result of the current economic environment which has left many consumers in a weaker financial condition than in the past. For this reason and the need for banks to continue growing the consumer loan portfolio safely, it is important for bankers to adjust their lending practices to ensure the next consumer applicant is not becoming overextended and unable to meet their obligations. This one-day workshop will provide more advanced techniques to successful consumer lending. Topics will cover the following areas: Application, Interview, Investigation, Evaluation, Decision, Regulation and Documentation. The method of instruction will include lectures, visual presentations and case studies to reinforce the concepts presented in the course. GBA will host the Advanced Consumer Lending Seminar May 15 at Idle Hour Country Club in Macon. Registration is $225 for members. David Sawyer will be the instructors. Click here to register. With questions, call GBA's Courtenay Pope at 404.420.2015.

 

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New AIB Self-Paced Compliance Course for Consumer Lenders

Learn Techniques for Steering Clear of UDAAP Violations

Recognizing and Preventing UDAAP introduces ways to identify and prevent acts or practices that materially increase the risk of consumers being treated in an unfair, deceptive or abusive manner. This course explores ways to identify whether an unfair, deceptive or abusive act or practice has occurred or is likely to occur given a specific set of circumstances. This course stresses the importance of being able to recognize the elements of unfair, deceptive or abusive practices; helps participants understand the new and existing federal laws and regulations covering UDAAP and teaches techniques to help your bank avoid UDAAP claims. This course is about an hour long and costs $55. To register, click here. For more information please contact GBA's Alison Moreau at 404.420.2034 with questions. Please see the AIB Online Course Schedule for a complete listing of all AIB Compliance Courses.

 

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Webinars

Unclaimed Property Compliance, CRA Review, ACH Risk Management and More

A GBA Webinar is a great way to quickly get the training you need right from the comfort of your office. Here is a sample of upcoming offerings. Check the Calendar of Events for any webinars you are interested in at www.gabankers.com.

All webinars are live and allow time for questions and answers. The $255 registration fee gives you access to one web site "seat," one telephone site license and all handout materials. If you can't attend the webinar, you may buy the audio CD, handout materials and a password to see the information online. With questions, please contact GBA's Courtenay Pope at 404.420.2015.

 

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AIB Instructor-Led Online Courses for June

CTFA Exam Review, Accounting, Ag. Lending Featured

Here are the instructor-led AIB online classes offered in June. These courses are instructor-facilitated with weekly assignments but can be taken from your home or your office. All you need is a computer, printer and Internet access. Classes with an asterisk * require Microsoft Excel Software. Please register two weeks in advance to secure a seat in the class.

There is still room in the classes offered the week of May 28. Please register as soon as possible.

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

 

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Overdraft Expertise Available from John M. Floyd and Associates

As we noted above, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau continues to look into checking account overdraft programs to determine how program practices are affecting consumers. Here's a reminder that GBA-endorsed John M. Floyd and Associates (JMFA) Overdraft Privilege® is a 100-percent compliant automated overdraft program and GBA members receive a 10 percent discount. Here's a link to additional information about JMFA Overdraft Privilege®. We encourage you and your bank to give John M. Floyd and Associates an opportunity to evaluate your current overdraft procedures or programs. For more information please contact Waid Thompson, JMFA's regional sales director, at 888.345.8639.

 

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Free ABA Insurance Webinar:  The Ten Most Common Questions About Professional Liability Insurance Policies

The GBA-sponsored Insurance Program managed by ABA Insurance Services, Inc. can provide coverage for your bank and customers. The ABA Insurance Program also provides Financial Institution Bond and Directors and Officers coverage and Excess Deposit Bond and Combination Safe Depository coverage. ABA Insurance Services will present a free product webinar Wednesday, May 9, from 2-3 p.m. ET. Michael J. Read, ABA Insurance Services, will lead the session and focus on the 10 most common questions bankers have about professional liability insurance policies. During this presentation, you will get a better understanding of:

  • Sources of lawsuits and paid claims

  • Key policy exclusions to avoid

  • Limit adequacy

  • How policies respond to emerging technologies like mobile banking and cloud computing.

Click here to register for this free event. For more information, please contact Jason Faulkner with ABA Insurance Services Inc. at 1.800.274.5222 or GBA’s Bo Brannen at 404.420.2014.

 

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Find a Job, Post a Job with GBA Job Bank

The Georgia Bankers Association offers free job posting resources for our member banks. These listings can be viewed online or through our print publication, the GBA Bulletin, mailed every other week. Resume postings are also available. For more information, please contact Kenyetta Parks at 404.420.2035.

 

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Read All About It: 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.

 

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Newsmakers

 

Atlanta - Safe Systems

Darren Bridges has been appointed to serve on the Board of Directors.

 

Atlanta – SunTrust Banks Inc.

Donna Morea has been elected to the bank’s s Board of Directors.

 

Bainbridge – Bank of the Ozarks

Dr. John Reynolds has been elected to serve on the bank’s Board of Directors.

 

Douglasville - Metro Bank

Chad Thomason has been promoted to Senior Vice President in the Cobb County market.

 

Stockbridge - The First State Bank

The Henry County Chamber of Commerce honored former First State Bank, David Gill, President & CEO, during the Chamber’s April board meeting for its service to the Henry County community.

 

Congratulations for the following GBA Associate and Bank Counsel Section Members for being recognized by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution as being among the top 100 companies to work for in Atlanta. Large Company Category: Alston & Bird LLP, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, and Equifax. Medium Company Category: Morgan Keegan & Company, Inc. and Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP. Small Company Category: Moore Colson & Co., PC, Payscape Advisors, Miller & Martin PLLC and Baker Donelson Law Firm.

 

Bridges Morea Thomason Gill

 

 

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