Legislature Has Busy Week - Several Bills of Interest Receive Action

GBA publishes a weekly Legislative Update giving our members the latest information about the legislation we are monitoring on your behalf.  Today's edition covers action in the Legislature this week:

• Mortgage Closing Exemptions Bill Reported Out of House Committee

• Hearing Held on GBA-supported Mortgage Satisfaction Bill

• First of Several Expected Foreclosure Bills Introduced

• Uniform Security Act Reported

• Watercraft Titling Bill Reported

• ID Theft Bill Passes Senate

• Lien Revisions in Committee

• Speaker Richardson Unveils New Tax Plan

Please contact GBA's Elizabeth Chandler with questions about any of these issues.

Industrial Loan Company Bill Reported by Thin Margin

Bankruptcy Cram-down Legislation Pending in House

FDIC Ombudsman is a Resource for Bankers

The FDIC's Office of the Ombudsman (OO) was established by federal statute in 1994 to serve as a confidential, neutral liaison for bankers with the FDIC on any regulatory matter.  The OO strives to ensure the fair and consistent application of FDIC rules and regulations, and the fair treatment of financial institutions throughout the FDIC's examination and regulatory processes.  The OO does not have the authority to overturn a regulatory decision or to make technical determinations, however.  Many of the questions the OO receives fall into one of two areas: examination issues and requests for guidance on policy or procedural matters.  In some cases, bankers are not sure who to contact or have been unsuccessful in their efforts to determine what processes to follow

and the OO either provides the answer or put clients in touch with the right people.Another resource the OO offers is the Relationship Manager Program.  The relationship manager is a good contact for technical questions.  For example, if a banker has a transaction that is somewhat out of the norm and is unsure how an examiner will view it or how a regulation applies, the banker should contact the relationship manager before the next examination.  Relationship managers are also knowledgeable about hot topics such as commercial real estate lending and the Bank Secrecy Act.  To speak with an Ombudsman, bankers can call 877-ASKFDIC and select Option 3.

Due to overwhelming response, GBA has scheduled a second Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses Workshop.   It will be held on Wednesday, March 19, at Idle Country Club in Macon.  The registration fee is $195 and will be led by Donny Luker and the team at Mauldin & Jenkins, LLC, Atlanta.  Designed for CEOs, chief lending officers and others responsible for the determination of the adequacy of the allowance for loan and lease losses, this one day seminar will bring you up to date on the Interagency Policy Statement on the allowance for loan losses.  The session will cover the changes to the reserve calculation including the quantitative and qualitative factors that should be considered in your reserve calculation.

You will also review a sample of an approved reserve calculation and discuss areas you may want to incorporate into your calculation as well as areas that are required to be included.  Topics to be discussed include: 

• ALLL Methodology changes

• Sample calculations

• Qualitative and quantitative factor discussion

• Consultation on implementation issues

With questions, please contact GBA’s Courtenay Pope at (404) 420-2015.  Please click here to register.

Mike Odom to Moderate CEO Panel Discussion at Annual Convention

Bankers across Georgia will convene at the 2008 Annual Convention on June 15-18 at the St. Regis, Monarch Beach in Dana Point, California.  A great program has been planned that you won’t want to miss.  At Monday’s General Session, Mike Odom, Principal of Great Oaks Advisors LLC in Richmond Hill, will moderate a Q & A discussion about the “Silver Lining Opportunities” in today’s banking industry dark clouds.

Hotel Room Block Expires Tuesday for the HR Professionals Institute

The block of rooms reserved for Georgia bankers at the Savannah Riverfront Marriott will be released on February 19^th.  To take advantage of our special rate, please call the hotel directly at (912) 233-7722.

Construction Lending Seminar - February 19

GBA will host its Construction Lending seminar on Tuesday, February 19 at the Ramada Plaza in Macon.  Designed for construction lenders, credit analysts, loan review and administration personnel,  this one-day seminar is designed to help professional bankers keep their focus on prudent and critical risk management aspects of construction lending. Some of the topics to be covered include:

Advanced Compliance Symposium Rescheduled to March 4-5

Just a reminder that GBA’s annual Advanced Compliance Symposium originally slated for February 26-27, has been rescheduled to March 4-5.  The location of Idle Hour Country Club remains the same.  This two day workshop will include an in-depth look at the “new era” of Bank Secrecy Act compliance as well as several interactive case studies involving more complex residential mortgage loan transactions.  Back by popular demand is the regulator panel discussion. 

Still Time to Register for GBA's Popular Operations/Technology Conference

There is still time to register for the Operations and Technology Conference slated for March 5-6 at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta.  This year’s topics include emerging technology trends, mobile banking, remote capture/branch capture, debit card fraud and IT Security.

Back by popular demand, AIB Analyzing Financial Statements will be offered again beginning March 18 for 10 weeks.  This class will be taught by Peter Faser of Security Bank at CornerstoneBank, Atlanta.  Class will meet every Tuesday from 6 p.m.-9 p.m. ending May 20, 2008.

Mark Your Calendar - Bank Security Conference Scheduled for Savannah

The 2008 Bank Security Conference is scheduled for April 3-4 at the Savannah Riverfront Marriott.  The 2007-2008 Security Committee is finalizing the agenda and the brochure will be available soon.  A block of rooms has been reserved at the hotel until March 2.

Just a reminder that GBA will offer the following webinars during the weeks of February 18^th and 25^th.   Webinars offer the opportunity and convenience of having a seminar at your bank.  All you need is a computer, Internet access and a telephone. 

• Avoiding Losses on U.S. Treasury Checks – Feb. 20

• Legal Issues Involved in Collection – Feb. 21

• Employee Incentive & Motivational Strategies – Feb. 26

• Power of Attorney & Living Trust Documents – Feb. 26

• Basic Cash Flow Analysis – Feb. 28

Just a reminder that the following AIB online classes begin the week of March 10.  Please register two weeks in advance to secure a seat in the class.  These courses are instructor-facilitated with weekly assignments.  They 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

• Analyzing Financial Statements*, 16 weeks, $485

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

• Managing Interest Rate Risk*, 8 weeks, $745

• Principles of Banking, 16 weeks, $385

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

There is still availability in the following AIB Online classes beginning March 3.  Please register as soon as possible to secure a seat in the class.

• Consumer Lending, 16 weeks, $385

• Financial and Business Planning for Bank Marketers, 9 weeks, $295

• Introduction to Mortgage Lending, 16 weeks, $385

• IRA Online Institute, 12 weeks, $1,495

• Team Leader Certificate, 16 weeks, $695

• Understanding Your Construction Borrower, 10 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.

Reliance Trust Company, a subsidiary of the privately held Reliance Financial Corporation, is one of the largest independent trust companies in the country with more than $30 billion in assets under management.  Headquartered in Atlanta and a longtime Strategic Partner of the GBA, Reliance is a leading provider of financial services to individuals, corporate, and institutional clients worldwide.  Reliance offers a full array of personalized financial services that can benefit your bank by adding fee-based revenues through financial advisory services.  This includes directors and bank employees as well as its individual and business customers. Services include:

• Wealth Management and Personal Advisory Services

• Separate Account Management

• Money Manager Consulting

• Trust and Fiduciary Services

• Financial, Estate, and Tax Planning

• Retirement Plans and Investments

• Outsourcing Services to Financial Intermediaries

For more information, contact Reliance’s Mark Teichner at (404) 965-7239 or GBA’s Josh Latina at (404) 420-2022.

Welcome New Participant

The GBA Insurance Trust, Inc. Board of Directors welcomes to the Trust NOA Bank, I.O., Duluth, Gerald Lewis, CEO.  This company joins more than 290 community banks and associate members in this unmatched member benefit.

The Board is overseen by a group of bank executives who understand the need to provide the best in employee benefits.  Please call GBA’s Susan Kelley at (404) 420-2017 for details.

GBA Job Bank

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