Legislative Update: First Bill to Pass House this year is GBA’s Priority Legislative Initiative
Thanks to the quick work by Rep. James Mills, Chairman of the House Banks and Banking Committee, along with support from Speaker David Ralston, the first bill passed in the House this session was GBA’s priority legislation that allows state chartered banks to renew loans that would have otherwise exceeded the bank’s lending limit because of capital erosion. In presenting the bill, Chairman Mills said, “Every day that passes, another one of our small business constituents is hurt. The bill simply puts state banks on par with federally chartered banks and thrift institutions.” The bill passed 165-1. A hearing on the bill is slated for next Tuesday in the Senate Banking and Financial Institutions Committee. Sen. Jim Butterworth from Cornelia has been asked by Committee Chairman Bill Hamrick to handle the legislation in the Senate.

GBA Testifies about Foreclosure Bill
In other legislative news this week, GBA’s Elizabeth Chandler and Joe Brannen testified before a House Judiciary Subcommittee considering a bill to lengthen the foreclosure notice provisions from 30 to 90 days and allow a borrower to cure the deficiency prior to foreclosure. Chandler gave the Subcommittee a comprehensive, nationwide study prepared at GBA’s request which shows there is no correlation between the number of foreclosures and how foreclosures are resolved. Those advocating for the change said that Georgia foreclosures would be lessened if troubled borrowers had an additional 60 days. Brannen pointed out a recent RealtyTrac report showing that of the top 20 highest foreclosure metropolitan areas in the country, none were in Georgia. Each of those out of state laws in the top 20 had notice provisions far longer than Georgia’s. The shortest was 97 days and the longest was 128 days. The Subcommittee took no action on the bill, but additional subcommittee meetings are being scheduled.

House Small Business Committee Hears from GBA about Lending Environment
Brannen also testified before the House Small Business Committee this week. This is a newly created committee solely focused on needs of small businesses. Brannen was asked to talk about the lending environment in Georgia as all the other witnesses were discussing the lending environment from a borrower’s perspective. Brannen took the opportunity to educate the legislators that banks were indeed making loans every day, but helped the members understand the environment for real estate-related loans, loan concentration guidelines, the regulatory orders many banks are under that tend to restrict lending, and the effect of capital erosion on total lending.

Feedback Please: New Data Match Bill Introduced
We’ve added several new bills to our tracking list this year. We need your feedback and guidance particularly on one dealing with tax levies. The Revenue Department, through Ways and Means Committee Chairman Larry O’Neal, has had legislation introduced automating the method the Department uses to find bank accounts of delinquent tax payers that have been levied upon (HB 986). We understand the current system is a paper intensive process. The Department basically has to go on a fishing expedition by papering all the banks in a market when they have reason to believe money is on deposit with a bank to pay a levy. Under the new procedures, the state would use the same system banks are required to use under the federal parent locator rules, so we do not expect much new programming would be necessary. The legislation also allows banks to invoice the department for costs to run searches through your processing system; these searches would be performed no more frequently than quarterly. The bill gives immunity to banks under state law for sharing information with the state. Chairman O’Neal is extremely cautious about adding to bank workloads, so the bill now makes compliance voluntary. However, we are concerned that unless there is language in the bill requiring compliance, the bank could be liable under the federal Gramm Leach Bliley Act for improperly sharing confidential information. Here’s where you can help. Please email Elizabeth Chandler and let her know your views on this and what your experience is with the federal parent locator system. In today’s revenue environment at the state, it would be a positive signal from the industry if we offered to help find tax cheats, but we also don’t want to create additional burdens for our members. Respond quickly as we expect the bill will come up next week in Committee.

Other New Bills...
Among the other bills we are tracking is one that creates a new regulatory structure for Appraisal Management Companies. The bill goes much further than those being considered in other states that simply require registration of these companies with the state real estate commission. Attorney General Thurbert Baker had a helpful bill introduced that would add businesses as victims of identity fraud. He has been a champion of ID fraud for many years and we look forward to working with him to get this bill passed as it will also be helpful to our members. Another bill would exempt unoccupied and newly constructed houses from ad valorem tax.

All bills we're monitoring can be found on the State Issues page of our web site. With questions, contact GBA’s Elizabeth Chandler at 404.420.2027 or Joe Brannen at 404.420.2026.

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Georgia Banks Well Represented at FDIC Community Bank Committee Meeting

Georgia banking issues went straight to the top of the house when the FDIC's Community Bank Advisory Committee met Jan. 28. Georgia's Dan Blanton, President and CEO, Georgia Bank and Trust, Augusta, is a member of the 14-person group of bankers. In an unplanned bit of seating fate, FDIC Chairman Sheila Bair took an unoccupied seat at the table with Dan and another banker during one session, so they got to share some one-on-one discussion that was valuable. Topics at the meeting included exam issues, a frank discussion about the challenges to making more loans, loss reserves and CRE concentrations, the President's proposal to channel more investment capital into community banks, director and officer liability and information about bidding on banks going into receivership. Dan said the meetings were productive and he believes the meetings have helped FDIC get a better handle on the real-world effects of D.C. policy decisions. Input from his peers has been invaluable, too. "I've been getting a lot of e-mails from my colleagues about important topics for the committee," Blanton said. "Keep them coming because that's my job on this committee: to make sure the FDIC understands how its policies and actions affect main street bankers in Georgia." The committee meets quarterly, with the next scheduled session April 21-22. Contact Dan by e-mail with questions and ideas.

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Isakson Pushes Back on Regulators in Senate Speech
The unintended consequences of regulations that have good intentions are prolonging the recession for homeowners and small businesses, according to Georgia Senator Johnny Isakson. “We are making a recession that is deep, that is broad, and that is pervasive worse because of the unintended consequences of well-intended regulation,” Isakson said during a speech on the Senate floor this week. “I encourage our regulators to give the great American ingenuity and entrepreneurship the chance to work. Sure, some of these people are in trouble, but there are avenues outside of that trouble.”  Isakson outlined the difficulties for banks caused by accounting rules, recent real estate appraisal issues and proposed new fees. “If we put that much more of a burden on top of the people who are paying us, and paying a premium when we have a banking system under stress and duress, it is only making it more and more impossible for them to stay in business, for them to be vibrant and come back to bring credit to our communities,” Isakson said. Read more details in the press release issued by the senator's office. We appreciate Sen. Isakson's strong statements in support of our members. With questions, contact Elizabeth Chandler, 404.420.2027, or Joe Brannen, 404.420.2026.

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New Small Business Resources from GBA
We can't make a single small business loan here at the GBA, but we can give good advice and information. So, this week we launched a new Small Business Toolbox on our web site with links to a variety of resources. We launched the toolbox by press release Wednesday and attached an article titled "Small Business Secrets Bankers Want You to Know," with tips small businesses can use to shop for loans. If you have questions or suggestions for resources we can add to the Small Business Toolbox, let us know. Contact David Oliver, 404.420.2036, or Bogan Brannen, 404.420.2014.

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The Skinny on New Capital for Community Banks
President Obama renewed his push for more lending for small businesses this week by announcing his proposal for investing in Community Banks. The plan would put $30 billion in repaid Troubled Asset Relief Program funds to a new Small Business Lending Fund. Banks with $10 billion or less in assets that receive primary-regulator approval would be eligible to participate in the program, which would be separate and distinct from TARP. There are specific incentives built in to the program for banks to use the capital to secure funding for small business loans. The program requires legislation, so it remains to be seen how and if it will be implemented. And, the potential for participation from our state's banks is difficult to gauge right now. Details are outlined in the White House's fact sheet. "Private investment in banks is always the preferred source of capital. However, for some Georgia banks, those sources are difficult and expensive to secure at this time, so we are sure there will be Georgia banks interested in participating in the program. We agree that small business growth and job creation will help the economy get back on track," said GBA President and CEO Joe Brannen. "The President and the general public must understand, however, that any new lending to businesses must be done with the utmost care and reasonable certainty that a business will be able to pay back the loan. Those businesses are out there. But, it won't help the economy, taxpayers, our customers and our banks to put on a large volume of risky business loans in a soft economy." With questions, contact Elizabeth Chandler, 404.420.2027, or Joe Brannen, 404.420.2026.

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News Stories of Note This Week
With another week comes another set of banking related news stories. The GBA continues to be a resource for statewide journalists and contributors. Stories of note included ongoing concerns about bank closures and a good overview of the broad banking environment. GBA's David Oliver, SVP, Communications and Marketing, provided some insight about recent bank closures to Atlanta's WABE public radio. Georgia Southern University's Ed Sibbald, penned an op-ed for the Savannah Morning News that used a creative Alice in Wonderland analogy to explain the economic, regulatory and public pressures on Georgia's community banks. Sibbald is the BB&T executive in residence in banking, College of Business Administration, Georgia Southern University and director of the college's Center for Excellence in Financial Services. We appreciate Ed for calling on GBA as a resource for his article, as well as for referencing Joe Brannen's recent op-ed about community bank lending. With questions or comments, contact David Oliver, 404.420.2036 or Joe Brannen, 404.420.2026.

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Banks Cease Tightening on Some Loans, Demand still Low, says Fed
The Federal Reserve released its most recent Senior Loan Officer Survey this week with some relatively encouraging news. The survey found that ”commercial banks generally ceased tightening standards on many loan types in the fourth quarter of last year but have yet to unwind the considerable tightening that has occurred over the past two years. The net percentages of banks reporting tighter loan terms continued to trend lower. Banks reported that loan demand from both businesses and households weakened further, on net, over the survey period." Specific challenges remain for C&I portfolios and most real-estate related lending. However, "the majority of banks indicated that their outlook for the change in credit quality in 2010 was more balanced relative to their pessimistic outlook, when asked one year ago about the outlook for the change in credit quality in 2009. Outside of commercial and prime residential mortgages, banks generally expect asset quality to stabilize this year.” Access the full report here.

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Sentencing of “Crown Royal Bandit” Proves Crime Does Not Pay
A man charged with robbing 29 banks in Georgia over the span of a decade was sentenced to 127 years in prison this week. The robberies occurred between 1997 and 2008 in the Middle and Northern Districts of Georgia. Authorities referred to him as the “Crown Royal Bandit” because in the first few bank robberies, he used purple “Crown Royal” liquor bags to collect the money. The GBA takes crimes against it members seriously and we encourage all GBA members to enroll in FinCrime, an online, searchable database of fraudulent activity. FinCrime’s focus is to improve banks’ ability to detect and prevent losses and to help law enforcement prosecute criminals by offering information identifying and linking criminals to their acts.

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Federal Reserve Rolls Out New Directors' Web Site
The Federal Reserve has launched a web site to help new bank directors learn how they can work to ensure the safety and soundness of their institutions. The web site, BankDirectorsDesktop.org, also provides a refresher course for experienced board members. It features online training, links to an interactive course and the latest edition of Basics for Bank Directors, a guide to directors' roles and responsibilities. "Many people who are asked to serve on bank boards have little training or experience to prepare them for their new roles," said Patrick M. Parkinson, director of the Federal Reserve Board's Division of Banking Supervision and Regulation. "This web site has been developed with new directors in mind, but there is plenty of useful information for those who have already spent time on bank boards."

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FDIC Continues to Stress Responsible Interest Rate Risk Management
We reported last month that the FDIC is suggesting banks be careful in regard to their Interest Rate Risk. On Jan. 29 the FDIC hosted a symposium on Interest Rate Risk Management in Washington, D.C. Speakers stressed they don't know when interest rates will begin to increase, but they pointed out that the Fed’s accommodative policy will not last forever and short term rates will rise. Regulators in attendance did say that derivatives are an appropriate risk management tool for smaller banks as long as the banks have the appropriate tools and expertise. For more helpful insight about this issue, please see the attached article written by Mark Brown, Principal of the Stonemont Financial Group.

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Make Your Voice Heard as a GBA Volunteer
It’s undeniable that times are tough for some banks in Georgia. The GBA knows you are working hard every day to enhance a positive public perception for the industry, and we want to help. Volunteering with the GBA can put you at the forefront of this effort, and we need your expertise. Volunteers are the core of GBA's success, and opportunities for volunteer service are abundant. GBA volunteers represent banks of all sizes, philosophy and geography. The GBA provides the best resources for bankers to educate themselves with new information, and personal participation with GBA offers the best outlet for you to benefit from these resources. If you serve as a member of a GBA committee, board, group, or as a teacher, you will have the chance to shape future events held by the GBA. If you have volunteered for the GBA in the past, then you already know the impact you can have, and we need you to encourage other bankers to actively answer this call. There is more information about specific groups on the committee fact sheet. If you are able to volunteer this year, please fill out the volunteer form. Contact Marybeth Jones, 404.420.2032, or Susie McGehee, 404.420.2010 at the GBA with further questions.

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Georgia Banking School – In Their Words
Registration is underway for the annual Georgia Banking School May 2-7 at the University of Georgia! For 49 years, the Georgia Banking School has been the premier resource for career-minded bankers. “For me, as a young banker, the Georgia Banking School was instrumental in providing a broad knowledge of all aspects of banking. I still remember the instructors and Mr. Russell Blanchard as Dean of the Banking School at that time. Something else that I’ve become aware of over time is the many friends that I made at the school and how much I enjoy visiting with them today at various GBA events,” reflected Dan Blanton, President and CEO of Georgia Bank & Trust Company in Augusta. For more information, please call GBA’s Marybeth Jones at 404.420.2032.

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Business Continuity Planning:  Are You Ready?
Join Dr. Jordan Shropshire, Assistant Professor of Information Technology at Georgia Southern University, as he addresses this important topic at the annual Operations and Technology Conference March 2-3 at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta. This presentation will provide common-sense recommendations that are cost-effective and easy to implement. Topics include communication, decision-making, business process recovery and training. The Renaissance Waverly Hotel is offering GBA members a special rate of $149. The rate is based on availability, so make your reservations early by calling the hotel directly at 770.953.4500. For more information, contact GBA’s Marybeth Jones at 404.420.2032.

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Demonstrating Strategic HR Leadership: Leading People and Organizations from a CEO’s Perspective
Mike Hamilton, Mathews, Young - Management Consulting, will lead this workshop at the annual HR Professionals Institute, March 17-19, at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta. Hamilton will provide guiding principles and offer hands-on planning opportunities, examples, and exercises. Session topics to include:

• Strategic HR thinking and planning – Aligning HR to bank success – an integrated approach

• Garnering executive (and other) buy-in – developing and delivering an HR value proposition

• Creating a sustainable HR function and developing leverage

• Managing HR credibility

• Effective partnering with executive and other collaborators

• Making sure your HR skills are appropriate and finely tuned

• The keys to guiding complex change

• Understanding your role and understanding the business -  HR work for a Community Bank is unique.

The Renaissance Waverly Hotel is offering GBA members a special rate of $149. The rate is based on availability, so make your reservations early by calling the hotel at 770.953.4500. For more information, contact Marybeth Jones at 404.420.2032.

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Register Early and Save on Leadership Conference – July 11-14
Be sure to attend Leadership GBA’s Leadership Conference and receive timely information that will include an economic update, information from regulators and up-to-date information about state and federal legislative issues. The conference also provides excellent networking opportunities for bankers from around the state to share ideas. Also, take advantage of the $395 early bird registration fee by registering before June 1. The conference is July 11-14 at Amelia Island Plantation in Amelia Island, FL. We'll mail a brochure, including conference details, in early March. With questions about the Leadership Conference or Leadership GBA, please call GBA’s Susie McGehee at 404.420.2010 or Jennifer Stevens at 404.420.2024.

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Southeastern Bank Management and Directors' Conference
The Terry College of Business is conducting its annual Bank Management and Directors Conference Feb. 11 at the Gwinnett Center. Highlights will include:

• A keynote address by Darryl Harmon, Southeast Regional President, Wells Fargo. An opportunity to hear from the “new bank on the block” about its perspective on the banking market in Georgia and the Southeast.

• A session on the regulatory environment. This session features the Deputy Regional Director, Gale Simons-Poole at both locations; Robert Schenck, Vice President FRB Atlanta with responsibility for international bank supervision at the Savannah location; and Rob Braswell, Banking Commissioner of Georgia at the Gwinnett Center session.

• A CEO session featuring Joe Evans, Bobby Heath, and Jim Edwards---each of whom has done an FDIC-assisted transaction. An opportunity to hear from three respected CEOs regarding their outlook for Georgia banking going forward.

The link to web site containing the brochure and registration information is available here. Click on “download conference agenda.”

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Bank Trainer Peer Group Meeting
Please join us for GBA University’s Bank Trainer Peer Group Tuesday, March 9, at the GBA offices in Atlanta. We have two great industry experts lined up. June Somers will provide insightful tips about adult learning. AIB’s Teri Callahan will update you about the new Learning Management System, BankPoint and online eLearning. During lunch, you will also have the opportunity to network with your colleagues at our roundtable discussions. With questions, please contact GBA’s Alison Moreau at 404.420.2034.

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Last Chance for GBA’s IRA Basics Seminar
Take advantage of learning everything from A-to-Z about IRAs by attending GBA’s annual IRA Basics seminar. This comprehensive workshop will provide you with a complete understanding of the IRA as well as a review of significant proposed changes. Designed for new account representatives, certificate of deposit personnel and any officer/manager who oversees the IRA department, the seminar will be led by Patrice Konarik with Sunwest Training Corp. in Gilchrist, TX. The seminar also includes the 225-page IRA Training and Reference Manual, otherwise known as the “IRA Survival Guide” or the “Red Book”. This one-day seminar will be Feb. 11 at Idle Hour Country Club in Macon. With questions, please contact GBA’s Courtenay Pope at 404.420.2015.

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Five Reasons to Attend the Effective Information Security Management Seminar Feb. 18
If you are an Information Security Officer and want to make sure you have the best tools for your job, attend GBA’s Effective Information Security Management seminar Feb. 18 at Idle Hour Country Club in Macon. This one-day seminar will focus on the responsibilities of the ISO with a special emphasis on assessing risk and managing technical security controls. Topics to be covered include:

1. The best candidate for the role of ISO

2. The required components of a comprehensive Information Security Program

3. The case for a strong risk assessment methodology

4. How to manage, monitor and test technical security controls

5. Meeting examiner expectations.

The registration fee is $130 and the instructors are Kimberly Tallant with Gladiator Technology Group, Alpharetta, and Jamie Davis with Safe Systems, Inc., Alpharetta. This seminar also qualifies as curriculum credit required for the Bank Security Academy. With questions, please call GBA’s Courtenay Pope at 404.420.2015.

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Managing Workouts to Optimize Value: Feb. 17
This seminar is designed to provide participants with skills to support early recognition of problems, assessment of client viability, alternative courses of action for the lender and decision support for choosing appropriate actions. This one-day course will cover workout issues and is intended to optimize the resolution of problem loans in the bank’s commercial portfolio. Participants will learn about handling individual loans as well as portfolio management. Dr. Ruediger Mueller CTP, President of Turnaround Consulting & Management International, Inc. in Suwanee, is the instructor. The seminar is Feb. 17 at Idle Hour Country Club in Macon. Registration is $225 for members. With questions, contact GBA’s Courtenay Pope at 404.420.2015.

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Monthly Compliance Perspectives Series Dates Set Through June
Keeping up with compliance changes and deadlines gets more complex every year. Get the news you need with our new webinar series for 2010, "Compliance Perspectives: A Monthly Update." Led by Carl Pry, the one-hour webinar will highlight the hot compliance topics, upcoming deadlines and new regulations. February's agenda will include:

• New appraisal forms and Code of Conduct update

• New BSA guidance on cross-border transactions and electronic filing systems

• Proposed new information-sharing rules

• Regulatory emphasis on distressed loans: both mortgage and commercial RE, and new tenant foreclosure law

• The new overdraft rule under Reg E for ATM and one-time debit transactions

• The risk-based pricing notice final rule that was finally issued

• Extension of FDIC deposit insurance

• Flood insurance Q&As and resulting examiner attention

• IRS reporting changes, including possibly a new form

• The new privacy notice - a formatting nightmare

• All things new RESPA - FAQs, new info booklet, and a compliance 'holiday?'

• The SAFE Mortgage Act - when to expect rules

• The many Reg Z actions - education loans, ownership transfers, Credit CARD Act, etc.

The series is priced at $159/month with a minimum six-month subscription required. With a one-year commitment, you will receive a free month. So it would be $954 for six months or $1,749 for 12 months. Three locations per registration are permitted at no additional fee. The person that registered will be responsible for forwarding the login instructions to the other locations. Any location above three will be charged $50/additional location per month. Dates through June have been set: Feb. 23, March 23, April 20, May 11, and June 15. With questions or to register, please contact GBA’s Courtenay Pope at 404.420.2015.

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New Seminar! RESPA Update: March 3
This seminar will provide a detailed overview of the new requirements and include line-by-line instructions for completing these mandated forms referencing the most recent guidance issued by HUD and much more. New RESPA requirements are complex and many subsequent clarifications have been made by HUD in the form of updated FAQs since the final rules were announced. Much is at stake in complying with these rules, and errors may be costly in the form of reimbursable violations. In addition, a separate explanation of how the requirements differ between bank loan officers, mortgage lenders, and mortgage brokers will be provided. W. Brad Washburn of Steve H. Powell & Company in Statesboro is the instructor. The seminar is March 3 at Idle Hour Country Club in Macon from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Registration is only $149 for members. With questions, contact GBA’s Courtenay Pope at 404.420.2015.

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AIB Online Instructor Led Courses beginning in March
Here are the instructor-led AIB online classes offered the week of March 1. These courses are instructor-facilitated with weekly assignments and 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.

• Consumer Lending, 16 weeks, $405

• Financial and Business Planning for Bank Marketers, 9 weeks, $315

• Introduction to Mortgage Lending, 16 weeks, $405

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

There is still availability in the following AIB Online classes beginning February 22.  Please register as soon as possible to secure a seat in the class.

• Commercial Lending, 16 weeks, $405

• General Accounting, 16 weeks, $515

• Managing the Bank’s Investment Portfolio, 6 weeks, $595

• Principles of Banking, 16 weeks, $405

• Problem Loan Workouts, 6 weeks, $315

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

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Register for GBA Webinars Today
GBA will offer the following webinars the week of Feb 8:

• Appraisal Review for Residential Mortgage Decisions – Feb. 9

• Big Changes Under Stage 2 of the Credit CARD Act – Feb. 9

• Train the Trainer – Feb. 10

• Finding Organic Revenue Growth In 2010, Session 1 – Feb. 11

All webinars are live and allow time for questions and answers. The $250 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 call GBA’s Courtenay Pope at 404.420.2015.

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GBA Retirement Plans Announce Fourth Quarter 2009 Investment Results
Fourth Quarter 2009 was another good quarter for investors in the stock market, and the year-to-date results were even better. All of the LifeStyles^SM portfolios greatly exceeded their year-to-date benchmarks by 10 percent or more, and participants who stayed invested in equities and maintained a long-term investment philosophy continued to recover much of their losses from 2008. For GBA Retirement plan participants, the investment returns of both investment managers, Reliance Trust Company and Atlanta Capital Management, performed well against major market indexes and other competitive funds and models. Please refer to this update for detailed returns. Both firms continue to focus on high-quality stocks and mutual funds to help minimize risks in the portfolios and funds. The LifeStyles^SM portfolios are a great way to ensure participants are well diversified and to allow participants to make investment decisions in a simplified way. Here are links to the Fourth Quarter 2009 investment newsletters produced by Reliance Trust Company and Atlanta Capital Management, including a special commentary on the LifeStyles^SM portfolios. Members of the GBA Master Trust have ongoing investment education for their participants through annual re-enrollment meetings and an enrollment DVD or online video. The GBA Retirement Services, Inc. Board of Directors continues to meet quarterly to review the investments and administration of the Master Trust. They are bankers who know the business and help produce the greatest results for their banks, their employees, and other banks and bankers participating in the Trust. Under the Master Trust, Reliance Trust Company serves as Trustee which helps reduce some of the liability a bank would have when serving as Trustee of their own plan. Please call Mandy Richards at 404.420.2025 for information about how GBA Retirement Services can help design or improve your retirement plan.
 

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Boost Influence, Trust, New Business with E-Mail Marketing Solutions
Turn your e-mail system into a marketing machine. Financial Marketing Solutions has new E-Mail Marketing Solutions that simplify the process of using e-mail to market your bank to current customers and solidify your relationship with new ones. Fifty-four percent of consumers have a more favorable opinion of financial services companies that send them e-mails than those who don’t, according to Epsilon’s 2008 survey of 1,517 consumers. Your customers trust a message coming from your bank, and your e-mails can significantly influence their opinions and even actions. The entire e-mail initiative is controllable, reliable, trackable, consistently scheduled and cost-effective. Incorporated into your bank’s targeted mix of other media tools, FMS’ new E-Mail Marketing Solutions encompass everything from evaluating your bank’s needs and opportunities to discussing best practices for promoting your bank by e-mail; strategizing brand-specific or product-related e-mail marketing campaigns; developing and designing creative content; and implementing, handling the distribution of and managing your bank’s e-mail promotions automatically. The e-mail management platform is simple to use and customize. Features include an automatic onboarding program that empowers you to initiate consistent, scheduled dialogues with your new customers; simple tactics for segmenting and building your lists; ways to track clicks, view bounces, assess responses and view traffic; and ideas for improving your e-mail marketing efforts. For more information, contact FMS' Tim Pannell directly at 615.591.2073.

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Attract and Retain Customers with the Deluxe Experience
Deluxe Financial Services works closely with financial institutions to develop unique experiences that attract and retain customers and grow business. More than just a check printer, Deluxe offers programs that can add to your banks profitability and maximize customer satisfaction:

• DeluxeCalling® - An outbound calling service that helps you connect with customers, grow revenue and reduce attrition through proactive touch points.

• Deluxe Detect® - Screen new applicants with this fraud and risk screening solution that integrates with most banking platforms. A unique emphasis on data integrity and an innovative revenue-sharing model sets this solution apart.

• Deluxe ID TheftBlock® - Often positioned as a popular value-add reward for an existing check program, or a feature of an elite checking program.

• Welcome Home® Tool Kit - A start-to-finish branch solution that captures best practices for gaining loyal customers.

• Experience InquirySM: Proprietary CustomerBack^SM Audit technology lets you analyze every customer impression from the customer’s point of view.

• Deluxe Knowledge Exchange^TM Series - An exclusive suite of resources, events, and solutions that bring the best financial services information and events to you. Publications, workshops, give seminars give you access to the latest consumer experience insights.

• Deluxe Customer Care Adventure^SM - See, hear and learn how our Customer Care Centers deliver exceptional experiences — then apply what you learn in your own organization. Deluxe Experience Enrichment Events^SM - Learn how to improve your account holder’s experiences within your institution by attending one of our enrichment events.

For more information, please call Deluxe’s Bob Hicks at 317.873.5572, Brandt Tefft at 800.332.4234 ext. 159340 or Angelia Grey, or GBA’s Levi Crabtree at 404.420.2022.

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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 bi-weekly publication included in the GBA Bulletin. Resume postings are also available. For more information, please call 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 Lydia Thomas.

Newsmakers
Atlanta - Department of Banking & Finance
Steve Pleger has been selected to replace George Reynolds as Senior Deputy Commissioner upon George's May 1 retirement.

Augusta - Savannah River Banking Company
Ward Rice has joined the bank as Client Manager.

Milledgeville - Exchange Bank
Robert W. “Bill” McLeroy has joined the bank as a Loan Compliance Officer.

Pleger

McLeroy