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GBA
Legislative Agenda Being Finalized |
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The
Georgia
General Assembly is slated to convene Monday, January
14. GBA
committees and the
Board of Directors
have been hard at work discussing a number of issues that could
come before the Legislature this year, and the staff is
preparing for a busy session. Much of the media focus
leading up to the session has been around Speaker of the House
Glenn Richardson's
proposal to shift state funding away from property taxes.
His current plan is scaled back from earlier proposals that
would have eliminated all property and ad valorem taxes.
His plan now focuses mostly on eliminating the school tax, and a
sales tax on services would replace the school tax.
Hearings are scheduled next week for the General Assembly to get
an early look at the Speaker's plan. We will be following
this issue closely to determine any impact on our members.
Other issues will also be center stage. |
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We expect the Legislature to
hear from a number of advocacy groups to enact
 legislation to stem the tide of foreclosures in Georgia.
One of the proposals we understand would move Georgia's
non-judicial foreclosure statute to a more judicial process.
Others have called for a moratorium on foreclosures, while
others are suggesting grants to struggling homeowners.
Mortgage-related issues are extremely complex and coming up with
a simple solution to address the many different components of
the real estate slowdown will be a daunting task for the
Legislature. We will keep you informed throughout the
session as issues arise, and trust we can all on each of our
members to help explain these complex issues to your local
legislators. |
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Still
Time to Register for Legislative Reception |
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Registrations continue to pour in for GBA’s annual
Legislative Reception. This premier event is
scheduled for Wednesday, January 16, from 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. at the
Georgia Aquarium. You will also have the
opportunity to participate in a private tour of the Aquarium from 5:00
p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Prior to these events, the GBA
Board of Directors,
Public Affairs Committee and
BankPAC Board of Directors will meet beginning at 2:00
p.m. at the
Embassy Suites Hotel, Centennial Olympic Park.
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 With
questions about any of these events, please call GBA’s
Susie McGehee at (404) 420-2010. Show your
support for the banking industry and the Association by registering
a group of representatives from your bank today. |
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Last
Call for HMDA/CRA Seminar – January 10 |
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There’s
still space available for GBA’s
HMDA/CRA seminar scheduled for January 10 at the Ramada
Plaza, Macon. The registration fee is $195 per person and
Steve Moore with Bank Compliance Services, Avondale
Estates, will lead the class. Designed for compliance officers, loan
officers, and other bank personnel responsible for HMDA data collection
and reporting, this one-day seminar will cover the following topics:
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What types of loan
applications (including denied, withdrawn, and incomplete
applications) are HMDA reportable
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How do we identify
those refinance and home improvement loans that are HMDA reportable?
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What are the
regulatory consequences for non-compliance?
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What can we expect
from the bank regulators regarding HMDA?
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What is a “community
development” loan, service, or qualified investment?
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Should the Bank
collect data on CRA loans even though it will not report the data?
Please click here to
register or contact GBA’s
Courtenay
Pope at (404) 420-2015 with questions.
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IRA Basics
Seminar Scheduled for February 6-7 |
| GBA will
host IRA Basics seminar on
Wednesday, February 6, at the Ramada Plaza in Macon and
Thursday, February 7, at the Best Western-Lanier Centre in
Gainesville. The registration fee for each workshop is $195 per
person. Patrice Konarik of
Sunwest Training Corp. in Gilchrist, Texas will lead this
seminar. Designed for new account representatives, certificate of
deposit personnel, and any officer/manager who oversees the IRA
department, this comprehensive A-Z workshop will provide the new IRA
banker and supervisor with a complete understanding of all areas of the
Individual Retirement Account, as well as an IRA review of significant
proposed changes. The seminar also includes the 225 page IRA
Training and Reference Manual, otherwise known as the “IRA Survival
Guide” or the “Red Book”. Topics to be covered include: |
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IRA terminology
Explanation of all
IRA forms including beneficiary designation
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Qualifications for
a traditional IRA, regular and conversion Roth IRA, Coverdell
education
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saving account
and contribution deadlines and qualifications
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Qualified plan
rollovers: direct vs. indirect
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Moving IRA funds:
rollovers vs. transfers
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Distributions
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Includes updated
information from the Pension Protection Act of 2006
Please click here to register for
Macon or
Gainesville.
With questions, please contact GBA’s
Courtenay Pope at (404) 420-2015.
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Financial Risk Management Conference Later This Month |
| The
Georgia Bankers Association’s
Financial Risk Management Conference is scheduled for January
30-31 at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta. This year’s
outstanding agenda includes sessions on both the national and regional
economic outlook, strategies for investment portfolio management,
liquidity management and |
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funding
strategies, a 2008 outlook for community banks and a regulatory
update and ALCO issues panel discussion.
Please click here to register or call GBA’s
Marybeth Jones at (404) 420-2032 with questions. |
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FACTA Changes to Be Discussed at Next
Compliance Peer Group Meeting |
| The next
Compliance Peer Group meeting is scheduled for January 22,
2008 at the Macon Ramada Plaza. A representative from the Federal
Reserve Bank will join us to discuss FACTA
changes.
The meeting agenda and registration form will be
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emailed at the beginning of next week. If
you would like to be added to the peer group, please email GBA’s
Marybeth Jones. |
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Operations and Technology Conference Scheduled |
| The
2007-2008 Operations and Technology Committee has planned an
excellent program for this year’s
conference which is scheduled for March 5-6, 2008 at the Cobb
Galleria Centre in Atlanta. Topics include: Emerging Technology
Trends, Mobile Banking, Remote/Branch Capture, Debit Card Fraud and IT
Security. |
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The guaranteed room block at the Renaissance Waverly Hotel
expires February 5, 2008 so make your reservations today by
calling the hotel directly at (770) 953-4500. Please call GBA’s
Marybeth Jones at (404) 420-2032 with questions or
to
register. |
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Human
Resource Professionals to Gather in Savannah |
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HR Professionals Institute is scheduled for March 19-21, 2008
at the Savannah Riverfront Marriott. The
2007-2008 HR Committee has put together an exciting agenda that
you don’t won’t to miss!
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The brochure
will be mailed next week. Please call GBA’s
Marybeth Jones at (404) 420-2032 with questions or to request a
brochure. |
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Register for GBA
Webinars Today |
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Just a
reminder that GBA will offer the following
webinars during the week of January 14th. Webinars offer
you the opportunity and convenience of having a seminar at your bank.
All you need is a computer, Internet access and a telephone. All
webinars are live and allow time throughout for questions and answers.
The registration fee of $250 allows you access to one website “seat,”
one telephone site license and all hand out materials. If you are
unable to attend
the webinar but would like to have the information for
training purposes, you may purchase an audio CD, handout materials and a
password to view the information online. |
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Complete details about the webinar can be found on GBA’s
Calendar of Events. With questions, please
call GBA’s
Courtenay Pope at (404) 420-2015.
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AIB Classroom Courses |
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 AIB classes meet three hours each week for 2 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. Here are two upcoming
AIB classroom courses
for Winter 2008:
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Register Today for AIB Online Courses |
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Just a
reminder that the following AIB Online classes begin on January 28.
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.)
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There is still
availability in the following AIB Online classes beginning January 21.
Please register as soon as possible to secure a seat in the class.
For
a complete listing, please see the
AIB Online Course
Schedule
or call GBA’s
Alison Moreau
at (404) 420-2034 with questions.
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Agricultural Forecast Meetings Scheduled |
| The
University of Georgia’s
College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences is hosting its
second annual series of
Agricultural Forecast meetings to be held around the state the
week of January
28-February 1. |
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For more information,
please visit their
website or contact The
Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development at (706) 542-2434. |
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CRA Credit for Loans/Investments in the Senior Housing Crime
Prevention Foundation |
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The
Georgia Bankers Association is proud to recognize the
Senior Housing Crime Prevention Foundation as a
new Strategic Partner. The Senior Housing Crime Prevention Foundation
is a nonprofit organization based in Memphis that offers banks a
measurable, no-risk, high-yielding avenue for gaining CRA credit. By
making a loan or an investment with a guaranteed return, banks receive
credit for Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) requirements. The
foundation uses the funds to set up
Senior Crimestoppers programs for nursing homes
and senior HUD housing units in the bank’s direct CRA assessment areas.
Banks also may reposition orrecycle existing bonds in their portfolios
to capture the same effect, and in doing so create a new annual CRA
credit from bonds in the existing portfolios.
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Banks may
elect to invest or lend funds to the foundation and will qualify
for CRA credits either
way.
 All dollars invested in or loaned to the foundation are fully
collateralized with investment-grade bonds, which are selected with the
bank’s input depending on the degree of risk it wants to take. Banks
are guaranteed a return on the coupon value of the bonds minus moderate
basis-points spread to cover the cost of the Crimestoppers program. For
more information, please contact
Tom Fehrmann at (877) 232-0859 or
Josh Latina at (404) 420-2022. |
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GBA Job Bank |
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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.
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Resume postings are also available. For
more information, please contact GBA’s
Kenyetta Parks at (404) 420-2035. |
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Some of the Services Available Through GBA
Services, Inc.
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GBA Services, Inc. is governed by a board composed primarily
of community bank presidents who look for the best products and
services available.
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They do the due diligence for you and you can rely on
their efforts. For more information or to
order
any of these products or services, please call (404) 522-1501. |
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Newsmakers: |
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Acworth -
NorthWest Bank & Trust
Chris Gruehn has joined the bank as Senior Vice
President and Commercial Relationship Manager in the bank's
Marietta office and
Wade Stephens as Marketing Director.
Alpharetta -
Providence Bank
Cindy Jurkack has been promoted to Assistant Vice
President, Loan Administration and Mike Luisi to
Banking Officer and Branch Manager.
Clayton -
Rabun County Bank
Sandra Thurmond has been promoted to Assistant
Vice President.
Conyers -
Bank of North Georgia
Gregory K. Russell has been promoted to Community
Executive.
Cumming -
The Forsyth Community Bank
Angela Eubanks has been promoted to Assistant Vice
President and Branch Manager.
Newnan -
First Choice Community Bank 1874
Lance Sexton has joined the bank as Senior Vice
President, Commercial Lending Group.
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Gruehn
Russell |
Stephens
Eubanks |
Thurmond
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