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Fall Kicks Off with Group Meetings
One of the GBA’s best-attended events of the year is the annual series of Group Meetings.“  These 10 meetings held within easy driving distance of every member bank give us the chance to renew old friendships, make new ones, recognize our locally elected leaders and be brought up to date on GBA’s initiatives for the year,” said GBA Chairman, E.J. “Jud” Vann, IV, President of Planters & Citizens Bank in Camilla.  “We’ve made every effort to make this year’s program significant, yet concise, to recognize the demands on all our time.  Attending your Group’s meeting is the best way I know to stay abreast of our constantly changing industry,” Jud concluded.  The schedule for the next three weeks:

• September 6, Group 9, Chattahoochee Country Club, Gainesville

• September 7, Group 5, Ashford Club, Atlanta (lunch)

• September 7, Group 10, Athens Country Club

• September 12, Group 3, Pine Hills Country Club, Cordele

• September 13, Group 2, Doublegate Country Club, Albany

• September 14, Group 8, Valdosta Country Club

Powers of Attorney – Caution!
In a recent GBA Bulletin, we told you about a court ruling against one of our members that had to do with the way most banks handle accounts involving a power of attorney.  In Wachovia Bank of Georgia, N.A. v. Reynolds, the Court of Appeals, in effect, legislated a new duty of care for financial institutions.  The GBA has filed an amicus curiae asking the Georgia Supreme Court to review the matter with the hope the lower court decision will be overturned.  In the meantime, we suggest our members review your policies as they relate to Power of Attorney (P.O.A.) accounts or third party beneficiary accounts.  Our thanks to Gary Moser of the Moser & Terry law firm in Valdosta who recommends that procedures be put in place that insure:  1) P.O.A. accounts are clearly denominated P.O.A. accounts; 2) if P.O.A. accounts are established, inquiry should be made as to the purpose and basis for the P.O.A. account; and 3) if circumstances are presented at the inception of the account to put the bank on notice of an infirmity or incapacity of one of the parties on the account, that procedures be implemented to insure that the account is properly identified as an account needing special handling.  This case and others with similar impact are on the agenda for the GBA Bank Counsel Conference October 29-31.  If your bank’s counsel is not a member or not yet registered to attend, please call GBA’s Norma Guild at (404) 420-2031 for more information.

Federal Legislative Issues
State Legislative Issues
Georgia House of Representatives
Georgia State Senate
U.S. Congress
Bank Regulators

BankPAC Campaign Update
Since the last Bulletin, the following banks, their officers and directors have participated in the Georgia BankPAC 2000 campaign by contributing to the GBA StatePAC: 

• Universal Bank, N.A. , Columbus, Meridith Jarrell, President

• Main Street Bank, Covington, Sam Hay, President

• Citizens Bank & Trust Company, Eastman, Jim Williams, President

• McIntosh State Bank, Jackson, Pete Malone, President

• Community Bank & Trust – Troup, LaGrange, John Thompson, President

• Northwest Georgia Bank, Ringgold, Wes Smith, President

• Eagle Bank and Trust, Statesboro, Gary Johnson, President

• The Park Avenue Bank, Valdosta, Bill Cowart, President

In addition, officers and directors of the following banks have contributed to the GBA FedPAC: 

• First National Bank of South Georgia, Albany, Len Dorminey, President

• Georgia Bank & Trust Company of Augusta, Dan Blanton, President

• First Community Bank of Southwest Georgia, Bainbridge, Tracy Dixon, President

• Main Street Bank, Covington, Sam Hay, President

• Monroe County Bank, Forsyth, Bill Bazemore, President

• McIntosh State Bank, Jackson, Pete Malone, President

• Commercial Bank & Trust Company, LaGrange, Bobby Carmichael, President

• Northwest Georgia Bank, Ringgold, Wes Smith, President

• The Park Avenue Bank, Valdosta, Bill Cowart, President

Thanks to all for your support.

Calendar of Events
Schools
Conferences
Seminars
Georgia AIB
Professional Development Guide
Internet Training

AIB Classes Begin September 11th
Georgia AIB’s fall semester begins with classes the week of September 11.  “We are excited about the change in format for AIB this year.  We will be going to two Semesters – Fall and Spring – in response to requests from both our students and faculty,” said GBA’s Edie Canales.  The change will allow some of our courses to be taught over a longer period to ensure we’re spending enough time on these essential topics.  Another change this Fall is a revised Diploma Program.  Requirements have been streamlined to recognize the changes in today’s workforce as well as to focus primarily on the areas covered by the diploma.  Diplomas range from General Banking to Operations to Lending.  Also, this year is the second year for our popular Performance Training Series (PTS).  This Series replaces what used to be called the certificate program.  PTS Certificates are offered in nine areas from branch manager to customer service associate.  The semester catalogue of courses, The AIB Advantage, has been mailed to every bank.  Please call Edie Canales at (404) 420-2034 if you need additional copies of The AIB Advantage for your staff or if you have questions about this extensive professional development initiative.

Privacy Compliance
Changes included in the Financial Modernization legislation last year require banks to institute privacy policies.  The GBA’s Privacy Task Force sent out guidelines last year to assist in your efforts to begin establishing your policies and procedures.  Now that the regulations have been promulgated, it is time to spend some concentrated time attending to the new requirements.  On September 28 in Macon, GBA is hosting a full-day program designed for the staff and management who will be responsible for your bank’s consumer privacy program.  However, because the privacy issues will affect all operational areas, a bank-wide coordinated effort is necessary to avoid consumer privacy violations, potential civil liabilities and government-assessed penalties.  Therefore, compliance staff, operations managers, department heads and CEO’s should consider attending.  For more information, call Marybeth Jones at (404) 420-2032. 

CEO Academy 2000-2001 
Last year, in response to many requests, GBA’s Community Bankers Committee created a unique six-day school for CEOs with a curriculum focused on practical community bank management.  The curriculum is designed to be a complete resource for the six key areas CEOs must manage in their banks.  A brochure is enclosed giving details about the six one-day sessions being held approximately every other month.  

Almost 50 percent of Georgia bank CEOs have been in their position less than 10 years and almost 30 percent have been in the job for less than five years.  The curriculum is designed to help a newly-named CEO as well as the seasoned veteran who needs a little refresher on recent changes in law, regulations or management techniques.  The six areas being taught over the six days in a highly interactive format are: 

• Investments

• Compliance Management

• Marketing/Relationship Management

• Human Resources Management

• Risk Management

• Strategic Planning

Call GBA’s June Somers at (404) 420-2012 or Marybeth Jones at (404) 420-2032 with questions about the CEO Academy or to make suggestions about future curriculum additions.

 2/3 of Your Customers Are… UNPROFITABLE!
Do you know what a checking account costs you?  Can you name your most profitable customers?  Can you identify the customers that are costing you hundreds of dollars per year in losses?  In fact, over 60% of your customers are unprofitable.  Conversely, 1% of your customers can contribute over 60% of your profits.*  Now there is a way to analyze your customer’s profitability through a product called an MCIF. 

An MCIF (Marketing Customer Information File) takes data from all of your different data center sources, i.e., checking, mortgage, commercial, trust, credit cards, safe deposit boxes, etc. and pulls them all together into one database.  The information is then scrubbed (getting the addresses and names right) and householded.  This process links all of the accounts of a particular household together so you can see the entire relationship.  Next, a profit model is designed around your operating statement and balance sheet using your assumptions.  Costs for your products are calculated, fees are added up for each account, margin is calculated for the products and then applied to the account. 

The result?  You can now use the built in analysis software to find your top 10% and bottom 10% customers, see what they have with you, and determine what to sell them next.  The MCIF will also allow you to send a cross-sell flag to your teller platform.  Imagine having a notice at the teller window identifying the customer based upon profit ranking and outlining to the teller what product to sell to that specific customer.  You can write sales letters, track cross-sell efforts, find out where your best customers live, identify your competitions best customers and hundreds of other things at the touch of a key. 

To see why the ABA and GBA have selected Market Advantage from Harte-Hanks as the best MCIF system on the market, contact Tim Serio, Regional Sales Manager, at (407) 531-1327 or Renee Valdez at (404) 420-2036.

Covington, First Nation Bank
Our sympathies to the colleagues and family of John R. Williams, Chairman of the Board who passed away recently.

Cuthbert, First State Bank of Randolph County
Congratulations to Charles Curry, President, and the officers, directors and staff on the bank’s recent 100^th anniversary.

Fayetteville, Southern Community Bank
Congratulations to Gary McGaha, President, and the officers, directors and staff on the bank’s recent grand opening celebration.

Hiram, Community Trust Bank
Congratulations to CEO Ronnie Austin who was installed as Chairman of the Community Bankers Association of Georgia at their recent convention.

Metter, Pineland State Bank
The bank announces the following promotions and additions:  Venda Sapp to Vice President; Steven Rigdon to Assistant Vice President; and Greg Ponder to Banking Officer.  Dennis D. Allen and Rhonda T. Hendrix as Senior Vice Presidents and Judy Johnston as Vice President.

Monroe, The National Bank of Walton County
Charles L. Briscoe has been elected to the bank’s board of directors.

Valdosta, PAB Bankshares, Inc.
The bank has immediate need of a modular unit.  Please contact Larry Wilkinson at (912) 241-2775, extension 202, for details.

Newest Banks Linked
Welcome to Community National Bank, Ashburn, Brinson Brock, CEO; Citizens Union Bank, Greensboro, Bob Voyles, President; and The First State Bank, Stockbridge, David Gill, President, as the latest banks to link to GBA’s website.  When your bank is ready to be linked, call GBA’s Lydia Thomas at (404) 420-2039.

GBA’s e-Bulletin List
If you're looking for an easier way to distribute the Bulletin among your staff, add them to our distribution list for the e-Bulletin.  Let GBA's Lydia Thomas know who you want added.

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