www.gabankers.com

Jud also recognized outgoing GBA Chairman, Walter M. “Sonny” Deriso, Vice Chairman of Synovus Financial Corp. in Columbus.  He said, “Sonny has been a role model and has done a marvelous job leading this organization.  He deserves a big ‘THANK YOU’ from everyone.”  On behalf of the entire GBA membership, Jud presented Sonny with a set of golf clubs for his service as chairman and a Frabel glass candlestick to his wife Judy.  Jud also announced next year’s convention location as the Silverado Resort in Napa Valley, California May 26-30, 2001.

Associate Members Appreciated
A reception honoring all Associate Member firms will be June 13 at the Ashford Club in Atlanta.  An orientation session which familiarizes all new members with the Association’s events and marketing opportunities will precede the reception.  The outgoing board representative for Associate Members, Walt Moeling of Powell, Goldstein, Frazer & Murphy will be recognized and the new board representative, Elaine Demarest, of Elaine Demarest, CPA, PC, in Macon will be formally introduced. The Associate Members are the GBA’s primary resource for community banks throughout Georgia.  “Access to associate members is one of the leading benefits of GBA membership allowing a bank to go to a single pool of resources for virtually anything it needs,” said Marketing and Membership Director Alan Van Tuyl.  He added, “Those who have joined the GBA are saying clearly that they have committed themselves seriously as members of our industry.”  If you are using service providers who are not GBA Associate Members, it is likely due to their being unaware of the opportunities for industry-wide recognition in Georgia.  Please refer them to Alan at (404) 420-2033.

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

Drive-through Postponed
An Atlanta City Council committee has postponed consideration of the most recent ordinance designed to keep residents from using drive through facilities.  Council member Debi Starnes’ proposal requires drive-throughs be closed 7:00 am to 7:00 pm on days designated Ozone Action Days.  GBA President Joe Brannen testified at a recent City Council meeting against another similar ordinance which failed on a 10 to 5 vote.  Council member Starnes said she wanted to postpone consideration of her most recent ordinance to give her more time to prepare evidence in support of the closures.  “The impact of closing drive-throughs on air quality is insignificant while the impact on those needing these facilities such as our older customers, the physically challenged or parents with small children would be substantial,” said Brannen.

ABA Town Meeting
During GBA’s annual convention in Quebec City, the American Bankers Association’s First Vice President Jim Smith, CEO of Citizens Union State Bank & Trust, Clinton, Missouri, led a Town Meeting to get input from Georgia bankers on major federal issues.  More than 100 bankers from throughout the state participated.  Bankers attending discussed several issues including deposit insurance reform, Federal Home Loan Bank funding, privacy, bankruptcy reform and opportunities for community banks contained in the Financial Modernization Bill.  In a meeting of the GBA Board of Directors at the convention, the board voted to continue supporting a comprehensive reform of the deposit insurance system.  Among the major components included in a comprehensive approach which received wide-spread support were:  raising the limits from the current $100,000 per account, indexing future increases to inflation, capping the total amount of money in the insurance fund and allowing rebates when the fund was fully capitalized.  Call GBA’s Elizabeth Way at (404) 420-2027 for more information about the deposit insurance reform or other legislative issues.

Proposed Regulations Threaten Private 
Property Rights
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed revisions to existing regulations for administering the Clean Water Act (CWA).  The new proposal could require landowners to acquire permits before engaging in harvesting, planting or thinning timber; road building; burning; or weed control and other similar activities.  This process would also allow for public comment on any permit application and is estimated to cost up to and beyond $10,000 per permit.  Please join Congressman Sanford Bishop and Congressman Saxby Chambliss for a forum in Perry on June 12 to discuss this important issue and let them hear from the banking community about the detrimental effects such a proposal could have.  Many of our members lend on the value of timber and timberland or hold farms or timberland as collateral making the proposed regulations of direct interest to our industry. Please call GBA’s Elizabeth Way at (404) 420-2027 with any questions.

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

Southern Operations and Technology School Dates Announced
Mark your operations department calendar.  The Southern Operations and Technology School in its new updated version will be in session November 5-10 at the University of Georgia’s Center for Continuing Education.  It is designed for those working with operations management and/or technology management in the bank.  Call GBA’s Marybeth Jones at (404) 420-2032 for more information.

New Internet Courses Now Available
GBA’s online internet training course list keeps expanding.  Learn more about the following:

• Regulation DD

• Residential Mortgage Regulations

• Interest Rate Risk

• FDIC Insurance Regulations

• Introduction to Banking

• Defined Contributions

• Financial Modernization Services Act

Courses are bundled in packages of 15, 25, 60, 125, 250 and more.  Courses can also be licensed very inexpensively for up to 3 years!  For details about access and course availability, call GBA’s Alan Van Tuyl at (404) 420-2033.  For questions relating to pricing, call IBT Financial direct and toll-free at 1-877-275-4428.

Security School Graduates
After two and a half intensive days with topics involving bank fraud, embezzlement, workplace violence prevention, safety, law and policy management, 30 bank security officers graduated from the 2000 class of the GBA Security School.  Our thanks to GBA Security Committee Chairman Steve Cross, SunTrust Bank in Atlanta, and the entire Security Committee membership for their excellent planning and successful school.

Welcome New Participants
The Board of the GBA Insurance Trust welcomes The Peachtree Bank, Duluth, Monty Watson, CEO; The Farmers Bank, Forsyth, Tommy Weber, CEO; the Community Bank of Pickens County, Jasper, John Trammell, CEO; and MCB Agency, LLC, Ailey, Tom Peterson, CEO, to the Trust.  They join more than 275 other community banks and associate members taking advantage of this unmatched member benefit.  Call GBA’s Susan Kelley at (404) 420-2017 with questions.

More Banks Linked
Welcome to Southeastern Bank, Darien, and First National Bank of Johns Creek, Suwanee.  They are the latest banks to link to GBA’s website at www.gabankers.com.  Call GBA’s Lydia Thomas at (404) 420-2039 to link your bank.

Athens, National Bank of Georgia
Congratulations to Bill Huggins, President, and the officers, employees and directors on their recent opening.

Augusta, First Bank of Georgia
Cedric Johnson has been elected to Vice President and Office Manager.

Bainbridge, First Community Bank of Southwest Georgia
Tracy Dixon has been named Vice Chairman of the Board.

Dalton, Premier National Bank
Sandra Doyle and Troy Phillips have joined the bank’s board of directors.

Darien, Southeastern Bank
Randall D. Hicks has been named Auditor; Alan E. Harper Vice President; and Lisa J. Marino Banking Officer.

Douglasville, Regions Bank
Our sympathies to the family and colleagues of Becky Echols, CEO, who passed away on May 14.

Dublin, Farmers & Merchants Bank
Our sympathies to the family and colleagues of McGrath Keen, Sr. who passed away this week.  McGrath was a longtime trustee for GBA’s Insurance Trust and Pension & Profit Sharing Trust.

Griffin, United Bank
Scott Swafford has been named Vice President.

Marietta, Southern National Bank
The bank announces the following promotions and additions:  Barbara M. Butterworth to Assistant Vice President, Assistant Controller; Priscilla D. Gamwell to Assistant Vice President, Corporate Secretary; Joyce Y. Glass to Assistant Vice President, Personal Banker; Kimberly D’Angelo as Assistant Head Teller; Earl F. McClary as Vice President, Commercial Finance; and Preston E. Walraven as Vice President, Mortgage.

Metter, Pineland State Bank
Richard Williams has joined the bank as Senior Vice President and Senior Credit Officer.

Peachtree City, Peachtree National Bank
Donna Price Dillard and Sharon Boldt have been promoted to Vice President and Kelly Ricker and Anastasia (Lori) Lester to Assistant Vice President.

Rome, 1st Floyd Bank
Stephen A. Stutts has joined the board of directors.

Suwanee, First National Bank of Johns Creek
Congratulations to Andy Walker, President, and the officers, employees and directors on their recent opening.

Thomaston, United Bank
Robbie Tenney has been promoted to President.

Tucker, Mountain National Bank
Melvin T. Bettis has joined the bank to head its leasing subsidiary, Merit Leasing Corporation.

Tucker, Tucker Federal Bank
Sheila Ray has been promoted to President of justrightbank.com; Charles Buckner to President and Michael M. Allen to President of Prime Eagle.

Zebulon, United Bank
Jim Edwards has been promoted to President of the parent organization and John Edwards has been named CEO.

GBA’s e-Bulletin List
Several members have inquired about adding individuals in their bank to the e-Bulletin email distribution list and if we would send the e-Bulletin to people who were not on our regular mailing list.  These bankers want an easier way to distribute the Bulletin among their staff.  The answer: of course!  Let GBA’s Lydia Thomas know who you want added.

For more information, send an e-mail to the Webmaster.