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It’s All Grassroots
Bankers from across Georgia gathered last week as part of GBA’s annual Organizational Meetings to begin planning their work for the 2000-2001 GBA year.  More than 280 bankers serve on GBA standing committees, boards and task forces representing a cross section of the membership by both geography and asset size.  In remarks to those attending the session, former Congressman Larry LaRocco used real-life examples of how individual bankers made a difference in his thoughts and votes on key issues affecting the banking industry.  GBA Chairman E.J. “Jud” Vann, IV, President of Planters and Citizens Bank in Camilla, urged GBA’s volunteers to help spread the word to other bankers in their Group about the importance of grassroots involvement in both the political process and in getting more bankers than ever involved in GBA activities.  “If each of our volunteers serving GBA this year called just one other banker to talk about our association, our plans for the year and how those activities benefit every member, we will end the year stronger than ever,” Jud said in remarks to the volunteers.  Each of the standing committees will be sponsoring conferences and other events throughout the year.  Thanks to each of you for serving!

Amicus Brief before Supreme Court
The Georgia Bankers Association has filed an Amicus Curiae (friend of the court) brief with the Georgia Supreme Court asking the court to overturn a Court of Appeals ruling that has significant and adverse effects on every bank in Georgia.  The case involves a GBA member bank’s customer who granted his sister Power of Attorney (PoA).  The sister opened a certificate of deposit using the PoA and instructed the bank to communicate only with her about the deposit.  The bank sent the maturity notice to the brother using the brother’s address from another account he maintained with the bank.  The brother went into the bank, withdrew the money and paid another individual to hide the money in his home.  The money subsequently disappeared.  The sister sued the bank alleging the bank should have known her brother was not competent and therefore not allowed the withdrawal.  Unbelievably, the court ruled in her favor.  In GBA’s amicus brief, we concluded by stating, “After delivering to the true owner (his) funds at his request, (the bank) is now faced with paying him a second time because the bank did not hide the existence of the CD from the owner of the CD.  The Court of Appeals announcement of a new duty owed to the agent which trumps the duty owed to the principal (is) of great gravity and concern not only to the banking industry but to all individuals and institutions in Georgia who conduct business in reliance upon powers of attorney.”  Stay tuned.

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

Deposit Insurance Survey

Our thanks to the many bank CEOs who have returned your surveys prioritizing your thoughts about the components that should be in any deposit insurance reform legislation.  The top three priorities from the initial surveys returned were:  raising the insurance level to $200,000 and tying future increases to inflation; capping the amount of money in the fund at an actuarially prudent level; and allowing rebates to the banks as excess money builds in the fund after the FICO bonds are retired.  GBA Chairman-elect and Public Affairs Committee Chair E. James Burnsed, Chairman of Bryan Bank & Trust in Richmond Hill said, “We see a growing consensus building among our members on this issue and we will be in a strong position to reflect those opinions when the Congress begins to move legislation.”  Most observers predict Congress will not act this year.

• Farmers and Merchants Bank, Adel, Brenda Bone Schwalls, President

• The Bankers Bank, Atlanta, Bruce Leonard, President

• First Community Bank of Southwest Georgia, Bainbridge, Jeff Hanson, President

• Planters and Citizens Bank, Camilla, Jud Vann, President

• PlantersFIRST, Cordele, Bobby Shepard, President

• The Citizens Bank, Fort Valley, Freddy Greer, President

• First Citizens Bank, Glennville, Jeanie Beck, CEO

• The Glennville Bank and Trust Company, Tracy Durrence, President

• Commercial Bank & Trust Company of Troup County, LaGrange, Bobby Carmichael, President

• Charter Bank and Trust Co., Marietta, Ron Francis, President

• Bryan Bank & Trust, Richmond Hill, Jimmy Burnsed, Chairman & CEO

• Bank of Upson, Thomaston, Danny Brinks, President

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

• Farmers and Merchants Bank, Adel, Brenda Bone Schwalls, President

• Planters and Citizens Bank, Camilla, Jud Vann, President

• Columbus Bank and Trust Company, Steve Melton, President

• PlantersFIRST, Cordele, Bobby Shepard, President

• Decatur First Bank, Judy Turner, President
  The Glennville Bank and Trust Company, Tracy Durrence, President

• Charter Bank and Trust Co., Marietta, Ron Francis, President

• Bryan Bank & Trust, Richmond Hill, Jimmy Burnsed, Chairman & CEO

• Bank of Upson, Thomaston, Danny Brinks, President

Thanks to all for your support.

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

Summer Telephone Seminars Make Sense
This week's Calendar of Events  includes four seminars that are delivered via telephone into your bank.  This form of training delivery has become more popular as banks learn how to use them and discover their value.

Telephone seminars are usually two hours in length and are received into the bank’s conference/board room via speakerphone. The number of participants is limited only by how many can physically fit into your meeting room, and the registration fee is a flat fee per location.  The training, delivered in a format much like talk radio, is interactive which means that anyone in the meeting room can call or fax in a question or comment throughout the two hours. 

Because bank staff members take turns going on vacation, summer is an outstanding time to learn how to use this valuable training format.  Not only is it short and to the point, it is one of the most efficient methods of delivery available to get everyone involved. Cost savings are increased with every person in the conference room because the $235 fee covers everyone from the entire bank.  When key positions can’t be vacated for a day to attend a seminar, they can often accommodate a short time interval in the bank to hear an important seminar topic.  If no one can attend, the bank can purchase the entire tape for the same $235 fee. 

The following seminar topics are coming to your bank soon:

• July 14 –  Loan Review

• July 20 –  Ten Habits for Effective Tellers

• Aug 4   –  Basics of Consumer Lending

• Aug 17 –  Safe Deposit Fundamentals

Call Marybeth Jones for more information and registration details.  

Leadership GBA Conference to Convene July 23-26
In today’s tight labor market, it is crucial to provide professional development opportunities to your key career employees in order to keep them happy, motivated, committed and prepared to be leaders in your organization. To help fulfill this need, GBA’s Leadership Development Section (formerly known as Young Bankers) has planned a conference that not only focuses on leadership skills and other professional development topics, but offers many opportunities for interacting with other career bankers and sharing ideas about the industry.

Amelia Island Plantation, July 23-26, 2000, more than 120 community bankers will meet, focus on their leadership skills, network with each other and learn more about how to impact their bank’s success. This year they will hear from Secretary of State Cathy Cox about their role in shaping public policy. Lee Wetherington will discuss e-Commerce opportunities. Ellen Raulerson shows us how to develop internal marketing and its impact on profitability. Tom Cunningham will give us an economic update. And there is much, much more. Being represented at this year’s GBA Leadership Conference is one of the better strategic ideas of the year. Don’t miss this excellent professional development opportunity.  For more information, call GBA’s Susie McGehee at (404) 420-2010.

ExpressClose.com: The Mortgage Industry’s Key to Closing Real Estate Loans Quickly and Cost Effectively
In recent years, increasing and intense competition in the Home Equity, Refinance, and Second Mortgage Loan business has been transforming the loan origination and loan closing process. This transformation is prompting lenders to search for new methods of originating and processing loans more quickly and efficiently, while reducing costs at the same time. 

GBA Services, Inc. is pleased to announce that as an addition to its current flood determination services, banks now have access to ExpressClose.com. ExpressClose.Com is a web-enabled application that allows lenders to order all of their products and services for real estate loans of all types through one contact point and one-time data entry.

A key product offered is the Lender Master Protection Insurance Policy (LMP), an insurance product specifically designed to simplify and shorten the time required to close real estate loans. The LMP insures the lender’s position in the subject property against loss caused by an invalid title or loss of priority of the mortgage. Each policy is written by United National Insurance Company, rated A++ (Superior), and 100% reinsured by American Re-Insurance Company, rated A++ (Superior) by A.M. Best and AAA by both S&P and Moody’s.

Other products offered include:

• Credit Reporting Services

• Online Mortgage Documents

• Flood Zone Determinations

• Recordation Services

• Valuations

• Life of Loan Tax Service

• Appraisals

• Tracking and Insurance

• Loan Closing Services

For more information, call Debra Evans, DSD Enterprises at (912) 625-8978, or Mark Wiesner, Wiesner Insurance (770) 587-4807.

Albany, Albany Bank & Trust
Richard Bishop has joined the bank as Executive Vice President/Financial Services Division and Marilyn Odum as Mortgage Loan Officer.

Darien, Southeastern Banking Corp.
S. Michael Little has been promoted to Executive Vice President and Alyson Gray to Vice President.

Darien, Southeastern Bank
The Board announces the following promotions:  Diane Y. Martin to Vice President and Branch Manager; Thomas A. Todd, III to Assistant Loan Officer; Tony Crews to Loan Officer; and Shirley Wainright and Wallace B. Arthur, Jr. to Assistant Vice President and Branch Manager.

Dublin, Farmers & Merchants Bank
Wallace E. Miller has been elected Chairman and CEO and McGrath Keen, Jr. President.

Jonesboro, CCF Holding Company
Roy Hall has been elected to the Board of Directors.

Lavonia, Century South Bank
Libby Williams has joined the bank as Assistant Vice President/Deposit Specialist and Bruce Knighton has been promoted to Senior Vice President.

Social Circle, Georgia Central Bank
Our sympathies to the family and colleagues of Roy J. Malcom, Chairman and CEO, who passed away on June 17.

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