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Annual Convention

Few Surprises in Elections
We are talking about the General Assembly here – not the Presidential election!  The number of contested races in the Georgia General Assembly was about the same number as in 1998.  Most incumbents were re-elected and relatively few changes are expected when the General Assembly convenes in January.  While every committee is subject to change when the leadership appoints committee members, several veteran banking committee members in the House and Senate will not be returning either due to retirement or defeat.  In the House, we will miss Representatives Frank Bailey, Tommy Davis, Dan Ponder and Larry Smith.  And in the Senate we will miss Senators Paul Broun and Sam Roberts (who passed away during the 2000 session).  Each served ably on their respective banking committees.  The leadership in both the House and Senate is expected to remain essentially unchanged.  The House Republican Caucus will be led by newly-elected Minority Leader Rep. Lynn Westmoreland who defeated the current Minority Leader, Rep. Bob Irvin.  No changes were made when the House Democrats caucused.  All newly-elected members will gather at the University of Georgia December 10-12 for an extensive orientation coordinated by the Institute of Government.  The GBA will be hosting a hospitality suite in honor of these newly-elected members.

Court Refuses to Hear POA Case
The Georgia Supreme Court has turned down the request filed jointly by Wachovia and the GBA to reconsider their earlier refusal to hear a precedent- setting case involving the use of a Power of Attorney.  The case involves a customer using a power of attorney to purchase a certificate of deposit for her brother.  She requested the bank communicate only with her about the account, but never disclosed any mental incapacity of her brother.  The bank sent the maturity notice to the brother using his address from another account with the bank.  The brother appeared at the bank requesting his funds which were given to him.  The funds subsequently disappeared.  The sister brought suit against the bank and the Appellate Court held that the use of the power of attorney caused the bank to owe a duty of care beyond what had been previous banking practice.   More detail about this case along with some suggestions about how your bank should amend your operational procedures can be found on GBA’s Legal Issues page.  We are also reviewing the case for a possible legislative remedy next session in the General Assembly.  Call GBA’s Joe Brannen at (404) 420-2026 with questions.

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, Ray Fisher and other officers of Regions Bank, have contributed to the Georgia BankPAC 2000 campaign by contributing to the GBA StatePAC.  In addition, officers and directors of the following banks have contributed to the GBA FedPAC:

• American Banking Company, Moultrie, Ronnie Marchant, President

• ABC Bancorp, Moultrie, Jack Hunnicutt, President

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

Budget for People Development
As you plan for the year 2001 and beyond, remember to include GBA resident schools and GBA-sponsored schools in the budget.  Banking schools typically require advanced planning because of the time and cost involved.  With a week at a time out of the bank and costs averaging from $800-2000 per year per person, students chosen to attend schools should be chosen carefully.  For your budget considerations, the following school fees may be helpful.  (Fees are subject to change):

• Georgia Banking School, UGA, Athens: $1,125/1,250

• Southern Operations and Technology School, UGA, Athens: $1,250

• CEO Academy (6 sessions), Macon: $1,200

• Graduate School of Banking, LSU, Baton Rouge:  $2,450 (2 weeks)

• Southeastern School of Commercial Lending, Nashville,TN:  $1,225/1,375

• Southeastern School of Consumer Credit, Nashville, TN:  $1,225/1,375

Fees include tuition, room and board and all materials. The lower number represents the early-bird registration fee. For more information, call GBA’s Marybeth Jones at (404) 420-2032.

CEO Conference Exceeds Expectations
Congratulations to GBA’s Community Bankers Committee for producing an outstanding CEO Conference.  

Thanks to committee chair Mike Owens, president of The Coastal Bank in Savannah and vice chair Kelly Hillis, president of the Bank of Perry, for their leadership and contributions to the conference. Mike commented, “As usual, the speakers were outstanding and the peer-to-peer discussions were invaluable. This is a program that all CEOs should attend.”  Mark your calendars now for next year:  October 7-9, 2001, again at Sea Island.

Credit Conference Set For December
Don’t forget to register for GBA’s Credit Conference to be held December 5-6 at the Renaissance Waverly Hotel in Atlanta.  Well-known economist and keynote speaker, Dr. Lorin Scott of Baton Rouge, Louisiana will gaze into his crystal ball and give his outlook for interest rates, the tight Georgia labor market and what lies ahead for the economy.  The regulator’s hot button topic, Asset Quality Monitoring, will be led by Steve Powel, who runs one of the best loan review programs in the state.  Other topics include Competing for Loans in the New Economy, Subprime Lending and Marketing Loans in Non-traditional Ways.  Call GBA’s Norma Guild at (404) 420-2031 for additional information.

Bank Counsel Conference a Hit
GBA’s Bank Counsel Section hosted its annual conference last month on Sea Island in conjunction with GBA’s CEO Conference.. Our thanks to Trav Paine of Paine Little, LLP in Augusta and chair of the 2000-2001 GBA Bank Counsel Board of Directors, for his leadership in coordinating an outstanding agenda for the conference.  “All Bank Counsel Members should take advantage of this opportunity to hear up-to-date information, earn CLU credits and interact with bank CEOs during the breaks and social functions,” Trav said. “It’s a great combination.” 

Long Distance Telephone Program
Through the successful partnership of the GBA and NationsLink/Lightyear, GBA has negotiated significantly reduced long-distance rates by the combined purchasing power of Georgia Banks. NationsLink currently serves over 60 Banks and 230 Government entities throughout Georgia.  As an added benefit, GBA Members can extend the program to employees and board members of the bank.   Please note: current subscribers do not need to take any action, as your rate will automatically be lowered effective Dec. 1^st, 2000.

GREAT NEWS!  New Lower Rates Again!
6.9¢ per minute on all state to state and Georgia calls.

• Calls are billed in 6-second increments with an 18-second minimum.

• 800/888/877 available at same low rates.  

• No monthly fees or contracts.  No codes to dial.

• Flat rates 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.

• Calling cards available with no surcharge at only 14.9¢ per minute

NationsLink will be happy to do FREE Rate Analysis if you are not sure of your current rate.

For more information, call the GBA's Renee Valdez at (404) 420-2036.  For your free Rate Analysis, call NationsLink at (800) 546-5875.

New Release
Integrated Financial Services is gearing up to release its 2.5 version of CreditPak, the commercial underwriting and total-relationship loan pricing package.  The PC-based program has garnered praise from its clients for improved documentation for auditors, increased efficiency and loan production by commercial loan officers, and enhanced bottom-line portfolio profitability.

The new version provides even more power for administrators and loan officers and includes modifiable industry templates, greatly expanded underwriting criteria and more flexible user profiles.

For more information call Mike Field or Shane Jones at Integrated Financial Services, Inc. at (770) 849-9922 ext. 121 or 123.

Tomorrow’s Software Solutions for Today’s Bankers

Ailey, Montgomery County Bank
Congratulations to Tom Peterson, President, and the officers, directors and staff on the opening of the bank’s new Vidalia branch.

Alpharetta, Integrity Bank
Congratulations to Steve Skow, President and CEO, and the officers, directors and staff on the bank’s November 1 opening.

Decatur, Horizon Bank
Our sympathies to the family of Dr. Sumant G. Patel, Vice Chairman of the Board, on his recent passing.

Duluth, First National Bank of Gwinnett
The bank announces the following additions: Randy Lee as Executive Vice President/Senior Lending Officer; Martha Brown as Senior Vice President/ Cashier and Marie Nowicki as Vice President/ Deposit Operations.

Jasper, Community Bank of Pickens
Congratulations to John Trammell, President & CEO, officers, directors and staff on the bank’s recent opening.

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