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Status of Important Banking Cases
Enclosed with the Bulletin for members of the Bank Counsel Section is the monthly Status of Important Banking Cases prepared by the American Bankers Association’s General Counsel.  This compilation is an excellent resource to the members of the section as it gives an “early warning” of issues important to their bank clients.  If your bank’s counsel is not a member of the section, now is the perfect time to recommend their joining.  Call GBA’s Joe Brannen at (404) 420-2026 for more information.  Also, GBA’s annual Bank Counsel Conference is slated October 29-31 at Sea Island.  Room reservations are due by September 15.  Rooms are also available at the King & Prince and Sea Palms on St. Simons.

Cordele, Tuesday, September 12, Group 3, Pine Hills Country Club
Albany, Wednesday, September 13, Group 2, Doublegate Country Club
Valdosta, Thursday, September 14, Group 8, Valdosta Country Club
LaGrange, Wednesday, September 20, Group 4, Highlands Country Club
Rome, Thursday, September 21, Group 7, Coosa Country Club

Our first three meetings were held this week in Gainesville, Atlanta and Athens.  Our thanks to Group Chairs Kip Herring, Liberty Bank & Trust, Toccoa; Marvin Cosgray, Buckhead Community Bank, Atlanta; and Frank Christa, Athens First Bank & Trust, Watkinsville, for their help and assistance.  After all 10 Group Meetings are completed, we will be publishing a complete list of the officers elected including the five new members of GBA’s Board of Directors.

With questions or to register by telephone, please call GBA’s Susie McGehee at (404) 420-2010.

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

Congress Returns
Following the traditional break for the national conventions, Congress returned to work this week with a heavy agenda.  On the banking front, few bills are expected to receive consideration.  GBA has focused on the bankruptcy reform legislation which would create a needs based bankruptcy system.  The administration and congressional leaders are stalled on three issues:  check collection practices, the preservation of state laws regarding homestead exemption and restricting bankruptcy protection for abortion clinic attackers.  Time is running against enactment.  The President also vetoed the bill eliminating the estate tax.  The first attempt to override the veto was taken by the House and failed on a vote of 274 to 157.  Nine of Georgia's members of Congress voted in support of GBA's position to override the veto.  Only Rep. John Lewis and Rep. Cynthia McKinney voted with the President.

Predatory Lending Hearing
The GBA has been asked to testify before a meeting of the Senate Banking & Finance Institutions Committee on the issue of “defining predatory lending.”  In sending out an announcement about the meeting to the committee, Sen. Don Cheeks, chairman, included a copy of a letter he had sent to Lt. Governor Mark Taylor about the issue.  In the letter, Chairman Cheeks stated, “It is my intent to direct the committee members to study and review all lending practices in view of the many concerns that the discussion has brought forward so far.  It is my opinion that irresponsible or ill-conceived legislation could be most detrimental to the economy of this state.”  The meeting will be held on September 13 at the Capitol.

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:

• Montgomery County Bank, Ailey, Tom Peterson, President

• United Community Banks, Blairsville, Jimmy Tallent, President

• Georgia Bank & Trust, Calhoun, Larry Roye, President

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

• Montgomery County Bank, Ailey, Tom Peterson, President

• Century South Banks, Inc., Alpharetta, Joe Evans, President

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

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

• The First National Bank of Barnesville, George Butler, President

• West Georgia National Bank, Carrollton, Leighton Alston, President

• Century South Bank of Dahlonega, John Lewis, President

• Century South Bank of Dawsonville, Gary Evans, President

• Century South Bank of Ellijay, Britt Henderson, President

• Century South Banks of Northeast Georgia, Gainesville, Joe Chipman, President

• Century South Banks of the Coastal Region, Savannah, Heys McGrath, President

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

The First National Bank of Barnesville, George Butler, President, also contributed to the Education PAC. 

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

CEO Conference Nears
The only conference offered exclusively for Georgia bank presidents and chief executive officers is scheduled for October 29-31 at The Cloister on Sea Island.  Sponsored by GBA’s Community Bankers Committee and Board of Directors, the conference has become one of the outstanding opportunities for bank leaders to gather and learn.  One of the keynote speakers this year is Ray Christman, President of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta.  Included in his remarks will be significant new information about funding sources only recently made available to banks through the Financial Modernization legislation.  “Funding our banks through traditional core deposits is getting tougher all the time, and we need to hear more about this new source,” said Mike Owens, President of the Coastal Bank in Savannah and this year’s chair of the Community Bankers Committee.  Another featured speaker is Dr. Bill Carden of Waco, Texas.  Bill will be speaking on strategic issues as they are impacted by bank compliance changes.  In addition to the consulting business he started after being president of a community bank, Bill directs the Conference of State Bank Supervisors’ National Compliance School.  Call GBA’s June Somers at (404) 420-2012 for more information. 

Bank Counsel Conference
Held concurrently with the CEO Conference on October 29-31 at The Cloister, Sea Island, the Bank Counsel Conference sessions will feature the keynote address as well as a “not to be missed” panel composed of the top state and federal banking regulators for the State of Georgia. 

Highlights

• Commercial Law/Article 9 Update
• Legal Issues in Financial Modernization Bill
• Nuts and Bolts of Mergers & Acquisitions
• Dealing with the Mechanics of Bank Fraud

Call GBA’s June Somers at (404) 420-2012 with questions or to register. 

Marketing.com November 9-10
GBA’s 2000 Marketing Conference, entitled Marketing.com is slated for November 9-10 at Brasstown Valley Resort in Young Harris.  The program features topics on the internal side of customer service, how to get your news articles printed and an overview of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley act and what products banks can now offer.  Our thanks to committee chair Fran Sutton, Executive Vice President of Charter Bank & Trust, Marietta, and committee vice chair Bill Loyd, Executive Vice President of Community Bank & Trust-Habersham for putting together such an outstanding conference. Please call GBA’s Norma Guild at (404) 420-2031 if you have additional questions. 

Advanced IRA Seminars Scheduled in Marietta, Gainesville and Macon
With all the new IRA plan types, proposed regulation changes and clarifications of existing rules and regulations, an annual update and review of the more complicated aspects of Individual Retirement Accounts is a must.  The Advanced IRA Update Seminar serves as an excellent refresher for the experienced IRA banker and as a confidence builder on the more technical and complex areas of IRAs.  This comprehensive seminar will provide a thorough update and review of the significant proposed changes attributable to the latest congressional sessions. For more information about this seminar being held September 19, 20 and 21 in three locations, call Marybeth Jones at (404) 420-2032.

Georgia Banking School Special!
The annual “Early Bird Special” is now available to first year students who register for the Georgia Banking School before January 1, 2001.  More students registered for the school last year than in any time in recent history, so we expect another sell-out.  See the enclosed flyer to save $125.  Call GBA’s Marybeth Jones at (404) 420-2032 for details.

Identify Theft Conference
The GBA is pleased to recommend a two-day conference sponsored by the Metro Atlanta Crime Commission on Identity Theft.  ID Theft can have a negative impact on an individual’s personal and professional life, or on a corporation’s revenue and good name.  This issue needs to be addressed by members of the political, legal, law enforcement and corporate communities to include banking and financial leaders.  This two-day meeting will bring together the federal and local law enforcement community, federal and local prosecutors, and corporations to provide a forum that will educate the attendees and demonstrate that we need to proactively work together to address this complicated issue.  The conference is slated for September 21 and 22 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Georgia Pacific Corporation, 133 Peachtree Street in Atlanta.  For more information, contact the Metro Atlanta Crime Commission at (404) 527-7654.

Some Of The Services Available Through GBA Services, Inc.

• Financial Publications-Georgia Banking Laws, Bank Directories 

• Discounted Check Program

• Internet Loan Closing Program

• Commercial Loan Underwriting and Total Relationship Pricing

• Checking Club Programs

• Discounted Long Distance Program

• Accounts Receivable Financing

• Bond and D&O Insurance

• Non-Qualified Executive Benefits

• Trust and Investment Services

• Payroll Deduct Home and Auto Insurance

Athens, Athens First Bank & Trust Co.
Judge Steve Jones has been named a director.  Promoted to Assistant Vice President are Paulette Cooper and John Tebeau.  Mike Henderson has been named Relationship Manager.  Joining the bank are Randy Blalock as Commercial Lender, Steven Sceals as Relationship Manager and Steven Hicks in the Management Associate Program.

Decatur, Horizon Bank
A. Lee Wilhelm and Dhiru G. Patel have joined the Board.

Oakwood, Southern Heritage Bank
Rita Gray has been named Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.

Newest Banks Linked
Welcome to Bank of LaFayette, Bob Gilbert, President; Gainesville Bank & Trust, Richard Hunt, President; Community Bank of the South, Smyrna, Lee Scroggins, President and First National Bank of Coffee County, Douglas, Jeff Johnson, 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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