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Georgia Banking Mourns Loss of a Leader
Our sympathies are extended to the family and colleagues of Julian Hester, President and CEO of the Community Bankers Association of Georgia, who died on September 4.  GBA President Joe Brannen said, “The entire state mourns the loss of Julian Hester. I have never met anyone more passionate about the role and importance of community banking. His commitment and dedication are well known throughout the industry and his untiring efforts will be felt for decades. The greatest tribute we can all now pay to Julian is to keep the traditions of community banking strong and flourishing throughout Georgia.”

Former GBA Chairman Presley Dies
Charles B. Presley of Augusta died on August 31 following a long battle with leukemia.  Charlie was GBA’s chairman in 1971-72 and was with Georgia Railroad Bank.  One of his last contributions to the banking industry was chairing the committee that established the Georgia Bankers Association Chair of Banking at the University of Georgia and he led the campaign that raised over a million dollars for the endowment.  Our sympathies to his wife, Jane, and their family.

Bankers Meet With Barr
GBA hosted a luncheon for almost 20 constituent bankers of Congressman Bob Barr (R-GA) last week.  Rep. Barr is one of the key conferences of the long-awaited bankruptcy reform committee.  GBA Chairman-elect Larry Kuglar, President of First National Bank of Polk County, Cedartown, gave an example of a bankruptcy proceeding going on for almost a decade.  Other issues discussed were FDIC insurance reform, real estate brokerage authority for banks and privacy.  Randy Eaves, President of First National Bank of Georgia in Buchanan, gave the Congressman several reasons why community banks especially supported FDIC reform and the need to raise deposit insurance levels.  The meeting was second in a series of three GBA is hosting with the Congressman who is Georgia’s only member of the Financial Services Committee.

Group Meetings Week of Sept. 10
Bankers in GBA Groups 4, 2, 3 and 7 will be meeting the week of September 10 as part of GBA’s annual series of Group Meetings held around the state. Bankers in odd-numbered Groups are electing their representatives to the GBA Board for a two-year term.  At the Group 5 meeting in Atlanta, Judy Turner, President of Decatur First Bank, was elected to the board; and at the Group 9 meeting in Gainesville, Eddy Ariail, President of the Habersham Bank in Clarkesville, was elected to the Board.  The schedule of meetings for the week of September 10 is:

Monday, September 10
Group 4 – Sunset Hills Country Club, Carrollton
Bruce Bartholomew, President, McIntosh State Bank-Jackson, Chair

Tuesday, September 11
Group 2 – Doublegate County Club, Albany
Butch Davis, President, First Community Bank of Tifton, Chair

Wednesday, September 12
Group 3 – Houston Lake Country Club, Perry
Cole Woodruff, President, PlantersFIRST, Cordele, Chair

Thursday, September 13
Group 7 – Cartersville Country Club
Ken Thigpen, President, Georgia State Bank, Mableton, Chair

2001 State Legislative Issues
Governor Roy Barnes
Lt. Gov. Mark Taylor
Georgia House of Representatives
Georgia State Senate
Federal Legislative Issues
U.S. Congress
Legislative Updates
Legal Issues

We Will Miss Sen. Gramm
Sen. Phil Gramm (R-TX) has announced he will not seek reelection when his term expires next year and his decision is a true loss for the financial services industry.  GBA President Joe Brannen said, “Sen. Gramm has been one of the most effective and articulate legislators I’ve had the pleasure of knowing.  He had a fondness for our state since he spent much of his boyhood in Columbus, graduated from the University of Georgia and his first job was with C&S National Bank in Atlanta.  His leadership as chairman of the Senate Banking Committee during the debate and passage of the landmark Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act was crucial in keeping the bill focused on the real issues of financial modernization.  His combativeness and willingness to challenge those who would use the banking industry for social causes was legendary.  We wish him well in whatever endeavors he chooses to follow and will miss him greatly.”

Bankruptcy Filings Increase
The Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts reported that bankruptcy filings increased 8.6 percent between July of 2000 and June 30 this year.  Personal bankruptcy filings increased 8.8 percent and business filings increased 0.6 percent.  The largest percentage increase in filings occurred in the second quarter when filings were up 24.5 percent compared to the same quarter in 2000.  Since June of 1997, total bankruptcy filings have increased 5.3 percent, with non-business filings increasing over 6.8 percent.  However, during that period, business bankruptcy filings have declined over 31 percent.  

Department Proposes New Regulations
State-chartered banks have received a copy of changes proposed by the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance to several sections in the banking code.  Most of the changes are housekeeping in nature or are the result of legislation passed during the 2001 session of the General Assembly.  GBA will be reviewing the proposed regulations and will send a comment letter to the Department as necessary.  If your bank has concerns or would like to suggest a specific comment be made to the Department through GBA’s comment letter, please send that information to Elizabeth Way at the GBA office.

Calendar of Events
Schools
Conferences
Seminars
Events
Georgia AIB
Leadership GBA
Personal Economics Program (PEP)
Internet Training

Fall Workshops
GBA’s Asset/Liability Management Committee is co-sponsoring two workshops this fall with the Financial Managers Society at the J.W. Marriott Hotel in Atlanta. The two-day workshop, Customer Profitability Measurement in Financial Institutions:  Accounting Implementation Issues, November 12-13, shows you how to get the most accurate data for decision-making with these measurement tools:  net interest margin and funds transfer pricing, activity-level standard unit costs and capital assignment and loss provisions.  The other two-day workshop, Controlling Information Technology Risks in Community Banks, November 13-14, covers the fundamentals of information technology (EDP) auditing and will address technology issues challenging the financial executive of a community bank.  There is an optional half-day session on AS/400 Security & Audit on the afternoon of November 12^th. Contact GBA’s Norma Guild at (404) 420-2031 additional information.

CEO & Bank Counsel Conferences
Almost a hundred bank presidents and members of GBA’s Bank Counsel Section plus their spouses and guests will be meeting October 7-9 at Sea Island and there is still time to register with GBA and the hotel.  As the regulators are continuing their closer scrutiny of bank loan portfolios, this meeting will be an opportune time to interact with the heads of all the state and federal regulatory agencies to discuss their strategies for the upcoming months.  Call GBA’s June Somers at (404) 420-2012 to register.

October Educational Planner
A number of new programs are scheduled for the Fall so please be sure to pass along the October Educational Planner to the appropriate people within your bank.  Call GBA’s Marybeth Jones at (404) 420-2032 with questions.

Welcome New Participant
GBA Retirement Services, Inc. is pleased to welcome a new participating plan sponsor:  Georgia Banking Company, Inc., Atlanta, Elliott Miller, CEO.  The programs offered through the GBA Master Pension and Profit Sharing Trusts provide flexibility to meet the needs of any bank or associate member who may be looking at adding to or changing their qualified retirement plan.  In addition, banks can now bring in their commercial clients to the Trust while earning a commission fee in the process.  The Master Trust provides high quality, affordable pension, profit sharing, and Section 401(k) programs for banks and other companies of all sizes.  Please contact Mandy Richards at (404) 420-2025 or Bruce Shaw at (770) 642-2150 to get more information about how GBA can help you with your retirement plan design.  Georgia Banking Company, Inc. has also joined more than 300 other community banks and associate members taking advantage of the services through the GBA Insurance Trust.  Call GBA’s Susan Kelley at (404) 420-2017 with questions about this unmatched member benefit.

Some Of The Services Available Through GBA Services, Inc.

• Financial Publications-Georgia Banking Laws, Bank Directories

• Discounted Check Program

• Internet Loan Closing Program

• Checking Club Programs

• Discounted Long Distance Program

• Accounts Receivable Financing

• Bond and D&O Insurance

• Non-Qualified Executive Benefits

• Trust and Investment Services

• Real Estate Loan Products and Services
• Environmental Contamination Loan Insurance

Georgia Bankers Scholarship Program
The Georgia Bankers Scholarship Program was recently endorsed by the GBA and released to our members during the Annual Convention in May of this year.   

This Program provides a unique opportunity for banks to invest in the future leadership of their towns or cities.   GBA’s president, Joe Brannen was quoted as saying:  “The Georgia Bankers Association is always looking for innovative programs to offer our member banks.  This program offers a means to provide an invaluable community service that nearly every institution can afford to take part in.  Given the increased competition banks are facing today, the Georgia Bankers Scholarship Program can build significant value within their overall business strategy.”

By participating in the Georgia Bankers Scholarship Program, an ABA Partner of Promise program, you are not only demonstrating a commitment to your community, but also to America’s Promise.  America’s Promise is a national not-for-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of our nation’s youth.

Growing national interest in the Scholarship Program has already resulted in participant pledges of over $100 million, representing nearly 23,000 scholarships.  Let’s make an impact in Georgia! 

The Clark/Bardes Consulting’s Banking Practice, also makes a donation to a scholarship fund on behalf of the bank each time a bank enrolls in the program.  Scholarship funds are managed by the Citizens’ Scholarship Foundation of America, a nonprofit foundation that also processes the scholarship applications and chooses the award recipients.  

Cleveland, White County Bank
Bill Sutton, Jr. has been promoted to Vice President and Branch Manager.

Dalton, Premier National Bank of Dalton
Mitch Sanford has been promoted to Executive Vice President and Vonda Key to Vice President and CFO.

Darien, Southeastern Bank
Rodney P. C. Burney has joined the bank as Senior Vice President.

Gainesville, Regions Bank
Our sympathies to the family and colleagues of Stephen Earl Brinson, First Vice President and Manager of Branch Administration, who passed away on August 21.

Jonesboro, Heritage Bank
Bill Webb has joined the bank as Vice President, Commercial Lending.

Oakwood, Southern Heritage Bank
Chris England has been promoted to Executive Vice President.

Quitman, The Citizens National Bank of Quitman
Neal R. Bradley has been promoted to Executive Vice President and William H. Wheeler to Information Systems Officer.

Richmond Hill, Bryan Bank & Trust
Catherine Riggs has been promoted to Assistant Vice President and Donna Tucker to Assistant Vice President of Loan Operations.

Roswell, US Banking Alliance
Courtney Dufries has joined the company as Senior Vice President.

St. Marys, First National Bank
Lisa Burke has been promoted to Assistant Vice President and Loan Operations Manager.

GBA's e-Bulletin List
Bankers from any member bank can be added to the electronic version of the Bulletin.  A bonus of getting the e-Bulletin is the number of links we include, which puts even more information at your fingerprints. This is a great way to keep your key employees informed of significant industry information, trends and events. To add yourself or others in your bank to the list, send an email with the name and email address of each individual to GBA’s Lydia Thomas.

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