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GBA’s annual series of 10 Group Meetings begin in Gainesville on September 4 and end in Statesboro September 26.  “These 10 meetings are the one opportunity each year bankers from across Georgia can meet locally with their fellow bankers, the GBA leadership and key staff.  We have a fun and interactive program planned to give our members a lot of information in a short period of time,” said GBA Chairman Larry T. Kuglar, President and CEO of First National Bank of Polk County in Cedartown.  The Group Meetings are important to our membership as key leaders are chosen for the association for the upcoming year.  Even-numbered Groups elect a member to the GBA Board for a two-year term and each Group elects three officers to represent their Group within the GBA.  The roles of each officer are:  Group Chair – serves on GBA Nominating Committee to select statewide officers and chairs next year’s meeting; Group Vice Chair – works with GBA Public Affairs Committee to identify legislative and regulatory issues that need action; and the Group Secretary works with the GBA Community Bankers Committee to help plan GBA’s educational program.  “It is important that bankers at the grassroots of our organization participate to help us ensure a vibrant industry and association for the future.  The Group Meetings are where that process starts,” Larry concluded.  Call your Group Chair if you have questions about your meeting or want to volunteer:

Group 1:  Milton Gray, Citizens Bank of Swainsboro
Group 2:  Walter Patten, Colony Bank of Worth, Sylvester
Group 3:  Neil Joiner, Bank of Dooly, Vienna
Group 4:  Steve Wood, First Nation Bank, Covington
Group 5:  Jimmy Walker, North Atlanta National Bank, Alpharetta
Group 6:  Hal Ward, Bank of Dudley, Dublin
Group 7:  Charles Allgood, Alliance National Bank, Dalton
Group 8:  Ray Chitty, Guardian Bank, Valdosta
Group 9:  Charlie Miller, Community Bank & Trust, Cornelia
Group 10: Victor Parker, Citizens Bank, Warrenton

At the Group 1, 2, 4, 7, and 10 Meetings, an organized golf outing has been planned and we know those of you who are golfers will want to participate.  To get more information about the format and to reserve your place in the tournament, call GBA’s June Somers at (404) 420-2012. or Susie McGehee at (404) 420-2010 with questions.  We look forward to seeing you.

2002 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

GBA BankPAC Update
Since the last Bulletin, the following companies, their officers and directors have participated by contributing to the GBA StatePAC:

• Tom Peterson, President, Montgomery County Bank, Ailey

• Lee Bettis, President, HeritageBank of the South, Albany

• Milton Jones, President, Bank of America, Atlanta

• Jimmy Tallent, President, United Community Banks, Inc., Blairsville

• Jim Williams, President, Citizens Bank & Trust Company, Eastman

• Jim Edwards, President, United Bank, Zebulon

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

• Lee Bettis, President, HeritageBank of the South, Albany

• Danny Johnston, President, Safe Systems, Inc., Alpharetta

• Emory Lewis, President, First American Bank and Trust Company, Athens

• Doug Tuttle, President, United Bank, Barnesville

• Hugh Williamson, Williamson, Musselwhite & Main Street Insurance, Monroe

• Jimmy Burnsed, President, Bryan Bank & Trust, Richmond Hill

• Brian Foster, President, First Chatham Bank, Savannah

• Milton Gray, President, The Citizens Bank of Swainsboro

• Pait Willis, President, South Georgia Banking Company, Tifton

• Jim Edwards, President, United Bank, Zebulon

Calendar of Events
Schools
Conferences
Seminars
Events
American Institute of Banking
Leadership GBA
Personal Economics Program (PEP)
Internet Training

AIB Semester starts September 9^th
AIB is now accepting registrations for the fall semester that starts September 9.  The GBA Advantage was mailed on August 5^th.  If you did not receive your copy, we will be glad to mail you one.   Remember, if you do not find a class of particular interest, be sure to check the schedule of online courses which is included in The GBA Advantage.  For additional copies, please call GBA’s Edie Canales at (404) 420-2034.

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, 2003.  See the flyer to save $125.  Call GBA’s Marybeth Jones at (404) 420-2032 for details.

Marketing Conference Set for November
GBA’s Marketing Conference is slated for November 14-15 at Brasstown Valley Resort in Young Harris. “Touchdown Marketing” is the theme and Frank Compton, Chairman of Sawyer Riley Compton advertising agency in Atlanta, will give participants eight rules for taking their brand to its full potential. Compton’s agency is well known for a client roster that includes The Ritz-Carlton, Callaway, CNN Newsource and the Atlanta Ballet. The conference will also feature a panel of media executives including Kicks 101.5 Radio Account Executive Bobby Johnson.  As in the past, a pre-conference workshop will be held on November 14 from 10 a.m. to noon.  The topic is “Advertising Compliance.”  A block of rooms has been reserved at Brasstown Valley Resort.  The deadline for reservations is September 29 and you may call the hotel directly at (706) 379-9900 for reservations. For more information, contact GBA’s Norma D. Guild at (404) 420-2031.

2002 GBA Salary Survey
The 2002 Salary Survey has been completed and will be mailed to the participating banks on August 26.  If you were unable to participate but would still like to purchase a copy, please call Renee Valdez at (404) 420-2036.  Thank you for participating!  We realize it is a time commitment, but with your help we are confident we have one of the best surveys ever!  This year’s survey contains salary and select benefit information for approximately 120 positions.

Internet Banking – Are You Really Covered?
As a result of the potential gaps in traditional insurance policies, many insurance companies are introducing “E-insurance” policies. Most, however, are designed for e-commerce businesses, not for financial institutions engaged in Internet banking.  As you evaluate these new products, you will find that coverage is expensive, mirrors the basic coverages that financial institutions already have under their Bond, and may not address the real gaps in coverage or risks relevant to financial institutions. 

In order to address the needs of community banks, the ABA-sponsored insurance program, underwritten by Progressive, has developed an Internet banking insurance program specifically for financial institutions engaged in Internet banking. The Internet Banking Protection Package, recently approved in the state of Georgia, is a unique insurance solution for community banks. Two interconnected policies provide first-party and third-party coverages to fill the gaps where traditional insurance policies do not extend to Internet risks. First-party protection is provided through the Enhanced Financial Institution Bond and third-party protection via a separate and distinct policy - the Internet Banking Liability Policy.

The Internet Banking Protection Package is designed to cover Internet banking, PC/home banking, and other electronic banking activities through the following interconnected policies:

A.  Enhanced Financial Institution Bond - Fills the gaps in the standard Bond by providing coverage for loss due to:

• Hackers, Crackers and Viruses

• Employee Sabotage

• Fraudulent Funds Transfers initiated by voice, fax, email or Internet access

• Damage/destruction of data or computer programs

B.   Internet Banking Liability Policy

• Affirmative, broad-form coverage for suits against the Financial Institution and its directors, officers and employees

• Coverage for suits alleging invasion of privacy

• Coverage for advertising injury, such as libel, slander and defamation

• Coverage for intellectual property claims, including copyright and trademark infringement

C.  Optional Endorsements:

• Business Interruption

• Cyber/Network Extortion

• Public Relations Expense 

The Georgia Bankers Association worked closely with the ABA to institute this program at a time when most insurance carriers were either exiting the market or quoting extraordinarily high rates.  To find out more about this program or to provide your bank with a competitive proposal please call GBA’s Renee Valdez at (404) 420-2036.

Duluth, First National Bank of Gwinnett
E. Paul Jones has joined the bank as Executive Vice President and Kim Brooks has been promoted to Assistant Vice President/Credit Administration.

Gainesville, Gainesville Bank & Trust
Chip Frierson has been named Senior Vice President and head of the bank’s Retail Division.

Griffin, First National Bank of Griffin
J. Charles Copeland has been named President and CEO to replace C. A. Knowles, who recently retired.

Jackson, First Georgia Community Bank
Pam Browning has joined the bank as Vice President of the Retail Banking Division and Lauren Potts, the bank’s first employee, has been promoted to Commercial Lender.

GBA's e-Bulletin List
Our e-Bulletin subscriber list continues to grow with each edition.  Bankers from any member bank can be added to the email-distributed 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 containing the name and email address of each individual to GBA’s Lydia Thomas.

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