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Legislative Reception Reminder
Plans are being finalized for GBA’s annual Legislative Reception. This event is slated for Wednesday, January 15, 2003, from 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency, Atlanta. Thanks for the many bankers, associate members and bank counsel section members who have pre-registered – in fact, more have pre-registered this year than in many years, so the excitement is building. Invitations have been sent to legislators and special guests and responses are pouring in daily. We anticipate a great crowd. With the dramatic changes we will see next year with the leadership changes at the State Capitol, it is more important than ever for a huge number of bankers to attend. Show your support for the banking industry and for your Association by registering a contingent of representatives from your bank. Call GBA’s Susie McGehee at (404) 420-2010 for questions about the reception or hotel reservations. Make plans now to attend one of the most important events of the year! 

Happy Holidays from 
the GBA Staff
We all send our best wishes to our members for a joyous holiday season.  Thank you for all you do in support of your association!

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

Flood Insurance Update
Congress adjourned prior to extending the statutory authority to issue flood insurance policies pursuant to the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) beyond December 31, 2002.  Federal flood insurance is coordinated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the agency is working with Congress, federal bank regulators, insurance companies and others to address the problem.  Although this failure to reauthorize the program has no effect on the vast majority of flood insurance policyholders, it does affect the NFIP's ability to write new policies and renew existing ones. Existing coverages will not be affected.  While FEMA is confident that Congress will move quickly to fully reauthorize the NFIP when it reconvenes and will do so retroactively to January 1, any such limited interruption is of concern to property owners who need to renew policies in early January, home-buyers who must purchase flood insurance as a condition for obtaining mortgages from federally regulated lenders, and property owners refinancing existing mortgages who must purchase or renew such coverage.  In a letter to banking regulators last week, the regulators were told FEMA has advised its contractors and the insurance companies that write and service policies under the NFIP that any premium payments for new and renewal policies received after December 31, 2002 are to be held and policies not issued until authority to enter into new flood insurance contracts has been reestablished by the Congress.  Records of policy application and premium receipt dates are to be maintained by the NFIP and the insurance companies writing coverage under the NFIP to assure effective dates of coverage as soon as possible following re-authorization and to minimize or eliminate any impact on property owners.  House Financial Services Committee Chairman Michael G. Oxley (R-OH) and incoming Ranking Member Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA) announced that they will introduce legislation next year to reauthorize the program and the bill will be retroactive to January 1, 2003.  GBA has put some information about this problem on our website and will update the website as the federal regulators issue guidance.

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

Mark Your Calendar for 
Banking Expo 2003
Mark your calendar now for GBA’s Banking Expo 2003:  Securing Your Financial Institution, scheduled for March 25-26, 2003 at Cobb Galleria Center in Atlanta.  This biennial event is an excellent opportunity for you to preview products and services in a "hands-on" environment.  The exhibit hall is filling up at a strong and steady pace.  The Operations/Technology Committee has also planned a great program that promises to be educational and enjoyable.  For questions about this event, call GBA’s Susie McGehee  (404) 420-2010, Marybeth Jones (404) 420-2032 or Edie Canales (404) 420-2034.

Advanced Compliance Symposium
GBA’s annual two-day Advanced Compliance Symposium is a ‘must’ for compliance officers in Georgia.  It provides information about new regulations, emphasizes areas of regulators’ greatest concerns, and stimulates discussion about managing the compliance function. Some of the topics to be discussed include Privacy, Customer Identity Verification, the Fair Credit Reporting Act, New IRA Rules, RESPA, Reg O, Bank Secrecy Act and Reg C, HMDA, and HOEPA.  This highly professional program is led again by Blair Rugh, Executive Director and Senior Vice President with the Kirchman Regulatory Service, a division of Kirchman Corporation.  The Symposium will be held at the Holiday Inn Macon West on January 22-23.  Please call GBA’s Marybeth Jones at (404) 420-2032 for more information or to register.

Interactive Internet Seminars
The Georgia Bankers Association and the Graduate School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin-Madison is offering the first of seventeen seminars for 2003.  The first seminar “Originating Profitable Loans” will be divided into four 90-minute sessions.  This seminar will be offered January 30, February 6, 13, 20 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.  Seminar presenters, Tom Farin and Dave Koch, will cover a variety of loan pricing approaches. With all of GSB’s seminars, you only pay one registration fee and as many people as you wish can join the seminar.  For more information, please  contact GBA’s Edie Canales at (404) 420-2034. 

GBS Early Bird Registration Deadline
The deadline for the Georgia Banking School “Early Bird” discount is December 31.  Take advantage of the $175 savings by registering for the Class of 2005 now.  The Georgia Banking School, a three-year resident and home study program, meets in 2003 at the University of Georgia May 4 - 9.  Call GBA’s Marybeth Jones at (404) 420-2032 for details and registration information.

8^th Annual Southeastern Bank Management & Directors Conference
For the 8^th consecutive year, the Terry College of Business at the University of Georgia is providing a conference for senior management and directors of community banks and bank holding companies.  This forum provides the opportunity to discuss and hear presentations about strategic issues facing community banks and other financial providers.  The program is scheduled for February 13 at Chateau Elan in Braselton and February 21 at the King & Prince on St. Simons Island.  Call GBA’s Marybeth Jones at (404) 420-2032 to request a brochure.

Welcome New Participants
The Board of Directors of the GBA Insurance Trust, Inc. welcomes to the Trust First Commerce Community Bank, Douglasville, William Lumpkin, Jr., CEO, and Bank Capital Group, LLC, Gainesville, Stan Taylor, CEO.  These firms join more than 275 community banks and associate members in this unmatched member benefit.  Please call GBA’s Susan Kelley at (404) 420-2017 for more information.

Pension Trust Welcomes New Member
GBA Retirement Services, Inc. is pleased to welcome a new participating plan sponsor:  Security Exchange Bank, Marietta, C. Bernard Cooper, President/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.  The Master Trust provides high quality, affordable pension, profit sharing, and Section 401(k) programs for banks and associate members of all sizes.  Please contact Mandy Richards at (404) 522-1501 for more information on how GBA can help with your retirement plan design.

2003 Holiday Decals Have Arrived!
The 2003 Holiday Decals are hot off the press.  Those who are on our standing order list should have already received your shipment.  The window decals not only provide a professional appearance but also contain the 10 holiday closings recognized by the Federal Reserve Bank in accordance with FDIC rules.   If you are not currently on our standing order list and would like to receive a set, please call quickly; we have sold out over the last 2 years.  To order, please call GBA’s Renee Valdez Bristow at (404) 420-2036 or Kenyetta Parks at (404) 420-2035.

We Will Miss
Our sympathies to the family, friends and colleagues of former Deputy Commissioner Robert M. Moler who died on December 17.  Bob served the Banking Department for many years and Georgia bankers established a scholarship in his name at the Graduate School of Banking at LSU when Bob retired.

Atlanta, Riverside Bank
Mark Wheaton has joined the bank as Vice President, Mortgage Lending.

Augusta, Georgia Bank & Trust Company
J. Pierce Blanchard, Jr. has been elected to the Board and James R. Riordan, Jr. has joined the bank as Group Vice President and Senior Credit Officer.

Claxton, Tippins Bank & Trust Company
Our sympathies to the family and colleagues of bank president, Robert R. Tippins, III, who died recently.

Cumming, Citizens Bank of Forsyth Co.
Congratulations to CEO Tim Perry, and the officers, directors and staff of the bank on the recent grand opening of their new main office facility.

Macon, Rivoli Bank & Trust
Ray H. Brannen and Geraldine Bolen have been elected Senior Vice President.

Savannah, First Chatham Bank
The bank announces the following additions and promotions: Joyce W. Kenard as Vice President; Paula Morris to Assistant Vice President; Dee Pinckney to Private Banking Executive; and Angie Butler to Customer Service Director.

Email Distribution List Growing
As we enter the upcoming legislative session, we may need to urgently get in touch with the membership, so please send your email address to Lydia Thomas.  We do not disclose email addresses and only use them for internal communication purposes.

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