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Welcome New Associate Members
Congratulations to the following companies for being approved for Associate Membership at the October 8, 2002 Board Meeting:

• Bank Capitol Group, Inc., Gainesville, Stan Taylor, President

• Brown Burke Capital Partners, Inc., Atlanta, Jon Burke, Principal

• Form 53, Atlanta, Elliott Stevers, President

• InBusiness Services, Inc., Brentwood, Tennessee, Kevin Anderson, President

• The James Paul Group, Alpharetta, Chris DiLorenzo, Co-Founder 

• Martin Snow, LLP, Macon, Jerry Harrell, Partner

• Miller, Hamilton, Snider & Odom, LLC, Atlanta, John C.H. Miller, Member/Manager

• Southwest Business Corporation, Alpharetta, Charles Amato, Chairman

• Sowell & Sandifer, Tifton, Gregory Sowell, Partner

Associate Members have played an important part of the GBA during most of our 110 years.  Today, more than 130 businesses are enjoying increased visibility and expanded marketing opportunities while banks are receiving more options for top quality, cost-effective products and services. Company descriptions and contact information are on the Associate Member pages or contact Renee Valdez at (404) 420-2036. 

GAFLA Compliance Underway
All lenders making home loans in Georgia began full compliance with the Georgia Fair Lending Act October 1, 2002.  At the recent President/CEO and Bank Counsel Conferences, acting Banking Commissioner David Sorrell reminded participants of the key elements of the bill.  He emphasized the importance of banks documenting their compliance plans as well as documenting each loan file, especially those in the ‘covered loan’ categories where refinanced loans must show a Reasonable Tangible Net Benefit for the customer.  Most banks are using the forms contained in GBA’s GAFLA Compliance Toolkit to assist their compliance efforts.  Ordering information about the Toolkit is on the GBA website at www.gabankers.com.  While the Act applies to every home loan in Georgia, most loans made by our members continue to be unaffected.  There are a few areas of concern we are picking up from our members as the Act does cover some traditional loans.  We have heard from our members that their concerns deal primarily with the mandatory pass-through fees for VA, FHA and Rural Development Housing Loans and how these fees trip the triggers in the bill.  Governor Barnes has not yet stated whether he will ask the legislature next session to address some of the unintended consequences contained in the bill.  As you continue to comply with the bill, please be sure and let us know of any other areas causing significant difficulty so we may pass these concerns along to the appropriate people within the Governor’s office.

USA Patriot Act Delayed
The Treasury Department announced that mandatory compliance with Section 326 customer identification provisions of the USA Patriot Act (the proposed rules issued by Treasury and the federal functional regulators) have been delayed until final implementing regulations are issued and become effective. Section 326 requires financial institutions to establish minimum procedures for the identification and verification of customers who open new accounts. Treasury also announced that it will issue further guidance on other provisions of the Act that have October 2002 implementation deadlines.  Although Treasury did not indicate when financial services providers would be required to comply, it made clear that the effective date will not be October 26, 2002.  The proposed rules affect banks, savings associations, credit unions, securities brokers and dealers, mutual funds and other financial service providers. 

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

Georgia BankPAC Classic a Success
Leadership GBA’s second annual Georgia BankPAC Classic proved to be a success with 46  bankers and associate members in attendance.  The two-man scramble tournament was held on October 16 at the Southern Hills Golf Club in Hawkinsville.  “We were pleased with the attendance this year as well as the contribution that we were able to make to the Georgia BankPAC,” said Rob Coile, Leadership GBA Legislative Chair.   “We think this tournament has definitely been established as an annual event.”   Tournament winners were Steve Toland and Gary Jennings with Peoples State Bank, Jeffersonville. GBA Chairman Larry Kuglar, President of First National Bank of Polk County, Cedartown, said, “Increasing participation in BankPAC is a major goal of the association this year and this tournament played a key role in the success we’ve had.  I’m delighted to see our emerging leaders embrace this challenge.”  A special thank you to the sponsors who helped make the tournament a success.

BankPAC Update

Congressional Outlook
As Congress winds down for this term, a number of key issues remain on their agenda and House Majority Leader Dick Armey has said a ‘lame duck’ session will convene on November 12.  It appears there is little chance the bankruptcy reform conference report will be taken up before the elections, given Republican concerns about the potential negative reaction from pro-life voters.  Congress will be focusing on the appropriations bill still outstanding and the House has passed a Continuing Resolution to keep the government in business at least through November 22.  The Senate is still debating the Homeland Security Bill and will take up the continuing resolution when they return next week.  After the November 5 elections, Georgia will have at least five new House members next term and we will be calling on our members to help educate those new members  on the importance of our other major issues such as FDIC reform.  Two Congressional candidates are expected to win handily:  Denise Majette and David Scott.  GBA leaders have already met with both candidates.  After the elections, we will be meeting with the victors in the races between Jim Marshall (D) and Calder Clay (R) in the 3rd District; Roger Kahn (D) and Phil Gingrey (R) in the 11th district; and Champ Walker (D) and Max Burns (R) in the 12th District.

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

President/CEO and Bank Counsel Conferences a Huge Success
Almost 200 bankers, attorneys, their spouses and guests attended GBA’s President/CEO and Bank Counsel Conferences held October 6-8 at The Cloister on Sea Island.  The jointly held conferences presented opportunities for bankers and their attorneys to spend time together and hear discussions of issues and topics relevant to the banking industry.  Special thanks to Randy Jones, President and CEO of Sumter Bank & Trust in Americus and Chair of the Community Bankers Committee, and Trav Paine of Paine Little in Augusta, Chair of GBA’s Bank Counsel Board of Directors, for their efforts in making these conferences a success.  Thanks also to the Community Bankers Committee and the Bank Counsel Board of Directors for their input and ideas. Take a look at scenes from the President/CEO & Bank Counsel conferences. 

Marketing Conference Targets Advertising
GBA’s Marketing Conference will be held on November 14-15 at Brasstown Valley in Young Harris and will focus on creative ideas and strategies for your bank’s advertising program.  Well-known advertising executive Frank Compton, chairman of Sawyer Riley Compton in Atlanta, will keynote the conference with his presentation entitled Unleash The Story of Your Brand.  In addition to the conference program, there is also a pre-conference workshop covering Advertising and Promotions Compliance Issues on Thursday, November 14, from 10 a.m. to noon. You may call Brasstown directly at (706) 379-9900 for reservations.  For more details and conference registration, contact GBA’s Norma Guild at (404) 420-2031.   

SOTS Just Around the Corner
There is still time to register for the first year class in the Southern Operations and Technology School, which will be held on the University of Georgia campus November 3 - 8. The School is the premier school in the southeast for operations and technology personnel. Call GBA’s Marybeth Jones at (404) 420-2032 for more information. 

Credit Conference Set for December
GBA’s Credit Conference, slated for December 11-12 at the Renaissance Waverly Hotel in Atlanta, will highlight major topics of interest to bank lenders.  Dr. Joel Naroff, well-known economist of Pennsylvania, will keynote with remarks on the economy, job and income growth, real estate and Federal Reserve policy. Other topics will include calculation of loan and lease losses, problem loans and credit scoring. From the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance, George Reynolds, Deputy Commissioner for Supervision, and Leslie Bechtel, Deputy Commissioner of Consumer and Legal Affairs, will discuss the department’s exam process for the Georgia Fair Lending Act and the treatment of violations.  Thanks to Credit Committee Chair Bruce Bartholomew, President of McIntosh State Bank in Jackson, for his leadership and to the committee for planning such an informative agenda.  Please call the Renaissance Waverly Hotel at (770) 953-4500 prior to November 3 for hotel reservations.  For more details, contact Norma Guild at (404) 420-2031.

TSSCL Graduates 4 Georgia Bankers
Four Georgians were among the 63 graduates who recently completed The Southeastern School of Commercial Lending^SM (TSSCL) held in Nashville:

• Derek L. Grayson, Citizens Trust Bank, Atlanta

• Christopher Todd Hanback, Premier National Bank of Dalton

• Eric M. Croft, Sapelo National Bank, Darien

• Amy Amorose, Quantum National Bank, Suwanee

During the intensive, one-week curriculum, instructors cover basic and advanced analytical techniques as well as ways to apply those techniques in pricing and structuring loans. The annual school is sponsored jointly by the GBA, the Tennessee Bankers Association and our colleagues with the  bankers associations of Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi.  For more information, please call GBA’s Marybeth Jones at (404) 420-2032.

Progeny Introduces a New Brand
Georgia Bankers Association has been endorsing Progeny Marketing Innovations, formerly FISI-Madison Financial, for more than 8 years.

Progeny Marketing Innovations has more than 30 years’ experience in the financial services industry, as a provider of marketing strategies, products and services. Recently, they introduced a new brand to reflect the dynamic new company they have become. Progeny Marketing Innovations has access to dynamic and innovative strategies that adapt to meet your institution’s specific needs while providing value to your customers.

So what does this mean for GBA member banks? Progeny Marketing Innovations has proven deposit generation strategies that will help you:

• Generate new fee income;

• Attract low-cost deposits;

• Increase customer satisfaction; and

• Improve customer retention and satisfaction.

Hiawassee, Bank of Hiawassee
Eddie Allen has been promoted to Senior Vice President and City Executive.

Macon, New Southern Bank
Congratulations to Mark Stevens, CEO, and the officers, directors and employees of the bank on their recent grand opening.

Marietta, Riverside Bank
Debra Scarbrough, Gloria Sprung and Celeste Chapman have been promoted to Banking Officer. Derek King has joined the bank as Vice President, Commercial Lending.

Peachtree City, Peachtree National Bank
Harriette Debro Watkins has joined the Board.

Savannah, The Savannah Bank
Ed Cox has joined the bank as Vice President of Corporate Banking.

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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