A regular electronic publication of the Georgia Bankers Association

www.gabankers.com

 November 21, 2003

About the GBA
Board of Directors
Bank/Thrift CEOs
Georgia Banks Online
Associate Members
Strategic Partners & Products
Bank Counsel Section
Volunteer Committees
Electronic Publications

Research Project Survey
Seda Palaz, an MBA student at Georgia State University, is seeking the help of GBA members in completing a research project on the organizational buying process for a data center that houses operating systems, network management and other general aspects of technology. The objective of the study is to explore the buying behavior of Company Executives/Facility Managers/IT Professionals when needing to build, move or enlarge their data center. Emphasis is on the design and/or construction of the outer shell of the facility as well as the vendor selection process.  The survey should take 5 to 8 minutes. A summary of the results may be obtained by emailing Seda with “Send Survey Results” in the subject line.  We encourage our members to assist in this project.

 

 

Nominating Committees Seek Input
The two committees established to select the association’s leadership will meet early next year to recommend the names of individuals to serve in elected positions within the GBA. The GBA Nominating Committee will be selecting a banker to be GBA Vice Chairman and another to be GBA Secretary/Treasurer.  The Nominating Committee is comprised of the 10 Group Chairs plus the three most immediate GBA Chairmen. Call any of these bankers to recommend someone to fill either of these positions and the GBA will send a nominating questionnaire to the candidate.

The Associate Member Nominating Committee will recommend an individual to serve on the GBA Board of Directors to represent the other associate members.  Danny Johnston, President of SafeSystems, Inc., the current Associate Member Representative, has appointed the following as the Nominating Committee:

2003 State Legislative Issues
Governor Sonny Perdue
Lt. Gov. Mark Taylor
Georgia House of Representatives
Georgia State Senate
Federal Legislative Issues
U.S. Congress
Legislative Updates
Legal Issues

Unauthorized Practice of Law
The Georgia Supreme Court has issued an opinion that the closing of a real estate loan without participation of an attorney is an unauthorized practice of law. The opinion is a restatement and clarification of current law. GBA’s attorney, Walt Moeling, reports that the current rules which permit banks to prepare routine security documents in connection with real estate closings are still in effect.

GBA BankPAC Update
Since our last report, the Bank of Ellaville, John Gill, Chairman and President, and Georgian Bank, Powder Springs, Gordon Teel, Chairman, President and CEO, have participated by contributing to the GBA StatePAC. In addition, officers and directors of The First National Bank & Trust Company, Louisville, Bill Easterlin, President and CEO, have contributed to the GBA FedPAC. Thanks for your support. Please contact Elizabeth Chandler at (404) 420-2027 for additional information.

Legislative Reception Scheduled
The GBA’s annual Legislative Reception honoring the members of the General Assembly, the Constitutional Officers, the statewide Judiciary and other dignitaries, is one of the best-attended events by policy makers of all events held in their honor.  This premiere event will be held on Wednesday, January 14, 2004 at the Hyatt Regency, Atlanta from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. “The Legislative Reception is an important event for our association,” said GBA Chairman Ed Milligan, Chairman and CEO of Main Street Banks, Inc., Atlanta. “It is imperative that we as bankers thank the members of the Legislature for their service.”  Please call GBA’s Susie McGehee at (404) 420-2010 with questions. 		Governor Names New Chief of Staff
Governor Sonny Perdue has named John Watson as his new chief of staff replacing Eric Tanenblatt who is leaving to return to the private sector.  “We have had the pleasure of knowing and working with both Eric and John for many years,” said GBA President Joe Brannen.  “Eric’s calm demeanor combined with his tremendous experience and contacts from his days with the late Senator Paul Coverdell served our state well and we wish him great success in the future.  We’ve worked closely with John from his time on Rep. Bob Barr’s staff.  John has tremendous skills in working with elected officials and he will be an able asset for the Governor.  We look forward to working with him,” Joe concluded.

Payday Lending Hearing Scheduled
House Banks and Banking Committee chairman Johnny Floyd (D-Cordele) has announced the third and final hearing on legislation that would outlaw most of the payday lending operations in Georgia.  The hearing is set for December 3 at the State Capitol in Atlanta.  Legislation, S.B. 157, passed the Senate last session that would ban payday lending and the Committee has been meeting to determine what action they will recommend next session.  For more information, contact GBA’s Elizabeth Chandler at (404) 420-2027.

Congress Winding Down
The U.S. Congress continues to struggle with details of must-pass legislation in order to complete work for the year later this month.  The permanent extension of the Fair Credit Reporting Act is among the top priorities, and the staff for the conference committee continues negotiations on the final conference report.  The bill is expected to pass prior to adjournment barring any unforeseen glitches in the negotiations.  In other action, we are glad to report that, so far, the Realtors’ effort has failed to permanently ban the Federal Reserve and Treasury Department from authorizing bank real estate brokerage and management activity.  The current ban extends only through the current fiscal year. Our thanks to House Financial Services Committee Chairman Michael Oxley (R-Ohio) for his effort in convincing House leadership not to give in to the Realtors. 

 
NEWS FLASH:  We just received word the FCRA Conferees have reached agreement on the bill and the Conference Report could be voted on in both the House and Senate as early as today.

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

Bank Security Management Seminar
GBA’s annual Bank Security Management seminar is scheduled for December 3 in Macon and December 4 in Gainesville. Topics to be covered include an overview of the bank security function, check fraud and new account fraud, camera systems, the branch manager’s security role, emergency preparedness and preventing employee dishonesty. Participants will receive an employee security training video, a training certificate, and a comprehensive procedural guide. For more information or to register, please call Susie McGehee at (404) 420-2010.

HR Professionals Institute
The HR Professionals Institute is scheduled for February 11-13, 2004 at the King & Prince Resort on St. Simons Island.  In response to human resources professionals throughout the state, GBA’s Human Resources Committee has developed a new format that combines the annual conference and the Human Resources University into an intense, three-day program.  This year’s theme is “Cultivating and Retaining Peak Performers.”  Call GBA’s Marybeth Jones at (404) 420-2032 with questions or to register.

Live Online Seminars
The GBA and The Graduate School of Banking will offer two seminars in December that will be presented in two to three increments of 90 minutes each:

You pay only one site registration fee for as many participants as you wish.  Please contact GBA’s Edie Canales at (404) 420-2034 for more information.

Register for the Credit Conference
GBA’s Credit Conference, slated for December 3-4 at the Renaissance Waverly Hotel in Atlanta, will highlight major topics of interest to bank lenders.  Economist Dr. Roger Tutterow of Kennesaw State University will deliver the keynote address with remarks on the state of the economy. Other topics include appraisal training, residential construction underwriting, peer discussions, and an interview with regulators on compliance, safety and soundness. Alex Sheshunoff, CEO of Sheshunoff Management Services, L.P., will conclude the conference with a state of the banking industry address. Thanks to GBA’s 2003-2004 Credit Committee Chair Bill Stump, Executive Vice President at Community Bankshares, Inc., Cornelia, for his leadership and to the committee for their expertise in planning an informative and dynamic agenda. For details and to register, please contact Marybeth Jones at (404) 420-2032.

New AIB Online Course
Georgia’s bankers continue to lead the nation in taking AIB online courses. AIB continues to add new courses as our bankers request educational content specific to their needs. The latest AIB online course addition is Retirement Plan Services and consists of three modules: Plan Type and Design, Laws & Regulations and Investment.  The modules can be taken as an entire course or you may choose the module that best suits your needs.  The first module, Retirement Plan Services – Plan Type and Design, starts January 20, 2004 and will be six weeks long. This module discusses the various types of qualified and nonqualified retirement and benefit plans.  The course content reviews the evolutions of defined contribution plans, government mandates for establishing these plans, client suitability, and outlines the details of how these plans work.  Covered plans will include profit sharing, cash or deferred arrangements, 401(k), ESOP, stock bonus, 403(b) and SIMPLE.  Defined benefit type pension plans to be covered include defined benefit, target benefit, cash balance and 457 government plans as well as the regulatory requirements for establishing these types of plans and client suitability. To a lesser extent, this course covers the various types of IRAs, Section 125 Cafeteria Plans and VEBAs and how they may be established and used as tax savings vehicles. The course is priced at $850 and GBA will give away one free module to the first member banker who calls Edie Canales at (404) 420-2034. Click here for the entire schedule of classes. Please contact Edie for more information or to register.

Insurance Trust, Inc.
Retirement Services, Inc.
GBA Services, Inc.
Online Expo

For Sale
Modular Bank Building. Please contact Lauri Young at Neighbors Bank at (770) 343-6255 for more information.

For Sale
Available January 2004: Temporary Drive-Thru approximately 10' x 14'. $5,000 or best offer. Please direct questions to Dorsey Thompson, Vice President of Glennville Bank, at (912) 654-3471.

Some of the Services Available
Through GBA Services, Inc.

GBA Services, Inc. is governed by a board composed primarily of community bank presidents who look for the best products and services available.  They do the due diligence for you and you can rely on their efforts.  For more information on any of these services, please contact Renee Valdez at (404) 420-2036.

FinCrime Participation Increases Among Georgia’s Law Enforcement and Financial Industry
At this year’s Group Meetings in September, the GBA launched FinCrime, a database channel that facilitates the immediate sharing of information about fraudulent activity between financials institutions and law enforcement.  Since the inception of this program, we are pleased to report we currently have almost 100 financial institutions signed on to the system with 118 users, including law enforcement. Each year, GBA members lose millions of dollars due to check fraud, counterfeit checks, identity theft, robberies and various other types of financial crimes.  The crimes are difficult to track and usually are spread among several financial institutions.  The GBA has joined a network of state bankers associations offering this service to our members and local law enforcement.  Participating financial institutions in FinCrime share information in an online, searchable database of fraudulent activity.  The result-shared aggregate data identifies and links criminals to their acts.  FinCrime’s focus is to improve financial institutions’ ability to detect and prevent fraud losses and to assist law enforcement in the prosecution of criminals.

The program immediately notifies the participating users via email and this early awareness allows you to take action to prevent fraud losses in your bank.  “We continue to hear from our members that fraud is on the increase.  The GBA Board responded by funding the purchase of this state-of-the-art software to help our members communicate with each other.  Through this effort, we hope to gain overall loss reduction for GBA members as professional criminals will find financial institution fraud more difficult, more risky and less profitable to pursue,” said GBA President, Joe Brannen.

Recently, the Omaha World-Herald published a story about how the FinCrime network assisted law enforcement in catching a scam artist who is suspected of committing crimes against financial institutions from South Carolina to Colorado. 

To sign up for FinCrime, simply follow the easy online registration process. Once the identity of the banker is confirmed, access to the entire database will be given immediately.  For more information, call GBA’s Renee Valdez at (404) 420-2036.

Athens, Athens First Bank & Trust Co.
C. Franklin Pate has joined the bank as Branch Manager and Shirley Stedman as Relationship Manager.

Dawsonville, Mountain State Bank
William S. Wade has joined the bank as Vice President and Real Estate/Construction Lender.

Moultrie, ABC Bancorp
Edwin W. Hortman, Jr. has been elected President and Chief Operating Officer.

Savannah, The Savannah Bank
Mary O’Donnell Fitzgerald has been promoted to Assistant Vice President.

Join Our Email Distribution List
A bonus of getting the e-Bulletin and e-Legislative Update is the number of links that are included. This is a great way to keep your key employees informed of significant industry information, trends and events. We do not disclose email addresses and only use them for internal communication purposes. Bankers from any member bank can be added to the email distribution list by sending an email containing the name and email address of each individual to GBA’s Lydia Thomas. 

November

December

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

GBA Staff e-mail and direct phone numbers, snail mail addresses, fax and phone numbers