E-Bulletin
for
March 26, 2004

Georgia Bankers Association
Serving the Needs of Bankers for 112 Years

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Chairman Don Powell said in a recent speech that credit unions should be taxed.  “More and more we’re seeing credit union advertising touting the benefits of membership over doing business with a bank. In my view, if they are going to compete with banks then we should do our best to ensure that the competition is fair,” Powell said. “Our back-of-the-envelope research shows that taxing credit unions would bring in about $2 billion to the federal Treasury – and would eliminate a current credit union subsidy of between 33 and 36 basis points.”  We reported in the last Bulletin that the Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, Bill Thomas (R-CA), has also called for an examination of the subsidy by his committee.  In a letter written last week to GBA President Joe Brannen, Congressman John Linder (R-GA) wrote:  “I am inclined to think that credit unions that want to be banks ought to become banks, and pay taxes.”  No one is expecting this issue to be in the forefront this year.  However, we encourage our members who feel strongly about this issue to take every opportunity during this election season to make your member of congress aware of this unfair subsidy.

Mark W. Olson, a member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System will speak at the 2004 GBA Annual Convention at the Breakers on Emerging Issues Facing Community Bankers.  Governor Olson has a wealth of knowledge and experience from his days as president of a community bank, his time as a banking consultant with a major accounting firm and from his stint on Capitol Hill. He will provide insightful analysis of the adaptability of community banks in an ever-changing economic environment. He maintains that the industry is strong and resilient, but needs to prepare for the times ahead. Governor Olson will challenge community bankers to balance the opportunities of the present with the prospects for the future. In facing the future of community banks, he suggests the recall of an old adage; "Those who do not learn all of the lessons of history are destined to repeat them." His cautionary and pragmatic forecasting will stimulate great discussion among Georgia bankers.

Plans are well underway for Leadership GBA’s 2004 Leadership Conference. This year’s conference will be held on July 18-21 at the Hilton Oceanfront Resort on Hilton Head Island, SC and will feature informative sessions on the economy, strategic planning, identity theft and a legislative update. Jim Blanchard, CEO of Synovus, will also be on hand to share his people-focused philosophy on servant leadership as well as some great “stories of Synovus.”  If you have questions about the conference or Leadership GBA, call GBA’s Susie McGehee at (404) 420-2010.  Come take advantage of this excellent opportunity to learn and network with your peers!

The fourth session of the Executive Management Academy will be held April 5 at the 1842 Inn in Macon and will focus on Compliance Management.  Steve Moore with Bank Compliance Services, LLP will facilitate the session. Discussions will include basic solutions to reducing compliance costs; problems that arise due to lack of day-to-day compliance management; and taking advantage of leeway in the regulation system.  The Executive Management Academy is designed in a peer-to-peer roundtable format and addresses issues of importance to executive management. You may attend all six sessions or select individual sessions based on content. For more information or to register, call Elizabeth Todd at (404) 420-2031.

• Succession Management: Do You Have The Right Mix, May 4, 11, 18

• Relationship Selling: How To Call On Top Retail And Consumer Banking Customers, May 7, 14, 21

• Partnership Selling: How To Make An Effective Sales Call, May 7, 14, 21

• Building a Service & Sales Minded Bank, May 7, 14, 21

• Funding Your Balance Sheet, May 20

For details, please contact Edie Canales at (404) 420-2034.

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In-House Seminars Available
Has your staff ever been unable to attend a GBA seminar due to scheduling conflicts? Would you like to host a particular GBA seminar that could be tailored to your bank’s needs?  GBA can provide many of its seminars to you in-house. By hosting an in-house seminar, you would have the advantage of choosing a date and location that works best for your bank employees.  For more information, please call GBA’s Susie McGehee at (404) 420-2010.  Take advantage of this great training opportunity without ever having to leave your bank.

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AIB Presentations
Internet training continues to gain acceptance as a delivery method of choice. Georgia bankers have embraced this technology and continue to establish the pace for other bankers throughout the United States. Yet, the potential is much greater. GBA has developed a short and informative presentation to dispel some of the myths and concerns about online training and GBA’s Edie Canales is scheduling visits for this presentation throughout the state.  The following banks have already scheduled their presentation and have also agreed to serve as host for other banks in their locale: Altamaha Bank and Trust Company, Vidalia; Citizens First Bank, Rome; Security Bank, Albany, and United Bank, Zebulon. To schedule your visit, please call Edie at (404) 420-2034.

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Host Banks Needed
An opportunity exists for your bank to host bankers from Russia and Ukraine as part of an internship program taking place this June. The Financial Services Volunteer Corps (FSVC), a non-profit group based in New York and Co-Chaired by Paul Volcker and John Whitehead, is organizing its fourth annual bank management training and internship program to introduce the culture of American finance–its practitioners, institutions, and skills–to 20 select senior-level bankers from Russia and Ukraine. This year’s program will concentrate on credit risk management and small business lending. Your bank could play an instrumental role in this important work by hosting one pair of program participants for a period of two weeks. The program, sponsored by Citigroup and the U.S. Agency for International Development, is designed to provide bankers who are positioned to spearhead bank reform with the technical skills and theoretical knowledge needed to implement change in their countries. For more information, please call Anna Shakarova at (212) 771-1401.

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Congratulations to the following:

Augusta - First Bank of Georgia
Marie Sutton has been promoted to Vice President. William W. McCartney, Jr. has been elected Senior Vice President and Investment Consultant and W. Cameron Nixon, Senior Vice President & Senior Lending Officer. Shane Sheppard and Jane Weeks have been appointed Wholesale Account Executives.

Augusta - Georgia-Carolina Bancshares
Congratulations to Patrick G. Blanchard, President & CEO, on becoming the first inductee into the Central Savannah River Area (Augusta Regional) Business Hall of Fame.

Alpharetta - North Atlanta National Bank
Rex A. Tallant has been hired to head the bank’s new Loan Production Office in Cumming.

Fayetteville - Southern Community Bank
The bank announces the following promotions and additions:  Lesley Grindle and Wayne Robertson have been promoted to Senior Vice President. Mary Roller has joined the bank as Vice President, Branch Administrator; Nancy McClellan as Vice President, Commercial Lending; Chris Thompson as Assistant Vice President, Commercial Lending; Summer Melton and Norbert Von Lotten as Banking Officers and Branch Managers; and Connie Kidd as Banking Officer, Loan Processor Team Leader.

Macon - Rivoli Bank & Trust
The bank announces the following additions to Rivoli Mortgage: Bobby Taylor, Executive Vice President, Tiffany Herndon, Vice President, Archie Allen, Barry Butcher, Paula Coatney, Martha Coleman, Ken Fowler, Tiffany Mazo, Jonathan Moore, Amy Myers, Sherri Nichols, Casey Phillips, Beth Scott, Pam Sloan and Amie Williard.

Sandersville - The Geo. D. Warthen Bank
Debra Helton and Patti Proveaux have been promoted to Assistant Vice President and Denice Battle to Banking Officer of Teller Operations.

Savannah - The Savannah Bank
Laura M. Robinson, previously Laura M. Horovitz, has joined the bank as Assistant Vice President.

Statesboro - Sea Island Bank
Terry Franklin, Debbie Jones, Gwen Patterson and Debra Stanford have been named Banking Officers at the bank’s Metter office.

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