About the GBA
I Professional Development I
Government Relations I
Services
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July 29, 2005 |
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Group 9 Meeting Location Changed Due to a change in renovation plans at the Chattahoochee Country Club in Gainesville, the Group 9 Meeting has been relocated 
to
Chateau Elan in Braselton. The
Group
Meetings
begin in September with the first four slated for Athens,
Braselton, Rome and Atlanta. These meetings are informative and
provide an excellent opportunity for visiting with other bankers
in your area. They will feature an informative discussion about
some recent innovative services available from the Georgia
Bankers Association. There will also be some good dialogue
about major state and federal issues before the industry. Your
GBA local leadership is elected at these meetings, so be sure to
attend. Online registration
is available. Please call
Susie McGehee at (404) 420-2010 with questions.45th Annual Leadership Conference Held Georgia’s future leaders in the banking industry met on Hilton Head Island last week for Leadership GBA’s 45th Annual Leadership Conference. Meredith Malcom, Vice President at The National Bank of Walton County, Monroe, was installed as the 2005-06 President. Joining Meredith as officers next year are Jay Forrester, Vice President, Georgia Bank & Trust Company, Augusta, and Wes Dodd, Executive Vice President of Corporate Finance, Community Bankshares, Inc., Cornelia. A special thanks to the many supporters who sponsored an event at the conference. Click here for the list of sponsors. One of the missions of Leadership GBA is to sponsor the Personal Economics Program (PEP), which is an effort by bankers to encourage financial education in their communities. Several bankers were recognized for their contributions to PEP. Please see the list of PEP award and golf scramble winners. A highlight of the conference is the election of Leadership GBA officers and the executive committee for the coming year. Each GBA Group elects members to the Executive Committee and several other bankers serve in statewide At Large positions. The 2005-06 Leadership GBA Executive Committee is:
Group 1:
Kim Brannen, Vice President,
Sea Island Bank, Statesboro
The officers, directors and staff of the following banks have contributed to the GBA FedPAC:
Grassroots Challenge on Credit Union Issue The Credit Union advocates are aggressively pushing H.R. 2317, the Credit Union Regulatory Improvements Act of 2005, and your help is needed in stopping this legislation. In summary, the bill would allow credit unions to stray even further from 
their mission of serving people of small means and expand their
ability to offer tax-subsidized commercial loans. GBA Chairman
Tom Wiley, President and CEO of
Flag Bank in Atlanta, said, “Several Georgia bankers had
the chance last week to meet with the leadership of all the
other state bankers associations across the country and we’ve
challenged each other to produce 230 letters per Congressional
district in order to generate 100,000 letters in opposition to
this bill. There have already been 580 letters sent from
Georgia, but our goal is 2990. Bankers from Congressman
Jim Marshall’s district lead the effort so far with 100
letters. How about helping out with the goal for your
congressional district?” We appreciate the American Bankers
Association making it so easy for us to generate quality letters
and it takes only a few seconds to
send a letter online. We hope every employee of every
GBA member will join in this effort. This is an important issue
and your involvement is critical. Please call
Elizabeth Chandler at the GBA at (404) 420-2027 with any
questions.BankPAC Golf Classic Scheduled Leadership GBA will host its Fifth Annual Georgia BankPAC Classic on October 19 at Big Canoe Golf Club in Big Canoe. The two-man scramble tournament is sure to be a challenging and fun event for everyone. It’s also a great opportunity to invite your legislators and directors to meet and play golf with your colleagues in the banking industry. The registration fee is $300 per team or $150 per person. Once again, the proceeds from this event will be donated to the GBA StatePAC. Please call GBA’s Susie McGehee at (404) 420-2010 with questions about the tournament. Register now for a great time and a chance to win the Georgia BankPAC Trophy. Annual Bank Counsel Conference The annual Bank Counsel Conference is scheduled for October 2-4 at The Ritz-Carlton Lodge, Reynolds Plantation at Lake Oconee. Bank Counsel Section Chair Bob Berry of Brinson, Askew, Berry, Seigler, Richardson & Davis, LLP in Rome said, “This conference provides that much needed timely information and is an excellent opportunity to network with your bank clients.” Held in conjunction with GBA’s President/CEO Conference, some of the hot topics scheduled are a BSA update, Executive Compensation and Director Liability and the ever popular Recent Developments in Banking Law. Senior officials from the financial institution regulatory agencies will also be on hand to provide guidance on what to expect during the 2006 exams. This event will also provide CLE Credits for those attending. Other activities include golf, fishing and shooting tournaments as well as a spouse program. For additional information, please call GBA’s Susie McGehee at (404) 420-2010. President/CEO Conference Announced GBA’s annual President/CEO Conference is will be held on October 2-4 at The Ritz-Carlton Lodge, Reynolds Plantation at Lake Oconee. Sponsored by the Community Bankers Committee and the GBA Board of Directors, this conference attracts bank leaders across Georgia. Andy Williams, President and COO of United Community Bank, Blairsville and chair of the committee said, “This conference provides a great opportunity to get the latest information that help you meet the day-to-day challenges of operating a bank.” Rob Cochran with United Community Banks, Inc., Blairsville, will be on hand to help you with your portfolio and balance sheet strategies through the challenging rate environment. Chris Low, Chief Economist with FTN Financial, New York, will talk about the Fed rate hike and when it might end, as well as the prospects for growth, inflation and the financial markets. The conference will conclude with author Dick Jackson of Atlanta as he shares the lessons he has learned from a lifelong journey of leading people, managing change and wilderness adventure. Activities at the conference include a golf tournament, fishing tournament and shooting tournament as well as a spouse program. The GBA special rate is $205 per night for single or double occupancy. To reserve your room, please contact the hotel directly at (800) 241-3333. The GBA room block for the conference will expire on September 2, 2005. A brochure detailing the program agenda is enclosed with this mailing. For additional information, please contact GBA’s Susie McGehee at (404) 420-2010. Fall AIB Online Training In partnership with the American Bankers Association and the American Institute of Banking, GBA is now offering its 2005 Fall online courses. These instructor-led online classes range from five to sixteen weeks in length and can be taken from the comfort of your home or the convenience of your office. All you need is a computer, printer and Internet access. Some of the courses included are Commercial Lending, Consumer Lending, Financial Accounting, General Accounting and Principles of Banking. For your convenience, a schedule and registration form are included in this Bulletin. For more information, please call Fran Williams at (404) 420-2015. SOTS Scheduled for November GBA’s Southern Operations and Technology School will be held November 6-11 at the University of Georgia. As a resource for focused training in banking technology and operations, the School is the premier provider in the Southeast and one of only a few in the country. The two-year program covers four areas: compliance, risk management, technology and general management. A brochure about this year’s school and an application are enclosed. Please call GBA’s Marybeth Jones at (404) 420-2032 for details. Welcome New Participants The GBA Insurance Trust, Inc. Board of Directors welcomes to the Trust Moore, Clarke, DuVall & Rodgers, P.C., Albany, James Moore, III, CEO; Providence Bank, i.o., Alpharetta, Bradley Serff, CEO, and Woodstock Bank & Trust, i.o., Woodstock, Larry Peterson, CEO. These companies join more than 290 community banks and associate members in this unmatched member benefit. Please call Susan Kelley at (404) 420-2017 for details. ABA Insurance Program Enhances Coverage for Banks, Directors & Officers In response to the increasing complexity of community banking, the ABA-sponsored insurance program, underwritten by Progressive Casualty Insurance Co., has released a new directors and officers/company liability policy for financial institutions. The new policy allows bankers to protect the directors, officers and the bank itself against exposures arising from the many services they now provide, under either a broad-form contract or on an individual-named-peril basis. Since the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act of 1999, community banks have ventured into activities well beyond the traditional banking arena. The policy continues to provide a special "non-erosion" feature that ensures that coverage is available to protect directors' and officers' personal liability, even if claims reach coverage maximums in suits against the bank itself. The policy has been approved in most states and is available through independent agents. For more information, call GBA’s Renee Valdez at (404) 420-2036. Stored Value Card Program: PRE Holdings, Inc. The Georgia Bankers Association recently engaged in a strategic relationship with PRE Holdings, Inc. bringing our members The Mio Money Prepaid MasterCard® Card, a reloadable debit card that offers customers all of the benefits of a bank debit or credit card, without requiring a bank account or a credit check. The consumer is only able to spend the amount they load on their card. Offering the Mio Card allows banks to serve the “unbanked” or “underserved” financial services segment of the U.S. population that may have few choices when it comes to financial services. Mio provides the low to moderate-income group a safe environment to manage their cash, especially for those that cannot qualify for a traditional bank account. Because of this, banks can use the Mio product to help satisfy their Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) requirements. The Mio Card is also gaining popularity with other segments looking for alternative ways to manage their money such as parents and teens, military families, consumers concerned about identity theft, and employers eager to direct deposit payments. Complete Article Did You Miss Last Week’s e-Bulletin? A reminder to those of you who are only on the mailing list to receive the printed version of our Bulletin: on alternating Fridays, we publish an abbreviated electronic version of our Bulletin that covers regulatory issues, hot topics and breaking news stories that have occurred during the week. This version of the Bulletin is sent only via email so if we do not have your email address, you are missing out on some key information. To receive our e-Bulletin, please send an email with your address to Lydia Thomas. We do not disclose email addresses. GBA Job Bank The Georgia Bankers Association offers free job posting resources for our member banks. These listings can be viewed online or through our bi-weekly publication included in the GBA Bulletin. Resume postings are also available. For more information please contact GBA’s Renee Valdez (404) 420-2036 or Kenyetta Parks (404) 420-2035. Newsmakers: Athens - Bank of Athens Damon Evans, UGA Athletic Director, has been named to the bank’s Advisory Board of Directors. Augusta - Georgia-Carolina Bancshares, Inc. Congratulations to Patrick G. Blanchard, CEO, for his recent appointment to the Georgia Medical Center Authority by Governor Sonny Perdue. Augusta - First Bank of Georgia Donald H. Skinner has been promoted to Senior Vice President and Columbia County Executive. Hiram - Georgia State Bank Melinda Abercrombie has been named Senior Vice President of Construction Lending. Norcross - Fidelity Bank Janet Sanchez has joined the bank as Vice President and Director of Retail Banking and Ashley Jackson as Vice President and Regional Manager. Ed Long has been promoted to Assistant Vice President. Roswell - American Trust Bank The bank announces the following additions: Scott Garland as Chief Operating Officer; Connie Pence as Executive Vice President; Rex Tallant as Senior Vice President and Senior Lending Officer; Jack Updegraff as Senior Vice President and Construction Lender; and Jackie Meadows as Vice President. Villa Rica - Community Bank of West Georgia Ann H. McClendon has been named Vice President/Branch Manager of their Cobb Commercial Bank. |
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Calendar of Events |
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| Details for August | ||
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Conferences |
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| Sept. 13-14 | Solutions 2005: GACHA Payments Conference | Atlanta |
| Oct. 2-4 | President/CEO Conference | Lake Oconee |
| Oct. 2-4 | Bank Counsel Conference | Lake Oconee |
| Oct. 27-28 | Marketing Conference | Atlanta |
| Nov. 30 - Dec. 1 | Credit Conference | Atlanta |
| Feb. 8-10, 2006 | HR Professionals Institute | Braselton |
| March 2-3, 2006 | Financial Risk Management Conference | Atlanta |
| March 16-17, 2006 | Operations and Technology Conference | Atlanta |
| April 6-7, 2006 | Security Conference | Savannah |
| May 25-26, 2006 | Rural Development and Lending Conference | St. Simons Island |
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Conventions/Events |
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| Sept. 7-15 | Group Meetings | Statewide |
| Oct. 19 | BankPAC Golf Classic | Big Canoe |
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Schools |
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| Nov. 6-11 | Southern Operations & Technology School | Athens |
| Feb. 20-22, 2006 | Southeastern School of Advanced Commercial Lending | Nashville, TN |
| March 5-10, 2006 | Southeastern School of Consumer Credit | Nashville, TN |
| April 30-May 6, 2006 | Georgia Banking School | Athens |
| May 21-26, 2006 | Southeastern School of Commercial Lending | Nashville, TN |
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Seminars |
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| Aug. 4 | Bank Secrecy Act: For Frontline Personnel | Telephone |
| Aug. 9 | Analyzing HMDA Data | Telephone |
| Aug. 10 | FACT and Credit Reporting Changes: Are You Ready? | Webinar |
| Aug. 11 | Cash Flow Analysis | Telephone |
| Aug. 15 | Basic Consumer Lending, Part 1 | Telephone |
| Aug. 16 | Employee Termination | Webinar |
| Aug. 17 | Compliance Issues for Commercial Lending | Webinar |
| Aug. 18 | Becoming an Exceptional Supervisor, Session I | Telephone |
| Aug. 22 | How to Implement the New CRA Provisions | Telephone |
| Aug. 23 | COBRA Continuation for Health Insurance | Webinar |
| Aug. 25 | Becoming an Exceptional Supervisor, Session II | Telephone |
| Aug. 25 | Financial Auditing for Internal Auditors | Webinar |
| Aug. 29 | Basic Consumer Lending, Part 2 | Telephone |
| Sept. 7 | Compliance Issues for Front Line Employees | Webinar |
| Sept. 7 | HMDA Workshop | Macon |
| Sept. 7 | Using OCC APR Software | Telephone |
| Sept. 9 | Basics for Loan Support Personnel | Telephone |
| Sept. 13 | IRS Information Reporting | Telephone |
| Sept. 14/15 | IRA Update | Gainesville/Macon |
| Sept. 15 | Compliance Issues for Marketing & Advertising | Webinar |
| Sept. 22 | Repossession & Sale of Collateral | Telephone |
| Sept. 22/23 | Opening New Accounts, I & II | Webinar |
| Sept. 29 | Calling Skills | Telephone |
| Oct. 6 | HR 101 | Macon |
| Oct. 13 | Advanced Loan Documentation | Tifton |
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Board/Committee Meetings |
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| Aug. 3 | Credit Committee | Atlanta |
| Aug. 25 | Georgia Banking School Administrative Committee | Atlanta |
| Oct. 23-25 | GBA Insurance Trust Board of Directors | Young Harris |
| Oct. 24-25 | GBA Retirement Services Board of Directors | Young Harris |
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www.gabankers.com |