About the GBA  I  Professional Development  I  Government Relations  I  Services

June 3, 2005
State/National Bank Parity
David Sorrell, Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance, testified recently at an FDIC hearing in support of the Financial Service Roundtable’s request to consider regulations which would rebalance the ability of state and national banks to compete equally in an interstate environment.  In his testimony, the Commissioner stated the dual banking system is out of balance, most Georgia banks do not want the Comptroller of the Currency’s preemption authority to be rolled back and that the banking environment has changed substantially since the last two congressional updates to the interstate banking laws had been passed in 1994 and 1997.  He encouraged the FDIC to codify several interpretations the agency has made related to state-bank interstate activity and made the point that interstate banking activity should be charter-neutral.  The Georgia Bankers Association filed a comment letter in support of the Commissioner’s statement and encouraged the FDIC to promulgate rules which the FDIC felt were within their existing legal authority and develop a plan that would rebalance the chartering system which has historically envisioned nationally-chartered banks and state-chartered banks being treated equally.  In our statement to FDIC, GBA mentioned the importance of the OCC’s preemption of the Georgia Fair Lending Act and why it was essential for the Georgia General Assembly to have included the provision that gave state banks parity with national banks when the federal preemption was given.  We also mentioned legislation passed this past session which extended that same parity treatment to state banks should other federal laws be preempted.  The whole issue of preemption is controversial in Washington with both consumer advocates and some members of Congress objecting.  We do not expect FDIC to move quickly on this issue as the agency will need to carefully consider the various options available to them.

Free Credit Reports
Georgia law has given consumers two free credit reports for years, but many never took advantage of the opportunity.  With the passage of the FACT Act by Congress, the credit bureaus were required to give at least one credit report free each year.  News reports of the availability of this service have been widespread since Georgia was included in the list of states going onto the program June 1.  If you have customers asking you about the service, the easiest way to help is to direct them to the website managed by the three major credit bureaus.  Atlanta Consumer Reporter Clark Howard is recommending individuals use this link every four months and get their free report from one of the three (you can get a free report annually from each one).  We continue to get calls from bankers and consumers concerned about identity theft, and we recommend first looking at your credit report.  GBA’s STOP I.T. public awareness material is also still available from our website.

Real Estate Authority Bill Introduced
 House Financial Services Committee Chairman Michael Oxley (R-OH) and Ranking Member Barney Frank (D-MA) have introduced a bill (H.R. 2660) that would specifically add real estate brokerage and management as permissible activities for national banks.  The bill, entitled The Fair Choice and Competition in Real Estate Act of 2005, was introduced to counter the efforts being made by the Realtors to stop the Fed and Treasury from granting banks the ability to offer these services to their customers.  The Realtors’ supporters in Congress have successfully used the appropriation process the past few years to block the Fed and Treasury from adopting their outstanding proposal which would grant the authority.  Some observers believe the Oxley-Frank bill could be used as a catalyst to bring the question to a head this year. Please call GBA’s Elizabeth Chandler at (404) 420-2027 with questions.

Status of Important Banking Cases
The “Status of Important Banking Cases”is made available monthly to members of the Bank Counsel Section as an enhanced value to your membership. Our thanks to the American Bankers Association's Office of General Counsel for providing this resource.  If your bank’s counsel is not yet a member, check out the benefits of joining on the Bank Counsel Section page. Please call GBA’s Renee Valdez at (404) 420-2036 for information.

GBA BankPAC Update
Since the kickoff of the 2005 BankPAC Campaign, officers and directors of the following banks have contributed to the GBA StatePAC:

Thanks to all for your support.  If you have questions or need additional information, please contact Elizabeth Chandler at (404) 420-2027.

 Brownfield Redevelopment Workshops
The Georgia Department of Natural Resources Environmental Protection Division and the University of Georgia are presenting a series of free workshops throughout Georgia to help local leaders learn how Georgia’s new Brownfields program can help convert blighted properties into community assets that create jobs, contribute to the local tax base, stimulate neighborhood revitalization and preserve greenspace.  The workshops are scheduled for June 13th in Marietta, June 14th in Morrow, June 15th in Clarkston and June 22nd in Thomson.  Please call GBA’s Marybeth Jones at (404) 420-2032 for more information.

 Still Time to Register for New Bankruptcy Amendments Seminar
There is still time to register for the New Bankruptcy Amendments seminar scheduled for June 15 at the Holiday Inn Macon Conference Center and June 16 at the Best Western Lanier Center in Gainesville. Due to the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Act of 2005, substantial amendments have been made to the availability of bankruptcy relief for consumers.  The amendments to Chapters 7 and 13 are so far reaching that many bankruptcy professionals expect to see a surge of bankruptcy filings between now and mid-October when the new changes go into effect.  Gerald L. Blanchard and Wendy Hagenau with Powell Goldstein, LLP of Atlanta will be on hand to explain the new act and answer the many questions associated with it.  For questions about this half-day seminar, call GBA’s Fran Williams at (404) 420-2015.

Leadership Conference Hotel Deadline Quickly Approaching
Just a reminder that Leadership GBA’s room block for the 45th Annual Leadership Conference, will expire on June 19.  The July 17-20 conference will be held at the Hilton Oceanfront Resort on Hilton Head Island, SC. If you have not already done so, please reserve your room as soon as possible by contacting the hotel directly at (800) 845-8001 or (843) 842-8000.  The negotiated rate is $176 per night plus a $7 per room per night resort fee.  The Leadership GBA Executive Committee has planned a great program that you won’t want to miss.  Please call GBA’s Susie McGehee at (404) 420-2010 or Fran Williams at (404) 420-2015 with questions.

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 have the advantage of choosing a date and location that works best for your bank employees.  For more information about in-house seminars, call GBA’s Susie McGehee at (404) 420-2010 or Fran Williams at (404) 420-2015.  Take advantage of this great training opportunity without ever having to leave your bank.

Welcome New Member
 GBA Retirement Services, Inc. is pleased to welcome to the Trust Legacy State Bank, Loganville, Mack Ivey, President and CEO. The programs offered through the GBA Master Pension and Profit Sharing Trust provide flexibility to meet the needs of any bank or associate member who may be looking to add or change 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) 420-2025 for information on how GBA can help with your retirement plan design.

For sale
One 28x76 DCA approved modular bank building, fully equipped. The price is $80,000 and it will be available September 1, 2005.  Please contact Tracy Dixon at First National Bank of Decatur County, Bainbridge, at (229) 246-3131 for complete details.

Is Check Fraud Draining Your Income?
Lower your bank’s check fraud by participating in GBA’s Thumbprint Signature Program.  The device known as the Thumbprint Signature touch pad is intended to deter counterfeit and stolen check fraud by obtaining a thumbprint signature from non-customers when cashing on-us and not-on-us checks.  The Thumbprint signature can be used by law enforcement agencies in the investigation of fraud claims made by account holders, and financial institution’s usage of the program is a natural deterrent.  No database of fingerprints will be kept by the banking industry, and the signature will be shared with law enforcement officials only in cases of suspected fraud.  This inexpensive program can decrease your check fraud loss immediately.  To order this unique program or for further information, please call GBA’s Renee Valdez at (404) 420-2036 or Kenyetta Parks at (404) 420-2035.

 Receive & Post Fraudulent Activity Free
Is your bank utilizing FinCrime?  Have you invited your local law enforcement to participate?  It is free and it is working.  In September 2003 the Georgia Bankers Association introduced FinCrime.com, a database channel facilitating the immediate distribution of information regarding fraudulent activity among financial institutions and law enforcement.  Since FinCrime’s inception, we have 327 registered users and have seen nearly 300 postings in the state of Georgia.  Each year, Georgia financial institutions lose millions of dollars due to check fraud; counterfeit checks, identity theft, robberies and various other types of financial crimes.  It’s a fact that these crimes are difficult to track and usually are spread among several financial institutions statewide and even nationwide.  Immediate notification and the ability to cross-reference these crimes will not only notify you, the bank, of a potential loss/crime but will also assist law enforcement with combining these crimes to not only solve the crime but to seek a tougher penalty.

The GBA has joined a network of state bankers associations offering this service to their members and local law enforcement.  Participating financial institutions share information in an online, searchable database of fraudulent activity.  The result-shared aggregate data identifies and links criminals to their acts.  The GBA is excited to see this program work and grow.  The positive feedback and the results that we have seen in Georgia are outstanding.  This program is simple and easy-to-use with immediate notification.  To get started, you may log on to FinCrime.com or contact GBA’s Renee Valdez at (404) 420-2036.  Our thanks to GBA’s Security Committee for their assistance in reviewing the program and making the recommendation to the GBA Board of Directors to go forward with this project.  Also, the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance recently made notice of the program in one of their monthly bulletins to state-chartered banks.

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.

Reg DD Rules Effective in 2006
In last Friday’s e-Bulletin we told you about The Federal Reserve issuing a final rule amending Reg DD, the Truth in Savings Act, intended to improve the uniformity of information given consumers when they overdraw their deposit accounts.  The rule deals with the popular courtesy overdraft protection service many banks offer.  We told you the rule is effective July 1, but didn’t tell you what year – it’s 2006.
Newsmakers:

 Dublin - Morris State Bank
Ben H. Hall, Jr., has been appointed to the Board of Directors.

Gainesville - Southern Heritage Bank
Chris England has been named Division President.  Congratulations to City Executive Tren Watson on his upcoming retirement.

Gainesville - GB&T Bancshares, Inc.
Newly elected to the Board of Directors are John E. Mansour and L. S. (Casey) Cagle.

Jackson - First Georgia Community Bank
Congratulations to Joe Strickland, CEO, directors, officers and staff on the recent opening of the bank’s Covington branch where Nancy Mask will serve as Branch Manager; Guy Dabbs as City President; Jimmy Turner as Executive Vice President of Operations and Technology; and Ted Parker, John Chestnut, Gid Samples, and Rick Ward as Commercial Lenders.

Jonesboro - Community Capital Bank
W. Kevin Brumbeloe has been named President and CEO.

LaFayette - The Bank of LaFayette
Chip Grant has joined the bank as Vice President and Loan Officer.

Lizella - First Community Bank of Georgia
The bank announces the following promotions:  Deborah Matthews, Robin Rushing, and Shelly Winger to Assistant Vice Presidents; Lisa McAfee to Banking Officer; and Debra Taylor to Loan Operations Officer.

Calendar of Events
Details for June

 

Conferences

 
July 17-20 Leadership Conference Hilton Head Island, SC
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
     

Conventions/Events

 
June 19-22 Annual Convention Vail, CO
September 7-15 Group Meetings Statewide
Oct. 19 BankPAC Golf Classic Big Canoe
     

 

Schools

 
June 19-24 Southern Trust School Mobile, AL
Nov. 6-11 Southern Operations & Technology School Athens

 

 

 

 

Seminars

 
June 7 Reducing Fair Lending Risk Telephone
June 8 Telephone Skills Webinar
June 8 Bank Director Seminar Marietta
June 9 These People Drive Me Crazy Telephone
June 9 Lending Compliance: From App to Closing Webinar
June 9 These People Drive Me Crazy Telephone
June 14 Risked Based Auditing Webinar
June 14 Regulations Most Frequently "Screwed Up" by Lenders Telephone
June 16 Handling Overdrafts: New Federal Guidelines Telephone
June 16 Loan Fraud Webinar
June 15/16 The New Bankruptcy Amendments Macon/Gainesville
June 28 2005 Common Mistakes in UCC Filing Telephone
June 29-30 Analyzing Commercial Financial Statements Macon
June 30 Personal Financial Statement Analysis Telephone
July 12 Truth in Lending: Auditing Open-ended Disclosures Telephone
July 14 Robbery Procedures Webinar
July 20 BSA, OFAC & Patriot Act Webinar
July 21 Safe Deposit Liability Webinar
Aug. 10 FACT/FCRA/Reg V Webinar
Aug. 17 Compliance Issues for Commercial Lending Webinar
Aug. 23 COBRA Webinar
Aug. 25 Financial Auditing for Internal Affairs Webinar
Sept. 7 Compliance Issues for Front Line Employees Webinar
   

Board/Committee Meetings

 
July 28 GBA Retirement Services Board of Directors St. Simons Island
July 29 GBA Insurance Trust Board of Directors St. Simons Island
Oct. 23-25 GBA Insurance Trust Board of Directors Young Harris
Oct. 24-25 GBA Retirement Services Board of Directors Young Harris
     

www.gabankers.com

 About the GBA  I  Professional Development  I  Government Relations  I  Services