September 2, 2005

With questions about your Group Meeting, please call GBA’s Susie McGehee at (404) 420-2010.

NCUA Folds Tent
The National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) this week withdrew their foolish objections to two credit union conversions to mutual savings banks.  CUNA has done everything possible to prevent the conversion including requiring additional mailings to members because some disclosure information was improperly folded in two instances.  The credit union members voted overwhelmingly to convert, and GBA joined the American Bankers Association and other state bankers associations in filing an amicus curiae in support of the credit unions who wanted to convert.  We are still asking our members to write letters to oppose legislation which would give credit unions additional commercial lending authority while reducing their capital requirements.  Below is this week’s update on the number of letters being written to the Georgia Congressional Delegation Some progress was made in the last week, but we have a long way to go to meet our goal of 2990 letters.  CEOs should forward this link to all bank employees and ask that they take just a moment to have a letter sent to their member of congress.  The American Bankers Association has made this letter writing campaign extremely easy and it literally only take a few seconds to have a letter generated on this important issue.  Please send a letter online today.  Please call GBA’s Elizabeth Chandler at the GBA at (404) 420-2027 with any questions.  Here’s a chart showing the number of letters each member of Congress has received in support of our position.
 

President/CEO and Bank Counsel Conferences Begin Soon
Registrations are coming in at a steady pace for the President/CEO and Bank Counsel Conferences.  The Community Bankers Committee and the Bank Counsel Section have both planned excellent programs that will provide timely information at a great location.  (Note to bank lawyers:  The Commission on Continuing Lawyer Competency has approved 6.8 general CLE hours for the Bank Counsel Conference program agenda.)  Our guaranteed room block expires September 9 so make your reservations today by calling The Ritz-Carlton Lodge, Reynolds Plantation directly at (800) 241-3333.  A hosted event has been scheduled that you won’t want to miss.  On Monday evening, October 3, GBA Chair Tom Wiley, President and CEO, and the officers and directors of Flag Bank in Atlanta, will host a Plantation Supper at the Washington Grass Inn in Greensboro. Please call GBA’s Susie McGehee at (404) 420-2010 with questions about the Conference.  Register now to take advantage of this great opportunity to network with your colleagues.

2005 GBA Salary Survey has been completed
We appreciate the banks who participated in this year’s annual Salary Survey; those banks have been sent the compiled results.  We are pleased with this year’s survey as we added quite a few new features including trend reports requested by this year’s Human Resource Committee.  If you were unable to participate but would still like to receive a copy, please call or email your request to GBA’s Renee Valdez at (404) 420-2036. Pricing is based on the asset size of your bank so everyone can take advantage of the survey.

CRA Data Collection Ceases for Some Banks
You will recall from previous e-Bulletins that GBA supported efforts to raise the small bank CRA rules from banks with assets of $250 million to banks with assets of $1 billion.  The Federal Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council announced  under the new CRA Rule, intermediate small institutions are not required to collect and report CRA loan data for small business, small farm, and community development loans. Institutions between $250 million and $1 billion may stop collecting such CRA loan data as of yesterday. HMDA data collection and reporting is not changed by the new CRA rules.  Call GBA's Elizabeth Chandler at (404) 420-2027 with questions.

Register Today for AIB Online Courses
Just a reminder that the following AIB online classes begin on October 3 with the registration deadline being September 19.

• Economics for Bankers, 16 wks, $405

• Fundamentals of Consumer Lending, 5 wks, $240

• Marketing Financial Services, 16 wks, $405

• Supervisor Certificate, 16 wks, $750

• Today's Teller: Developing Basic Skills, (open enrollment), 8 wks, $300

• Trust Basics, 16 weeks, $405

These courses are instructor-facilitated with weekly assignments.  They 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.  With questions, please call GBA’s Fran Williams at (404) 420-2015.

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