Happy New Year!
All of us on the GBA Staff send our thanks for your tremendous support throughout the past year.  More bankers that ever are engaged in telling our story to elected officials, our educational programs are operating at full capacity, our member services are being constantly improved, and over 3,000 bankers are now receiving our weekly updates.  Your support is overwhelming and we send our best wishes to you for a successful and prosperous 2007.

Legislative Reception Drawing Big Crowd
Advance registrations for GBA’s annual Legislative Reception have been pouring in and we know every bank will want to be represented.  The Reception is scheduled for Wednesday, January 10, 2007, from 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency, Atlanta.  Legislators, statewide elected officials and our specially invited guests have returned in their response cards and we expect a big crowd.  It is crucial that a large number of bankers attend and show your support for the banking industry and the Association.  If you plan to spend the night, the cut-off date for the special GBA rate of $159 per night at the Hyatt is December 29.  You may reserve a room by calling the Hyatt at (404) 577-1234.  After the cut-off date, reservations will be accepted at the Hyatt on a space-available, prevailing rate basis.  With questions, please call GBA’s Susie McGehee at (404) 420-2010 or Courtenay Pope at (404) 420-2015.

GBA Board to Consider Proposals
The GBA Board of Directors, Public Affairs Committee and BankPAC Board will meet jointly on January 10 prior to the annual Legislative Reception to consider legislative proposals we expect to be considered by the 2007 legislature.  “We expect the 2007 session to be busy for our industry and want to make sure our members are actively involved in the process,” said GBA Chairman Bobby Carmichael, Chairman and CEO of Commercial Bank & Trust in LaGrange.  “Our staff lobbyists will be at the Capitol every day during the session and will need the support of local bankers in communicating our position on issues with your legislators,” he said.  Among the issues we expect:

• State Taxation.  We understand from a number of our members that your state tax liability increased as a result of the Revenue Department’s housekeeping bill in 2005.  We believe this increase was unintended and a Tax Advisory Committee has been appointed to consider alternatives.

• Federal Home Loan Bank Letters of Credit.  The Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta has asked GBA to help get legislation passed that would authorize FHLB Letters of Credit to be used to pledge against public deposits.  A draft bill has been developed.

• Department of Banking and Finance (DBF) Housekeeping Bill.  As the DBF did not propose a housekeeping bill in 2006, this year’s bill is expected to cover a number of issues our state chartered bank members have suggested needing attention.  The draft bill is expected to be released in the next few days.

• Garnishment.  We have been asked to consider a proposal to slightly modify the state garnishment statute to clarify that garnishment notices are to be sent to the official legal address of the bank. 

• ATM Emergency Call Devises.  As we reported in last week’s e-Bulletin, at a hearing called to discuss ATM safety, Sen. John Wiles (R-Marietta) said he was introducing legislation to mandate emergency call devices on ATMs.  We will continue to help educate legislators on the pitfalls of the idea.

• Credit Report File Freeze.  We monitored legislation last year that would allow consumers to freeze their credit information distributed by the various credit reporting companies.  We expect another bill to be introduced in 2007 which may be more manageable for consumers, lenders and the credit reporting companies.

• Biometrics.  GBA testified this fall before a committee studying the various ways governments and businesses are using biometrics to identify employees and customers.  There is a possibility legislation will be introduced to limit the use of certain biometrics.

We expect other bills to be introduced that would affect our industry; be watching for the weekly Legislative Update we will publish during the Session.  With questions, please call GBA's Elizabeth Chandler at (404) 420-2027.

Overdraft Ruling Positive for Banks
GBA has been closely following litigation in California that would drastically affect banks and their customers choosing to take advantage of direct deposit of certain government payments.  The California case was considering whether directly deposited Social Security benefits and other public benefits could be used to cover overdrafts and overdraft fees.  The court ruled last month in the Miller v. Bank of America case that banks may legally apply credits for such deposits to cover debits for overdrafts and overdraft fees.  This ruling overturned an earlier trial court decision that such payments were illegal under California law.  In reversing the trial court, the appellate court held that allowing a bank to balance overdrafts, to collect insufficient funds fees, and to correct bank errors against deposits to the account in which they were incurred is factually and legally distinguishable from the setoff addressed in an earlier 1974 California case, which involved the setoff of a customer’s account to pay a separate credit card debt with the same bank.  The court’s decision leaves in place the basic rule discussed in the 1974 case, while clarifying the limits of its applicability.  A motion for rehearing was denied but the plaintiffs are expected to ask the California Supreme Court to review the decision.

Retained Earnings Rule Withdrawn
The Federal Housing Finance Board has withdrawn a proposed rule that would have set minimum levels of retained earnings for individual Federal home loan banks.  In July, the GBA joined our colleagues with the other state bankers associations and the American Bankers Association writing in opposition to the rule.   In addition to setting a minimum amount of retained earnings for each federal home loan bank, the rule would also have prohibited any home loan bank from paying out dividends if they failed to meet their retained earnings minimum, limited outstanding stock, and prohibited a home loan bank from selling excess stock to its members or paying stock dividends.  We felt the proposed rule would have unnecessarily harmed member banks. Georgia banks have come to rely on the FHLB to provide a stable source of funding for mortgage and community and economic development lending.  With questions, please call GBA’s Elizabeth Chandler at (404) 420-2027.

Bank Security Academy: Employee Investigations
We have been extremely pleased with the membership’s response to GBA’s Bank Security Academy announced recently by GBA’s Security Committee chaired by Brian Frederick of Altamaha Bank & Trust in Vidalia.  The Academy is a program of education and training fully sanctioned by the Georgia Bankers Association and designed to provide security officers with the basic knowledge and skills required to perform in a competent and professional manner.  The Academy consists of a course of study provided though GBA-sponsored events totaling 20 hours.  Material is available through a combination of conferences, seminars, webinars, banking schools and telephone training sessions. The course is designed to be completed in 12 – 24 months and attendance is tracked by GBA. Upon completion, candidates must sit for a written examination created by the Security Committee in order to graduate and receive their Academy diploma.  Candidates who do not wish to take the exam, or do not complete the exam successfully, will receive a certificate of Academy attendance. The next in-person course on Employee Investigations is slated for Monday, January 22, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Ramada Plaza, Macon formerly Crowne Plaza).  This interactive one-day seminar will help you deal with the obstacles and challenges you face when conducting employee investigations.  Some of the topics to be covered include:  Evidence Collection, Analysis, and Organization, Interview and Interrogation and Workplace Violence.  The seminar is open to any banker, not just those planning to graduate from the Academy, and it is suitable for Bank Security Officers, Human Resource Managers, Auditors and Branch Managers.  Instructors for the seminar are Amos Welch, CFE, CPP, Regional Manager, Corporate Investigations and Cindy Blalock, Senior Vice President, Group Employee Relations Manager, both with BB&T in Atlanta.  The registration fee is $195. Please click here to register online.  With questions, please call GBA’s Courtenay Pope at (404) 420-2015.

Georgia Banking School Early Bird Registration Ends December 31
The deadline for taking advantage of the Georgia Banking School “Early Bird” discount is December 31.  Save $125 by registering for the Class of 2009 now.  The incoming class is already half subscribed, and we expect a waiting list for some students like we have had the past two years.  The Georgia Banking School, a three-year resident and home study program, meets in 2007 at the University of Georgia April 29-May 4.  Please call GBA’s Marybeth Jones at (404) 420-2032 for details and registration information.

GBA Convention Registration Open for 2007 Meeting
Bankers are already registering for the 2007 Annual Convention slated for June 17-20 at the fabulous Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman.  The GBA convention draws hundreds of Georgia bankers, associate members and their families each year.  The program, networking opportunities, recreational events and the location are always top quality.  With questions about the 2007 convention, please contact GBA's Susie McGehee at (404) 420-2010. 

Winter 2007 AIB Classroom Courses
Two AIB classroom courses are slated to begin meeting early next month:

• Supervision, taught by Cassie Parker of McIntosh State Bank, McDonough.
  Beginning January 8, 15 weeks, $295, text $75

• Consumer Lending, taught by Steve McFarland of Gwinnett Community Bank, Duluth.
  Beginning January 9, 10 weeks, $195, text $75

AIB classes meet three hours each week for 10 to 15 weeks and will be held at a local financial institution.  If you would like to see a specific AIB course offered in your area or if you have any questions about AIB classroom courses, please contact GBA’s Alison Moreau at (404) 420-2034.

Register Today for AIB Online Courses
Following is a list of the January AIB Online Courses.  These courses are instructor-facilitated with weekly assignments.  Please register at least two weeks ahead of time to secure a seat in the class.

• ABA Online Review Course for the CTFA Exam (open enrollment), 12 weeks, $750
• Analyzing Bank Performance, 7 weeks, $695 (Jan. 16)
• Analyzing Financial Statements*, 16 weeks, $475 (Jan. 16)
• Commercial Lending, 16 weeks, $375 (Jan. 29)
• Consumer Lending, 16 weeks, $375 (Jan. 22)
• General Accounting*, 16 weeks, $475 (Jan. 16)
• Introduction to Mortgage Lending, 16 weeks, $375 (Jan. 22)
• Law & Banking:  Applications, 16 weeks, $425 (Jan. 22)
• Principles of Banking, 16 weeks, $375 (Jan. 16 & Jan. 29)
• Today's Teller: Developing Basic Skills* (open enrollment), 8 weeks, $275

These courses 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. (Classes with an asterisk * require Microsoft Excel Software.)  Please see the AIB Online January – April 2007 Schedule for a complete listing.  Please call GBA’s Alison Moreau at (404) 420-2034 with questions.

HR Professionals Institute Scheduled
The HR Professionals Institute is scheduled for February 21-23, 2007, at Chateau Élan in Braselton.  The Human Resources Committee has planned an exciting agenda that you won’t want to miss.  A block of rooms has been reserved and the deadline for reservations is January 22, 2007.  You may call the hotel directly at (678) 425-0900 to make a reservation.  Call GBA’s Marybeth Jones at (404) 420-2032 with questions or to register.

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 over 400 registered users.  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 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 www.gabankers.com and follow the link from our home page or contact GBA’s Kenyetta Parks (404) 420-2035.  We encourage every bank to sign up today. 

Thumbprint Signature Program Proven to Reduce Fraud
GBA’s Thumbprint Signature Program was designed to help banks lower their losses encountered by check fraud.  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 is only used by law enforcement agencies in the investigation of fraud claims made by account holders, and a financial institution’s usage of the program acts as a natural deterrent.  No database of fingerprints is kept by the banking industry.  To find out more information or to order this unique program please contact GBA’s Kenyetta Parks at (404) 420-2035.

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 Kenyetta Parks at (404) 420-2035.

Some of the Services Available Through GBA Services, Inc.

Pledging Pool Program	Thumbprint Signature Program
Georgia Laws Code Book	Georgia Financial Directory
Discounted Check Program	Internet Loan Closing Program
Human Resources Solutions	Checking Club Programs
Discounted Local & Long Distance Program	Bond and D&O Insurance
Non-Qualified Executive Benefits (BOLI)	Trust and Investment Services
Record Retention Guide	Holiday Decals
Frontline Sales Platform	Financial Industry Pre-Employment Assessments
FinCrime	Job Bank

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 or to order any of these products or services, please call (404) 522-1501.

Newsmakers:

Alpharetta - Bank of North Georgia Kessel Stelling, has been named Chief Executive Officer.  Don Howard will continue to serve as bank chairman as well as CEO of Synovus’ Atlanta region.  Randy Carroll also continues to serve as the bank’s Vice Chairman.  Dawsonville - Mountain State Bank Amanda Perkins has been named Vice President and Commercial Loan Officer and Melissa “Missy” Bushong has joined the bank as the Forsyth County Mortgage Originator.

Stelling Perkins Bushong

Serving the needs of Georgia Bankers since 1892 Search I Staff I Contact Us Georgia Bankers Association - 50 Hurt Plaza, Suite 1050, Atlanta, GA 30303 • Phone 404.522.1501 • Fax 404.522.9848