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January 27, 2006

2006 Annual Convention Plans Made
Be on the lookout for your 2006 Annual Convention brochure that will be mailed on February 8.  We are excited about the momentum going into this year’s annual meeting.  Last year in Colorado, we had a record-breaking crowd and most reported they are coming again this year and bringing more friends in the industry.  We have booked the magnificent Ritz-Carlton Beach Resort in Naples, Florida for this family-friendly event being held June 18-21.  Complete details about the convention will be in the brochure and GBA’s website will be continually updated with information about tours and other available activities. With questions, please call GBA’s Susie McGehee at (404) 420-2010.

Committee Seeks Input
GBA Associate Members elect a representative to the GBA Board every other year and this year’s member will take office in June for a term ending in 2008.  The election process begins with the current board member appointing a nominating committee to make a recommendation to all associate members.  A vote on the nominee among the associate members is then held.  Steve Powell, President of Steve H. Powell & Company in Statesboro, the current Associate Member Representative, has appointed the following as the Nominating Committee:

Danny Johnston, Safe Systems, Inc., Alpharetta
Elaine Demarest, Demarest Strategy Group, Hilton Head
Walt Moeling, Powell Goldstein, LLP, Atlanta
Paul Holmes, Life of the South, Monticello

You may contact any of these volunteers to recommend individuals to serve as the Board’s Associate Member Representative.  Links to their contact information can be found on the Associate Member page.

Welcome New Associate Members
Congratulations to the following companies for being approved for Associate Membership at the January 11^th GBA Board of Directors meeting:

• Choate Construction Company, Atlanta, Brian Bollins, Project Manager

• CipherTrust, Inc., Alpharetta, Guy Lever, Director of Marketing

• MainStreet Technologies, Cornelia, Jonathon Closs, Sales Representative

• MindPower, Inc., Atlanta, Jack Stenger

• Quantum, Irvine, California, Coley Burke, Sales Manager

• VecSector, LLC, Pearson, Dustin Wildes, President

Company descriptions and contact information have been added to the Associate Member page.  With questions about these or other associate members, please call Kenyetta Parks at (404) 420-2035.

National Go Direct Month Begins
February is National Go Direct Month and financial institutions are stepping up direct deposit promotions during Go Direct Days – the first few days of each month when most people get their Social Security or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) checks in the mail.  Sponsored by the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Federal Reserve Banks, Go Direct is a national campaign that aims to inform Americans about the security, ease and convenience of using direct deposit for Social Security and other federal benefits, and to encourage them to sign up. Go Direct makes it easy for financial institutions to get started by providing customizable, co-brandable marketing materials such as brochures and posters that may be used during National Go Direct Month. These tools can be found in the special Partner section of the Go Direct website.  You also can call (952) 346-6055 to speak to a campaign representative for more information.

Farm Credit System to Expand?
The Farm Credit System has published a report from a project called Horizons which is clearly designed to set the stage to expand their lending authority.  In its material, FCS says, “The goal of this report is to stimulate awareness of the ways in which the needs of farmers, ranchers, and rural businesses have changed, and to explore solutions to maintain a vibrant agricultural sector and build a strong economic future for rural America.”  That’s code for “Us tax-exempt lenders want to take even more business away from the tax-paying banks.”  Stay tuned; this issue will heat up in Congress.

Legislative Update
GBA’s e-Legislative Update is intended to keep you apprised of the bills that the GBA is tracking on the industry’s behalf and is sent on Fridays during the session. Click here for this week's edition.

GBA BankPAC Update
Since the last Bulletin, Kirby Thompson, VP of Community/Legislative Affairs, Equifax, Atlanta, has contributed to the GBA StatePAC.  Thanks for your support.

Operations and Technology Conference
The Operations and Technology Conference will be held March 16-17, 2006 at the Atlanta Renaissance Waverly Hotel.  Special thanks to Tom Healan, Committee Chair and Senior Vice President and CFO of Lanier Community Bank in Buford, and the entire Operations/Technology Committee for carefully planning this conference to feature subjects pertinent to you and your bank.  A block of rooms has been reserved until February 13th.  For room reservations, please call the Renaissance Waverly directly at (770) 953-4500.  With questions, please call GBA’s Marybeth Jones at (404) 420-2032.

AIB Classroom Course Starting Soon
AIB’s Consumer Lending course begins Tuesday, February 7, at First Bank of Dalton from 6:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. and will be taught by Denny Donegan.  This ten-week, two credit AIB course introduces students to the consumer lending process, its importance to the bank and consumers, and the environment in which it functions.  Participants learn the essentials about closed-end loans, indirect loans and related credit products and open-end credit products.  They also trace the consumer lending process from developing and taking loan applications to collection and recovery.  The course explores what is involved in a credit investigation, decision making, loan pricing and loan policy.  Participants develop a greater understanding for relationship building, new lending technologies and the importance of consumer regulations.  This course is perfect for entry-level consumer lenders, consumer credit personnel, and bank employees who need to understand consumer credit.  If you would like for the GBA to offer a specific course or courses in your area or if you have questions about AIB classes, please contact GBA’s Alison Moreau at (404) 420-2034.

Seminar Date Change
The date for GBA’s Bankrupty, Garnishment, Liens & Levies seminar scheduled in Janary has been changed.  It will now be held on Wednesday, Febuary 15, at the Holiday Inn, Cartersville.  This informational seminar will address changes in the Federal Bankruptcy Law as well as other changes and developments in the area of liens, levies, and garnishments.  For questions, please call GBA’s Susie McGehee at (404) 420-2010 or Fran Williams at (404) 420-2010.

BSA Seminar Scheduled for April 20
Both federal and state banking regulators have “stepped up” their efforts to examine and enforce compliance with the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA).  Now, BSA compliance is much more than completing CTRs, SARs, and a $3,000 Monetary Instruments Log.  To help you manage these increasing challenges, GBA will host a BSA seminar on Thursday, April 20, at the Holiday Inn Macon Conference Center.  Steve Moore with Bank Compliance Services is the seminar presenter.  For questions, call GBA’s Susie McGehee at (404) 420-2010 or Fran Williams at (404) 420-2010.

Register Today for AIB Online Courses
Just a reminder that the following AIB online classes begin on February 13 with the registration deadline being January 30.

• ABA Online Review Course for the CTFA Exam (open enrollment), 12 wks, $750

• Agriculture Lending, 10 wks, $375

• Managing Funding, Liquidity and Capital, 6 wks, $545

• Problem Loan Workouts, 6 wks, $275

• Trust Basics, 16 weeks, $375

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.

Welcome New Participants
The GBA Insurance Trust, Inc. Board of Directors welcomes to the Trust Rockbridge Commercial Bank, Atlanta, Lauch McKinnon, II, CEO; Covenant Bank & Trust, Chickamauga, Trent Sanford, CEO; and Century Security Bank, Duluth, Gary McClung, CEO.  These companies join more than 290 community banks and associate members in this unmatched member benefit.  Please call GBA’s Susan Kelley at (404) 420-2017 for details.

Another Good Year for Investments
GBA Retirement Services, Inc. is pleased with the investment returns for 2005.  Both Reliance Trust Company and Atlanta Capital Management continue to have solid, competitive long-term investment returns.  In an effort to streamline administration and to improve the products offered to banks’ employees, the GBA Retirement Services, Inc. Board of Directors elected to open up the investment options and offer both investment products under one platform to all GBA Trust members.  All member banks now have access to the Reliance Lifestyles Portfolios in which Reliance does the asset allocation for the participant, the Reliance Trust asset class options where participants can self-direct into asset class funds, and the three high quality mutual funds managed by Atlanta Capital Management.  Please refer to the enclosed update for detailed returns.  Please contact Mandy Richards at (404) 420-2025 for information on how GBA Retirement Services can help design a retirement plan for your bank.

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.

Did you know…..
GBA offers the following products?
2006 Holiday Decals
Holiday Decals are made available through the GBA.  These window decals not only provide a professional appearance but also contain the 10 holiday close dates recognized by the Federal Reserve Bank, in accordance with FDIC rules.  More...

Credit Union News
Let's start off the new year by making just one Resolution:  I will help GBA reach the goal of sending 2,990 letters to Congress opposing the Credit Unions' effort to pass legislation increasing their commercial lending authority while reducing their capital requirements.  The letters are having an impact as we heard from bankers all over Georgia about comments their Member of Congress made during the recent recess about hearing from bankers back home.  That's what grassroots involvement is all about.  See the chart below to see how many letters your own Member of Congress has received - if you haven't sent your letter, just click on the Action Alert icon and with just a few keystrokes your letter will be on the way.

Newsmakers:

Atlanta - Cherry, Bekaert & Holland, LLP
Chelsea Carpenter, Jered Tomlinson, and Raddy Jarrar have joined the firm as Associates in the Financial Institutions Group.

Atlanta - Flag Bank
The bank announces the following additions and promotions:  John D. Melvin as Senior Vice President, Commercial Deposit Services; John B. Bearden as Assistant Vice President, Operations; Ian Chen as Branch Manager, Norcross; and Bruce Emfinger as Commercial and Construction Lending Specialist.  Karin A. Teague to Vice President, Operations, and Shirley Ammons and Dianna Diggs to Assistant Vice Presidents, Operations.

Atlanta - Stateside Capital
Jorg Weissflog has joined the company as Senior Vice President, Banking Division.

Augusta - First Bank of Georgia
Bob Koziol has been elected Vice President and Marc T. Wilson to Business Development Coordinator.

Buford - Georgia Trust Bank
Daniel G. McCoy and Dianne F. Clancy have joined the bank as First Vice Presidents and Commercial Lenders.

Carrollton - West Georgia National Bank
Rob Gordy has joined the bank as Senior Vice President and Chief Credit Officer.

Jonesboro - Community Capital Bank
Zel Thorne has joined the bank as Community Development Officer.  Congratulations to Jim Baker, Director, on the recent dedication of the University Center Building of Clayton State University in his honor.

Jonesboro - Heritage Bank
Leonard Moreland has been promoted to President and Chief Executive Officer and David Turner has been promoted to Chairman of the Board.

Marietta - Southern National Bank
M. Sean Pitts has joined the bank as Assistant Vice President and Consumer Lender and Paul J. Kirtley has been promoted to Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.

Pelham - Pelham Banking Company
Brenda C. Hegwood has been promoted to Vice President and Lorenda S. Smith to Assistant Vice President and Director of Marketing.

Reynolds - Citizens State Bank of Taylor County
Congratulations to LaWanna Hill, President and CEO, for being recognized by the bank for 50 years of service.  GBA President Joe Brannen attended the ceremony and says, “LaWanna has been such an inspiration.  She has worked in virtually every position in the bank and volunteered her time as GBA Group 3 Chair.  We know LaWanna will continue that legacy of leadership going forward.”