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June 2, 2006

Focus on Bank Counsel
Many of our member banks have invited their local bank’s attorney to join the GBA Bank Counsel Section.  Almost 100 lawyers statewide make up the Section which is governed by its own Board of Directors.  This year’s chair is Ray Fortin, Senior Vice President and General Counsel of SunTrust Bank, and the vice chair is Steve Dunlevie, Partner with Womble, Carlyle, Sandridge and Rice.  Ray and Steve invite our members to nominate their bank’s counsel to be part of the Section.  Dues are a mere $150 per year and include all regular member benefits and the ability to register at the member rate for all GBA events including the annual Bank Counsel Conference.  Members also receive a monthly report of important legal cases from the American Bankers Association.  With questions, please call GBA’s Kenyetta Parks at (404) 420-2035.

GAO Issues Preemption Study
The Georgia Bankers Association was asked last year to give input to a study being done by the Government Accountability Office on the federal preemption of state-enacted legislation as that legislation applied to national banks.  Georgia was one of six states chosen to participate in the study primarily because of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency’s preemption of the Georgia Fair Lending Act.  The GAO study was done at the request of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations of the House Committee on Financial Services.  The report discussed a number of issues related to preemption including the string of federal court decisions which have consistently supported the OCC as the sole regulator of national banks.  However, with issues as emotional as the Georgia Fair Lending Act, it was not surprising that some were hoping legislation of this nature would not be preempted.  Generally, the GAO report summarizes comments from state banking regulators, attorneys general and consumer groups who have asked for clarification on the kinds of state laws that raise the specter of being preempted.  The report calls on the Comptroller “to undertake an initiative to clarify the characteristics of state consumer protection laws that would make them subject to federal preemption.”  The OCC has already agreed to the report’s conclusions and we look forward to working with the OCC as appropriate.  “The issue of federal preemption is not just important to national banks, state banks are directly affected as well,” said GBA President, Joe Brannen.  “We work hard to ensure parity between state and national banks.  In this instance, we asked that specific language be inserted in the revised Georgia Fair Lending Act to preempt it for state chartered banks if the OCC preempted it for national banks.  Had that language not been in the bill, a significant inequity would have been created.  We have since supported legislation that applies that same premise to all legislation enacted by the General Assembly,” Joe concluded.

Industrial Loan Companies Challenged
The GBA has joined several other state bankers associations in filing a letter with the FDIC in opposition to Wal-Mart getting FDIC insurance for their proposed Industrial Loan Company subsidiary.  Congress is beginning to weigh in.  In a bipartisan move, Rep. Paul Gillmor (R-Ohio) and House Financial Services Committee ranking member Barney Frank (D-Mass.) are asking other members of Congress to cosign a letter with them urging a moratorium on all deposit insurance applications for new, commercially owned industrial loan companies. Although the FDIC has not announced a time table for when their decision will be made on the application, these members of Congress are asking the FDIC to wait until Congress has a chance to act on specific legislation dealing with this matter.  We have asked Georgia’s delegation to sign on.

Leadership Conference Hotel Deadline Quickly Approaching
Just a reminder that the room block for Leadership GBA's 46th Annual Leadership Conference, will expire on Wednesday, June 14.  The July 16-19 conference will be held at the Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate in Orlando, Florida. If you have not already done so, please reserve your room as soon as possible by contacting the hotel directly at (800) 400-1700 or (321) 677-6664.  The negotiated rate is $169 per night plus a $10 per room per night resort fee.  The Leadership GBA Executive Committee has planned a great program that you won’t want to miss!  With questions, please call GBA’s Susie McGehee at (404) 420-2010 or Fran Williams at (404) 420-2015.

Summer AIB Online Training
In partnership with the American Bankers Association and the American Institute of Banking, GBA is now offering its 2006 summer 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 and Consumer Lending, Financial Accounting, General Accounting and Principles of Banking.  For additional information, please contact GBA’s Fran Williams at (404) 420-2015.

Rural Development and Lending Conference a Success
Over 40 bankers and associate members attended the Rural Development and Lending Conference held May 25-26 at The King & Prince Beach Resort on St. Simons Island.  Attendees commented on the excellent choice of topics and speakers as well as the location.  A special thank you to the chairman of the Agriculture Committee, Charles Curry, President and CEO of the First State Bank of Randolph County in Cuthbert and the rest of the committee for putting together an excellent program.  Also, a big “Thank you” to our sponsors:  Stan Howe with Howe Construction for sponsoring the reception and Mary Maloney with Farmer Mac for sponsoring the dinner.

Life Insurance Amount Raised for GBAIT
Pete Malone, Chairman of GBA Insurance Trust and CEO of McIntosh State Bank in Jackson, is pleased to announce that the maximum amount of life insurance for the three salary-based insurance plans has been raised to $350,000.  A letter explaining the increase has been sent to the 290 banks participating in the plan.

GBARS Welcomes New Members
GBA Retirement Services, Inc. is pleased to welcome to the Trust two new members: River City Bank, Rome, Eddie Wilson, CEO, and Patriot Bank of Georgia, Cumming, John Bramblett, CEO.  The programs offered through the GBA Master Pension and 401(k) 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 more information about how GBA can help with your retirement plan design.

2006 GBA Salary Survey
The 2006 Salary Survey input packets have been mailed.  We have redesigned the input process to help eliminate the need for double entry from year to year on items that have not changed from 2005.  If you participated in the 2005 survey you will be able to access that data and update accordingly.   With your participation, we will be able to provide a comprehensive Survey providing you with salary and benefit data from the financial institutions throughout the state of Georgia.  Participants will automatically receive the compiled results at a $200 discount.  Participation deadline is June 12, 2006; results will be available by August. If you have any questions, you may contact GBA’s Kenyetta Parks at (404) 420-2035.

Thanks, Clarke American Checks
A special thanks to Clarke American Checks for providing check registries to the Georgia 4-H Senior Camps across the state to support the Georgia 4-H financial literacy initiative.  High school students will be attending “Camp Reality” this year where they will encounter real life experiences such as receiving and managing a paycheck and managing a personal checking account.  Now they will be using Clarke American’s check registries to learn.

Piedmont Healthcare Contract Expiring
Effective July 1, 2006, Piedmont Healthcare will terminate its PPO and HMO/POS contracts with BCBSGA.  The following facilities and physicians are affected:

• Piedmont Hospital, Atlanta

• Piedmont Fayette Hospital, Fayetteville

• Piedmont Mountainside Hospital, Jasper

• Piedmont Clinic, Atlanta, and

• The Piedmont Physician Group

As quality alternatives, BCBSGA has an excellent network in the Atlanta area including Emory, St. Joseph, Northside and others.  A complete list of hospitals and other providers may be found on BCBSGA's website, which is updated to show their current network providers.  Members who have used the Piedmont Healthcare facilities will soon receive additional materials directly from BCBSGA.  Please contact Susan Kelley at (404) 420-2017 for more information.

Georgia Banking Laws & Commercial Code
GBA is the official provider of the annual update of the Georgia Banking Laws published by LexisNexis.  The books contain all changes in state banking law, rules of the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance and the Uniform Commercial Code.  Prices for the current edition are $265 plus $7 handling and 7% sales tax.  Please contact GBA’s Kenyetta Parks at (404) 420-2035 with questions or to order your copy.

Leadership GBA Sponsors 4-H Campers
This summer, Leadership GBA, in partnership with the Georgia 4-H Camping Program, will again make the wish of attending summer camp come true for many Georgia elementary and middle schoolers.  Seventy-one students from across Georgia will attend their local 4-H camp during the months of May and June.  “We are so happy the number of sponsorships continues to grow,” said Leadership GBA President Meredith Malcom.  “Georgia 4-H has such a great program, and you can help so many for such a small amount.  I encourage every Leadership GBA Rep to sponsor at least one camper in his or her community.  You’ll never regret it.”  Many thanks to William Bailey, President of PlantersFIRST, Perry; Brad Barber, Senior Vice President of Commercial Banking Company, Valdosta; Kim Brannen, Vice President of Sea Island Bank in Statesboro; Steve Culberson, Executive Vice President of The Peoples Bank in Eatonton; Wes Dodd, Executive Vice President of Corporate Finances at Community Bankshares, Inc., Cornelia; Jay Forrester, Group Vice President of the Georgia Bank & Trust Company in Augusta; Pete Garrett, Vice President of the Bank of Upson, Thomaston; Donna Lott, Assistant Vice President of Southwest Georgia Bank, Moultrie; Meredith Malcom, Senior Vice President of The National Bank of Walton County, Monroe; Lisa Rowell, Vice President of SunTrust Bank, Douglas; and Kelly Yielding, Vice President of McIntosh State Bank, Jackson, for their help in coordinating local camper sponsorships.  Click here for the list of the banks that sponsored campers in their community.

Firewall Protection Services
Ensuring your firewall is operating properly and is regularly updated with the latest software releases assures that your firewall presents an effective line of defense.  Gladiator Technology Services, Inc. will proactively evaluate and monitor your firewall to maintain its effectiveness.  In addition, Gladiator’s highly trained security professionals will monitor the firewall real time and 24x7 to determine if unauthorized attempts are being made to breach the security of the system and will work with your institution to resolve such attacks as quickly as possible.  IT examiners expect your institution to manage technology effectively by monitoring intrusion prevention and employee activity.  Gladiator produces comprehensive and user-friendly management reports each month to allow your Information Security Officer to review and discuss the previous month’s activity with the technical support group and with the Board of Directors. Their knowledgeable staff will work with your financial institution to provide a team approach to managing technology properly.  Gladiator works with financial institutions exclusively and pride themselves on their knowledge and understanding of the environment.  For more information, contact Danny Johnston at (678) 461-4620.

Is Your Financial Institution Shopping For a Telecommunications Provider?
NationsLink Communications, Inc. is a nationwide telecommunications provider offering a full portfolio of services for your institution. NationsLink specializes in providing a consultative solution to financial institutions with the latest technology and most competitive pricing in the industry. NationsLink was founded in 1995 and continues to be a leader in the telecommunication agent environment.  By offering multi-vendor solutions, customers can be assured of the best pricing and solution. A dedicated account representative is assigned to the account to ensure your service.  There are no changes to your telephone numbers and the switch is seamless.  For more information, contact Michael Woodruff at (800) 546-5875.

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.

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.

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