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June 30, 2006

GBA Files FHLB Comment Letter
At the recent GBA Board of Directors meeting, a discussion was held about the proposed rule by the Federal Housing Finance Board which could have dramatic and negative effects by requiring the Federal Home Loan banks to arbitrarily increase their retained earnings which could reduce their dividends.  The GBA has joined our colleagues with the other state bankers associations and the ABA by signing a joint comment letter to the Finance Board objecting to the policy and encouraging that it be withdrawn and reissued with more reasonable guidance.  GBA has also filed our own individual letter with the Finance Board highlighting the more extensive harm the rule could cause to advances.

Free Do Not Call Policies
In the June 9^th e-Bulletin, we reported about an individual in Minnesota who is calling banks with which he has no relationship and asking to be taken off the bank’s telemarketing list; he is also demanding to be sent a copy of the bank’s Do Not Call policy.  Since most of our member banks do not engage in this type marketing, many banks have been ignoring the request.  However, should your bank receive such a call, we encourage you to provide a copy of your policy.  In talking with some of our members, we have learned that your policy may still be under development.  Please click here for copies of the code references and here for copies of two draft Do Not Call Policies which you may find helpful.  Our thanks to our colleagues at the Virginia Bankers Association and the American Bankers Association for their help in sharing their counsels’ work to in turn pass along to our members.  With questions, please call GBA’s Joe Brannen at (404) 420-2026.

New Officers/Board Take Office
At GBA’s annual convention last week, the new leadership team for GBA took office.  Led by GBA Chairman Bobby Carmichael, President and CEO of Commercial Bank & Trust in LaGrange, GBA’s Board of Directors is the policy-making body of the association.  New members taking office at the convention were:

• Group 1:  Paul Eason, Tippins Bank & Trust, Claxton

• Group 3:  Rick Whaley, Citizens Bank, Americus

• Group 5:  Chris Burnett, CornerstoneBank, Atlanta

• Group 7:  Steve Chatham, First Horizon Bank, Dallas

• Group 9:  Tim Perry, Citizens Bank of Forsyth County, Cumming

• At Large:  Mike McPherson, Unity National Bank, Cartersville

• At Large:  Steve Melton, Columbus Bank & Trust Company

• LGBA President:  Jay Forrester, Georgia Bank & Trust, Augusta

• Assoc. Member Rep:  Tim Keadle, Porter Keadle Moore, LLP, Atlanta

Eason	Whaley	Burnett	Perry	McPherson	Melton	Forrester	Keadle

Compliance Peer Group Organizing
In last week’s e-Bulletin, we announced the formation of the Compliance Peer Group, and the response has been terrific.  We are inviting compliance officers to attend a complimentary organizational meeting on July 25^th at The Crowne Plaza Hotel in Macon.  The Compliance Peer Group is intended to be of help whether you wear your compliance hat full time or part time.  Our goal is to facilitate compliance officers helping each other navigate the ever-changing tide of regulatory compliance.  In addition to discussing various ways to communicate among each other, keynote speaker Bonnie Reid of BANC Financial Group, Inc., Atlanta, will provide the latest information on one of the compliance officer’s hot buttons.  Our thanks to Louvera Walden with Ameris Bancorp in Moultrie for agreeing to chair this effort.  Advance registration is required.  Please contact GBA’s Marybeth Jones at (404) 420-2032 or mjones@gabankers.com to sign up.


GBA BankPAC Update
Since the last Bulletin, the following banks have contributed to the GBA StatePAC:

• Ken Phelps, CEO, Reliance Trust Company, Atlanta

• Leonard Moreland, CEO, Heritage Bank, Jonesboro

• Henry Pope, CEO, Exchange Bank, Milledgeville

• Suzanne Anderson, CEO, Pelham Banking Company

• Jimmy Burnsed, CEO, Bryan Bank & Trust, Richmond Hill

• Heyward Horton, CEO, Homestead Bank, Suwanee

The officers, directors and staff of the following banks have contributed to the GBA FedPAC:

• Bill Douglas, CEO, AFB&T, Athens

• Freddie Deutsch, CEO, Signature Bank of Georgia, Atlanta

• Jackie Bowen, CEO, The Citizens Bank of Cochran

• Judy Turner, CEO, Decatur First Bank

• Melton Tyson, CEO, The Morris State Bank, Dublin

• Jim Williams, CEO, Citizens Bank & Trust Company, Eastman

• Bill Bazemore, CEO, Monroe County Bank, Forsyth

• Chuck Copeland, President, First National Bank of Griffin

• Bobby Carmichael, CEO, Commercial Bank & Trust, LaGrange

• Glenn White, CEO, First Bank of the South, Lawrenceville

• Wes Smith, CEO, Northwest Georgia Bank, Ringgold

• Mike Odom, CEO, The Savannah Bancorp, Inc.

• Heyward Horton, CEO, Homestead Bank, Suwanee

• Jim Edwards, CEO, United Bank, Zebulon

Thanks to all for your support.  For contribution information, please call Elizabeth Chandler at (404) 420-2027 or download the BankPAC Fundraising Guide.  Please consider giving to this important GBA effort.  Click here for this week’s BankPAC Update.

ATM Study Committee Appointed
Senate President Pro Tempore, Eric Johnson (R-Savannah), has appointed an ATM Safety Study Committee to consider alternatives discussed during the last session of the General Assembly such as mandatory emergency 911 call buttons, reverse PIN technology and other ideas.  Senators serving will be John Wiles, Chair, John Bulloch, Nancy Schaefer, George Hooks and Ed Tarver.  The committee has not yet scheduled a meeting.

Vote Before Leadership Conference
If you are one of the many Leadership Conference attendees, you will want to be sure and vote in this year’s Primary Election prior to leaving for Orlando.  The election is scheduled for Tuesday, July 18^th, which is during this year’s conference.  Therefore, you have two options available to you:  you may request that an absentee ballot be mailed to you which you will complete and mail back to your country registrar’s office or you may participate in early voting which allows you to vote in person Monday – Friday of the week preceding the election.  Be sure to exercise your right to vote before coming to the Leadership Conference!

Thank you Convention Sponsors!
Many thanks to the members and associate members who helped make this year’s Annual Convention a great success.  Please see the flyer recognizing the firms that so generously sponsored the various events.  When you see them, please make a special effort to thank them for their support.

Register Today for AIB Online Courses
Just a reminder that the following AIB online classes begin on July 17.  Please register as soon as possible to secure a seat in the class.

• Fundamentals of Consumer Lending, 5 weeks, $220

• Law & Banking: Applications, 16 weeks, $425

• Problem Loan Workouts, 6 weeks, $275

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

• Today's Teller: Developing Basic Skills (open enrollment), 8 weeks, $275

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.

Upcoming AIB Classroom Courses
We have received a number of requests for AIB classroom courses for later this summer and fall.  More information about specific start dates will be announced shortly for those marked with an asterisk.

• Dealing Effectively With Co-Workers, taught by Jeff Kovach of Northwest Georgia Bank, Ringgold
  Beginning August 10, 3 weeks, $145 which includes text

• Principles of Banking, taught by Cassie Parker of McIntosh State Bank, McDonough
  Beginning August 14, 10 weeks, $195, text $60

• Principles of Banking, taught by Trae Dorough of SouthCrest Bank, Fayetteville
  Beginning August 22, 10 weeks, $195, text, $60

• Principles of Banking, taught by Steve McFarland of Gwinnett Community Bank, Duluth
  Beginning September 14, 10 weeks, $195, text, $60

• Principles of Banking, taught by Jeff Kovach of Northwest Georgia Bank, Ringgold
  Beginning September 28, 10 weeks, $195, text $60

• *Marketing Financial Services, taught by Dale Morrissey of First Cherokee State Bank, Canton, 10 weeks, $195, text, $65

• *Principles of Banking, taught by Randy Blalock, Winder
  10 weeks, $105, text $60

• *Analyzing Financial Statements, taught by Peter Faser of Flag Bank, Norcross
  10 weeks, $195, text $69

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 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.

Congratulations Tournament Winners
Congratulations to Tom Webb with McIntosh State Bank in Jackson for winning the Championship Golf Tournament at the 2006 Annual Convention in Naples, Florida.  The winning scramble team included John Seay, Northeast Georgia Bank, Lavonia; Tommy Tebeau, Adel Banking Company; Jud Vann, Planters and Citizens Bank, Camilla, and John Foster, Morgan, Keegan and Co., Inc., Atlanta.  Congratulations all!  Click here for the complete list of winners.

Georgia Peanut Bank Week
Georgia Peanut Bank Week is October 16-20, 2006 and this year’s theme is “Peanuts and Banking: Together, We Grow.”  Sponsored by the Georgia Peanut Commission in cooperation with GBA’s Agriculture Committee, Georgia Peanut Bank Week is a designed to educate people about your bank’s services.  This promotion was developed to give banks the opportunity to salute Georgia’s “official state crop” and let their customers know “You’re Nuts About Them.”  Scheduled during peanut harvest time, this is a perfect opportunity for your bank to demonstrate the versatility and value of this $2 billion crop to Georgia’s economy.  Items such as sample peanut packages and recipe brochures may be purchased through the Georgia Peanut Commission.  To place your order, please contact Marcus Evans at (229) 386-3470.

Progressive: Bond and D&O Coverage
The ABA-sponsored insurance program underwritten by Progressive Insurance has recently been able to provide several Georgia banks with not only expansive coverage and increased benefit amounts, but significantly lower rates.  Progressive has also developed a separate internet banking insurance program for financial institutions engaged in internet banking.  The Internet Banking Protection Package is a unique insurance solution for community banks.  Two interconnected policies provide first-party and third-party coverage to fill the gaps where traditional insurance policies do not extend to internet risks.  First-party protection is provided through the Enhanced Financial Institutions Bond and third-party protection via a separate and distinct policy – the Internet Banking Liability Policy.  The Georgia Bankers Association worked closely with the ABA to institute this program at a time when most insurance carriers were either exiting the market or were quoting extraordinarily high rates.  For more information, contact Progressive’s Jason Faulkner at (800) 274-5222, ext. 37583 or GBA’s Chad Wilson at (404) 420-2031.

Stored Value Card Program
PRE Holdings is a leading provider of prepaid products such as wireless, long distance, gift cards, music and gaming, and the best in class prepaid debit card, the Mio Money Prepaid MasterCard Card.  The Mio Money Prepaid MasterCard is a re-loadable card that works just like a bank debit or credit card, the only difference is that it is prepaid.  No bank account or credit check needed, and the consumer can only spend the amount they load on their card.  The Mio Card was designed based on extensive consumer research with more product features than any other stored value card in the market.  GBA member banks have the opportunity to gain increased revenue from the initial sale and load of the card, in addition to the repeat cash loads with no investment required.  For more information, contact PRE Holding’s Mike Wells at (770) 289-6547.

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.

Newsmakers:

Alpharetta - Alpha Bank & Trust Patti Moseley has joined the bank as Deposit Operations Manager and Marietta Market Manager. Alpharetta - Alpharetta Community Bank Simone Flack and Brian King have joined the bank to head up its new Private Banking Division. Atlanta - Flag Bank Christopher E. Bell and Laura D. Thompson have joined the bank as Assistant Vice Presidents and Branch Managers in LaGrange at the LaFayette Parkway and Lee’s Crossing branches respectively and Teresa B. Cumbus as Banking Officer and Consumer Lender in the Unadilla office. Roswell - American Southern Bank Rebecca M. Watson has joined the bank as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Savannah - Darby Bank & Trust Co. Kaye Martin has joined the bank as Construction/ Mortgage Loan Officer. Springfield - Citizens Bank of Effingham Our sympathies to the colleagues and family of board member Tom Triplett who died last week.  Tom was a longtime member of the General Assembly and the DOT Board and a friend to many bankers throughout Georgia. Congratulations GBA Staffers on Your Anniversaries At a recent staff recognition event, four GBA staffers were recognized for their years of service to the association:  Susan Kelley, Senior Vice President and Corporate Secretary to GBA Insurance Trust (29 years); Courtney Rowland, Administrative Assistant to GBA Insurance Trust (6 years); Gino Lassister, Senior Accountant (8 years); and Fran Williams, Training and Development Coordinator (4 years).  In making presentations of certificates acknowledging their anniversaries, GBA President Joe Brannen said, "It is a delight to work on a daily basis with each of you.  You keep our members' interests at the forefront and are totally dedicated to your profession as is evidenced by your many years of service."

Moseley            Flack            King         Bell           Thompson     Cumbus     Martin Brannen, Todd, Rowland, Lassiter

Happy Birthday USA! As we pause to celebrate the founding our our country on July 4th, let's remember those who are continuing to serve us in active and reserve military duty.  Their sacrifices, those of their families, and the many men and women who have preceded them, have given us the great country we live in today.  God bless America!