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June 9, 2006

Home Depot Bank, Wal-Mart Bank, Target Bank – Where Will it Stop?
You have read in our publications about Wal-Mart’s attempts to gain FDIC insurance coverage for their proposed Utah-based industrial loan company.  Now Home Depot is trying to buy EnerBank, an existing industrial loan company.  Target already has an industrial loan company as do other commercial firms.  Home Depot is clearly looking for a way to make loans to their commercial and retail customers – certainly a threat to our members who provide loans to those companies and individuals today.  FDIC has not said whether they will hold public hearings on Home Depot’s application like they have already held on the Wal-Mart proposal.  There is growing concern in Congress about these transactions and many are calling on a moratorium by FDIC in granting their insurance requests until Congress can clarify the public policy governing these institutions.  Just this week, Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA) also questioned Wal-Mart on their pledge not to use their ILC authority to open traditional branches.  Frank specifically asked Wal-Mart to clarify if their pledge included operating ATMs and automated loan machines.  Our thanks to Mr. Frank, who is the ranking minority member of the House Financial Services Committee, for keeping the heat on Wal-Mart and focusing attention on the whole issue of ILC expansion.

Win One/Lose One
A Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives voted this week to continue to allow banks to use the matricula consular cards issued by the government of Mexico as identification for account opening purposes.  An amendment was offered to an appropriations bill that would have prohibited the use of the cards but the amendment failed.  The matricula cards are accepted by some members.  However, the Realtors were once again successful in getting another one year moratorium on banks getting real estate brokerage and management authority buried in this bill.  The appropriations bill was then passed by voice vote. 

Call Reporting Seminar Slated for Macon
On Wednesday, June 28, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Crowne Plaza in Macon, GBA in cooperation with Mauldin & Jenkins, LLC, is offering a seminar giving practical techniques to improve your overall call reporting process.  Participants will receive a detailed line-by-line review in the completion of each schedule of a Call Report.  Appropriate items to be reported and relationships between schedules will be discussed as part of this review.  The two schedules that will not be covered are the RC-S and the RC-T.  Highlights include:

• Proven organizational techniques to improve both speed and accuracy in your bank's call reporting processes

• Hands-on experience in call report preparation

• Common mistakes and problems with call reporting

Chief Financial Officers, operations officers and anyone who is responsible for the preparation of call reports should plan on attending.   Our thanks to our presenters from Mauldin and Jenkins, LLC:  Alison Wester, Cassie Castner, Kelly Cravens and Jim Vaughn.  The registration fee for members is $195.  Please click here to register for this event.  With questions, please contact GBA's Fran Williams.

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.

Register Today for AIB Online Courses
Just a reminder that the following AIB online classes begin on June 19.  Please register as soon as possible to secure a seat in the class.

• Analyzing Financial Statements, 16 weeks, $475

• Commercial Lending, 16 weeks, $375

• Financial Accounting, 16 weeks, $475

• 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.  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.

• 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, Lawrenceville
  Beginning September 14, 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

FTC Issues Statement to Veterans About Identity Theft
You have probably seen the news reports about the loss of personal identifying data of thousands of veterans from the theft of a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs employee computer.  The Federal Trade Commission has told veterans to be especially mindful of suspicious contacts via email or phone–called Phishing.  The FTC has told veterans and their families to: not give out personal information over the phone, through the mail, or over the Internet unless the contact was initiated by the individual and to know–or verify–who the individual is dealing with.  FTC also cautions to never click on links sent in unsolicited e-mails and reminded veterans that the VA, other government agencies and legitimate businesses do not contact people by e-mail or telephone either to ask them for or to confirm Social Security numbers or other personal information. On GBA's website in the Consumer Toolbox section, there is more information about email and phishing scams including links to a brochure that can be downloaded from the federal bank and thrift agencies.

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.  As an added incentive to participate this year, GBA will be putting all the names of those completing a survey into a drawing for a neat Apple 30GB Color iPOD with Video capability.  Don't miss out on your chance to support your fellow bankers by sharing your salary data – and maybe you will be the lucky winner!  Participation deadline is June 12, 2006; results will be available by August. With questions, you may contact GBA’s Kenyetta Parks at (404) 420-2035.

Looking to Strengthen Your Customer Ties?
Clarke American, a GBA Strategic Partner, is a leading provider of checks and related products, contact center services, e-commerce, and direct response marketing solutions to financial institutions throughout the U.S.  Annually, Clarke American produces more than 10 billion checks and deposit tickets in a variety of formats through a network of sixteen electronically linked manufacturing facilities and customer service centers across the nation. Clarke American provides valuable products and services that meet your customers’ unique needs.  From multiple convenience channels–such as Internet and phone–to targeted marketing to individual account holders, their innovative technologies are taking customer relationships to new heights.  Clarke American’s vision is “to be the premier resource for our partners in the delivery of passionate customer care” by helping their partners attract, grow, and retain profitable customer relationships built on the checking account.  For more information, please contact Steve Garrett at (800) 382-0818, Ext. 2808.

Watch for Unusual Requests for Your Bank's "Do Not Call" Policy
GBA's General Counsel, Walt Moeling with Powell Goldstein, has sent a 'Client Alert' about an individual who is calling banks with whom 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 the vast majority of our banks do not engage in this type marketing, most banks have been ignoring the request.  However, there is significant financial liability on the bank as you will see from reading the Alert.

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.

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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