Financial Risk Management Conference in Three Weeks

We will miss...
Our sympathies to the family of Georgia Congressman Charlie Norwood who died this week after a long bout with several illnesses.  GBA's President Joe Brannen said, "Congressman Norwood was a courageous fighter whether it was for a constituent dealing with the maze of the federal bureaucracy, or about something he believed strongly in on the floor of the House, or against his debilitating illnesses.  He was always someone we could count on to do what he said he would do and never wavered in his beliefs.  His voice will be missed in the Congress."  Mr. Norwood was elected to Congress in 1994 with the wave of new Republicans led by Rep. Newt Gingrich.  Mr. Norwood’s passion was health care. During most of his years in Congress, he pressed for passage for a “patients’ bill of rights” which he  felt would give consumers better access to care, including greater ability to sue insurers.  Although never passed, his original legislation has just been reintroduced by his longtime friend across the aisle, Congressman John Dingell.  A Vietnam era combat veteran, Mr. Norwood earned two bronze stars for his service.

Another Busy Week in the General Assembly
A number of bills of interest to the banking industry received action this week in the Georgia General Assembly.  Please click here to view this week's Legislative Update where we discuss:

• Banking Committee Hears File Freeze and Payday Loan Bills

• Bank Tax Bill Introduced at GBA's Request

• Retraining Tax Credit Bill Introduced - Cuts Banks Out

• Tax Data Match Bill for Taxes Introduced - Could Create Headaches for Banks

• Banking Department Housekeeping Bill Passes Senate

• House and Senate Recess

• Election for Vacant Congressional Seat Soon

• New Bills Added to GBA's Tracking List

With questions about any of these bills or for clarification on any of these issues, please contact GBA's Elizabeth Chandler at (404) 420-2027.

Comment Letters to Farm Credit Administration Needed
Please see our suggested comment letter for you to send to the Farm Credit Administration (FCA) on their proposal to expand the entities that are eligible for financing from the Farm Credit Service (FCS) lenders as processing and marketing operations.  This far-reaching proposal would eliminate any real limitation on the ability of an FCS entity to finance a borrower and replaces it with the subjective and definitive opinion of the FCA.  Your letter should either be mailed to the address on the suggested letter or sent via e-mail to reg-comm@fca.gov by February 26, 2007.  Another option is to click through on the Action Alert the American Bankers Association has developed for this purpose.  Just click on the link on the icon on the right and follow the simple instructions.  Your letter will be sent immediately.  Please call GBA’s Elizabeth Chandler with questions at (404) 420-2027.

Four Breakout Sessions Scheduled at Annual Convention
Four excellent breakout sessions have been scheduled at the 2007 Annual Convention.  This premier event will be held on June 17-20 at the Ritz-Carlton Beach Resort, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands.  One of the breakout sessions is specifically designed for outside bank directors and will be led by Geri Forehand with Brintech, Inc., Atlanta.  Geri will discuss the current regulatory environment and the specific regulations that most affect directors today.  The annual convention is the signature event of the year for Georgia bankers, members of the Bank Counsel Section and Associate Members.  The convention page on GBA's website has more information about convention including how to get your passport, so be sure and check that out.  Brochures will be mailed soon.  With questions, please contact GBA’s Susie McGehee at (404) 420-2010. 

Construction Lending Seminar on February 27
GBA will host our popular Construction Lending seminar on Tuesday, February 27, 2007 at the Ramada Plaza in Macon from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The registration fee for is $195 per person and Bob Ullom of R.V. Ullom & Company in Houston, Texas will lead the workshop.  Construction Lending, both residential and commercial, is a profitable and productive use of bank investable funds. This one-day seminar is designed to help professional bankers keep their focus on prudent and critical risk management aspects of construction lending.  Some of the topics to be covered include:

• Project feasibility and economic necessity

• Financial and credit underwriting

• Loan structuring for effective monitoring of progress

• Necessity, content and negotiation of construction loan agreements

• Pre-closing requirements and monitoring those requirements and procedures

• Requirements for funding/draws

To register for this seminar online, please click here.  With questions, you may contact GBA’s Courtenay Pope at (404) 420-2015 or Susie McGehee at (404) 420-2010.

Register Today for AIB Online Courses
Just a reminder that the following AIB Online classes begin on March 12.  Please register two weeks in advance to secure a seat in the class.  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. (Classes with an asterisk * require Microsoft Excel Software.)

• ABA Online Review Course for the CTFA Exam (open enrollment), 12 weeks, $795

• Analyzing Financial Statements*, 16 weeks, $485

• Law & Banking:  Applications, 16 weeks, $435

• Managing Interest Rate Risk*, 8 weeks, $695

• Principles of Banking, 16 weeks, $385

• Today's Teller: Developing Basic Skills* (open enrollment), 8 weeks, $285

There is still availability in the following AIB Online classes beginning the week of March 5.  Please register as soon as possible to secure a seat in the class.

• Consumer Lending, 16 weeks, $385

• Financial and Business Planning for Bank Marketers*, 9 weeks, $285

• Introduction to Mortgage Lending, 16 weeks, $385

• Team Leader Certificate, 16 weeks, $695

• Understanding Your Construction Borrower, 10 weeks, $385

Please see the AIB Online Schedule for a complete listing or call GBA’s Alison Moreau at (404) 420-2034 with questions.

Welcome New Associate Members
Congratulations to the following companies for being approved for Associate Membership at the January 10^th GBA Board of Directors meeting:

• Bankers Capital Group, LLC, Atlanta, Joseph Evans, Manager

• Clearswift, Rome, Marc Meltzer, Territory Manager

• Dunbar Armored, Inc., Clearwater, FL, Roger Roscoe, Regional Vice President

• Easy Benefits, LLC, Columbia, SC, Joseph Stone, President

• Ecora Software, Portsmouth, NH, Jessica Madigan

• Glandon Capital Group, LLC, Atlanta, Brooks Battle, Managing Partner

• Horne Murdock Cole, Atlanta, Terry Longstreth, Business Development Manager

• iTech For Business, Savannah, Lisa Meyers, Sales Manager

• Wilkins Mobile Builders Inc., Double Springs, AL, Susan Thomas

Associate Members have played an important part of the GBA during most of our 114 years.  Today, more than 185 businesses are enjoying increased visibility and expanded marketing opportunities while banks are receiving more options for top quality, cost-effective products and services.  Company descriptions and contact information is available on our website or contact Kenyetta Parks at (404) 420-2035 for more information.

Welcome New Participants
The GBA Insurance Trust, Inc. Board of Directors welcomes to the Trust Habersham Bancorp, Cornelia, David Stovall, CEO, and American Pride Bank, I.O., Macon, Richard Cathey, 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.

FTRANS: Trade Credit Outsourcing
GBA entered into a Strategic Partnership with FTRANS to bring Georgia banks a new commercial loan program that may be second only to residential real estate in lending potential.  FTRANS, an Atlanta-based financial service company, provides outsourced management and credit guarantees on the operating assets of the business, enabling banks to make revolving commercial loans to small and mid-sized businesses with the certainty, simplicity, and safety of real estate lending.  FTRANS has added a new feature that pushes all risk upstream to other financial institutions, allowing the community bank to make a risk free, high margin C&I loan.   The community bank typically keeps a Prime rate of interest for recruiting the borrower and funding, while specialized financial institutions assume the processing burdens and risks.  Trade Credit Outsourcing provides the bank with the opportunity of safely increasing its commercial lending while offering the bank’s client the advantages of outsourcing the burden and risk of granting trade credit.  The program is primarily designed for the five million businesses in the United States each with sales to other businesses and governments of over $100,000 annually.  FTRANS estimates that there are more than 100,000 of these businesses in Georgia with a total lending opportunity exceeding $25 billion.  FTRANS' Trade Credit Outsourcing program provides the bank with an easy to use, online system that simplifies loan administration and makes the program very efficient to use.  The payment guarantee of other financial institutions allows the community bank to lend in situations where it could not otherwise.  Total Technology Ventures, the venture capital affiliate of Synovus Financial Corporation, is the largest shareholder of FTRANS.  For more information, please contact FTRANS CEO John Hayes at (678) 268-4040 or GBA’s Chad Wilson at (404) 420-2022.

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
FinCrime	Financial Industry Pre-Employment Assessments
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:

Congratulations to GBA Staffers Four GBA staff members were recognized in a recent staff-wide event for their service to the bankers in Georgia.  Please join us in congratulating:  Lee Belaus, COBRA Administrator and Operations Manager (20 years); Marybeth Jones, Training and Development Manager (10 years); Leslie Hicks, Receptionist (4 years); and Chad Wilson, Senior Vice President, Member Services (2 years).  “You each play a significant role in our overall success and we appreciate what you do every day for our members,” said GBA President, Joe Brannen, in presenting their recognition awards.

Leslie, Chad, Marybeth, Joe, and Lee

Savannah - First Chatham Bank Brian Hussey has joined the bank as Assistant Vice President, Private Banking and Joyce Kenard has been promoted to Vice President of Corporate Services.  Springfield - First Effingham Bank Kelli Arden has joined First Effingham Bank, a division of First Chatham Bank, as Branch Manager and Heath Gilbert as Credit Analyst.   Hussey Kenard Arden Gilbert

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