Move to Strike FCS Provisions in Farm Bill
House Financial Services Committee chair Barney Frank (D-MA) and ranking member Spencer Bachus (R-AL) have stepped up their efforts to halt the Farm Credit System’s (FCS) expansion into the traditional market served by banks.  As this Bulletin was going to press, the two members were preparing to offer an amendment to the 2007 Farm Bill to strike the language which dramatically expands the FCS scope of mortgage and commercial lending.  In support of this effort, the GBA joined our colleagues at the American Bankers Association and the other state bankers association in sending a joint letter to every member of Congress.  We also appreciate a large number of CEOs who answered our emergency call this week to send emails to the Georgia delegation in support of the Frank/Bachus amendment.  “That grassroots effort from across Georgia is essential to any success we might have,” said GBA Chairman, Jim Williams, CEO of Citizens Bank & Trust in Eastman.

Group Meeting Registrations Coming In
Registrations are pouring in for GBA’s annual Group Meetings scheduled to begin the second week of September.  This series of meetings will start with Group 7 bankers gathering for dinner on Wednesday, September 12, at the Cartersville Country Club.  On Thursday, September 13, Group 10 bankers will meet at Athens Country Club for lunch and Group 9 bankers will gather that evening at Chattahoochee Country Club in Gainesville.  Group 5 bankers get together for lunch on Friday, September 14, at Villa Christina in Atlanta.  Group Meetings are informative and provide an excellent opportunity for visiting with other bankers in your area.  With questions about your Group Meeting, please contact GBA’s Susie McGehee at (404) 420-2010.

We will miss…
Former GBA Chairman Morgan G. Murphy of Albany died last Friday.  One of Georgia’s better-known banking leaders, Morgan was GBA Chairman in 1992-1993.  “Morgan will always be remembered for his fun loving nature and constant support for Albany and southwest Georgia,” said GBA President, Joe Brannen.  “Morgan shared his energy far outside banking and played critical roles with statewide business organizations like the Georgia Chamber of Commerce and Georgians for Better Transportation as well as regional entities like the Southwest Georgia Water Resource Task Force.  His leadership will be missed,” Joe concluded.  Morgan is survived by his wife, Jackie, their four children and nine grandchildren.

Sen. Chambliss to Address President/CEO and Bank Counsel Conferences
Registrations are already coming in for the President/CEO Conference scheduled for October 7-9 at the brand new and fabulous Lodge and Spa at Callaway Gardens.  The Community Bankers Committee has planned a great program to help you stay informed of the pressing issues that impact our industry.  This year, we are particularly happy to report that United States Senator Saxby Chambliss will join us and be a part of the program.  In addition to discussing the many issues the banking industry is following, Senator Chambliss will also give an overview of the current political climate in Congress and what he sees as the priorities ahead.  “Our committee has worked hard to put together a program of significant importance to community bank leaders,” said committee chair, Remer Brinson, CEO of First Bank of Georgia in Augusta.  “This banker-only conference draws bank presidents and their spouses/guests from across Georgia and it is an event not to be missed.  Every year, I learn something I can use to improve my bank’s performance and know this year will be no exception,” Remer concluded.  The Board of the Bank Counsel Section is meeting next week to finalize their plans for the annual Bank Counsel Conference that will be held concurrently with the President/CEO Conference.  Steve Dunlevie with Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice, PLLC, chairs the Bank Counsel Board and encourages members of the section to be watching for more information about their conference to be announced soon.  "We are especially glad Sen. Chambliss will be joining us.  When he was practicing law in Moultrie, he was a charter member of the GBA Bank Counsel Section."  GBA has reserved a block of rooms at The Lodge and Spa at a special rate of $205 per night for single or double occupancy.  To reserve your room, please contact the hotel directly at (800) 225-5292.  Be sure to tell them you are with the Georgia Bankers Association.  The GBA room block for the conference will expire on Friday, September 7.  With questions, please contact GBA’s Susie McGehee at (404) 420-2010.

BankPAC Update
The 2007 BankPAC Campaign has been up and running for two months and great progress has been made.  “The BankPAC Board of Directors appreciates those who have participated so far this year and we will be calling on others in the near future,” said George Butler, President and CEO of The First National Bank of Barnesville and Chair of the BankPAC Board of Directors.  “Our goals are based on past years’ support from each GBA Group and we believe they are attainable,” he added.  If you need the campaign information sent to you again or have any questions, please call Elizabeth Chandler at (404) 420-2027.  Click here for the list of companies and individuals who have contributed since the last Bulletin.

Non-Accelerated Sarbanes-Oxley Seminar Scheduled for August 28
Sarbanes Oxley is here to stay and non-accelerated filers are required to complete management’s assessment of the control environment by December 31, 2007.  To help you with this monumental task, GBA will host Sarbanes Oxley 404: A How-To For Non-Accelerated Filers on Tuesday, August 28 at the Macon Ramada Plaza.  The registration fee is $195 per person and Jennifer Burke with Crowe Chizek and Company, LLC, Atlanta, will be the speaker.  This one-day seminar will provide you with an understanding of the requirements of Sarbanes Oxley 404, best practices for compliance, and expectations of external auditors.  You will, also, learn about recent developments and guidance from the SEC and PCAOB, and the impact of this guidance on SOX compliance.  With questions, please call GBA’s Courtenay Pope at (404) 420-2015 or Susie McGehee at (404) 420-2010.

SOTS Scheduled for October
GBA’s Southern Operations and Technology School will be held October 21-26 at the University of Georgia.  As a resource for focused training in banking technology and operations, the School is the premier provider in the Southeast and one of only a few in the country.  The two-year program covers four areas: compliance, risk management, technology, and general management.  To request a brochure or to register, please call GBA’s Marybeth Jones at (404) 420-2032.

SAS 70 Webinar Next Week
Just a reminder that GBA will offer a webinar entitled SAS No. 70: A Practical Risk Based Approach on August 2.  A webinar offers you the opportunity and convenience of having a seminar at your bank; all you need is a computer, Internet access and a telephone.  The webinar is live and allows time throughout for questions and answers.  The registration fee of $245 allows you access to one website “seat,” one telephone site license and all hand out materials.  If you are unable to attend the webinar, you may also purchase an audio CD, handout materials and a password to view the information online.  Please call GBA’s Courtenay Pope at (404) 420-2015 with questions.

Mark Your Calendar
GBA’s Marketing Conference is scheduled for November 1-2 at the King & Prince Beach and Golf Resort on St. Simons Island.  The Marketing Committee is currently finalizing the agenda and the brochure and registration form will soon be available.  To request a brochure, please contact GBA’s Marybeth Jones at (404) 420-2032.

Summer 2007 AIB Classroom Course
AIB classes meet three hours each week for 2 to 15 weeks and are held at a local financial institution.  If you would like to see a specific AIB course offered in your area or if you have questions about AIB classroom courses, please call GBA’s Alison Moreau at (404) 420-2034.  The following AIB classroom course starts on August 13:  Law & Banking: Principles taught by Cassie Parker, McIntosh State Bank; 10 weeks, $195; text $69.

Register Today for AIB Online Courses
Just a reminder that the following AIB Online classes begin on August 20.  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

• ABA Online Review Course for the CRCM Exam, 8 weeks, $675

• Consumer Lending, 16 weeks, $385

• Principles of Banking, 16 weeks, $385

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

There is still LIMITED availability in the following AIB Online classes beginning the week of August 13.  Please register as soon as possible to secure a seat in the class.

• Analyzing Financial Statements, 16 weeks, $485

• Commercial Lending, 16 weeks, $385

• Principles of Banking (accelerated course), 10 weeks, $315

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

Another Good Quarter in Stock Market
GBA Retirement Services, Inc. is pleased with the investment returns for 2^nd quarter 2007.  Both Reliance Trust Company and Atlanta Capital Management continue to have solid, competitive long-term investment returns and compare very favorably among most of their benchmarks.  GBA Retirement Services has seen continued growth among the number of banks entering the 401(k) Trust.  Please refer to the update for detailed returns.  Advantages of being part of the GBA Master Trust include:  GBA dedicated staff support as primary resource, coordination of all service providers to ease your administration, reduced fees with high quality service providers, and ongoing investment education for employees (which includes a complimentary enrollment DVD).  Please call Mandy Richards at (404) 420-2025 for information on how GBA Retirement Services can help design a retirement plan for your bank.

Marketing Solutions for Your Bank
The Georgia Bankers Association has recently approved a Strategic Partnership with Financial Marketing Solutions (FMS).  Financial Marketing Solutions is a niche branding and marketing agency solely serving the financial services industry.  With a primary goal of encouraging clients to tap into the power of “brand” in a fresh new way, FMS empowers banks across the country to take their marketing to the next level – maximizing marketing dollars and delivering measurable results to the bank’s bottom line. Through a strategic discovery process, FMS partners with your bank to narrow corporate initiatives into real and attainable goals, uncover and enhance your brand, create an identifiable image, and develop customized marketing tools that integrate seamlessly throughout all locations.  For more information, contact FMS’s Sean Hockenbery at (615) 591- 2073, or GBA’s Chad Wilson at (404) 420-2022.

Trust & Investment Management Services
Reliance Trust Company, a subsidiary of the privately held Reliance Financial Corporation, is one of the largest independent trust companies in the country with more than $30 billion in assets under management. Headquartered in Atlanta and a longtime Strategic Partner of the GBA, Reliance is a leading provider of financial services to individuals, corporate, and institutional clients worldwide.  Reliance offers a full array of personalized financial services that can benefit your bank by adding fee-based revenues through financial advisory services.  This includes directors and bank employees as well as its individual and business customers.  Services include:

• Wealth Management and Personal Advisory Services

• Separate Account Management

• Money Manager Consulting

• Trust and Fiduciary Services

• Financial, Estate, and Tax Planning

• Retirement Plans and Investments

• Outsourcing Services to Financial Intermediaries

For more information, contact Reliance’s Mark Teichner at (404) 965-7239 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.

Bond and D&O Insurance	Human Resources Solutions
Checking Club Programs	Internet Loan Closing Program
CRM	Job Bank
Discounted Check Program	Marketing
Discounted Local & Long Distance Program	Non-Qualified Executive Benefits (BOLI)
Financial Industry Pre-Employment Assessments	Pledging Pool Program
FinCrime	Record Retention Guide
Financial Marketing Solutions (FMS)	Senior Housing Crime Prevention Foundation
Georgia Financial Directory	Strunk & Associates, L.P.
Georgia Laws Code Book	Thumbprint Signature Program
Holiday Decals	Trust and Investment Services

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:

Acworth - NorthWest Bank & Trust Steve Tumlin, Jr. has joined the bank’s Board of Directors. Atlanta - Georgia Commerce Bank W. David Suttles has joined the bank as Senior Vice President and Senior Commercial Lender. Cartersville - Century Bank of Georgia Corey Ellis has joined the bank as Director of Information Systems.  Tamara Knight has been named Operations Officer and Donna Faye Power has been named Branch Manager and Banking Officer of the Westside office.  Congratulations to Carol Thompson on her recent retirement. Columbus - Synovus Financial Corp. Congratulations to CEO Richard Anthony who was recently nominated to serve on the board of the American Bankers Association. Cornelia - Financial Supermarkets, Inc. Pat Clemens has joined the company as Senior Consultant. Elberton - Pinnacle Bank Sue Cone has been promoted to Senior Vice President and Freida Fortson to Vice President. LaGrange - First Peoples Bank K. Dee Cook has joined the bank’s mortgage division as Loan Officer. Roswell - Bank of North Georgia Jackie Cantrell has been promoted to Vice President and Security Officer. Savannah - Atlantic Southern Bank Finn Howell has joined the bank as Vice President and Senior Lending Officer. Savannah - Darby Bank & Trust Co. Dr. Michael Zoller, Wayne Hartley, and James Pannell have been named to the bank’s Board of Directors.	Tumlin Power Howell Pannell	Ellis Clemens Zoller	Knight Cantrell Hartley
Watkinsville - North Georgia Bank Traci Thrasher has been promoted to Banking Officer, Human Resources and Compliance. Wrens - First State Bank Dee White has been promoted to Senior Vice President.

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