GBA Installs New Officers
GBA’s new officer leadership was installed at the recent Annual Convention at Grand Cayman.  In last Friday’s e-Bulletin, we told you that Jim Williams, CEO of Citizens Bank & Trust in Eastman, was installed as GBA’s new chairman for the 2007-2008 year.  Jim’s theme for this year will be GBA Connect.  At the Convention, Jim asked the delegates and the members back home to connect to GBA politically, to connect educationally, and to connect strategically:  politically connecting to GBA by educating yourself on the issues, voicing your position to GBA and your elected officials, and contributing to the state and federal PACs; educationally connecting to GBA by encouraging your employees and directors to actively support GBA’s extensive educational programs and identifying and training the next generation of bankers; and strategically connecting to GBA by using the association as your preferred provider of choice for products and services such as those available through our strategic partners, the GBA Insurance Trust and GBA Retirement Services.

Other officers installed at the convention were:

• Chairman-elect:  Steve Jordan, CEO, Bank of Monticello

• Vice Chairman:  Andy Williams, CEO, United Community Bank, Blairsville, and

• Secretary/Treasurer:  Randy Eaves, CEO, First National Bank of Georgia, Buchanan

   

  J. Williams	Jordan	A. Williams	Eaves

Outgoing Secretary/Treasurer Doug Wren, CEO, Quantum National Bank, Suwanee, was recognized for his three-year service as was outgoing GBA Chairman Bobby Carmichael, CEO of Commercial Bank & Trust in LaGrange.

Seven new members of the Board took office at the Convention for terms of two years:

• Group 2:   DeWitt Drew, CEO, Southwest Georgia Bank, Moultrie

• Group 4:   Bill Gafford, CEO, McIntosh Commercial Bank, Carrollton

• Group 6:   Allen Lancaster, CEO, The Gordon Bank, Gordon

• Group 8:   Stuart Smith, CEO, Douglas National Bank, Douglas

• Group 10: Remer Brinson, CEO, First Bank of Georgia, Augusta

• At Large:  Pait Willis, CEO, South Georgia Banking Company, Tifton

• At Large:  Betty Turner, VP, Bank of America, Charlotte, NC

Please join us in congratulating these new leaders and thanking them for their service.

ABA/ACB Announce Merger
The American Bankers Association (ABA) and America’s Community Bankers (ACB) have announced a merger that is expected to take place in the fourth quarter of this year.  In making the announcement, ABA Chairman Earl McVicker and ACB Chairman Mark Macomber said in a joint statement, “The time is right for us to come together. The future of community banking will be determined now. By joining forces and with our expanded resources, we will aggressively make your case, fight your battles, and provide relevant information and services to help your institutions. The new ABA will be the dominant bank trade association, becoming America’s banking advocate. This merger brings together the best of both.  It will shape the future of the entire banking industry through strength, service and a passion for the success of its members.” McVicker is CEO of Central Bank & Trust, Hutchinson, KS, and Macomber is CEO of Litchfield Bancorp in Litchfield, CT.

Farm Credit Letters Generated
Bankers who attended the GBA Annual Convention generated close to 300 letters to members of the Georgia Congressional delegation opposing the attempt by the Farm Credit System to expand their scope through the current farm bill being debated in Congress.  If you and the employees at your bank have not done so yet, please do so through the 'Contact Congress' icon.  Letters from you will automatically be generated to Senator Saxby Chambliss, Senator Johnny Isakson and your member of Congress.  It is a very simple process and an important tool for our membership to use in fighting the expansion efforts of the Farm Credit System.

Wal-Mart Rolls Out Banking Product
It should come as no surprise that Wal-Mart is continuing to press for banking services even though the company withdrew their application for an FDIC-insured Industrial Loan Company charter.  Wal-Mart has announced plans to open as many as 1,000 financial services centers in their stores by the end of 2008.  As part of its services, the company will issue the Wal-Mart MoneyCard, a prepaid Visa card that will cost $8.95. It can be used like a credit card to shop online and to pay for gasoline and merchandise at other retailers.  The card will be available at most Wal-Mart stores by year-end.  Other services will include money transfers, check cashing and others.  “It should come as no surprise that Wal-Mart is saying on the one hand they are abandoning their banking plans while at the same time pursuing traditional banking services through existing channels.  To think the company is rolling out a full banking concept in their Mexican stores and not having a similar strategy for their U.S. stores is simply hard to believe,” said GBA President Joe Brannen.

FDIC Pushes Small Dollar Loans
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) has issued “Affordable Small-Dollar Loan Guidelines” that encourage financial institutions to offer small-dollar credit products and to promote these products to their customers.  FDIC says the small-dollar loan products should have affordable, reasonable interest rates with no or low fees and payments that reduce the principal balance of the loan.  CRA credit may be available.

Thank you Convention Sponsors!
Many thanks to the members and associate members who helped make the 2007 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.

Congratulations Tournament Winners
Congratulations to the winning scramble tournament team at the 2007 Annual Convention in Grand Cayman.  The team included Chris Kratzer, Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta; Daniel Williams, Citizens Bank & Trust Company, Eastman; Bob Shifflett, Strunk & Associates, LP, Bridgewater, VA and Chad Wilson, Georgia Bankers Association, Atlanta.  Click here for a complete list of tournament winners.  Congratulations all!

Legislative Update at Leadership Conference
Final preparations are being made for Leadership GBA’s 47^th Annual Leadership Conference slated for July 15-18 at the Ponte Vedra Inn & Club, Ponte Vedra, Florida.  Heath Garrett, Chief of Staff, Office of United States Senator Johnny Isaakson, Marietta, and GBA’s own Elizabeth Chandler will be on hand to bring you up to date on the latest state and federal issues affecting the banking industry today as well as the results of the 2006 legislative session.  The GBA follows many issues at both the state and federal level that are of interest to a cross-section of bankers.  This update will also reinforce the importance of your being politically involved on behalf of your industry.  If you would like to attend, there’s still time to register.  With questions, call GBA’s Susie McGehee  at (404) 420-2010 or Jennifer Stevens at (404) 420-2024.

Summer 2007 AIB Classroom Courses
Here are the AIB classroom courses for Summer 2007.  AIB classes meet three hours each week for 2 to 15 weeks and will be held at a local financial institution.  If you would like to see a specific AIB 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.

• Money and Banking, taught by Kevin Taylor, Northwest Georgia Bank, Ringgold.
  Beginning July 10, 10 weeks, $195, text $75

• Law & Banking:  Principles, taught by Cassie Parker, McIntosh State Bank
  Beginning August 13, 10 weeks, $195, text $69

Register Today for AIB Online Courses
Just a reminder that the following AIB online classes begin on July 23.  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.)

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

• Consumer Lending, 16 weeks, $385

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

• Money & Banking, 16 weeks, $385

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

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

• Trust Basics, 16 weeks, $385

There is still limited availability in the following AIB online classes beginning the week of July 16. Please register as soon as possible to secure a seat in the class.

• Economics for Bankers, 16 weeks, $385

• Introduction to Mortgage Lending, 16 weeks, $385

• Principles of Banking, 16 weeks, $385

• Sales Manager Certificate, 16 weeks, $695

Please see the AIB Online Course 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 June 17^th GBA Board of Directors meeting:

• Haskell Slaughter Young & Rediker, Atlanta, Stan Pollock, Attorney

• Management Psychology Group, Atlanta, William Flanagan, Partner

• NCBS, Buford, Trina McCoy, First Vice President

• Sheshunoff & Company Investment Banking, Birmingham, AL, Gary Kennedy, Director

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.

FTRANS: Trade Credit Outsourcing
GBA has 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.  Total Technology Ventures, the venture capital affiliate of Synovus Financial Corp., is the largest shareholder of FTRANS.  For more information, please contact FTRANS’ John Hayes at (678) 268-4040, or GBA’s Chad Wilson at (404) 420-2022.

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. is a Strategic Partner of the GBA, and 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. For more information, please contact Gladiator’s Danny Johnston at (678) 461-4620, or GBA’s Chad Wilson at (404) 420-2022.

For Sale
A 30’ x 62’ double wide modular unit manufactured by Wilkins Builders in January 2006.  Some equipment available. Please contact Bill Gilbert at (706) 745-2151 for information.  Click here for a photo of the modular unit.

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:

Alpharetta - Alpha Bank & Trust Connie Ross and Pat Werchanowskyj have been promoted to Bank Officers and Brian Zaffino to Vice President, Electronic Banking Services. Brunswick - Sapelo Southern Bank Patti Laurens has joined the bank as Mortgage Loan Officer; and Tammy Crumley and Susan Hutto have been named Branch Managers. Gainesville - GB&T Bancshares, Inc. Mike Whitmire has been named Chief Executive Officer of Gainesville Bank & Trust.  John Thompson has joined GB&T Mortgage as Vice President, Mortgage Lending. Macon - Atlantic Southern Bank Reginald Gainey has joined the bank as Vice President – Director of Information Technology. Marietta - Highland Commercial Bank Beverly J. Carter has been promoted to Banking Officer. Savannah - Darby Bank & Trust Co. Jon Seagraves has been promoted to Associate Commercial Lender. Savannah - The Savannah Bank Rebecca Page has joined the bank as Vice President.

Laurens Whitmire Carter

Crumley Thompson Seagraves

Hutto Gainey

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