Georgia Bankers Association - The Resource that Empowers

             September 18, 2009 

Home Depot, Georgia Power, MetroStudy, Don Carter Realty Headline Atlanta Fall Economic Forum

There’s still time to register for the Atlanta Fall Economic Forum scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 22, at the Cobb Galleria. We’ve got an outstanding lineup of business, economic and industry heavy-hitters to give you the best data available. As we reported last week, the expert panel has been a popular addition to the format. Atlanta’s panel includes Richard McPhail, Vice President of Strategic Business Development at Home Depot, Eugene James, Atlanta regional director at MetroStudy, Doug Carter, President of Don Carter Realty, and Mike Worley, Manager Of Non-Metro Community Development with Georgia Power.

   Dr. Roger Tutterow, professor of Economics at Mercer University in Atlanta will give his reading of the economic tea leaves, and Georgia Banking Commissioner Rob Braswell will discuss current issues in bank regulation. A luncheon and the opportunity to network with your colleagues will follow the meetings. With questions, please contact GBA’s Susie McGehee at 404.420.2010.
GBA in D.C. this Week in Opposition to Consumer Financial Protection Agency
The GBA joined about 70 bankers and bank association executives from 29 states this week at meetings with key House Financial Services and Senate Banking Committee members as part of an ABA grassroots advocacy day to provide the banking industry's views about the proposed creation of a Consumer Financial Protection Agency. GBA board member Chuck Lewis, CEO, One Georgia Bank, GBA Associate Member FiServ, Inc.’s Brenda Jones, and GBA’s Elizabeth Chandler, SVP, Government Relations, met with Congressmen David Scott and Tom Price and their staffs to emphasize the industry’s opposition to the new agency and to cover in detail the potential conflicts that could arise if consumer regulation is removed from the existing prudential regulatory structure.   “Visiting in person with our representatives on the House Financial Services Committee gave us the opportunity to emphasize that community banks are already subject to rigorous consumer compliance examinations, and we take them very seriously,” Lewis said. “I think the meetings were effective and productive.” While the GBA supports certain improvements to close significant gaps in financial services regulation, we continue to believe that creating and funding an entirely new agency focused on banks is the wrong approach to achieve better consumer protection. CEO’s, remember that we have sent resources to you to help explain opposition to this agency and other components of regulatory reform. Contact Joe Brannen, 404.420.2026, or Elizabeth Chandler at 404.420.2027 with questions or suggestions.

Speaking of New Regulations, Federal Reserve Extends Consumer Compliance Regulatory Reach

Nonbank subsidiaries of bank holding companies and foreign banking organizations are now be subject to an extended consumer compliance supervision program from the Federal Reserve. The regulator announced its extended policy Sept. 15. For those keeping count and encouraging even more consumer protection regulation by forming a completely new regulator, it is worth nothing that no fewer than 11 existing consumer protection laws and regulations already provide enforcement authority to the Federal Reserve over these entities and activities.

   The laws are the Truth in Lending Act (TILA); Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA); Home Ownership and Equity Protection Act (HOEPA); Fair Credit Billing Act (FCBA); Consumer Leasing Act (CLA); Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA); Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA); Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA); Truth in Savings Act (TISA); any rules promulgated pursuant to the Federal Trade Commission Act (FTC Act); and the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA).
GBA Member Featured on National Network News
There have been a slew of national news stories about banking this week at the one-year anniversary of the Lehman Brothers collapse and severe Wall Street credit crisis. Georgia continues to attract attention as a place where the aftermath has been significant. In one example, CBS Evening News chronicled the credit market climate as it stands today.   Featured in that piece is First Cherokee State Bank CEO Carl Hames, who did a good job characterizing how difficult it is for banks to raise capital. As part of our continued focus to be a resource to media, we are working with several other national news sources on stories about our industry. We will update you on those as they are published. Our thanks to the member bankers who have agreed to spend time with the journalists for their stories. If you have questions, contact David Oliver, 404.420.2036, or Joe Brannen, 404.420.2026.
Testing the Legacy Loan Program: And the Winner is….

You all remember the idea to sell off troubled bank-owned assets to investors as part of the Troubled Asset Relief Program. As an extension of that, earlier this year the Treasury Department, Federal Reserve and the FDIC announced the Public Private Investment Program and its Legacy Loan Program (LLP) component. FDIC this week announced the winning bid for its test of the funding component for the program. The test was a pilot sale of a portfolio of residential mortgage loans with an unpaid principal balance of approximately $1.3 billion owned by the FDIC as Receiver of Franklin Bank, SSB, Houston, Texas. The FDIC got bids from 12 consortiums interested in buying an ownership interest in a limited liability company (LLC), to which the FDIC will convey the portfolio.

  The winning bidder is a group named Residential Credit Solutions (RCS). According to the FDIC release about the winning bid, RCS will pay a total of $64,215,000 in cash for a 50 percent equity stake in the LLC, and the LLC will issue a note of $727,770,000 to the FDIC as Receiver. The note will be guaranteed by FDIC in its corporate capacity. Based on the FDIC's analysis and assumptions, the present value of this bid equals 70.63 percent of the outstanding principal balance of this portfolio. The FDIC received various other bids that the FDIC says were very competitive. The FDIC anticipates selling the note at a future date. After the closing, which is expected to occur later this month, RCS will manage the portfolio and service the loans under the Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) guidelines.
FDIC Urges Foreclosure Forbearance, Prevention
Within the past week the FDIC has issued two items aimed at slowing the pace of foreclosures. On Sept. 11, the agency issued a public encouragement that banks participating in a loss-share transaction for closed banks provide significant foreclosure forbearance for unemployed or underemployed borrowers. Loss-share partners are urged to consider reducing the loan payment to an affordable level for at least six months. In a related follow-up Sept. 16, FDIC launched a foreclosure prevention tool kit for consumers. The information is designed to help borrowers know who to contact and what documents they need to apply for a loan modification that could save their home from foreclosure.   This tool kit also describes the warning signs of potential foreclosure "rescue" scams and how consumers, community stakeholders and bankers can report scammers and prevent fraud. This is good information, so we’ve included a link to it in our own online Consumer Toolbox. Other resources we have for consumers include identity-theft prevention and other fraud-protection information, FDIC insurance information and financial calculators.

Get Involved: Get Smart About Credit Day – Oct. 15
Looking for a positive way to be visible in the community right now? One great service project is to participate in the ABA Education Foundation’s annual Get Smart About Credit Day Oct. 15. Although millions of high school students take driver education, most don't learn the rules of the road for credit cards. The choices young adults make with their first credit card will affect their lives for many years. Teaching young people how best to use credit will equip them to handle adult financial responsibilities. Participation is easy. Contact your local high school, connect with youth groups or visit college campuses and schedule a credit presentation for Oct. 15–Get Smart About Credit Day. The ABA Education Foundation has created an excellent resource kit that contains everything you need for your presentation.   Included are a video, lesson plans, hands-on activities and worksheets that youth can relate to. To order the resource kit, call the ABA at 1-800-BANKERS or visit the ABA web site at www.aba.com. With questions about the kit or the program, please call GBA’s Jennifer Stevens at 404.420.2024 or Susie McGehee at 404.420.2010. Plan today to make a difference in the future of your community’s young people.
Free Resource for Boosting Branch Sales Available to Member Banks
Here’s a great freebie that we appreciate our Strategic Partner, Affinion Group, offering to members. It’s a webinar designed to give you tips for increasing branch sales performance. The one-hour webinar is Friday, Sept. 25, at 11 a.m. You’ll learn how to:

  • Acquire new account-holders

  • Retain your current account-holders

  

  • “Stand out” from your competition

  • Increase cross-sell opportunities.

Speakers are Todd Werner, GVP of Sales and Marketing, Affinion Group, and Tim Sulzman, SVP and Executive Relationship Manager, Pelmetta Performance Solutions (Formerly Financial Selling Systems). Click here to register today.
2009 BankPAC Campaign Update
Since the last Bulletin, Waycross Bank & Trust, G. C. Ganas, President, has contributed to the GBA StatePAC. The officers, directors and staff of the following companies have contributed to the GBA FedPAC: AB&T National Bank, Albany, Luke Flatt, CEO, and Community Bank & Trust-West Georgia, LaGrange, Bill Stump, CEO. Thanks to all for your support.   Please see the BankPAC Update for year to date contributions by group. For more information, please contact Elizabeth Chandler at 404.420.2027.
Support GBA StatePAC by Attending BankPAC Golf Classic - Oct. 28
Tee it up to help fund our PAC campaign by attending Leadership GBA’s eighth-annual Georgia BankPAC Classic slated for Wednesday, Oct. 28, at Idle Hour Country Club in Macon. Registration for this two-person scramble tournament is $150 per person, $250 per team or $450 for a team and hole sponsorship.   Proceeds from the tournament will be donated to the GBA StatePAC. Please call GBA’s Susie McGehee at 404.420.2010 with questions about the tournament.
President/CEO Conference and Bank Counsel Conference Packets Mailed
Confirmation packets for the 2009 President/CEO Conference and Bank Counsel Conference have been mailed. If you registered for either conference but have not received your confirmation packet, please contact GBA’s Susie McGehee. Both conferences are scheduled for Oct. 4-6 at The Ritz-Carlton Lodge, Reynolds Plantation at Greensboro.   The Community Bankers Committee and the Bank Counsel Board have planned great agendas that include an economic update, a regulatory panel, the changing role of the bank director, D&O coverage and much more. To register for either conference or with questions, please contact Susie at 404.420.2010.
Attention Bank Marketers: Conference is Just Over a Month Away, Register Today
Charles Darwin, famous for his theories on evolution, noted that only those species that adapt successfully to change survive. The same view can be applied to the financial services industry. A very important part of our adaptability to change involves marketing and your efforts as a marketing practitioner to define change, to communicate change and to help manage change in your organization. Therefore, the theme of this year’s marketing conference is “MARKETING EVOLUTION: WHAT’S NEXT?”   With the dramatic changes in the financial services industry affecting our evolution, it couldn’t hurt to have an enlightened glimpse of what’s next for us all. Join your peers at this year’s Marketing Conference, scheduled for Oct. 27-28 at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta. For more information about the conference or to register, please contact GBA’s Marybeth Jones at 404.420.2032.
Southern Operations & Technology School Accepting Applications for 2009 Session
Bank operations are central to the business of commercial banking. Commercial bank operations and technology specialists need broad-based as well as in-depth knowledge, and both can be gained by attending the Southern Operations & Technology School. The 2009 session is scheduled for Nov. 1-6 at the University of Georgia Center for Continuing Education in Athens. The curriculum for the two-year school is designed to provide an excellent foundation and supply the most current information related to operations and technology.  

Faculty members are working bankers who understand real-world issues. Topics are integrated into a rigorous schedule of lectures, discussions, joint case studies and outside studies. Between the two resident sessions, students work on their own bank-specific project to help their bank and enhance their value to their organization. They also build a strong network of peers to call on for ideas, advice and best practices going forward. For more details or to register, call GBA’s Marybeth Jones at 404.420.2032.
Last Chance to Register for the IRA Update Seminar - Sept. 22 & 23
Make plans to register for one of the upcoming GBA IRA Update seminars slated for Sept. 22 at the Holiday Inn Lanier Centre in Gainesville or Sept. 23 at Idle Hour Country Club in Macon. The session is designed for IRA personnel in New Accounts, CDs, Trust, Investments and Savings Departments who are involved with the opening, selling, and administration of IRA accounts. This is considered an “Intermediate” workshop for those with two years or more of experience.   This comprehensive seminar will provide a thorough update and review of the significant final regulations regarding the Pension Protection Act and other IRA legislation. The seminar will be led by Patrice Konarik with Sunwest Training Corp. in Kendalia, TX. With questions or to register, please contact GBA’s Courtenay Pope at 404.420.2015.
Register: Introduction to Consumer Lending Seminar

Make plans to register the upcoming GBA Introduction to Consumer Lending seminar slated for Oct. 14 at Idle Hour Country Club in Macon. This program is an introduction and a practical approach to consumer lending. It is designed to assist participants in understanding the credit process, to improve the quality of credit decisions and to increase their confidence skills.

  The seminar will be led by Peter Faser with Sterne, Agee, & Leach in Atlanta. With questions or to register, please contact GBA’s Courtenay Pope at 404.420.2015.
Change of Date for Bank Security Seminar – Now on Nov. 10

There's a new date of Nov. 10 for GBA’s Bank Security Seminar at Idle Hour Country Club in Macon. This one-day seminar is a part of the GBA’s Bank Security Academy. Many topics are covered including bank robbery, robbery trends, robbery response before, during and after the bank robbery and the Employee Assistance Program, physical security, alarms & cameras, vaults & safes, card access, biometrics, bandit barriers & dye packs, and ATMs (lighting & landscaping).

  Facility risk assessment will also be covered, as well as employee safety, developing a workplace non-violence program, identifying threats and dealing with problem employees and customers plus much more. The seminar will be led by Charles Williams with Marketing Advertising Consulting Services. With questions, please contact GBA’s Courtenay Pope at 404.420.2015.
Rescheduled: Loan Documentation, Advanced Loan Documentation Seminars Now Nov. 3 & Dec. 9

Please note the change in date information for the Loan Documentation and Advanced Loan Documentation seminars, now Nov. 3 and Dec. 9.

  The registration fee is $225 for each, but if you register for both, you will get a discounted rate of $400 total instead of $450. With questions, please contact GBA’s Courtenay Pope at 404.420.2015.
Bank Trainers, Don’t Miss GBA-U’s Bank Trainer Peer Group Meeting
Please join bank trainers from around the state for the GBA-University’s Bank Trainer Peer Group meeting Thursday, Oct. 29, at Idle Hour Country Club in Macon, hosted by Atlantic Southern Bank. You will hear first hand from bank executives on their beliefs in training, and one bank will share its training philosophy.   Bring your training calendar as we will end the meeting with a facilitated discussion about education planning for 2010. With questions about the meeting or to register, contact GBA’s Alison Moreau at 404.420.2034.
Analyzing Financial Statements, Accounting, Agricultural Lending, Law & Banking, Principles, Problem Loan Workouts and Trust Highlight Upcoming AIB Courses
Here are the instructor-led AIB online classes offered the week of Oct 13. These courses are instructor-facilitated with weekly assignments, and can be taken from your home or your office. All you need is a computer, printer and Internet access. (Classes with an asterisk * require Microsoft Excel Software.) Please register two weeks in advance to secure a seat in the class.   

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

September Webinars – Register Today
Just a reminder that GBA will offer the following webinars the week of September 21:   All webinars are live and allow time for questions and answers. The $250 registration fee gives you access to one web site “seat,” one telephone site license and all handout materials. If you can’t attend the webinar, you may buy the audio CD, handout materials and a password to see the information online. With questions, please call GBA’s Courtenay Pope at 404.420.2015.
Gain National Recognition for Promoting Direct Deposit
Participate in the Go Direct® Community Ambassadors Program
Registration for the second-annual Go Direct Community Ambassadors Program is now open! This new and improved recognition program, which runs from October 2009 through May 2010, was designed by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Go Direct campaign to identify and officially recognize community- and medium-sized financial institution partners that go the extra mile in promoting direct deposit to senior citizens, people with disabilities, veterans and others who receive federal benefits.   

Go Direct LogoAll financial institutions with fewer than 100 branches are invited to register online. The deadline for registration is September 30, 2009.For more information about the Community Ambassadors Program or Go Direct, call 952-346-6055, or visit www.GoDirect.org.
Problem: Fraudulent Checks.  Solution: GBA Thumbprint Signature Program.

Are fraudulent checks putting a dent in your profit margin? The GBA is here to help. A check fraud artist, like any other thief, relies on the secrecy of his or her identity; without that secrecy, he or she can no longer commit fraud. The Thumbprint Signature Program acts as a natural deterrent.  Non-account holders are asked to put an impression of their thumbprint on the face of a check using the Thumbprint Pad. 

  Anyone seeking to commit check fraud is less likely to do this because it leaves a positive I.D. that can be turned over to law enforcement. The Thumbprint Program has become very popular with banks of all sizes because it offers an easy, inexpensive way to prevent fraud without inconveniencing customers. For more information on how to begin today, contact GBA’s Kenyetta Parks.
GBA Financial Summer Directories...Hot of the Press
The Georgia Financial Directory contains complete information on all the banks in the state and is invaluable to banking professionals. Also included are listings of Associate Members, Members of the Bank Counsel Section and GBA's Strategic Partners. Complete the order form, or for more information contact Kenyetta Parks. Quantities are limited, so order yours today.

Looking for a No-Cost, Value-Added Customer Appreciation Program?
Affinion Group, a Strategic Partner of the Georgia Bankers Association, offers banks the ability to provide $1,000 of complimentary accidental death and dismemberment insurance to their DDA, credit card and mortgage customers through its Customer Appreciation Program. This is a free service to those customers and a great tool to boost retention. Additionally, at the time of the offering, the customer has the option to buy additional amounts of insurance at a low monthly price.   More than 4,600 financial institutions have decided to implement the Affinion Customer Appreciation Program. They range in size from small community banks to money center banks. There is no cost to the bank to offer the program. Aside from the customer retention benefits, this is a program that can boost your profitability. See the product brochure for more details. For more information, please contact Affinion’s John Graziano at 412.849.8968 or Misha Bleymaier at 615.764.2492, or GBA’s Levi Crabtree at 404.420.2022.
Provide Your Company with Flood Zone Relief for Challenging Times
During the best of times, lenders seek reliable, easy to use services offered at a fair price. In a turbulent financial climate, these requests quickly turn into critical needs. Federal Flood Certification Corp. calms the Flood Zone Determination process through our cost-effective approach that protects lenders, expedites the closing process, and helps the bottom line. Federal Flood offers:

  • Easy Access to fully transferable Life of Loan certificates

  • Free Letter of Map Amendment and Letter of Map Revision

  

  • Free Home Mortgage Disclosure Act data

  • Free rush service

  • Customized billing and reporting

  • No setup charges or monthly minimums

Federal Flood maintains an experienced staff and a commitment to the latest in technology, providing readily available expertise and support through a variety of platforms. For more information, please call Federal Flood’s Ed Mclin at 214.441.5903, or GBA’s Levi Crabtree at 404.420.2022.
Find a Job, Post a Job with 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 call Kenyetta Parks at 404.420.2035.
Read All About It -- Send Us Your News

Please remember to include the Georgia Bankers Association on the list of recipients for announcements about promotions, new employees and special recognition your bank has received.

  We want to share your news with your colleagues across the state. Please forward your announcements and photos to GBA's Lydia Thomas.
Newsmakers
 		    
Atlanta - Bank of America
 Congratulations to Milton Jones, Market President for Atlanta and Georgia, on his successful career and upcoming retirement. Geri Thomas will assume the role of Atlanta Market President and Georgia Market President.

Gainesville - Chattahoochee Bank of Georgia
 Congratulations to CEO Jody Lail, the officers, directors and staff on the bank’s one-year anniversary.

Ringgold - Northwest Georgia Bank
Bobby Hudgens has been named Vice President, Commercial Lender and Branch Manager at the Hamilton Place office, and Cheryl Martin has been named Assistant Vice President & Branch Manager at the Ooltewah-Collegedale office.		  

Jones
Thomas

Hudgens
Martin

Calendar of Events
Details for September & October

 

Conferences

 
Oct. 4-6 Bank Counsel Conference Greensboro
Oct. 4-6 President/CEO Conference Greensboro
Oct. 27-28 Marketing Conference Atlanta
Dec. 3-4 Credit Conference Atlanta
Jan. 20-21, 2010 Financial Risk Management Conference Atlanta
Mar. 2-3, 2010 Operations and Technology Conference Atlanta
Mar. 17-19, 2010 HR Professionals Institute Atlanta
Apr. 13-14, 2010 Security Conference Atlanta
May 13-14, 2010 Rural Development and Lending Conference Savannah
     

Conventions/Events

 
Sept. 22 Fall Economic Forum Atlanta
Oct. 28 Georgia BankPAC Classic Macon
     
 

Schools

 
Nov. 1-6 Southern Operations and Technology School Athens
Feb. 22-24, 2010 Southeastern School of Advanced Commercial Lending Nashville, TN
March 7-12, 2010 Southeastern School of Consumer Credit Nashville, TN
May 2-7, 2010 Georgia Banking School Athens
 

 

 
 

Seminars

 
Sept. 22 Managing a Successful Branch, Part 2 Webinar
Sept. 22 Do Commercial Lenders Have to Worry About Compliance? More Than You Might Think Webinar
Sept. 22 IRA Update and Review Workshop Gainesville
Sept. 23 IRA Update and Review Workshop Macon
Sept. 23 Managing Credit Risk with Effective Stress Testing Webinar
Sept. 24 Mortgage & Real Estate Fraud Security Webinar
Sept. 25 OFAC Policies: What should we say? How should we say it? Webinar
Sept. 29 Bank Secrecy Act Staff Training Webinar
Sept. 29 Vendor Due Diligence and Risk Management - Increased Regulatory Expectations Webinar
Oct. 1 Differentiate Through Service Webinar
Oct. 1 Opening New Accounts II Webinar
Oct. 2 Loan Pricing for Difficult Times Webinar
Oct. 8 Accounting for the Allowance of Loan & Lease Losses (ALLL) Webinar
Oct. 9 A New Day in Washington: Sweeping Changes for Employers Webinar
Oct. 14 Introduction to Consumer Lending Macon
Oct. 14 Lending Basics for Support Personnel Webinar
Oct. 15 RESPA, Part 1- Implementing the New Rules: Overview Webinar
Oct. 20 Opening Deposit Accounts I: Business Accounts: Documenting Existence & Authority Webinar
Oct. 22 Advanced Loan Documentation Macon
Oct. 22

Preparing For Your Next On-site BSA/AML/OFAC Examination

 Webinar
Nov. 4 Analyzing Personal Financial Statements Macon
Nov. 9 Opening Deposit Accounts II: Personal Accounts: Documenting Existence & Authority Webinar
Nov. 10 Bankruptcy, Garnishment, Liens & Levies Macon
Nov. 10 Bank Security Seminar:
Bank Robbery/Physical Security		 Macon
Nov. 12 RESPA, Part 2: Understanding & Completing the New Good Faith Estimate Webinar
Nov. 17 Advanced Consumer Lending Macon
Nov. 19 Opening Deposit Accounts III: Fiduciary Accounts: Documenting Ownership & Authority Webinar
Nov. 20 RESPA, Part 3: Understanding & Completing the New HUD-1/1A Webinar
Dec. 10 Collections and Recoveries Macon
Dec. 16 Bank Secrecy Act Compliance - A NEW ERA Macon
Dec. 17 Analyzing Commercial Financial Statements Macon
Jan. 19 Bank Security Seminar: Employee Investigations Macon
Jan. 28 Bank Security Seminar: BSA/AML Compliance Macon

Feb. 18

Bank Security Seminar: Effective Information Security Management

Macon
Mar. 11 Bank Security Seminar: Fraud Macon
   
  American Institute of Banking (AIB)  
Ongoing AIB Online Courses Online
Ongoing AIB Online - Instructor-led Online
     
  AIB Classroom Courses  
     
Board/Committee Meetings  
Sept. 24-25 Leadership GBA Fall Planning Meeting Atlanta
Oct. 6 GBA Board of Directors Greensboro
Jan. 13, 2010 GBA Board of Directors Atlanta
     
  Roundtables/Peer Groups  

Oct. 21

Finance/Operations Roundtable, Group A

Macon

Oct. 22

Finance/Operations Roundtable, Group B

Macon

Oct. 23

Finance/Operations Roundtable, Group C

Macon
Oct. 29 Bank Trainer Peer Group Macon

Nov. 4

President/CEO Roundtable, Group 5

Macon
Nov. 5 President/CEO Roundtable, Group 4 Macon
Nov. 6 President/CEO Roundtable, Group 2 Macon
Nov. 20 President/CEO Roundtable, Group 1 Macon
 
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Georgia Bankers Association • 50 Hurt Plaza, Suite 1050, Atlanta, GA 30303 • Phone 404.522.1501 • Fax 404.522.9848 • www.gabankers.com