Department of Banking and Finance bulletin, Nov. 30, 2002

. . . .BULLETIN. . . .BULLETIN. . . .BULLETIN. . . .BULLETIN. . . .

STATE OF GEORGIA
DEPARTMENT OF BANKING AND FINANCE
2990 Brandywine Road, Suite 200 Atlanta, Georgia 30341-5565
DAVID G. SORRELL, ACTING COMMISSIONER

Phone: (770) 986-1633

Fax: (770) 986-1655

Internet Address: http://www.gadbf.org/
November 30, 2002 The following is a summary of official action taken on applications by State Financial Institutions under Chapter 7-1 of the Code of Georgia and petitions for Certificate of Incorporation of Financial Institutions and other matters of interest during the month of November 2002.
NOTICES:
International Fraud Scheme - Advance Fee Scam 2003 Holiday Schedule

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APPLICATIONS FOR NEW FINANCIAL INSTITUTION

FINANCIAL INSTITUTION Georgia Commerce Bank 3625 Cumberland Boulevard Atlanta, GA 30339 Cobb County

BEGIN BUSINESS

CAPITALIZATION APPROVAL DATE

DATE

$ 10,000,000

Pending

McIntosh Commercial Bank 820 Dixie Street Carrollton, GA 30117 Carroll County

$ 10,500,000

07-01-2002

11-05-2002

Mountain State Bank NW Corner of 400 Center Drive & Dawson 400 Circle Dawsonville, GA 30534 Dawson County

$ 8,250,000

Pending

American Trust Bank 880 Holcomb Bridge Road, Building C Roswell, GA 30076 Fulton County

$ 8,500,000

Pending

APPLICATIONS FOR DISSOLUTION

FINANCIAL INSTITUTION AmTrade International Bank of Georgia Atlanta, GA 30309

APPROVAL DATE Bank is in Receivership Click here for further information

EFFECTIVE DATE

APPLICATIONS TO ESTABLISH A BRANCH OFFICE

FINANCIAL INSTITUTION Georgia Banking Company Atlanta

BRANCH OFFICE Hapeville Branch Office 417 North Central Avenue Hapeville, GA 30354 Fulton County

APPROVAL BEGIN BUSINESS

DATE

DATE

11-27-2002

SunTrust Bank Atlanta

Manokeek Village Branch Office 405 Manning Road, East Accokeek, MD 20607 Prince George's County

11-12-2002

SunTrust Bank Atlanta

Royal Palm Way Branch Office 109 Royal Palm Way Palm Beach, FL 33480 Palm Beach County

03-29-2002

11-04-2002

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FINANCIAL INSTITUTION United Community Bank Blairsville
Mountain State Bank Dawsonville
The Bank of Georgia Fayetteville
FirstCity Bank Gibson
South Georgia Bank Glennville
Community Trust Bank Hiram
Jasper Banking Company Jasper
Community Bank and Trust - Troup LaGrange
Southern Heritage Bank Oakwood

BRANCH OFFICE Joe Frank Harris Parkway Branch Office 1320 Joe Frank Harris Parkway Cartersville, GA 30120 Bartow County
Cumming Branch Office SW Corner of Bethelview Road & GA 9 Cumming, GA 30040 Forsyth County
Westpark Branch Office 100 West Park Drive Peachtree City, GA 30296 Fayette County
Towne Centre Branch Office 1971 Jonesboro Road McDonough, GA 30253 Henry County
Reidsville Branch Office 211 South Main Street Reidsville, GA 30453 Tattnall County
Arbor Place Branch Office Arbor Place Mall Douglas Boulevard Douglasville, GA 30135 Douglas County
Jasper Branch Office - Ingles #437 1449 West Church Street Jasper, GA 30143-0487 Pickens County
East Main Street Branch Office 410 East Main Street Hogansville, GA 30230-1136 Troup County
Hall County Branch Office 322 Washington Street Gainesville, GA 30501 Hall County

APPROVAL BEGIN BUSINESS

DATE

DATE

11-01-2002

Pending

04-27-2001

11-18-2002

11-08-2002

02-28-2002

11-21-2002

12-01-1999

11-21-2002 Withdrawn

08-12-2002

11-04-2002

09-16-2002

11-04-2002

11-07-2002

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FINANCIAL INSTITUTION United Bank & Trust Company Rockmart
Bank of Upson Thomaston
FLAG Bank Vienna

BRANCH OFFICE Cartersville Branch Office 2 North Dixie Avenue Cartersville, GA 30120 Bartow County

APPROVAL BEGIN BUSINESS

DATE

DATE

02-07-2002

11-06-2002

Luthersville Branch Office 14 North Main Street Luthersville, GA 30251 Meriwether County

08-19-2002

11-09-2002

Norcross Branch Office (El Banco de Nuestra Comunidad) 5368 Jimmy Carter Boulevard Norcross, GA 30093 Gwinnett County

Pending

FINANCIAL INSTITUTION SunTrust Bank Atlanta
SunTrust Bank Atlanta
FLAG Bank Vienna

APPLICATIONS TO CHANGE LOCATION

From: To:

CHANGE LOCATION OF Riverdale Branch Office 6200 Baltimore Boulevard Riverdale, MD 20737 Prince George's County 4415 East-West Highway Riverdale, MD 20737 Prince George's County

APPROVAL DATE
11-18-2002

EFFECTIVE DATE

From: To:

Clarendon Branch Office 3040 Clarendon Boulevard Arlington, VA 22201 Arlington County The Arlington Courthouse Branch Office 2121 North 15th Street Arlington, VA 22216 Arlington County

08-02-2002

09-23-2002

From: To:

Main Office 100 Union Street, Suite 550 Vienna, GA 31092 Dooly County 3475 Piedmont Road, Suite 550 Atlanta, GA 30305 Fulton County

Pending

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PREVIOUS NAME First Bank of Gwinnett Lawrenceville

NOTICE OF CHANGE IN NAME
NEW NAME First Bank of the South

APPROVAL DATE
10-24-2002

EFFECTIVE DATE
11-01-2002

APPLICATIONS FOR RESERVATION OF A NAME

PROPOSED NAME Southern Banking Company

COUNTY Gwinnett County

APPLICANT Mr. Richard T. Hills, Attorney at Law Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice 1201 West Peachtree Street, NE, Suite 3500 Atlanta, GA 30309

FINANCIAL INSTITUTION (SURVIVOR) Citizens Trust Bank Atlanta

FINANCIAL INSTITUTION MERGERS
MERGED INSTITUTION Citizens Federal Savings Bank Birmingham, AL

United Community Bank Blairsville
United Community Bank Blairsville

United Community Bank White County Cleveland
United Community Bank West Georgia Carrollton

United Community Bank Blairsville

United Community Bank Metro Marietta

United Community Bank Blairsville

United Community Bank Dawson County Dawsonville

United Community Bank Blairsville

United Community Bank Rabun County Clayton

United Community Bank Blairsville

United Community Bank Towns County Hiawassee

United Community Bank Blairsville

United Community Bank North Georgia Blue Ridge

First State Bank of Blakely Blakely

First State Bank of Donalsonville Donalsonville

First-Citizens Bank and Trust Company of South First Bank and Trust Carolina

Columbia, SC

Carnesville

APPROVAL DATE
Pending

EFFECTIVE DATE

10-17-2002 11-30-2002 10-17-2002 11-30-2002

10-17-2002 11-30-2002

10-17-2002 11-30-2002

10-17-2002 11-30-2002

10-17-2002 11-30-2002

10-17-2002 11-30-2002

08-15-2002 11-13-2002

Pending

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FINANCIAL INSTITUTION (SURVIVOR)
First-Citizens Bank and Trust Company of South Carolina
Columbia, SC

MERGED INSTITUTION The Bank of Toccoa
Toccoa

Main Street Bank Covington
Western Union Bank Greenwood Village, CO

First National Bank of Johns Creek Suwanee
First Financial Bank Atlanta

First Bank of Gwinnett Lawrenceville

Embry Bank Lawrenceville

Georgia Guard Credit Union Macon

White Gold Credit Union Dry Branch

APPROVAL DATE
Pending

EFFECTIVE DATE

Pending Pending 11-13-2002 11-06-2002

APPLICATIONS TO BECOME A BANK HOLDING COMPANY AND/OR TO ACQUIRE VOTING STOCK OF A FINANCIAL INSTITUTION

BANK HOLDING COMPANY

TO ACQUIRE

APPROVAL DATE

FORMATIONS Pinnacle S-Corp, Inc. Elberton, GA

Pinnacle Bank Elberton, GA

Pending

Hazlehurst Investors, Inc. Hazlehurst, GA

Bank of Hazlehurst Hazlehurst, GA

11-06-2002

Neighbors Bancshares, Inc. Roswell, GA

Neighbors Bank (In Organization) Roswell, GA

Pending

ACQUISITIONS Synovus Financial Corp. Columbus, GA

First Nation Bank Covington, GA

Pending

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CITY Dalton Dalton Moultrie Tucker Atlanta

CHECK CASHER LICENSES ISSUED

APPLICANT NAME Cardoza, Antonio Espinoza, Benjamin D., Jr. Hiren Enterprises, Inc. Kim, Moon K. Robella, Hailu

TRADE NAME La Tienda Ruiz #1 La Popular and Los Arcos Quick Mart #21 Country Cafe Too H&M Check Cashing

NOTICES

INTERNATIONAL FRAUD SCHEME ADVANCE FEE SCAM
CitiFinancial, Baltimore, Maryland, has notified the Department about an international fraud scheme that involves the inappropriate use of CitiFinancial's name, as well as other legitimate businesses. According to CitiFinancial, the perpetrators of this fraud have placed ads in newspapers throughout the United States and Canada advertising loans with low interest rates and the ability to help consumers with their prior bad credit histories. The ad typically includes two phone numbers, one of which is toll free. The area codes, in most cases, are linked to Canada.
According to CitiFinancial, the fraud occurs as follows. A potential victim contacts the company and submits a credit application over the phone. Most commonly, the potential victim is told that they are approved for the loan, but prior to receiving any loan proceeds, they are required to pay certain upfront fees (typically for the purchase of insurance products or for loan processing). The potential victim is instructed to pay the money via Western Union. Once the payment is made through Western Union, no loan document or loan proceeds are received by the victim. The end result is that the victim loses money ranging from $750 to $5,000.
CitiFinancial, as well as other companies whose names have been misused in this fraud scheme, is actively pursuing this matter with appropriate law enforcement representatives. According to CitiFinancial, Canadian authorities have made some arrests, but they are far fromputting an end to this fraud.
2003 HOLIDAY SCHEDULE
On August 7, 2002, and in accordance with O.C.G.A. 1-4-1, Governor Roy E. Barnes proclaimed the following dates as public and legal holidays for the year 2003. Financial Institutions may observe both the official observance day as well as alternative observances indicated. In addition to these designated dates, financial institutions may close on Sunday and one discretionary day each week. If the discretionary day observed is changed permanently or temporarily, customer notice must be posted at least 30 days in advance.
2002

Veterans' Day Thanksgiving Day
(Alternate observance of Lee's Birthday)
Christmas Day (Alternate observance of President's Day)

Monday, November 11 Thursday, November 28 Friday, November 29 Wednesday, December 25 Thursday, December 26

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2003
New Year's Day Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Birthday
(Will be observed)
Robert E. Lee's Birthday (Will be observed)
Washington's Birthday (Will be observed)
Confederate Memorial Day (Will be observed)
Memorial Day Independence Day Labor Day Columbus Day Veterans' Day Thanksgiving Day (Alternate observance of Lee's Birthday) Christmas Day (Alternate observance of Washington's Birthday)

Wednesday, January 1 Wednesday, January 15
Monday, January 20
Sunday, January 19
Friday, November 28
Saturday, February 22
Friday, December 26
Saturday, April 26
Monday, April 28
Monday, May 26 Friday, July 4 Monday, September 1 Monday, October 13 Tuesday, November 11 Thursday, November 27 Friday, November 28 Thursday, December 25 Friday, December 26

EMERGENCY CLOSINGS
As the winter months approach, all financial institutions are reminded that current regulations provide for management to exercise its own discretion, with notification to the Department, in closing any institution for one business day (renewal for successive days) upon its determination that the safety of customers, employees or assets would be in jeopardy due to civil disorder, fire, acts of God, or utility failure or similar circumstances which render the institution unable to conduct business in a safe and sound manner. Such closings should be communicated to the Department by telephone, mail or faxas soon as transmission is feasible.
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