. . . .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 1 of 8 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 2 of 8 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 3 of 8 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 4 of 8 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 5 of 8 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 6 of 8 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 7 of 8 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. Back to top 8 of 8