Department of Banking and Finance bulletin, Nov. 30, 2003

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

Phone: (770) 986-1633

Fax: (770) 986-1655

Internet Address: http://www.gadbf.org

November 30, 2003
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 2003.

IN THIS ISSUE:
First Mutual Savings & Credit Union - Entity Unauthorized to Do Business in the State of Georgia 2004 Holiday Schedule

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APPLICATIONS FOR NEW FINANCIAL INSTITUTION

FINANCIAL INSTITUTION Mountain Heritage Bank 550 U.S. Highway 441 South Clayton, GA 30525
Rabun County

CAPITALIZATION APPROVAL DATE

$ 9,624,470

07-03-2003

BEGIN BUSINESS DATE
11-10 -2003

Mountain Valley Community Bank 136 North Main Street Cleveland, GA 30528 White County

$ 7,000,000

Pending

New Horizons Bank 489 Highland Circle East Ellijay, GA 30539 Gilmer County

$ 7,000,000

Pending

1st Georgia Banking Company 101 Main Street Franklin, GA 30217 Heard County

$ 17,000,000

09-04-2003

11-03 -2003

Highland Commercial Bank 3411 Ernest Barrett Parkway, NW Marietta, GA 30064 Cobb County

$ 10,000,000

Pending

First Coweta Bank 61 Bullsboro Drive Newnan, GA 30263 Coweta County

$ 7,000,000

Pending

PREVIOUS NAME Frontier Bank, National Association

FINANCIAL INSTITUTION CONVERSIONS

CONVERTED TO Frontier Bank LaGrange

APPROVAL DATE 09-25-2003

Troup County

EFFECTIVE DATE 11 -03-2003

First National Bank of Cherokee
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First Cherokee State Bank Woodstock Cherokee County

11-24-2003

PREVIOUS NAME Southbank, National Association

CONVERTED TO SouthBank Woodstock Cherokee County

APPROVAL DATE Pending

EFFECTIVE DATE

APPLICATIONS TO ESTABLISH A BRANCH OFFICE

FINANCIAL INSTITUTION Athens First Bank & Trust Company Athens

BRANCH OFFICE Braselton Highway Branch Office 3507 Braselton Highway
Dacula, GA 30019 Gwinnett County

APPROVAL DATE
11 -27-2001

BEGIN BUSINESS
DATE
11-10-2003

SunTrust Bank Atlanta

Brookstone Village Branch Office Mars Hill Road & Stilesboro Road Acworth, GA 30101 Cobb County

03 -26-2003

11-10-2003

SunTrust Bank Atlanta
SunTrust Bank Atlanta
SunTrust Bank Atlanta

Lake Nona Branch Office 10575 Narcoosee Road Orlando, FL 32832 Orange County
Wilshire Pavilion Branch Office Ga 74 & Holly Grove Road Peachtree City, GA 30269 Fayette County
Sam Ridley Parkway Branch Office 551 Sam Ridley Parkway West Smyrna, TN 37167 Rutherford County

11 -17-2003

03 -26-2003

11-02-2003

Pending

SunTrust Bank Atlanta

Winter Garden Branch Office West Colonial Drive & Daniels Road Winter Garden, FL 34787 Orange County

11 -17-2003

Habersham Bank Clarkesville
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Braselton Branch Office 6322 Grand Hickory Drive Braselton, GA 30517 Gwinnett County

07 -01-2002

11-03-2003

FINANCIAL INSTITUTION Habersham Bank Clarkesville
Gwinnett Community Bank Duluth
Bank of Eastman Eastman
1st Georgia Banking Company Franklin
1st Georgia Banking Company Franklin
The Heritage Bank Hinesville
The Heritage Bank Hinesville
Crescent Bank and Trust Company Jasper
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BRANCH OFFICE Hickory Flat Highway Branch Office 6782 Hickory Flat Highway Canton, GA 30115 Cherokee County
Suwanee Branch Office 3463A #117 Lawrenceville -Suwanee Road Suwanee, GA 30024 Gwinnett County
East Greene Street Branch Office 100 East Greene Street Milledgeville, GA 31061 Baldwin County
Bremen Branch Office 102 Stone Bridge Boulevard Bremen, GA 30110 Haralson County
Carrollton Branch Office 100 Tom Reeves Drive Carrollton, GA 30117 Carroll County
Kingsland Boone Avenue Branch Office 1351 E. Boone Avenue Kingsland, GA 31548 Camden County
Statesboro Branch Office 730 Northside Drive East Statesboro, GA 30458 Bulloch County
Westside Cartersville Branch Office 420 Old Mill Road Cartersville, GA 30120 Bartow County

APPROVAL DATE
11 -18-2003

BEGIN BUSINESS
DATE

11 -26-2003

06 -23-2003

11-10-2003

09 -04-2003

11-03-2003

09 -04-2003

11-03-2003

11 -21-2003

11 -21-2003

Pending

FINANCIAL INSTITUTION Bank of Lumber City Lumber City
Exchange Bank Milledgeville
Newnan Coweta Bank Newnan
Georgian Bank Powder Springs
Community Bank of the South Smyrna
Talbot State Bank Woodland
SunTrust Bank Atlanta
SunTrust Bank Atlanta
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BRANCH OFFICE McRae Branch Office 801 East Oak Street McRae, GA 31055 Telfair County
Greene County Branch Office 6081 Eatonton Highway Greensboro, GA 30642 Greene County
LaGrange and Greenville Street Branch Office 38 LaGrange Street Newnan, GA 30263 Coweta County
Northwinds Center Branch Office 400 Northwinds Center 11605 Haynes Bridge Road, 5th Floor Alpharetta, GA 30004 Fulton County
Canton Highway Branch Office 3324 Canton Highway Marietta, GA 30066 Cobb County
Tyrone Branch Office 998 Senoia Road Tyrone, GA 30290 Fayette County
Kings Ridge Branch Office 4303 U.S. Highway 27 Clermont, FL 34711 Lake County
Hairston Crossing Publix In -Store Branch Office 2075 South Hairston Road Decatur, GA 30035 DeKalb County

APPROVAL DATE
11 -03-2003

BEGIN BUSINESS
DATE

11 -05-2003

07 -22-2002

11-12-2003

11 -03-2003

09 -20-2002

11-03-2003

11 -12-2003

08 -23-2002

09-16-2002

10 -08-2002

11-21-2002

PROPOSED NAME Pinehurst Bank & Trust

APPLICATIONS FOR RESERVATION OF A NAME

COUNTY Dooly County

APPLICANT Mr. John B. Kline Principal

Mauldin & Jenkins, LLC

P.O. Box 724888

Atlanta, GA 31139-1888

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
Piedmont Bancshares, Inc. Atlanta, GA

Piedmont Bank of Georgia Atlanta, GA

Pending

Community Bank of Georgia, Inc. Baxley, GA

Community Bank of Georgia (IO) Baxley, GA

11-14-2003

FNBG Bancshares, Inc. Duluth, GA

First National Bank of Gwinnett Duluth, GA

11-12-2003

CBS Financial Corporation Smyrna, GA

Community Bank of the South Smyrna, GA

11-12-2003

Eagle National, Inc. Stockbridge, GA

Eagle National Bank Stockbridge, GA

Pending

ACQUISITIONS Synovus Financial Corp. Columbus, GA
First National Banc, Inc. St. Marys, GA

Peoples Bank Palm Harbor, FL
First National Bank Orange Park, FL

Pending 11-24-2003

CHECK SELLER RIA Telecommunications, Inc. Cerritos, CA

APPLICATIONS FOR NEW SALE OF CHECK
APPROVAL DATE 11 -19 -2003

CITY Decatur Augusta
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CHECK CASHER LICENSES ISSUED

APPLICANT NAME HDC Group, Inc. Han, Kwang II

TRADE NAME J & J Eagles Package Store C & J Market

CITY Covington Macon Social Circle

APPLICANT NAME JCL Enterprises, Inc. KW Pawn, Inc. M.S. Investments, Inc.

TRADE NAME Sunshine Coin Laundry Houston Avenue Pawn Citgo Food Mart

MONEY TRANSMITTER Ficohsa Express Georgia LLC Chamblee, GA

MONEY TRANSMITTER LICENSES ISSUED
APPROVAL DATE 11 -07 -2003

Placid NK Corporation Chamblee, GA

11 -04 -2003

AMAL USA, Inc. Decatur, GA

11 -05 -2003

Remesas Costamar, Inc. Elizabeth, NJ

11 -04 -2003

Associated Foreign Exchange, Inc. Encino, CA
Caribbean Airmail, Inc. Miami, FL

11 -17 -2003 11 -17 -2003

Intermex Wire Transfers, Inc. Miami, FL

11 -04 -2003

Global Remittance Limited New York, NY

11 -18 -2003

Samso's Express Money Transfer, Inc. Plantation, FL

11 -17 -2003

Vigo Remittance Corp. Sunrise, FL

11 -19 -2003

NOTICES

FIRST MUTUAL SAVINGS & CREDIT UNION- ENTITY UNAUTHORIZED TO DO BUSINESS IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA
Be advised that FIRST MUTUAL SAVINGS & CREDIT UNION (First Mutual) which allegedly has an address of 761 Peachtree Road, Suite 903, Atlanta, GA 30088 is not a credit union authorized to do business in the State of Georgia. Effective November 18, 2003, a Cease
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and Desist Order was issued against this entity directing them to do the following:
l First Mutual shall immediately cease indicating in any internet website, marketing materials, signage, correspondence, or legal documentation that could reach Georgia consumers that it is a credit union, and that it is authorized to do business in Georgia.
l First Mutual shall cease using the name "Credit Union", "Bank", "Banking Company", "Banker", "Banking House" or any similar terminology in the above materials, in reference to activities conducted in the State of Georgia.
l First Mutual shall not conduct a banking business unless it demonstrates that it is authorized to conduct a banking business in accordance with the provisions of federal or state law. O.C.G.A. Section 7-1-241 specifies that only a state chartered bank, a national bank, a federally chartered thrift, credit union or other agency otherwise authorized by Georgia Law may do a banking business in this state.
l First Mutual shall not provide financial products or services to the citizens of this State by any delivery system, to include the Internet, or other electronic access to financial products or services or alternative methods of delivery which differ from geographically based banking without the authorization of the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance, pursuant to O.C.G.A. Section 7-1-241(c).
l If First Mutual is a credit union chartered or licensed in a foreign country, this foreign corporation shall not transact a banking business or maintain an office in this State for carrying on such business or any part thereof without the authorization of this activity by the Department in accordance with Section 7 -1-713 of the Code of Georgia.
l Representatives of First Mutual shall respond to the Department by November 22, 2003, indicating the actions taken regarding compliance with the provisions of the Order. The Department may take further legal action through the State Attorney General as authorized by law.
l Pursuant to Section 7-1-1018 of the Georgia Residential Mortgage Act, the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance hereby orders First Mutual Savings & Credit Union to cease and desist from engaging in mortgage brokerage activities without a valid license or pursuant to an applicable exemption in violation of O.C.G.A. Section 7-1-1002.
If any Georgia citizen believes that this entity has violated any provisions of the Cease and Desist Order after the effective date of the Order (November 18, 2003) you are encouraged to contact the Department in writing at: 2990 Brandywine Road, Suite 200, Atlanta, GA 30341 5565. Please direct these inquiries and any other questions concerning these issues to Deputy Commissioner for Supervision Grace M. Lurry.
To read more and access the Cease and Desist Order, go to: http://www.gadbf.org/pdfdoc/FirstMutualC&D.pdf.

2004 HOLIDAY SCHEDULE
In accordance with O.C.G.A. 1-4-1, Governor Sonny Perdue proclaimed the following dates as public and legal holidays for the year 2004. 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.

2003
Veterans' Day Thanksgiving Day (Alternate Observance of Lee's Birthday) Christmas Day
(Alternate Observance of Washington's Birthday)

Tuesday, November 11 Thursday, November 27 Friday, November 28 Thursday, December 25 Friday, December 26

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2004
New Year's Day Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Birthday Robert E. Lee's Birthday (Will be observed) Washington's Birthday (Will be observed) Confederate Memorial Day Memorial Day Independence Day (Will be observed) Labor Day Columbus Day Veterans' Day Thanksgiving Day (Alternate observance of Lee's Birthday) Christmas Day (Will be observed) (Alternate observance of Washington's Birthday)

Thursday, January 1 Monday, January 19 Monday, January 19 Friday, November 26 Sunday, February 22 Thursday, December 23 Monday, April 26 Monday, May 31 Sunday, July 4 Monday, July 5 Monday, September 6 Monday, October 11 Thursday, November 11 Thursday, November 25 Friday, November 26 Saturday, December 25 Friday, December 24 Thursday, December 23

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 fax as soon as transmission is feasible.

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