Department of Banking and Finance bulletin, Oct. 31, 2004

. . . .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/
October 31, 2004 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 October 2004.
IN THIS ISSUE:
Phishing Leads to Identity Theft 2005 Holiday Schedule Notice of Plan Testing

1

APPLICATIONS FOR NEW FINANCIAL INSTITUTION

FINANCIAL INSTITUTION Hometown Community Bank 6700 Highway 53 Braselton, GA 30517 Jackson County

CAPITALIZATION APPROVAL DATE

$ 7,500,000

Pending

BEGIN BUSINESS DATE

Georgia Trust Bank 2725 Mall of Georgia Boulevard Buford, GA 30519 Gwinnett County

$ 10,000,000

Pending

First Madison Bank & Trust 5536 Georgia Highway 72 Colbert, GA 30628 Madison County

$ 6,000,000

Pending

Peach State Bank & Trust 325 Washington Street Gainesville, GA 30501 Hall County

$ 12,000,000

Pending

Legacy State Bank 3825 Harrison Road Loganville, GA 30052 Gwinnett County

$ 10,000,000

10-21-2004

State Bank and Trust Company 321 Fullington Avenue Pinehurst, GA 31070 Dooly County

$ 7,000,000

10-07-2004

American Southern Bank 1450 Mansell Road Roswell, GA 30076 Fulton County

$ 8,000,000

Pending

Tifton Banking Company 729 West Second Street Tifton, GA 31974 Tift County

$ 7,578,000

06-14-2004

10-12-2004

APPLICATIONS TO ESTABLISH A BRANCH OFFICE

FINANCIAL INSTITUTION Dorsey State Bank Abbeville

BRANCH OFFICE McDonough Branch Office Ga Highway 20 & Westridge Parkway McDonough, GA 30253 Henry County

APPROVAL DATE
Pending

BEGIN BUSINESS
DATE

2

FINANCIAL INSTITUTION SunTrust Bank Atlanta
SunTrust Bank Atlanta
SunTrust Bank Atlanta
SunTrust Bank Atlanta
SunTrust Bank Atlanta
SunTrust Bank Atlanta
SunTrust Bank Atlanta
SunTrust Bank Atlanta
SunTrust Bank Atlanta
SunTrust Bank Atlanta
3

BRANCH OFFICE Windward/McGinnis Branch Office Windward Parkway & McGinnis Ferry Alpharetta, GA 30041 Forsyth County
Oneco Wal-Mart Branch Office 2911 53rd Avenue East Bradenton, FL 34203 Manatee County
U.S. 27 & 192 Wal-Mart Branch Office 600 U.S. Highway 27 Clermont, FL 34922 Lake County
Cool Springs East Branch Office 731 Cool Springs Boulevard Franklin, TN 37064 Williamson County
Colonial Boulevard Wal-Mart Office 4770 Colonial Boulevard Ft. Myers, FL 33912 Lee County
Six Mile Cypress & U.S. 41 Wal-Mart Branch Office 14621 Six Mile Cypress Highway Ft. Myers, FL 33912 Lee County
Heathrow/46 A Branch Office 1100 Town Park Avenue Lake Mary, FL 32746 Seminole County
Merritt Island Wal-Mart Branch Office 1500 East Merritt Island Causeway Merritt Island, FL 32952 Brevard County
North Ft. Myers Wal-Mart Branch Office 545 Pine Island Road North Ft. Myers, FL 33903 Lee County
Watercolor Crossings Branch Office Walton County Road 395 & East Lake Drive Sea Grove Beach, FL 32459 Walton County

APPROVAL DATE
08-20-2004

BEGIN BUSINESS
DATE
10-25-2004

10-18-2004

10-18-2004

10-27-2004

10-29-2004

10-18-2004

10-18-2004

09-09-2004

10-12-2004

10-18-2004

10-27-2004

10-18-2004

Pending

FINANCIAL INSTITUTION SunTrust Bank Atlanta
SunTrust Bank Atlanta
SunTrust Bank Atlanta
SunTrust Bank Atlanta
Seasons Bank Blairsville
United Community Bank Blairsville
Georgia Trust Bank Buford
Freedom Bank of Georgia Commerce
Gainesville Bank & Trust Gainesville

BRANCH OFFICE South Sebastian-Indian River Branch Office 9601 U.S. Highway One Sebastian, FL 32958 Indian River County
Southwood Branch Office Capital Circle, State Road 261 & Blairstone Tallahassee, FL 32311 Leon County
The Villages of Sumter Branch Office 2365 Parr Drive The Villages, FL 32162 Sumter County
Titusville Wal-Mart Branch Office 3175 Cheny Highway Titusville, FL 32780 Brevard County
Blue Ridge Branch Office 2517 Appalachian Highway Blue Ridge, GA 30513 Fannin County
Tyrone Branch Office Highway 74/Joel Cowan Parkway & High Gate Way Tyrone, GA 30290 Fayette County
Kennesaw Branch Office 3401 George Busbee Parkway Kennesaw, GA 30144 Cobb County
Jefferson Branch Office 1057 Winder Highway Jefferson, GA 30549 Jackson County
Athens Branch Office 110 Trinity Place Athens, GA 30607 Clarke County

4

APPROVAL DATE
10-12-2004

BEGIN BUSINESS
DATE

Pending

06-21-2004

10-24-2004

10-18-2004

10-27-2004

Pending

10-07-2004

Pending

Pending

08-16-2004

10-04-2004

FINANCIAL INSTITUTION The Heritage Bank Hinesville

BRANCH OFFICE Abercorn Branch Office 14010 Abercorn Street Savannah, GA 31419 Chatham County

Community Trust Bank Hiram

East Paulding Branch Office 45 East Paulding Highway Dallas, GA 30157 Paulding County

Georgia State Bank Mableton

Atlanta Street Branch Office 31 Atlanta Street Marietta, GA 30660-1977 Cobb County

State Bank and Trust Company Pinehurst

Unadilla Branch Office 2206 Pine Street Unadilla, GA 31091 Dooly County

Georgian Bank Powder Springs

Northwinds Center Branch Office 400 Northwinds Center 11605 Haynes Bridge Road, 5th Floor Alpharetta, GA 30004 Fulton County

Farmers and Merchants Community Bank Senoia

White Oak Branch Office 1595 Highway 34 East Newnan, GA 30265 Coweta County

Community Bank of the South Smyrna

Johnson Ferry Road Branch Office 3140 Johnson Ferry Road Marietta, GA 30062 Cobb County

APPROVAL DATE
10-27-2004

BEGIN BUSINESS
DATE

05-07-2003

10-25-2004

02-06-2004

07-06-2004

10-07-2004

11-03-2003

01-15-2004

09-07-2004

10-04-2004

10-21-2004

FINANCIAL INSTITUTION SunTrust Bank Atlanta

APPLICATIONS TO CHANGE LOCATION

CHANGE LOCATION OF Lookout Mountain Branch Office From: 802 Scenic Highway Lookout Mountain TN 37350 Hamilton County To: 800 Scenic Highway Lookout Mountain TN 37350 Hamilton County

APPROVAL DATE EFFECTIVE DATE 10-29-2004

5

FINANCIAL INSTITUTION Columbus Bank and Trust Company Columbus

CHANGE LOCATION OF Main Street Village Branch Office From: 2500 Whittlesey Boulevard Columbus GA 31909 Muscogee County To: Columbus Park Crossing Branch Office 6401 Whittlesey Boulevard Columbus GA 31909 Muscogee County

APPROVAL DATE EFFECTIVE DATE

01-16-2004

10-25-2004

PREVIOUS NAME Peoples Community Bank Colquitt

NOTICE OF CHANGE IN NAME
NEW NAME PCB, The Community Bank

APPROVAL EFFECTIVE

DATE

DATE

Pending

PROPOSED NAME Georgia Heritage Bank

APPLICATIONS FOR RESERVATION OF A NAME

COUNTY Paulding County

APPLICANT Kennerly Carroll, Esq. Miller & Martin, PLLC 1170 Peachtree Street, NE, Suite 80 Atlanta, GA 30309

Providence Bank

Cobb County

Mr. Robert A. Calvert, Jr. Principal & Owner Calvert Consulting P. O. Box 8, 2619 Pilgrim Church Road Alford, FL 32420

FINANCIAL INSTITUTION (SURVIVOR) United Community Bank
Blairsville

FINANCIAL INSTITUTION MERGERS
MERGED INSTITUTION Eagle National Bank Stockbridge

APPROVAL EFFECTIVE

DATE

DATE

10-27-2004

United Community Bank Blairsville

Liberty National Bank Conyers

Pending

Peoples Community Bank Colquitt

Peoples Community Bank Columbia, AL

Pending

Peoples Community Bank Colquitt

PCB, The Community Bank Malone, FL

Pending

Crescent Bank and Trust Company Jasper

Futurus Bank, N. A. Alpharetta

Pending

WellStar Credit Union Marietta

MedCom Federal Credit Union Decatur

Pending

Associated Credit Union Norcross

American Heritage Credit Union Ellenwood

10-04-2004

6

FINANCIAL INSTITUTION (SURVIVOR) First Capital Bank
Norcross

MERGED INSTITUTION Chattahoochee National Bank Alpharetta

APPROVAL DATE
Pending

EFFECTIVE DATE

Capital City Bank Tallahassee, FL

Farmers and Merchants Bank Dublin

10-15-2004 10-15-2004

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 Heritage Financial, Inc. Albany, GA

HeritageBank of the South Albany, GA

Pending

Heritage Mutual Corporation Albany, GA

Heritage Financial, Inc. Albany, GA

Pending

Enterprise Banking Company, Inc. Stockbridge, GA

Dorsey State Bank Abbeville, GA

Pending

ACQUISITIONS United Community Banks, Inc. Blairsville, GA

Liberty National Bank Conyers, GA

10-08-2004

Synovus Financial Corp. Columbus, GA

Cohutta Banking Company of Tennessee (IO) Chattanooga, TN

Pending

GB&T Bancshares, Inc. Gainesville, GA

First National Bank of Gwinnett Duluth, GA

Pending

CITY Dalton Tallapoosa Warner Robins Brunswick Forest Park Forest Park Atlanta Decatur Atlanta Chamblee Atlanta Dalton Winder Atlanta

CHECK CASHER LICENSES ISSUED

APPLICANT NAME * Arriola, Rafael * Bcom Rich, Inc.
Bharat, Inc. Bluestein, Inc. Choice Financial Services, Inc. * H & Y Food Mart, Inc. * HMS Lee, Inc. Kim, Namwook * Lee Ahn, Inc. * Mukti Enterprises, Inc. * R & M Investments Group, Inc. * Ramirez, Victor * Sang Mu Enterprise, Inc. * Thakur Management Corp.

TRADE NAME El Rey Del Bajio Young's Grocery Davis Food Mart Grog Shoppe / Sportsman Package Cash A Check H & Y Food Mart Gresham Package Store John's Check Cashing B & H Bottle Shop Chamblee Food Mart Quikserve Carniceria Loa #3 Bottle Shop Best for Less

* = Registrant Exempt (O.C.G.A. 7-1-709)

7

NOTICES
PHISHING LEADS TO IDENTITY THEFT
Phishing (pronounced fishing) e-mail messages have targeted countless consumers this year, especially customers of larger, high profile banks. The volume of phish messages has increased tremendously this year. A typical phish message will attempt to steer a customer to another Internet site (or a pop-up site) that appears to be the site of the customer's institution. The customer will be encouraged in the original phish message to provide their personal financial and account information on the unauthorized website, thereby leading to identity theft. These unauthorized phish websites have become increasingly authentic looking and have even targeted credit reporting agencies and bank regulators.
The phishers have been able to remain relatively anonymous so far due to the ability to spoof or fake e-mail messages. Various working groups are attempting to come up with authentication solutions to combat phishing. For now, financial institutions should caution their customers that their institution will not ask for personal customer information unsolicited, such as social security numbers in an e-mail message. Whenever the customer is unsure of an unsolicited email or other request, they should be encouraged to contact their institution first.
In addition to phishing e-mails, customers have been victims of identity theft through telephone calls and regular mailings. For example, a recent scheme has been to send a survey form to an institution's customer, requesting personal information along with survey responses.
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation has issued broad phishing guidance in FIL 103-2004 at:
http://www.fdic.gov/news/news/financial/2004/fil10304.html
and the Federal Reserve Board has issued its guidance in SR 04-14 at:
http://www.federalreserve.gov/boarddocs/SRLETTERS/2004/sr0414.htm
Credit unions can obtain guidance in National Credit Union Administration Letter 04-CU-12, available at www.ncua.gov.
Institutions and customers are also encouraged to review the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation's Consumer Alert web page for comprehensive phishing information at:
http://www.fdic.gov/consumers/consumer/alerts/index.html
On the above site, a helpful informational brochure can be downloaded and provided to customers at:
http://www.fdic.gov/consumers/consumer/fighttheft/index.html
For additional resources on phishing and other scams, please visit our website at: http://www.gadbf.org/phishing_scams.htm
2005 HOLIDAY SCHEDULE
In accordance with O.C.G.A. 1-4-1, Governor Sonny Perdue proclaimed the following dates as public and legal state holidays for the year 2005. 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.
8

For 2005, the Governor has proclaimed that the legal holiday for Washington's Birthday is Tuesday, February 22nd, to be observed on Tuesday, December 27th. Please note, however, that the federal holiday always falls on the third Monday in February, which is February 21st. This notice will serve to clarify that financial institutions may close in observance of Washington's Birthday on February 21st or February 22nd, or on both dates. This also holds true for the New Year's Day holiday, which is being observed on Monday January 3rd for the state and Friday December 31, 2004 for the federal government. Financial institutions should post a notification in offices being affected, indicating the days that the institution will be closed.

2004

Veterans' Day Thanksgiving Day (Alternate observance of Lee's Birthday) Christmas Day (Will be observed) (Alternate observance of Washington's Birthday)

Thursday, November 11 Thursday, November 25 Friday, November 26 Saturday, December 25 Friday, December 24 Thursday, December 23

2005

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 Memorial Day Independence Day 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)

Monday, January 3 Saturday, January 15 Monday, January 17 Monday, January 19 Friday, November 25 Tuesday, February 22 Tuesday, December 27 Monday, April 25 Monday, May 30 Monday, July 4 Monday, September 5 Monday, October 10 Friday, November 11 Thursday, November 24 Friday, November 25 Sunday, December 25 Monday, December 26 Tuesday, December 27

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.

9

NOTICE OF PLAN TESTING
The Department of Banking and Finance will be performing testing of our Business Resumption and Disaster Recovery Plan on November 17, 2004. Part of the testing will involve sending an emergency alert, via e-mail, to our institutions. If you have signed up to received bulletins and other important announcements from the Department via e-mail, you may receive a test e-mail on November 17th. It will come from the dbfcorp@dbf.state.ga.us mailbox, identified as a test. If you receive an e-mail on that date from the dbfcorp mailbox, please do not reply to the e-mail.
Back to Top
10