Department of Banking and Finance bulletin, Mar. 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/
March 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 March 2004. IN THIS ISSUE: Lincoln Bank & Trust Corporation - Entity Unauthorized to Do Business in the State of Georgia Important Notice to All Financial Institutions - FinCrime Network In Remembrance - Supervisory Examiner Greg Lowe (1954-2004) Press Release April 12, 2004: Credit Union to Close 2003 Annual Report Now Available on the Department's Website

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APPLICATIONS FOR NEW FINANCIAL INSTITUTION

FINANCIAL INSTITUTION NorthWest Bank & Trust 3891 Cobb Parkway Acworth, GA 30101 Cobb County

CAPITALIZATION APPROVAL DATE

$ 13,511,370

09-25-2003

BEGIN BUSINESS DATE
03-11 -2004

Hamilton State Bank 6323 Grand Hickory Drive, Suite 100-G Braselton, GA 30517 Gwinnett County

$ 10,000,000

Pending

American United Bank 1800 Old Norcross Road Lawrenceville, GA 30044 Gwinnett County

$ 10,000,000

Pending

Local Bank of Middle Georgia 306-308 North Davis Drive Warner Robins, GA 31093 Houston County

$ 7,000,000

Pending

APPLICATIONS TO ESTABLISH A BRANCH OFFICE

FINANCIAL INSTITUTION Colony Bank Ashburn Ashburn

BRANCH OFFICE Chehaw Branch Office 716 Philema Road Albany, GA 31701 Dougherty County

APPROVAL DATE
03-25-2003

BEGIN BUSINESS
DATE
03 -15-2004

Colony Bank Ashburn Ashburn

Thomaston Branch Office 206 North Church Street Thomaston, GA 30286 Upson County

01-15-2004

03 -22-2004

SunTrust Bank Atlanta

Old Milton Parkway Branch Office 4105 Old Milton Parkway Alpharetta, GA 30005 Fulton County

10-29-2003

03 -15-2004

SunTrust Bank Atlanta

Gordy Parkway Branch Office 2880 Shallowford Road, NE Atlanta, GA 30066 Cobb County

03-23-2004

SunTrust Bank Atlanta

Sage Hill Office 1799 Briarcliff Road, NE Atlanta, GA 30306 DeKalb County

09-18-2003

03 -08-2004

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FINANCIAL INSTITUTION SunTrust Bank Atlanta
SunTrust Bank Atlanta
SunTrust Bank Atlanta
SunTrust Bank Atlanta
SunTrust Bank Atlanta
Hamilton State Bank (IO) Braselton
Bartow County Bank Cartersville
Habersham Bank Clarkesville
Main Street Bank Covington
Douglas County Bank Douglasville
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BRANCH OFFICE Cascade Branch Office 1165 Fairburn Road Atlanta, GA 30331 Fulton County
The Reserve Branch Office 9936 Clintmoore Road Boca Raton, FL 33496 Palm Beach County
Camp Creek Parkway Branch Office 3510 Camp Creek Parkway East Point, GA 30344 Fulton County
Oakleaf Branch Office 9530 Argyle Forest Boulevard Jacksonville, FL 32244 Duval County
Boyette Branch Office Boyette Road & McMullen Loop Road Tampa, FL 33614 Hillsborough County
Hall County Branch Office 441-A E. E. Butler Parkway Gainesville, GA 30501 Hall County
North Cobb Parkway Branch Office 4330 North Cobb Parkway Acworth, GA 30101-4218 Cobb County
Hickory Flat Highway Branch Office 6782 Hickory Flat Highway Canton, GA 30115 Cherokee County
Suwanee Branch Office 350 Town Center Avenue Suwanee, GA 30024 Gwinnett County
Dallas Branch Office 519 Hardee Street Dallas, GA 30132 Paulding County

APPROVAL DATE
03-23-2004

BEGIN BUSINESS
DATE

03-08-2004

01-27-2004

03 -22-2004

03-18-2004

08-11-2003

03 -08-2004

Pending

03-09-2004

11-18-2003

03 -31-2004

03-25-2004

03-24-2004

FINANCIAL INSTITUTION Gwinnett Community Bank Duluth
FirstCity Bank Gibson
Crescent Bank and Trust Company Jasper
Bank of Lumber City Lumber City
New Southern Bank Macon
Bank of Madison Madison
First Bank of Henry County McDonough
Georgian Bank Powder Springs
Farmers & Merchants Bank Statesboro
Sea Island Bank Statesboro
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BRANCH OFFICE Suwanee Branch Office 3463A #117 Lawrenceville -Suwanee Road Suwanee, GA 30024 Gwinnett County

APPROVAL DATE
11-26-2003

BEGIN BUSINESS
DATE
03 -01-2004

Fairways Court Branch Office 831 Fairways Court Stockbridge, GA 30281 Henry County

03-22-2004

Midway Branch Office 5395 Highway 9 Alpharetta, GA 30004 Forsyth County

03-04-2004

McRae Branch Office 801 East Oak Street McRae, GA 31055 Telfair County

11-03-2003

03 -01-2004

Mulberry Street Branch Office 502 Mulberry Street Macon, GA 31201 Bibb County

12-22-2003

03 -29-2004

Social Circle Branch Office 1281 North Cherokee Road Social Circle, GA 30025 Walton County

09-18-2003

03 -01-2004

Stockbridge Branch Office 4421 North Henry Boulevard Stockbridge, GA 30281 Henry County

03-30-2004

City View Cumberland Boulevard Branch Office 3330 Cumberland Boulevard, Suite 625 Atlanta, GA 30339 Cobb County

02-13-2004

03 -31-2004

Brannen Street Branch Office Corner of Brannen Street Connector and Buckhead Drive Statesboro, GA 30458 Bulloch County

03-22-2004

Savannah Branch Office 7402 Hodgson Memorial Drive Savannah, GA 31406 Chatham County

03-01-2004

FINANCIAL INSTITUTION First Bank of Georgia Thomson

BRANCH OFFICE Wheeler Road Branch Office 3527 Wheeler Road Augusta, GA 30909 Richmond County

APPROVAL DATE
03-30-2004

BEGIN BUSINESS
DATE

CB&T Bank of Middle Georgia Warner Robins

Highridge Centre Branch Office 3920 Arkwright Road, Suite 105, Highridge Centre Macon, GA 31210 Bibb County

Withdrawn 03-23-2004

FINANCIAL INSTITUTION SunTrust Bank Atlanta

APPLICATIONS TO CHANGE LOCATION

CHANGE LOCATION OF Sandy Plains Exchange Publix Office From: 1860 Sandy Plains Road Marietta GA 30066 Cobb County To: Sandy Plains Branch Office 1840 Sandy Plains Road Marietta GA 30066 Cobb County

APPROVAL DATE 03 -08-2004

EFFECTIVE DATE

SunTrust Bank Atlanta

Decatur Branch Office From: 545 North McDonough Street
Decatur GA DeKalb County To: 198 West Ponce de Leon Avenue Decatur GA 30030 DeKalb County

01 -16-2004

03-01-2004

PROPOSED NAME Century Security Bank

APPLICATIONS FOR RESERVATION OF A NAME

COUNTY Gwinnett County

APPLICANT Mr. John B. Kline, Principal

Mauldin & Jenkins, LLC

Post Office Box 724888 Atlanta, GA 30067

Community Bank of Rockmart

Polk County

Mr. Larry Collier Rockmart Banking Group 550 West Elm Street Rockmart, GA 30153

Georgia Trust Bank

Gwinnett County

Mr. Brent H. Baker, President Brent Baker, Inc. Post O Box 2669 Cumming, GA 30028

FINANCIAL INSTITUTION MERGERS 5

FINANCIAL INSTITUTION (SURVIVOR)
The Prudential Savings Bank, FSB Atlanta

MERGED INSTITUTION The Prudential Bank & Trust Company Atlanta

APPROVAL DATE
03 -26-2004

EFFECTIVE DATE

United Community Bank Blairsville

1st Community Bank Fairburn

Pending

Gainesville Bank & Trust Gainesville

Lumpkin County Bank Dahlonega

Pending

Gainesville Bank & Trust Gainesville

Southern Heritage Bank Oakwood

Pending

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

New Horizons Bancshares, Inc. East Ellijay, GA

New Horizons Bank (IO) East Ellijay, GA

03-12-2004

ACQUISITIONS United Community Banks, Inc. Blairsville, GA

First Community Bank Fairburn, GA

Pending

Synovus Financial Corp. Columbus, GA

Trust One Bank Memphis, TN

03-15-2004

Synovus Financial Corp. Columbus, GA

Synovus Bank of Jacksonville (IO) Jacksonville, FL

Pending

GB&T Bancshares, Inc. Gainesville, GA

Southern Heritage Bank Flowery Branch, GA

Pending

GB&T Bancshares, Inc. Gainesville, GA

Lumpkin County Bank Dahlonega, GA

Pending

CITY Norcross Duluth Augusta Grayson Macon Grovetown Cartersville Columbus

CHECK CASHER LICENSES ISSUED

APPLICANT NAME AHIL Enterprises, Inc. Cash Max Check Cashing, Inc. * Central Gas LLC Davlat & Sakina Enterprises, LLC Devum, Inc. Hooker, Maria Jalaram Kurpa Incorporated * MRKD, Inc.

TRADE NAME A & S Check Cashing Cash Max JR's Mart Red Rabbit 3 Amoco Food Shop #2
Quick Mart MRKD

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CITY Atlanta Hartwell Port Wentworth Tucker Decatur

APPLICANT NAME Northridge Enterprise, Inc. Phillips, Robert L. Randall's Beverage Center, Inc. Sushant Enterprises, Inc. The Suda Group, Inc.

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

TRADE NAME Money Market Your Money Center Burbank Trading Marathon Food Mart Store #01 Hal's Package Store

MONEY TRANSMITTER Viamericas Corporation Bethesda, MD

MONEY TRANSMITTER LICENSES ISSUED
APPROVAL DATE 03 -30 -2004

Kaah Group, LLC Clarkston, GA

03 -10 -2004

Hydara, Mohamadou College Park, GA

03 -04 -2004

Afrique Investments, LLC Marietta, GA

03 -01 -2004

South Exchange, Inc. Miami, FL

03 -02 -2004

Envios de Valores La Nacional Corp. New York, NY

03 -01 -2004

Sonali Exchange Co., Inc. New York, NY

03 -30 -2004

Envios El Cid, Inc. San Antonio, TX

03 -01 -2004

NOTICES:
LINCOLN BANK & TRUST CORPORATION - ENTITY UNAUTHORIZED TO DO BUSINESS IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA
Be advised that LINCOLN BANK & TRUST CORPORATION (Lincoln Bank) which allegedly has an address of Galleria Center, 100 Galleria Parkway, Suite 400, Atlanta, GA 30339 is not a bank or trust company authorized to do business in the State of Georgia. Effective March 23, 2004, a Cease and Desist Order was issued against this entity directing them to do the following:
l Lincoln Bank shall immediately cease indicating in any internet website, marketing materials, signage, correspondence, or legal documentation that could reach Georgia consumers that it is a bank and trust company, and that it is authorized to do business in Georgia.
l Lincoln Bank shall cease using the name "Credit Union", "Bank", "Banking Company", "Banker", "Banking House", "Trust" or any similar terminology in the above materials, in reference to activities conducted in the State of Georgia.
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l Lincoln Bank 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 Lincoln Bank 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 Lincoln Bank is a bank and trust company 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.
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 (March 23, 2004) 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 about this Cease and Desist Order, go to the Special Bulletins section on the Department's website at: http://www.ganet.org/dbf/bulletins.html
IMPORTANT NOTICE TO ALL FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS - FINCRIME NETWORK
The FinCrime Network is a network of financial institutions sharing information on fraudulent activity.
FinCrime functions as a clearinghouse of information where each participant submits fraud data into a central repository.
FinCrime allows users to search the database of fraud incidents to find incidents that have data in common with their own cases.
FinCrime can be used by any law enforcement agency, or financial institution or approved retailer. All users must be authenticated and approved by the network administrator or one of the sponsoring associations.
By providing a confidential and secure way to share information about fraudulent transactions, participating financial institutions are made aware of fraudulent activity in their area, usually sooner than they would be able to identify it by themselves. This early awareness allows them to take action to prevent fraud losses. Also, the shared database provides opportunities to build fewer but larger "multi -bank" cases out of smaller individual losses, helping financial institutions and law enforcement focus on organized crime and repeat offenders. This more efficient use of law enforcement resources results in overall loss reduction for financial institutions, as professional criminals find financial institution fraud more difficult, more risky, and less profitable to pursue.
For more information, including how you can register, visit FINCRIME.COM
Although the Department encourages management of risk, this notice is for informational purposes only and is not intended to endorse or promote the organization above. Financial institutions should conduct their own investigation to determine the suitability of this program as beneficial tool for the intended purpose.
In Remembrance - Supervisory Examiner Greg Lowe (1954-2004)
The Department is saddened to report the untimely passing of Supervisory Examiner Greg Lowe on March 24, 2004. Greg served the Department well for almost 19 years, achieving the level of Supervisory Examiner in 2000. Prior to joining the Department, Greg served four years of active duty in the U.S. Navy, with an additional 19 years as a Navy Reservist. He will be missed by the Department and financial institutions that he so diligently served.
Press Release April 12, 2004: Credit Union to Close
On April 12, 2004, at the request of the Board of Directors of the credit union, the Department of Banking and Finance was appointed receiver of Cleaners Credit Union, Atlanta, GA. At the request of the Department, the Fulton County Superior Court subsequently named the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) as receiver.
All insured deposits are expected to be paid to members promptly. Loans will continue to be administered according to their terms. Questions about this receivership should be directed to NCUA, Asset Management and Assistance Center at (512) 231-7900.
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2003 Annual Report Now Available on the Department's Website
The Department's 2003 Annual Report is now available on our website at: http://www.ganet.org/dbf/publications.html#AR
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