Financial institutions today, Dec. 2005

Inside this issue:

Reorganization

2

Plans (continued)

Federal Interagency 2 Guidance on Information Security and Nontraditional Mortgage Products

DBF Outreach and 2 Upcoming Speaking
Engagements

Action on

3

Applications for the

Month of December

2006 State Holidays 10

News and topics of interest to financial institutions regulated by the Department of Banking and Finance

Monthly Bulletin #12

December 2005

Reorganization Plans: Promoting Effectiveness and Efficiency

The Department has made several organizational changes to ensure that we are maximizing our resources while remaining as effective and efficient as possible. With those goals in mind, the following changes took place effective January 1, 2006:
Corporate Division Functions:
Corporate is no longer a separate division. The financial institution's applications, registration, and chartering functions now fall under the Supervision Division. With this structural change Corporate Manager Murali Ramachandran reports directly to Director for Supervision Bob Rosentreter.
The Money Services Businesses (MSBs) functions of the Department now fall under the Mortgage Division. The Mortgage Division's name has been changed to Non-Depository Financial Institutions Division. Supervisory Manager for MSBs Joel Byers continues

to have Administrative Examiner Tervenia Mitchiner and Applications Analyst Susan Nelson as support staff in the licensing and regulation of MSBs. Joel's direct supervisor is now Director for Mortgage Licensing Melinda Kinard. Melinda's title has been changed to Director of Money Service Businesses and Mortgage Licensing. Rod Carnes' new title is Deputy Commissioner for NonDepository Financial Institutions.
With the above changes, Director for Corporate Affairs and Strategic Initiatives Carol Webb is no longer supervising Corporate and MSB functions; therefore, her duties have changed significantly. Her new title is Director of Communications and Planning. Carol's primary duties include overseeing the Department's website; coordinating e-commerce initiatives; preparing and/or coordinating external publications; reviewing and compiling examination survey reports;

Best Wishes for a Very Happy New
Year!!

Commissioner Braswell's Three Initial Priorities

Commissioner Braswell's initial priority is addressing department staffing issues caused by retirement, promotions, and reorganization. Secondly, the Commissioner will be getting acquainted or reacquainted

with the leadership of the bank and credit union associations and their members. Increasing lenders' awareness of their roles and responsibilities in preventing mortgage fraud is the third initial and crucial priority.

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Reorganization Plans
coordinating our employee survey process; overseeing and coordinating all business resumption and emergency preparedness procedures and plans; tracking/monitoring Georgia legislation that may affect the Department or the entities it regulates; coordinating strategic and business planning; and coordinating any marketing efforts of the Department. Senior Deputy Commissioner George Reynolds remains Carol's direct supervisor.
Other Divisions or Functions Impacted: Administrative Assistant Susan Brown is now the Commissioner's and Senior Deputy Commissioner's Administrative Assistant and also provides secondary support to the Legal and Consumer Affairs Division (LCA).
In all of this, two positions (Supervisory Manager for Mortgage Licensing and Executive Assistant) have been eliminated. The duties of these two positions are being absorbed by existing personnel.
Federal Interagency Guidance on Information Security and Nontraditional Mortgage Products
The federal bank and thrift regulatory agencies earlier issued Interagency Guidelines Establishing Information Security Standards, in order to assist banks in complying with the information security requirements of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act and the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act of 2003. This guidance is contained in 12 CFR Appendix B to Part 364 for nonmember banks and 12 CFR Appendix D-2 to Part 208 for member banks.
Now, the federal agencies have issued a more concise Small-Entity Compliance Guide to further assist banks in complying with the above information security requirements. That guidance can be found on the FDIC's web site at: http://www.fdic.gov/news/news/press/2005/pr12705.html.
In addition, the federal bank, thrift and credit union regulatory agencies put out for comment Proposed Guidance on Nontraditional Mortgage Products. In particular, the guidance discusses products that defer principal payments and in some products, interest payments. PR-128-2005 contains this guidance and can be found on the FDIC's website at: http://www.fdic.gov/news/news/press/2005/pr12805.html.
The information is also available at FDIC FIL-129-2005. Comments are due by February 27, 2006.
DBF OUTREACH AND UPCOMING SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
Commissioner Rob Braswell will be speaking briefly at the GBA Board meeting on January 11, 2006 and at the CBA "Community Banking Day at the Capitol" on February 7, 2006.
Deputy Commissioner for Supervision Grace Lurry will be a participant on a panel at the GBA Advanced Compliance Symposium on February 2, 2006.
Senior Deputy Commissioner George Reynolds will be conducting a session at the CBA Director's College on February 17, 2006.

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Action on Applications for the Month of December:

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 December 2005.

APPLICATIONS FOR NEW FINANCIAL INSTITUTION

FINANCIAL INSTITUTION Alpha Bank & Trust Northeast corner of Old Alabama Road & Jones Bridge Road Alpharetta, GA 30022 Fulton County

CAPITALIZATION $ 20,000,000

APPROVAL DATE Pending

BEGIN BUSINESS DATE

Providence Bank 4955 Windward Parkway Alpharetta, GA 30004 Fulton County

$ 14,000,000

12-23-2005

Sunrise Bank of Atlanta 600 West Peachtree Street, Suite 300 Atlanta, GA 30308 Fulton County

$ 8,000,000

Pending

One Georgia Bank 1180 Peachtree Street Atlanta, GA 30309 Fulton County

$ 15,000,000

12-02-2005

Southern Bank & Trust 160 Louise Street Clarkesville, GA 30523 Habersham County

$ 9,500,000

08-29-2005

12-06-2005

Columbus Community Bank 6735 Veterans Parkway Columbus, GA 31909 Muscogee County

$ 12,000,000

Pending

Patriot Bank of Georgia Brookwood Road at Peachtree Parkway Cumming, GA 30041 Forsyth County

$ 14,000,000

12-23-2005

Hana Bank 2442 Pleasant Hill Road Duluth, GA 30096 Gwinnett County

$ 12,000,000

Pending

Liberty First Bank Michael Etchison Road & Highway 138 Monroe, GA 30655 Walton County

$ 10,750,000

Pending

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APPLICATIONS FOR NEW FINANCIAL INSTITUTION

FINANCIAL INSTITUTION River City Bank 228 North Second Avenue Rome, GA 30165 Floyd County

CAPITALIZATION $ 12,000,000

APPROVAL DATE Pending

BEGIN BUSINESS DATE

Bank of Valdosta 301 Woodrow Wilson Drive Valdosta, GA 31602 Lowndes County

$ 6,000,000

Pending

CreekSide Bank (f/k/a Woodstock Bank & Trust) 11299 Highway 92 Woodstock, GA 30188 Cherokee County

$ 12,000,000

12-12-2005

APPLICATIONS TO ESTABLISH A BRANCH OFFICE

FINANCIAL INSTITUTION Alpha Bank & Trust (I.O.) Alpharetta

BRANCH OFFICE Marietta Branch Office Southwest corner of Dallas Highway and Ernest Barrett Parkway Marietta, GA 30064 Cobb County

APPROVAL Pending

Capitol City Bank & Trust Company Atlanta

Augusta Branch Office 1268 Broad Street Augusta, GA 30901 Richmond County

08-23-2004

SunTrust Bank Atlanta

Arlington Kroger In-Store Branch Office US Highway 70 & Airline Road Arlington, TN 38002 Shelby County

08-22-2005

SunTrust Bank Atlanta

Bartow Wal-Mart Branch Office 10550 Highway 60, Bypass East Bartow, FL 33830 Polk County

Pending

SunTrust Bank Atlanta

Brandon Wal-Mart Branch Office 11110 Causeway Brandon, FL 33511 Hillsborough County

Pending

SunTrust Bank Atlanta

King and Queen Branch Office 145 King Street, Suite 101 Charleston, SC 29401 Charleston County

12-02-2005

SunTrust Bank Atlanta

Duval Station Branch Office 741 Duval Station Road Jacksonville, FL 32218 Duval County

11-14-2005

BEGIN BUSINESS 01-04-2005 12-11-2005
12-20-2005

Page 5

APPLICATIONS TO ESTABLISH A BRANCH OFFICE

FINANCIAL INSTITUTION SunTrust Bank Atlanta

BRANCH OFFICE Kissimmee Wal-Mart Branch Office 4444 West Vine Street Kissimmee, FL 34741 Osceola County

APPROVAL Pending

SunTrust Bank Atlanta

Lake Wales Wal-Mart Branch Office 2000 State Road 60 East Lake Wales, FL 33853 Polk County

Pending

SunTrust Bank Atlanta

Lansdowne Branch Office Riverside Parkway & Lansdowne Boulevard Leesburg, VA 20176 Loudoun County

08-22-2003

SunTrust Bank Atlanta

Manakin Branch Office 27 Broad Street Manakin, VA 23103 Goochland County

Pending

SunTrust Bank Atlanta

Ocala Wal-Mart Branch Office 2600 SW 19th Avenue Ocala, FL 34474 Marion County

Pending

SunTrust Bank Atlanta

Oldsmar Wal-Mart Branch Office 3801 Tampa Road Oldsmar, FL 34677 Pinellas County

Pending

SunTrust Bank Atlanta

East Colonial Drive Wal-Mart Branch Office 11250 East Colonial Drive Orlando, FL 32817 Orange County

Pending

SunTrust Bank Atlanta

Horizons West Branch Office 13568 Summerport Village Parkway Orlando, FL 32800 Orange County

07-29-2005

SunTrust Bank Atlanta

South John Young Parkway Wal-Mart B.O. 8101 South John Young Parkway Orlando, FL 32819 Orange County

Pending

SunTrust Bank Atlanta

Galloway Ridge Retirement Center B.O. 3000 Galloway Ridge Suite 112 Pittsboro, NC 27312 Chatham County

10-28-2005

SunTrust Bank Atlanta

Sebring Wal-Mart Branch Office 3525 US Highway 27N Sebring, FL 33872 Highlands County

Pending

BEGIN BUSINESS 12-13-2005
12-02-2005 12-12-2005

Page 6

APPLICATIONS TO ESTABLISH A BRANCH OFFICE

FINANCIAL INSTITUTION SunTrust Bank Atlanta

BRANCH OFFICE Summerfield Wal-Mart Branch Office 17861 SE US Highway 441 Summerfield, FL 34451 Marion County

APPROVAL Pending

SunTrust Bank Atlanta

Tampa Wal-Mart Branch Office 2809 East Fletcher Avenue Tampa, FL 33612 Hillsborough County

Pending

SunTrust Bank Atlanta

Savanna at Weston Branch Office 2575 Glades Circle Weston, FL 33327 Broward County

09-06-2005

Georgia Bank & Trust Company of Augusta Augusta

Athens Branch Office 1143 Prince Avenue Athens, GA 30601 Clarke County

09-20-2005

Hana Bank (I.O.) Duluth

Doraville Branch Office 5596 Buford Highway Doraville, GA 30340 DeKalb County

Pending

Southern Community Bank Fayetteville

Highway 54 West Branch Office 741 West Lanier Avenue Fayetteville, GA 30214 Fayette County

08-25-2005

The Heritage Bank Hinesville

East Main Street Branch Office 40 East Main Street Statesboro, GA 30458 Bulloch County

12-06-2005

Community Trust Bank Hiram

Woodstock Branch Office 510 Claremore Drive Woodstock, GA 30188 Cherokee County

12-14-2005

Southern Horizon Bank Leary

Stockbridge Branch Office 280 Country Club Drive Stockbridge, GA 30281 Henry County

08-29-2005

The Patterson Bank Patterson

Memorial Drive Branch Office Corner of Memorial Drive & Wilkerson Street Waycross, GA 31501 Ware County

Pending

First Chatham Bank Savannah

Rincon Branch Office 5671 Highway 21 South Rincon, GA 31326 Effingham County

12-23-2005

BEGIN BUSINESS 12-19-2005 12-08-2005 12-22-2005
12-01-2005

Page 7

APPLICATIONS TO ESTABLISH A BRANCH OFFICE

FINANCIAL INSTITUTION CreekSide Bank (I.O.) Woodstock

BRANCH OFFICE Acworth Branch Office State Highway 92 & US Highway 41 Acworth, GA 30101 Cobb County

APPROVAL Pending

BEGIN BUSINESS

APPLICATIONS TO CHANGE LOCATION

FINANCIAL INSTITUTION SunTrust Bank Atlanta

CHANGE LOCATION OF South Tryon Street Branch Office From: 230 S Tryon St Charlotte NC 28286 Mecklenburg County To:112 South Tryon Street Charlotte NC 28286 Mecklenburg County

APPROVAL DATE EFFECTIVE DATE

11-14-2005

12-16-2005

Century Bank of Bartow County Cartersville

Westside Branch Office From: 825 West Avenue
Cartersville GA 30120 Bartow County To:799 West Avenue Cartersville GA 30120 Bartow County

11-23-2005

12-19-2005

Northeast Georgia Bank Lavonia

Braselton Branch Office From: 5196 Highway 53
Braselton GA 30517 Jackson County To:5045 Highway 53 Braselton GA 30517 Jackson County

04-07-2005

12-12-2005

Darby Bank & Trust Co. Vidalia

Garden City Branch Office From: 216 West U.S. Highway 80
Savannah GA 31408 Chatham County To:Westside Branch Office 145 Pooler Parkway Pooler GA 31322 Chatham County

01-20-2005

12-20-2005

PREVIOUS NAME Horizon Bank Duluth
1st Georgia Banking Company Franklin

NOTICE OF CHANGE IN NAME

NEW NAME Haven Trust Bank

APPROVAL 11-28-2005

First Georgia Banking Company

11-17-2005

EFFECTIVE 12-01-2005
12-01-2005

Page 8

PROPOSED NAME CreekSide Bank Gold Hills Bank Memorial Health Credit Union
Unity Bank of Georgia

APPLICATIONS FOR RESERVATION OF A NAME

COUNTY Cherokee County

APPLICANT Mr. Paul Wilson, CFO CreekSide Bank (in organization) P.O. Box 429 Woodstock, GA 30188-0429

Lumpkin County

Mr. Joseph C. Peake, III Jarrard & Davis, LLP 105 Pilgrim Village Dr., Suite 200 Cumming, GA 30040

Chatham County

Ms. Jackie Davis Chairman Memorial Medical Center Federal Credit Union 1203 East 66th Street Savannah, GA 31404

DeKalb County

Mr. Richard T. Hills Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice, PL 1201 West Peachtree Street, Suite 3 Atlanta, GA 30309

FINANCIAL INSTITUTION (SURVIVOR) Bank of North Georgia Alpharetta, GA
Flag Bank Atlanta, GA
Georgia Telco Credit Union Atlanta, GA
The First Bank of Brunswick Brunswick, GA
First Bank of the South Lawrenceville, GA
Security Bank of Bibb County Macon, GA
American Banking Company Moultrie, GA
American Banking Company Moultrie, GA

FINANCIAL INSTITUTION MERGERS

MERGED INSTITUTION Riverside Bank Marietta, GA
First Capital Bank Norcross, GA
GTA Credit Union Atlanta, GA
First National Bank Saint Marys, GA
Lanier Community Bank Buford, GA
Rivoli Bank & Trust Macon, GA
The First Bank of Brunswick Brunswick, GA
First National Bank Orange Park, FL

APPROVAL Pending 11-28-2005 10-06-2005 11-09-2005 Pending Pending Pending Pending

EFFECTIVE
12-01-2005 11-01-2005 12-16-2005

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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 Atlanta Bancorporation, Inc. Alpharetta, GA

Bank of Atlanta (FSB) Alpharetta, GA

Pending

Hamilton State Bancshares, Inc. Braselton, GA

Hamilton State Bank Braselton, GA

12-20-2005

ACQUISITIONS Synovus Financial Corp. Columbus, GA
Synovus Financial Corp. Columbus, GA
Liberty Shares, Inc. Hinesville, GA
Gwinnett Commercial Group, Inc. Lawrenceville, GA
Security Bank Corporation Macon, GA

Riverside Bank Marietta, GA
First Florida Bank Naples, FL
Peoples Bank Blackshear, GA
Lanier Community Bank Buford, GA
Rivoli Bank & Trust Macon, GA

Pending Pending Pending 12-01-2005 12-02-2005

CHECK CASHER LICENSES AND REGISTRATIONS ISSUED

CITY Albany Chatsworth LaGrange Norcross Kansas City Covington Snellville Moultrie Americus Valdosta Dublin Vienna Valdosta Jonesboro Cedartown Sugar Hill Lake Park Hapeville Ochlocknee Norcross

APPLICANT NAME

TRADE NAME

Albany Financial Services, Inc.

Albany Check Casher

American Pawn and Sporting Goods, Inc. Chatsworth Pawn and Sporting Goods

Anderson, T. Lane

Loan Depot

Atlanta Check Cashing, LLC

Atlanta Check Cashing

BFC Transactions, Inc.

H&R Block

Dhanani Enterprises, Inc.

Ellington Shell Food Mart

* Fidai Blessings, Inc.

Chevron Foodmart

Global Communications Network, Inc. Global Communications Network

* Jay Bhawani, Inc.

Diya Foods

* Jay Visat, Inc.

AB Food

* Jay-Ria, Inc.

Cartons & Cases

Kemin Enterprises, Inc.

Pig Jig Mart/El Cheapo

* Madhu Katen Corporation

MK Food Mart #1

* Munish Enterprises, Inc.

Fast Trip

* Patel, Bipinchandra

Chapman's Shoppette

* Prince Blessings, Inc.

Shell Foodmart

R.J. Food Mart, Inc.

R.J. Food Mart

Shree Gogaji, Inc.

Crest Liquor

* Umiya Enterprises, Inc.

T&J Country Store

Woo Check Cashing, Inc.

Woo Check Cashing

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

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2006 State Holidays
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 2006. 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.

New Year's Day

Sunday, January 1 - will be observed Monday, January 2

Martin Luther King Jr. Day Monday, January 16

Confederate Memorial Day Wednesday, April 26 - will be observed on Monday, April 24

Memorial Day

Monday, May 29

Independence Day

Tuesday, July 4

Labor Day Columbus Day Veterans' Day Thanksgiving Day Robert E. Lee's Birthday Christmas Day Washington's Birthday

Monday, September 4 Monday, October 9 Saturday, November 11 - will be observed on Friday, November 10 Thursday, November 23 January 19 - will be observed on Friday, November 24 Monday, December 25 February 22 - will be observed on Tuesday, December 26

EMERGENCY CLOSINGS
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, e-mail or fax as soon as transmission is feasible.

Georgia Department of Banking and Finance
2990 Brandywine Road Suite 200
Atlanta, Georgia 30341-5565
Phone: (770) 986-1633 Fax: (770) 986-1654 or 1655 Email: dbfpress@dbf.state.ga.us

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The Department is the state agency that regulates and examines banks, credit unions, and trust companies chartered by the State. The Department also has regulatory and/or licensing authority over mortgage brokers, lenders, and processors, money service businesses, international banking organizations, and bank holding companies conducting business in Georgia.
Our Mission is to promote the availability of safe, sound and competitive financial services through responsive, high quality regulation and supervision and the protection of the interests of consumers.
Our Vision is to provide a progressive, safe and sound regulatory environment where financial service providers can efficiently and responsibly deliver a broad range of products and services, responsive to the economic needs of Georgia.

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