Financial institutions today, Nov. 2006

Inside this issue:

2007 State Holidays 2
DBF Outreach and 2 Upcoming Speaking Engagements

Action on

3

Applications for the

Month of

November

DBF's Customer

10

Service Stars for the

Month of

November

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

Monthly Bulletin #11

November 2006

Holiday Gift Card Tips
Before you buy a gift card this holiday season, there are some things you should be aware of. Different gift cards have different terms and conditions. Whether you are a gift card purchaser or a recipient, here are some questions you may want to ask the seller of the card:
What is the redemption policy? Can the gift card or certificate be redeemed for cash, a combination of merchandise and cash, or merchandise only?
Is there a local store where it can be redeemed? Can it be redeemed on the Internet, or is it only redeemable on the Internet? Will a new certificate be issued for any balance remaining after the original certificate is
redeemed? Can the recipient add value to or "reload" the gift card? Are there any service or inactivity fees? Will the card be honored if it is lost or stolen?
To help protect those who buy or receive gift certificates, store gift cards or general use gift cards, there is a Georgia law designed to protect consumers. The Gift Card Integrity Act of 2005 requires the purveyors of all such gift cards or certificates sold in Georgia to:
Include the terms of the card in the accompanying packaging, make these available upon request, and honor the card in exchange for merchandise or services in accordance with those terms;
Conspicuously print the expiration date, if any, on the card; and Conspicuously print the amount of any dormancy or nonuse fees on the card or a sticker
affixed to it.
Failure to comply with the law's provisions is considered an unfair or deceptive practice and should be reported to the Governor's Office of Consumer Affairs. For more information, go to the Governor's Office of Consumer Affairs website.

Wishing You and Your Family a Wonderful
Holiday Season!

New Online Name Permission Request Form
The Department recently developed an online form where users can request permission to use the words "bank", "trust", and/or similar word(s) in a name (pursuant to Section 7-1-243 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated). Previously, such requests had to be submitted via fax or mail to the Department's Supervisory Division.
To access the primary online request page, users may go to: https://bkgfin.dbf.state.ga.us/permission.html. The link to the online request system is also available from the bank-related forms and applications page on our website (www.gadbf.org). Users of the online request system will be taken through various steps to complete their request and also pay their fee online if they choose.

"Safeguarding Georgia's Financial Services"

Page 2

2007 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 2007. 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.

Holiday:
New Year's Day Martin Luther King Jr. Day Robert E. Lee's Birthday Washington's Birthday Confederate Memorial Day Memorial Day Independence Day Labor Day Columbus Day Veterans' Day Thanksgiving Day Christmas Day

Observed:
Monday, January 1 Monday, January 15 Friday, January 19 - will be observed on Friday, November 23 Monday, February 19 - will be observed on Monday, December 24 Monday, April 23 Monday, May 28 Wednesday, July 4 Monday, September 3 Monday, October 8 Sunday, November 11 - will be observed on Monday, November 12 Thursday, November 22 Tuesday, December 25

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, e-mail (dbfpress@dbf.state.ga.us) or fax as soon as transmission is feasible.

DBF OUTREACH AND UPCOMING SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
Senior Deputy Commissioner George Reynolds will be at the Community Bankers Association of Georgia's (CBA) De Novo Bank Conference to be held on January 29 30, 2007 at the Ritz Carlton, Amelia Island, FL. To find out more about the conference, go to the CBA website.

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Action on Applications for the Month of November:
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 2006.

APPLICATIONS FOR NEW FINANCIAL INSTITUTION

FINANCIAL INSTITUTION Primary Bank 3880 Roswell Road Atlanta, GA 30342 Fulton County

CAPITALIZATION $ 15,000,000

APPROVAL Pending

Brookhaven Bank 2987 Clairmont Road, NE Suite 130 Atlanta, GA 30329 DeKalb County

$ 20,500,000

Pending

RockBridge Commercial Bank 5607 Glenridge Drive, Suite 100 Atlanta, GA 30342 Fulton County

$ 27,000,000

04-17-2006

Atlantic Capital Bank 3280 Peachtree Road, Suite 1600 Atlanta, GA 30326 Fulton County

$ 80,000,000

Pending

First Choice Community Bank 110 Evans Mill Drive, Suite 605 Dallas, GA 30157 Paulding County

$ 18,000,000

Pending

Vinings Bank 4135 Atlanta Road Smyrna, GA 30080 Cobb County

$ 12,000,000

Pending

Republic Bank of Georgia 1400 Northbrook Parkway, Suite 300 Suwanee, GA 30024 Gwinnett County

$ 24,000,000

07-28-2006

BEGIN BUSINESS 11-13-2006
11-06-2006

APPLICATIONS TO ESTABLISH A BRANCH OFFICE

FINANCIAL INSTITUTION Northside Bank Adairsville

BRANCH OFFICE Calhoun Branch Office SR 53 and Lovers Lane Calhoun, GA 30701 Gordon County

APPROVAL 11-02-2006

BEGIN BUSINESS

Page 4 FINANCIAL INSTITUTION Northside Bank Adairsville
Brookhaven Bank (IO) 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

BRANCH OFFICE Cartersville Branch Office 325 Cherokee Place Cartersville, GA 30121 Bartow County

APPROVAL BEGIN BUSINESS 10-03-2005 11-14-2005

Johnson Ferry Branch Office 2163 Johnson Ferry Road Atlanta, GA 30319 DeKalb County

Pending

Hampden Hall Branch Office 929 West 36th Street Baltimore, MD 21211 County

11-13-2006

Fairwood Green Safeway Branch Office 12410 Fairwood Parkway Bowie, MD 20720 Prince Georges County

11-27-2006

Kent Towne Safeway Branch Office 24 Kent Towne Market Chester, MD 21619 Queen Annes County

11-27-2006

El Mercado Branch Office 2400 West 60th Street Hialeah, FL 33014 Miami-Dade County

11-03-2006

Oasis Plaza Branch Office 2952 N.E. 8th Street Homestead, FL 33030 Miami-Dade County

11-03-2006 11-14-2006

St. Johns Town Center Branch Office 100 Town Center Parkway Jacksonville, FL 32246 Duval County

05-26-2006

11-06-2006

Lamar Crossing Branch Office 2926 Lamar Avenue, Suite 106 Memphis, TN 38114 Shelby County

09-11-2006 11-06-2006

Branan Field Wal-Mart Branch Office 1508 Branan Field Road Middleburg, FL 32068 Clay County

10-30-2006

11-08-2006

Navarre Wal-Mart Branch Office 9360 Navarre Parkway Navarre, FL 32566 Santa Rosa County

11-30-2006

Page 5

FINANCIAL INSTITUTION SunTrust Bank Atlanta
SunTrust Bank Atlanta
SunTrust Bank Atlanta
United Community Bank Blairsville
United Community Bank Blairsville
McIntosh Commercial Bank Carrollton
Community Bank & Trust Cornelia
First Citizens Bank of Georgia (IO) Dawsonville
First Intercontinental Bank Doraville
Community Bank & Trust - West Georgia LaGrange
Atlantic Southern Bank Macon

BRANCH OFFICE Avalon Park Branch Office 3502 Avalon Park West Boulevard Orlando, FL 32826 Orange County

APPROVAL BEGIN BUSINESS 11-30-2006

Palm City Branch Office 2846 SW Town Center Way Palm City, FL 34990 Martin County

08-21-2006 11-27-2006

The Villages Wal-Mart Branch Office 3968 Wedgewood Lane The Villages, FL 32162 Sumter County

11-30-2006

Cleveland TN Main Branch Office 2525 Keith Street Cleveland, TN 37312 Bradley County

Pending

Lula Branch Office 6091 Lula Road Lula, GA 30554 Hall County

11-15-2006

West Point Branch Office 200 East 10th Street West Point, GA 31833 Troup County

08-28-2006 11-01-2006

Bethlehem Branch Office 12 Angel Street Bethlehem, GA 30620 Barrow County

11-27-2006

Forsyth Branch Office State Highway 306 and State Highway Cumming, GA 30040 Forsyth County

Pending

Duluth Branch Office 2230 Pleasant Hill Road Duluth, GA 30096 Gwinnett County

02-20-2006 11-08-2006

Columbus Branch Office 5420 Veteran's Parkway Columbus, GA 31904 Muscogee County

02-14-2006 11-06-2006

Bonaire Branch Office 135 Highway 96 Bonaire, GA 31326 Houston County

11-17-2006

Page 6

FINANCIAL INSTITUTION Atlantic Southern Bank Macon
First Bank of Henry County McDonough
American Banking Company Moultrie
American Banking Company Moultrie
The Patterson Bank Patterson
Greater Rome Bank Rome
Carver State Bank Savannah
CreekSide Bank Woodstock

BRANCH OFFICE Savannah Branch Office 7939 Hodgson Memorial Drive Savannah, GA 31406 Chatham County
Morrow Branch Office 6145 North Main Street Morrow, GA 30260 Clayton County
Newberry Branch Office 25365 West Newberry Road Newberry, FL 32669 Alachua County
Trenton Branch Office 530 East Wade Street Trenton, FL 32693 Gilchrist County
Memorial Drive Branch Office 914 Memorial Drive Waycross, GA 31501 Ware County
Shannon-East Floyd Branch Office 5740 New Highway 53 Rome, GA 30161 Floyd County
Skidaway Branch Office 7110 Skidaway Road Savannah, GA 31405 Chatham County
Acworth Branch Office 4356 North Cobb Parkway Acworth, GA 30101 Cobb County

APPROVAL 11-17-2006 11-13-2006 09-19-2006 09-19-2006 11-14-2006 06-20-2006 Pending Pending

BEGIN BUSINESS
11-20-2006 11-20-2006 11-15-2006 11-08-2006

APPLICATIONS TO CHANGE LOCATION

FINANCIAL INSTITUTION

CHANGE LOCATION OF

SunTrust Bank

Greer Branch Office

Atlanta

From: 713 W Wade Hampton

Greer SC 29652

Greenville County

To: 655 West Wade Hampton Boulevard

Greer SC 29650

Greenville County

APPROVAL 11-13-2006

EFFECTIVE

Page 7

FINANCIAL INSTITUTION SunTrust Bank Atlanta

CHANGE LOCATION OF Friendly Center Harris Teeter Branch Office From: 3310 West Friendly Avenue Greensboro NC 27410 Guilford County To: 3330 West Friendly Avenue Greensboro NC 27410 Guilford County

Citizens Bank & Trust Company Eastman

Cochran Branch Office From: 120 Second Street
Cochran GA 31014 Bleckley County To: 127 S. Sixth Street Cochran GA 31014 Bleckley County

The Bank of Georgia Peachtree City

Newnan Branch Office From: 2015 Highway 154
Newnan GA 30265 Coweta County To: Georgia Highway 154 and Fayetteville Road Newnan GA 30265 Coweta County

APPROVAL EFFECTIVE

10-10-2006

11-08-2006

11-07-2006

11-08-2006

APPLICATIONS FOR RESERVATION OF A NAME

PROPOSED NAME First Choice Community Bank 1874

COUNTY Coweta County

APPLICANT Mr. Michael N. White Martin Snow, LLP Post Office Box 1606 Macon, GA 31202-1606

FirstBank Financial Services

Henry County

Ms. Beth Lanier Powell Goldstein LLP One Atlantic Center 14th Floor 1201 West Peachtree Street, N.W. Atlanta, GA 30309

The PrivateBank

Fulton County

Ms. Hope D. Schall Vedder, Price, Kaufman & Kammholz, P.C. 222 North LaSalle Street Chicago, IL 60601

FINANCIAL INSTITUTION (SURVIVOR) United Community Bank Blairsville, GA
First Charter Bank Charlotte, NC

FINANCIAL INSTITUTION MERGERS

MERGED INSTITUTION Southern National Bank Marietta, GA
Gwinnett Banking Company Lawrenceville, GA

APPROVAL 11-30-2006

EFFECTIVE

Pending

Page 8
FINANCIAL INSTITUTION (SURVIVOR) Citizens State Bank Kingsland, GA
Atlantic Southern Bank Macon, GA
American Banking Company Moultrie, GA
South Georgia Banking Company Omega, GA
RBC Centura Bank Rocky Mount, NC
Cadence Bank, N.A. Starkville, MS
CB&T Bank of Middle Georgia Warner Robins, GA

MERGED INSTITUTION Old Florida Bank Fort Myers, FL
Sapelo National Bank Darien, GA
Islands Community Bank, N.A. Beaufort, SC
Community National Bank Ashburn, GA
Flag Bank Atlanta, GA
Seasons Bank Blairsville, GA
The Citizens Bank Fort Valley, GA

APPROVAL EFFECTIVE Pending

Pending

11-08-2006

Pending

Pending

11-13-2006

11-14-2006

11-29-2006

APPLICATIONS TO BECOME A BANK HOLDING COMPANY AND/OR TO ACQUIRE VOTING STOCK OF A FINANCIAL INSTITUTION

BANK HOLDING COMPANY

TO ACQUIRE

APPROVAL

FORMATIONS Oglethorpe Bank Holding Company Brunswick, GA

Oglethorpe Bank Brunswick, GA

11-08-2006

Highland Financial Services, Inc. Marietta, GA

Highland Commercial Bank Marietta, GA

Pending

Signature Bancshares, Inc. Sandy Springs, GA

Signature Bank of Georgia Dunwoody, GA

Pending

Embassy Bancshares, Inc. Snellville, GA

Embassy National Bank (IO) Lawrenceville, GA

Pending

ACQUISITIONS Atlantic Southern Financial Group, Inc. Macon, GA
Ameris Bancorp Moultrie, GA

Sapelo National Bank Darien, GA
Islands Community Bank. N.A. Beaufort, SC

11-17-2006 11-08-2006

CHECK CASHER LICENSES ISSUED

CITY Columbus Glennville Hazlehurst Roswell Roopville Lithonia Fairburn Byron LaGrange Augusta Brunswick Covington Garden City Fort Valley Atlanta Social Circle Atlanta

APPLICANT NAME * Akshat Beverage, Inc.
Burkhalter Grocery, Inc. * CMN, Inc.
Hwang's Enterprises, Inc. * Kaur, Inc.
Kim, Byong C. * Miras, Inc.
Nehal, Inc. * Reyes, R. N.
S. T. Food Store, Inc. Shiv Ganesh, Inc. * Shree KS Group, Inc. Sule, Inc. V & V of Fort Valley, Inc. W.W.K. Enterprises, Inc. * Z's International, Inc. Zish Enterprises, LLC

TRADE NAME Rooster's Package Burkhalter Galaxy Cotton Patch Quick Stop J's Beverage Depot County Line One Stop Super Check Cash Package Depot Byron Citgo Tienda Latina S. T. Food Store Bunky's Sunoco Don's Superette El Don Juan #2 Sky Beverages Atlanta Best Check Cashier BP Food Mart Quick Cash 2

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

MONEY TRANSMITTER Global Money Transfers, LLC Falls Church, VA

MONEY TRANSMITTER LICENSES ISSUED
APPROVAL DATE 11-29-2006

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Page 10

DBF's Customer Service Stars for the Month of November

It is the Department's goal to provide excellent customer service, meeting and exceeding the expectations of our customers. Along those lines, we would like to recognize the following individuals or groups for going above and beyond in serving our customers:
Tracy Whitesides, District Director; Heather Sartain, Senior Financial Examiner and her exam team (District 2): Supervisory Manager Lori Godfrey received a letter from a customer stating: Let me take this opportunity to recognize Ms. Sartain and her staff for the very professional way in which they went about their duties in performing our exam. I would also like to recognize Ms. Whitesides for her assistance and cooperation during the past year. She has been very helpful to us when we have had questions or needed assistance from her office."
Wanda Williams, Receptionist (Main Office): Wanda received an e-mail from a customer stating: "I called into the office with several serious questions, Mrs. Wanda Williams took her time and answered all of my concerns. I was overwhelmed by her patience, her professionalism and her kind attitude. Employees like Mrs. Williams are what we need in this society and world. Mrs. Williams is a true and pure Customer Service Rep and she has her heart in it!"
Janet Bryan, Senior Financial Examiner and her exam team (District 4): District Director Gary Ford received a letter from a customer stating: "We appreciate the professional manner Examiner-inCharge Bryan and her staff exhibited in examining our bank. The examination was conducted with minimal disruption of our daily routine. We feel the examination was both thorough and fair."
Candice Jones, Senior Assistant Financial Examiner and her exam team (District 1): District Director Kevin Hagler received an e-mail from a customer stating: "On behalf of the Board of Directors, management team and staff of the bank I want to convey our appreciation for the work performed by Examiner-In-Charge Candice Jones and her team. We found them to be professional, thorough and fair in all of our interactions. They asked good questions and handled management responses appropriately. Candice presented her conclusions in a concise and accurate manner earlier today. Candice and her team are a credit to their profession."
Rich Parker, Senior Financial Examiner and his exam team (District 1): District Director Hagler received a letter stating: "I would like to thank Rich Parker and his team for their professionalism and openness to our questions and concerns. Our staff found them to be informative and very easy to work with."
Dawn Schlich, Accounting Manager (Main Office): Dawn received an e-mail from an employee with another state agency stating: "Thanks so much for your help and the positive way you and your team have handled this project!"
CONGRATULATIONS AND GREAT JOB TO THIS MONTH'S CUSTOMER SERVICE STARS!!

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 promote safe, sound, competitive financial services in Georgia through innovative, responsive regulation and supervision.
Our Vision is to be the best financial services industry regulator in the country Progressive. Proactive. Service-Oriented.

We're on the Web!
www.gadbf.org
The Department will soon be launching its new website within the
georgia.gov portal environment. We hope that you will like the structure and content of our new
website!
Sign-up to Receive this Publication:
This publication is delivered to interested parties via e-mail and is also available from the Department's website at: http://www.gadbf.org under Publications, Bulletins. If you would like to be added to our distribution list, please send an e-mail to dbfpress@dbf.state.ga.us and indicate your name, the company you are with, and your phone number.
"Safeguarding Georgia's Financial Services"