Inside this issue:
Commissioner
2
Braswell Announces
Retirement of
District Director
Barry Rooks and
Appointment of
Lori Binford
DBF Outreach and 2
Upcoming Speaking
Engagements
Department of
3
Banking and Finance
Launches New
Website
Department
3
Announces
Commitment To
Participate In CSBS/
AARMR Mortgage
Licensing System
Action on
4
Applications for the
Month of February
DBF's Customer
11
Service Stars for the
Month of February
News and topics of interest to financial institutions regulated by the Department of Banking and Finance
Monthly Bulletin #2
February 2007
Reminder to Financial Institutions: Impact of Extended Daylight Savings Time
Daylight Savings Time will begin earlier this year, the second Sunday in March, and end later, the first Sunday in November. It is important that institutions be aware of the possible impact of this upon their information technology systems. A variety of problems could be experienced, such as automated logging errors, system monitoring difficulties, degraded system performance and/or disruption of services. Therefore, it is critical that management review their systems or contact the appropriate servicers/vendors to determine what mitigation strategies may be necessary.
For additional information, reference should be made to the following:
FDIC:
FIL-17-2007 February 23, 2007, Extension of Daylight Saving Time Available at: www.fdic.gov
NCUA: Letter No.:07-CU-03, Daylight Saving Time Available at: www.ncua.gov
Department Issues Advisory on Storm Damage Impacting Southwest Georgia
On March 5, 2007, the Department issued an advisory to state-chartered financial institutions pertaining to the storm damage that occurred in parts of Southwest Georgia on March 1, 2007. The advisory highlights the various interests that must be weighed in making a decision to close financial institution offices, and also addresses disaster recovery and customer service issues.
The News Release may be viewed on our website: NR 3/5/2007: Department Issues Advisory on Storm Damage Impacting Southwest Georgia.
If you have any questions about the News Release, please contact Director for Supervision Janet Blackmon at (770) 986-1627 or Deputy Commissioner for Supervision Grace Lurry at (770) 986-1646.
"Safeguarding Georgia's Financial Services"
Page 2
Commissioner Braswell Announces Retirement of District Director Barry Rooks and Appointment of Ms. Lori Binford
Barry Rooks, District Director for the Department's College Park / District 3 Office, retired effective February 1, 2007. Mr. Rooks joined the Department in 1973 and was appointed District Director of the College Park Office by former Commissioner Dunn in 1996. Barry served his entire career as a field bank and credit union examiner until his appointment to District Director. During his tenure with the Department, Barry achieved the designations of Certified Financial Examiner and Certified Examinations Manager.
Barry Rooks
Commissioner Braswell appointed Lori Binford to the District Director position in the College Park / District 3 Office, upon the retirement of Director Rooks. Lori began her career with the Department in District 2 in 1986. In 1994 Lori changed career directions and served in the Department's Mortgage Division for approximately 14 months. In early 1996 Lori was selected to be the Supervisory Examiner in District 3 and assisted in the oversight of community banks in 22 counties in central Georgia. Desiring a change of pace and seeking an opportunity to expand her institutional knowledge, Lori accepted the Supervisory Examiner position in the Department's newly established Large Institution Supervision District in January 2000. In the Large Institution Supervision District, Lori served as the Examiner-in-charge for SunTrust Bank which involved
Lori Binford
oversight in the areas of audit, compliance, Bank Secrecy Act, enterprise risk management, and legal and reputational risk. Prior to serving as EIC for SunTrust Bank, Lori served as the EIC for the Synovus consolidated bank and bank holding company program. She is a graduate of Troy State University with a Bachelor of Science degree (major in Finance). Lori is a Certified Examinations Manager and is well prepared for this new assignment.
DBF OUTREACH AND UPCOMING SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
Commissioner Braswell will be participating on a regulatory panel at the CBA Spring Convention at the Westin Hotel, Savannah, GA on March 23, 2007. Deputy Commissioner for Supervision Grace Lurry will be participating in a BSA Regulatory Panel Discussion planned for 1:00 -2:00 pm on March 21, 2007 at the Hilton Garden Inn, 3045 Windy Hill Road, Atlanta, GA 30339.
Page 3
Department of Banking and Finance Launches New Website
We have launched our new website within the State's georgia.gov web portal. Our new website URL is http://dbf.georgia.gov; however, previous URLs (such as http://www.gadbf.org; http://www.ganet.org/dbf/ and http://www.georgiadepartmentofbanking.org) will also redirect to our new address-- http://dbf.georgia.gov.
Main Page--Menu Design As opposed to our old website, our new site is setup by entity type. The main menu navigation is in the upper left-hand corner of the main page. Once you click on any of the entity types from the main page, you will get to subpages where you will have more menu choices within that entity type. The new website is designed to put almost anything the entity might need to access within their specific menu framework.
If you have questions about the website or have specific recommendations for additions or improvements to the site, please e-mail our webmaster at dbf@dbf.state.ga.us. We are always looking for ways to make our website more user friendly for our customers.
Georgia Department of Banking and Finance Announces Commitment To Participate In CSBS/AARMR Mortgage Licensing System
On February 28, 2007, Commissioner Braswell announced that the Department plans to participate in the Residential Mortgage Licensing System now under development by the Conference of State Bank Supervisors (CSBS) and the American Association of Residential Mortgage Regulators (AARMR).
The System will be used by state residential mortgage regulators to accept and process national, uniform license applications and renewal forms that have been created by state regulators over the past two years. Licensees will be able to electronically manage a single record in the System to apply for, amend, renew, and surrender licenses in one or more regulated jurisdictions. The System will manage state licenses for mortgage companies, branches, and individuals.
Read the full text of the Press Release on our website at: http://dbf.georgia.gov/vgn/images/portal/cit_1210/6/61/76770204PR_MortgageLicensingSystem.pdf
Page 4
Action on Applications for the Month of February:
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 February 2007.
APPLICATIONS FOR NEW FINANCIAL INSTITUTION
FINANCIAL INSTITUTION Primary Bank 3880 Roswell Road Atlanta, GA 30342 Fulton County
CAPITALIZATION $ 16,000,000
APPROVAL 02-27-2007
State Bank of Georgia 131 Gingercake Road Fayetteville, GA 30214-1012 Fayette County
$ 12,500,000
Pending
Regional Bank of Middle Georgia 3966 Pio Nono Avenue Macon, GA 31206 Bibb County
$ 8,000,000
Pending
American Pride Bank 4740 Log Cabin Drive Macon, GA 31204 Bibb County
$ 12,000,000
Pending
BEGIN BUSINESS
FINANCIAL INSTITUTION CONVERSIONS
PREVIOUS NAME Maco Educators Federal Credit Union
CONVERTED TO Credit Union of Georgia Woodstock Cherokee County
APPROVAL Pending
EFFECTIVE
APPLICATIONS TO ESTABLISH A BRANCH OFFICE
FINANCIAL INSTITUTION Montgomery Bank & Trust Ailey
BRANCH OFFICE St. Simons Branch Office 100 Island Professional Park St. Simons Island, GA 31522 Glynn County
APPROVAL 11-30-2005
Wheeler County State Bank Alamo
Highway 441 Branch Office 2140 Highway 441 South Dublin, GA 31021 Laurens County
02-08-2007
BEGIN BUSINESS 12-11-2006
Page 5
FINANCIAL INSTITUTION SunTrust Bank Atlanta
SunTrust Bank Atlanta
SunTrust Bank Atlanta
SunTrust Bank Atlanta
SunTrust Bank Atlanta
SunTrust Bank Atlanta
SunTrust Bank Atlanta
United Community Bank Blairsville
PeoplesSouth Bank Colquitt
PeoplesSouth Bank Colquitt
BRANCH OFFICE East Naples Wal-Mart Branch Office 6650 Collier Boulevard Naples, FL 34114 Collier County
Avalon Park Branch Office 3508 Avalon Park West Boulevard Orlando, FL 32826 Orange County
Pines at Paraiso Branch Office 15753 Pines Boulevard Pembroke Pines, FL 33028 Broward County
Pinellas Park Branch Office 8001 US Highway 19 North Pinellas Park, FL 33781 Pinellas County
St. Lucie West Wal-Mart Branch Office 1675 St. Lucie West Boulevard Port St. Lucie, FL 34986 St. Lucie County
Kanner Crossing Branch Office 6600 South Kanner Highway Stuart, FL 34997 Martin County
Wimauma/Sun City Wal-Mart Branch Office 4928 State Road 674 Wimauma, FL 33568 Hillsborough County
Cleveland TN Main Branch Office 2525 Keith Street Cleveland, TN 37312 Bradley County
Bonifay Branch Office 2020 South Waukesha Street Bonifay, FL 32425 Holmes County
Headland Branch Office West Side of Highway 431 Headland, AL 36345 Henry County
APPROVAL BEGIN BUSINESS 02-26-2007
11-30-2006
02-15-2007
05-26-2006
02-07-2007
02-16-2007
02-16-2007
02-16-2007
02-16-2007
12-04-2006
02-08-2007
06-01-2006
01-16-2007
06-01-2006
01-11-2007
Page 6
FINANCIAL INSTITUTION Freedom Bank of Georgia Commerce
Community Bank & Trust Cornelia
The Citizens Bank of Forsyth County Cumming
First Citizens Bank of Georgia (IO) Dawsonville
Metro City Bank Doraville
The Brand Banking Company Lawrenceville
The Brand Banking Company Lawrenceville
American Pride Bank (IO) Macon
Ameris Bank Moultrie
The Bank of Georgia Peachtree City
BRANCH OFFICE Winder Branch Office 20 West May Street Winder, GA 30680 Barrow County
APPROVAL 02-01-2007
Bethlehem Branch Office 12 Angel Street Bethlehem, GA 30620 Barrow County
11-27-2006
Martin Road Branch Office 4255 GA Highway 400 Cumming, GA 30040 Forsyth County
05-15-2006
Forsyth Branch Office State Highway 306 and State Highway Cumming, GA 30040 Forsyth County
Pending
Duluth Branch Office 3725 Old Norcross Road Duluth, GA 30096 Gwinnett County
09-11-2006
Buford Branch Office 2255 Buford Highway Buford, GA 30518 Gwinnett County
Pending
Sugarloaf Branch Office 6225 Sugarloaf Parkway Suite 100 Duluth, GA 30096 Gwinnett County
Pending
Warner Robins Branch Office 4001 Russell Parkway Warner Robins, GA 31088 Houston County
Pending
Columbia SC Branch Office 1301 Gervais Street, Suite 700 Columbia, SC 29201 Richland County
01-16-2007
Summit Branch Office Georgia Highway 34 and Hollz Parkway Newnan, GA 30265 Coweta County
02-15-2007
BEGIN BUSINESS 02-26-2007 02-28-2007 02-08-2007
02-05-2007
FINANCIAL INSTITUTION The Tattnall Bank Reidsville
BRANCH OFFICE Collins Branch Office 104 South Main Collins, GA 30421 Tattnall County
Northwest Georgia Bank Ringgold
Hixson Branch Office 1959 Northpoint Boulevard Hixson, TN 37343 Hamilton County
Northwest Georgia Bank Ringgold
Ooltewah Branch Office 9206 Lee Highway Ooltewah, TN 37363 Hamilton County
Citizens Bank of Washington County Sandersville
Statesboro Branch Office 425 Commerce Drive Statesboro, GA 30459 Bulloch County
The Coastal Bank Savannah
Pooler Branch Office 140 Towne Center Boulevard Pooler, GA 31322 Chatham County
Sea Island Bank Statesboro
Paulsen Street Branch Office 4905 Paulsen Street Savannah, GA 31406 Chatham County
The Park Avenue Bank Valdosta
Snellville Branch Office 2220 Wisteria Drive, Suite 102 Snellville, GA 30078 Gwinnett County
Oconee State Bank Watkinsville
University Parkway Branch 2500 Daniell's Bridge Road, Building 200, Suite 1A Athens, GA 30606 Clarke County
The Peoples Bank Winder
Bogart Branch Office 3990 Atlanta Highway Bogart, GA 30622 Clarke County
CreekSide Bank Woodstock
Acworth Branch Office U.S. Highway 41 and Mars Hill Road Acworth, GA 30101 Cobb County
Page 7
APPROVAL 02-13-2007
BEGIN BUSINESS
03-29-2006
02-15-2007
02-16-2007
02-08-2007
02-12-2007
04-28-2005
02-22-2007
07-27-2006
02-05-2007
07-28-2006
02-05-2007
02-15-2007 Pending
Page 8
FINANCIAL INSTITUTION United Bank Zebulon
BRANCH OFFICE Covington Branch Office 1182 Washington Street Covington, GA 30014 Newton County
APPROVAL 12-21-2006
BEGIN BUSINESS 02-09-2007
FINANCIAL INSTITUTION The Buckhead Community Bank Atlanta
McIntosh Commercial Bank
APPLICATIONS TO CHANGE LOCATION
CHANGE LOCATION OF The Cobb Community Branch Office From: 3715 Northside Parkway Atlanta GA 30327 Fulton County To: 3333 Riverwood Parkway Atlanta GA 30339 Cobb County
Covington Branch Office From: 10205 Access Road, Suite B
Covington GA 30014 Newton County To: 7200 Highway 278 Covington GA 30014
Newton County
APPROVAL 02-06-2007
12-18-2006
EFFECTIVE 02-20-2007
NOTICE OF CHANGE IN NAME
PREVIOUS NAME Farmers and Merchants Community Bank Senoia
NEW NAME First Choice Community Bank 1874
APPROVAL EFFECTIVE 02-20-2007
PROPOSED NAME American Citizens Bank
Citizens United Bank
KeyWorth Bank
APPLICATIONS FOR RESERVATION OF A NAME
COUNTY DeKalb County
APPLICANT Ms. Tina Williams Smith, White, Sharma & Halpern 1126 Ponce de Leon Avenue, NE Atlanta, GA 30306
Fulton County
Mr. Byron Richardson President Bank Resources, Inc. 2451 Cumberland Parkway, Suite 3618 Atlanta, GA 30339
Gwinnett County
Mr. Jonathan S. Hightower Powell Goldstein LLP One Atlantic Center, Fourteenth Floor 1201 West Peachtree Street, NW Atlanta, GA 30309
Page 9
PROPOSED NAME Magnolia Community Bank
APPLICATIONS FOR RESERVATION OF A NAME
COUNTY Troup County
APPLICANT Mr. Jonathan S. Hightower Powell Goldstein LLP One Atlantic Center, Fourteenth Floor 1201 West Peachtree Street, NW Atlanta, GA 30309-3488
FINANCIAL INSTITUTION (SURVIVOR) United Community Bank Blairsville, GA
Citizens State Bank Kingsland, GA
FINANCIAL INSTITUTION MERGERS
MERGED INSTITUTION First Bank of the South Lawrenceville, GA
Old Florida Bank Fort Myers, FL
APPROVAL EFFECTIVE Pending
02-27-2007
APPLICATIONS TO BECOME A BANK HOLDING COMPANY AND/OR TO ACQUIRE VOTING STOCK OF A FINANCIAL INSTITUTION
BANK HOLDING COMPANY
TO ACQUIRE
APPROVAL
FORMATIONS Atlantic Capital Bancshares, Inc. Atlanta, GA
Atlantic Capital Bank (IO) Atlanta, GA
Pending
Savannah River Financial Corporation Augusta, GA
Savannah River Banking Company (IO) Augusta, GA
Pending
First Citizens Financial Corporation Dawsonville, GA
First Citizens Bank of Georgia (IO) Dawsonville, GA
02-20-2007
American United Bancorp, Inc. Lawrenceville, GA
American United Bank Lawrenceville, GA
Pending
ACQUISITIONS United Community Banks, Inc. Blairsville, GA
First Bank of the South Lawrenceville, GA
Pending
FMCB Holdings, Inc. Senoia, GA
First Choice Community Bank (IO) Dallas, GA
Pending
CREDIT UNION CORE Credit Union Statesboro
NOTIFICATION OF APPROVAL OF APPLICATION TO SERVE A RESIDENTIAL GROUP COMMON BOND
RESIDENTIAL GROUP COMMON BOND Bulloch County, GA
APPROVAL 02-05-2007
Page 10
CHECK CASHER LICENSES ISSUED
CITY Covington Norcross Atlanta Social Circle Albany Covington Lawrenceville Canton Macon Savannah Cordele Americus Unadilla Monroe Gainesville LaGrange Lawrenceville Dalton Lake Park Chamblee Lawrenceville Dalton Decatur Forest Park Douglasville Gainesville Griffin Stone Mountain McDonough Tucker Buford Newnan
APPLICANT NAME * Aslam, Muhammad
BIG YHL, Inc. Boulevard Convenience, Inc. Cash Credit Corporation No. 40 * Dutt, Inc. Farhaan Investments, Inc. * Grand Group, Inc. HBL, Inc. Holbrook, Pok Ye Hyunjan, Inc. * Jagi, Inc. Khodal Investments, Inc. * Khushi M, Inc. * Kusum Enterprises, Inc. Los Girasoles, Inc. * McCamey, Cynthia Yvette * Meghna, Inc. * Omshrim, Inc. * RJ's Store, Inc. S&S Bottle Shop, LLC SASA Group, Inc. * Sandidge Machine Co., Inc. * Shanker Inc Shree Design, Inc. Shreeji Bava Corporation Singh, Ajodhia Prasad Sky Check Cashing, Inc. Sri Khalsa, Inc. Tai Seng (USA) Holdings, LLC Thaker, Inc. Tienda y Carniceria Sonia, Inc. Valued Services of Georgia, LLC
TRADE NAME Pure Food Mart C & K Check Cashing Amoco Food Shop Cash Credit Check Cashing Discount Liquor Store Alcovy Check Cashers Food Store HBL Check Cashing Sportsman Package Store #2 Jan's Package Shop Check Cashing Cordele Food Mart Shakti Mart Flint River Grocery #2 Sunny Food Shop Los Girasoles Yvette's Three In One Business Chevron Kwik Stop ABC Country Shop RJ's Food Mart S&S Bottle Shop Sasa Group Riverside Grocery Panola Package Dixie Package 5 & 20 Package Store Quik Serve Convenience Store Sky Check Cashing Best Value One Shell Gas Station Thaker Tienda y Carniceria Sonia Purpose Money
* =Qualified Exempt Registration (O.C.G.A. 7-1-709)
MONEY TRANSMITTER LICENSES ISSUED
MONEY TRANSMITTER Ready Remittance Company, LLC Atlanta, GA
APPROVAL DATE 02-16-2007
Coinstar E-Payment Services, Inc. Bellevue, WA
02-16-2007
Addis International Money Transfer, LLC Stone Mountain, GA
02-07-2007
Page 11
DBF's Customer Service Stars for the Month of February
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:
Heather Sartain, Supervisory Examiner (District 2): District Director Tracy Whitesides received an e-mail from a customer stating: "Thank you so much for making the examination process so simple from our standpoint. It was especially helpful to be able to gather the documentation you needed prior to your arrival and at our convenience. Also, the fact that you had obviously studied our operation in advance of your arrival definitely streamlined the onsite portion of the review. I was impressed by how totally familiar you were with our operation, never to have been here before. I can honestly say this was probably the least stressful and least intrusive examination or audit I have ever been through, and after 28 years in the business, that says a lot! You're definitely an asset to the Department of Banking and Finance."
Larry Moody, Financial Examiner (District 1) and his exam team: Commissioner Braswell received a letter from a customer stating: "It is with pleasure that I commend the exam team for their efficiency and courtesy during our recent examination. Larry and his team members were fine representatives of the Department. We appreciated their advance preparation and orderly requests for information and documentation. This resulted in an exam process with minimal disruption of our operations and one that was concise and completed on time. Several staff members commented on the organization and professionalism of this team."
Wanda Williams, Receptionist (Main Office): Office Manager Susan Brown received an e-mail from a customer stating: "Mrs. Williams not only follows up with my emails, she is so caring and giving to the customer. I think you need to look at what it is in this employee, an asset maybe not discovered. Thank you again for all your help."
Dawn Schlich, Accounting Manager (Main Office): Dawn received an e-mail from an employee with another state agency stating: "We have such respect for you and your employees. You guys really have it together."
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
Page 12
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.
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Visit our new website at:
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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"