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. We're on the Web! Visit our new website at: dbf.georgia.gov 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"