Financial institutions today, Feb. 2014

Inside this issue:
Action on 2 Applications for
the Month of February
Outreach and 3 Upcoming Speaking
Engagements
Contact 4 Information

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

Monthly Bulletin #2

February 2014

Emergency Communications System (ECS)
As a follow-up to last month's article on emergency closings of financial institution locations, we would like to remind Georgia state-chartered financial institutions about the Department's use of the Federal Reserve's Emergency Communications System (ECS) in certain emergency situations.
What is ECS? The ECS is a means for the supervision and regulation functions of the Department and the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta to communicate with state-chartered financial institutions during emergency situations. This service allows us to quickly establish a two-way communication channel and provide key updates during an emergency.
When would ECS be used? ECS is only used to contact institutions during real emergencies and semi-annual tests conducted in the spring and fall. The following examples represent a few situations that might necessitate the use of ECS:
Natural or manmade disasters including winter storms, hurricanes, tornados, floods or fires Chemical biological events or threats Events affecting the financial markets
Why are tests conducted? Tests are conducted to ensure the accuracy of the contact information stored within the system. Tests also help ensure delivery failures are identified and resolved prior to an actual emergency.
How does an institution update its contact information? The Department asks each institution to provide a primary contact and up to two alternates. There is only one password per institution.
Banks can update their contacts by using the following link: https://bkgfin.dbf.state.ga.us/BkEmergCont.html
Credit Unions can update their contacts by using the following link: https://bkgfin.dbf.state.ga.us/CUEmergCont.html
If an institution has forgotten its password, it can email dbfcorp@dbf.state.ga.us.

"Safeguarding Georgia's Financial Services"

Page 2

February 2014

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 Official Code of Georgia Annotated and petitions for Certificate of Incorporation of Financial Institutions and other matters of interest during the month of February 2014.

APPLICATIONS TO ESTABLISH A BRANCH OFFICE

FINANCIAL INSTITUTION HeritageBank of the South
Albany

BRANCH OFFICE Birmingham SouthBridge Branch Office 2100 SouthBridge Parkway, Suite 301 Birmingham, AL 35209 Jefferson County

APPROVAL 02-21-2014

SunTrust Bank Atlanta

Hagen Ranch Branch Office 9909 Hagen Ranch Road Boynton Beach, FL 33437 Palm Beach County

08-09-2013

SunTrust Bank Atlanta

Stonebridge Village Branch Office 4676 Hog Mountain Road Flowery Branch, GA 30542 Hall County

08-09-2013

SunTrust Bank Atlanta

Downtown Raleigh Branch Office 411 Fayetteville Street Raleigh, NC 27601 Wake County

08-09-2013

Metro City Bank Doraville

Centreville, VA In-Store Branch Office 5900 Centreville Crest Lane Centreville, VA 20120 Fairfax County

02-03-2014

LaGrange Banking Company LaGrange

Columbus Branch Office 2921 Airport Thru Way Columbus, GA 31909 Muscogee County

10-29-2013

BEGIN BUSINESS 02-10-2014 02-03-2014 02-18-2014
02-01-2014

FINANCIAL INSTITUTION MERGERS

FINANCIAL INSTITUTION
(SURVIVOR) Atlanta Postal Credit Union Atlanta, GA

MERGED INSTITUTION Floyd County Postal Employees Credit Union
Rome, GA

Community & Southern Bank Atlanta, GA

Verity Bank Winder, GA

Hamilton State Bank Hoschton, GA

Cherokee Bank, National Association Canton, GA

Community Bank & Trust - West Georgia Community Bank & Trust- Alabama

LaGrange, GA

Union Springs, AL

SouthCrest Bank, National Association Bank of Chickamauga

Tyrone, GA

Chickamauga, GA

APPROVAL EFFECTIVE 02-04-2014 Pending 02-06-2014 02-17-2014 Pending 02-18-2014 02-28-2014

February 2014

FINANCIAL INSTITUTION
(SURVIVOR) SouthCrest Bank, National Association Tyrone, GA

MERGED INSTITUTION SouthCrest Bank
Thomaston, GA

Page 3
APPROVAL EFFECTIVE 02-18-2014 02-28-2014

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

BANK HOLDING COMPANY Hamilton State Bancshares, Inc.
Hoschton, GA

TO ACQUIRE Cherokee Bank, National Association
Canton, GA

APPROVAL 02-06-2014

FINANCIAL INSTITUTION SunTrust Bank
Atlanta

APPLICATIONS TO CHANGE LOCATION

CHANGE LOCATION OF Palm Beach Branch Office From: 109 Royal Palm Way Palm Beach, FL 33480 Palm Beach County To: 440 Royal Palm Way Palm Beach, FL 33480 Palm Beach County

APPROVAL Pending

EFFECTIVE

PROPOSED NAME Reliance Interim Bank

APPLICATIONS FOR RESERVATION OF A NAME

COUNTY Fulton County

APPLICANT Ms. Jeannie B. Osborne Bryan Cave LLP 1201 West Peachtree Street, N.W. One Atlantic Center, Fourteenth Floor Atlanta, GA 30309-3488

DBF Outreach AND UPCOMING SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
Commissioner Kevin Hagler will be speaking at the annual Southeast Georgia Community Bank Symposium on April 3rd in Statesboro, GA. This event is hosted by the Georgia Bankers Association along with Georgia Southern University Center for Excellence in Financial Services. Read more or register for the event.

Page 4
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

February 2014
The Department is the state agency that regulates and examines banks, credit unions, and trust companies chartered by the State of Georgia. The Department also has regulatory and/or licensing authority over mortgage brokers/processors, lenders and loan originators, money service businesses, international banking organizations, and bank holding companies conducting business in Georgia.
Our Mission is to 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 website at: dbf.georgia.gov

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