Financial institutions today, Apr. 2015

Inside this issue:
Supervisory 2 Manager Changes
3rd Annual 3 Community Bank
Research Conference and
2015 Survey
Action on 3 Applications for
the Month

News and topics of interest to financial institutions regulated by the Department of Banking and Finance
April 2015

Governor Deal signs House Bill 184

Governor Deal signed House Bill 184 into law on May 5, 2015. The bill was introduced by Representative Bruce Williamson at the request of the Department of Banking and Finance ("Department") and it will go into effect on July 1, 2015. The bill revises statutory provisions governing the majority of the entities regulated by the Department banks, credit unions, bank holding companies, money service businesses, mortgage companies, loan originators, and merchant acquirer limited purpose banks as well as certain provisions addressing the Department's general powers.

Pictured Left to Right: Deputy Commissioner for Legal Affairs Oscar B. Fears, Commissioner Kevin B. Hagler, Governor Nathan Deal, Representative Bruce Williamson, Senior Advocacy Officer Brandee Bickle (Georgia Credit Union Affiliates)

Among a host of other changes, the bill expands the Department's parity authority for financial institutions as well as creates a conservatorship process for credit unions. Under current law, the Department can exercise its parity authority and put state chartered financial institutions on equal footing with federally chartered financial institutions in five specifically enumerated situations. O.C.G.A. 7-1-61. House Bill 184 eliminates this restriction and, thus, provides that the Department can grant parity to state chartered banks and credit unions if a federally chartered bank or credit union can legally engage in an activity that may otherwise be precluded by the Financial Institutions Code of Georgia. This revision will help ensure that state chartered financial institutions are not at a competitive disadvantage to their federal counterparts.

In addition to the parity authority, the bill provides that the Department may appoint itself or a third party as conservator over a credit union. This is a potential alternative to liquidating a credit union in a receivership. Instead, if a conservator is appointed, the primary aim would be to attempt to rehabilitate the credit union and return it to the membership as a going concern.

(Continued on page 2)
"Safeguarding Georgia's Financial Services"

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April 2015

Governor Deal signs House Bill 184
(Continued from page 1)
The Department strongly encourages every regulated entity to review the bill to ensure a thorough understanding of all of the applicable revisions. House Bill 184 can be viewed at: http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/20152016/151894.pdf
The Department will issue proposed rules and regulations in the near future to implement some of the statutory changes contained in House Bill 184.

Supervisory Manager Changes
The Department has made some internal, strategic changes regarding distribution of workloads for Supervisory Managers with oversight of state-chartered institutions. Effective April 13, 2015, assignments for Supervisory Managers are as follows:
Pam Keane, Director for Supervision: Central Point of Contact for Credit Unions pkeane@dbf.state.ga.us 770-986-1636
Lori Binford, Supervisory Manager: Holding Companies, Banks and Credit Unions - District 2; SunTrust Bank; United Community Bank binford@dbf.state.ga.us 770-986-1627
Mark Pressler, Supervisory Manager (Capital Markets Specialist): Holding Companies, Banks and Credit Unions - District 1 mpressler@dbf.state.ga.us 770-986-1643
Murali Ramachandran, Supervisory Manager (Applications): Holding Companies, Banks and Credit Unions - District 4 murali@dbf.state.ga.us 770-986-1645
Brittany Bohannon, Supervisory Manager (Trust Specialist): Holding Companies, Banks and Credit Unions - District 5; Synovus Bank; Reliance Trust Company bohannon@dbf.state.ga.us 770-986-5049

HOLIDAY OBSERVANCE--OFFICE CLOSING
This is a reminder that the Department will be closed on Monday, May 25th for the Memorial Day holiday.

April 2015

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3rd Annual Community Bank Research Conference and 2015 Survey
The Conference of State Bank Supervisors ("CSBS") and the Federal Reserve System are partnering to plan the third annual Community Banking in the 21st Century research and policy conference. The goal of the conference is to provide a venue and encourage research on community banking. This research is a critical component to improving public policy as it relates to community banks and local communities.
Last year's conference included a nationwide survey of community banks, with over 1,000 banks participating. The results of the survey and the town hall meetings are highlighted in a publication released during the conference. The report can be downloaded from the following URL: https://www.stlouisfed.org/bank-supervision/2014-community-banking-conference/town -hall-publication
The survey and the supplemental information from meetings is a critical opportunity for the state system to highlight critical issues and demonstrate the value and importance of a community banking system. On May 8, 2015, the Department emailed information, including the 2015 survey link, to Georgia state-chartered banks.
The purpose of the survey is to give researchers and policy makers an opportunity to hear directly from community banks on a range of important topics. Results from the survey will be compiled and presented during the 3rd annual Community Banking in the 21st Century research and policy conference, which is being held September 30 October 1, in St. Louis, Missouri. The survey has also been designed to generate important data that can be used by researchers in their ongoing studies of community banking.
We strongly encourage participation in the survey so that concerns and issues facing Georgia banks are properly represented.

Action on Applications for the Month:
The following is a summary of official action taken on applications by State Financial Institutions under Title 7, Chapter 1 of the O.C.G.A. and petitions for Certificate of Incorporation of Financial Institutions and other matters of interest during the month of April 2015.

APPLICATIONS TO ESTABLISH A BRANCH OFFICE

FINANCIAL INSTITUTION Synovus Bank Columbus

BRANCH OFFICE Demonbreun Street Branch Office 1033 Demonbreun Street Nashville, TN 37203 Davidson County

APPROVAL BEGIN BUSINESS 04-09-2015

The Brand Banking Company Lawrenceville

Dacula Branch Office 485 Dacula Road Dacula, GA 30019 Gwinnett County

Pending

The Brand Banking Company Lawrenceville

Suwanee Branch Office 480 Industrial Boulevard Suwanee, GA 30024 Gwinnett County

Pending

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FINANCIAL INSTITUTION (SURVIVOR) Community & Southern Bank Atlanta, GA
United Community Bank Blairsville, GA
Georgia United Credit Union Duluth, GA
The Southern Credit Union Fayetteville, GA
State Bank and Trust Company Macon, GA
Ameris Bank Moultrie, GA
Renasant Bank Tupelo, MS

FINANCIAL INSTITUTION MERGERS
MERGED INSTITUTION Community Business Bank Cumming, GA
First National Bank Lenoir City, TN
Etowah Valley Federal Credit Union Cartersville, GA
GDC Federal Credit Union Newnan, GA
First Bank of Georgia Augusta, GA
Merchants and Southern Bank Gainesville, FL
HeritageBank of the South Albany, GA

April 2015

APPROVAL Pending

EFFECTIVE

Pending

Pending

04-06-2015

Pending

Pending

Pending

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

BANK HOLDING COMPANY

TO ACQUIRE

APPROVAL

FORMATIONS NOA Bancorp, Inc. Duluth, GA

NOA Bank Duluth, GA

Pending

Landmark Bancshares, Inc. Marietta, GA

First Landmark Bank Marietta, GA

Pending

ACQUISITIONS United Community Banks, Inc. Blairsville, GA
Ameris Bancorp Moultrie, GA

MoneyTree Corporation Lenoir City, TN
Merchants & Southern Banks of Florida, Incorporated Gainesville, FL

04-02-2015 Pending

PROPOSED NAME Calumet Bank

APPLICATIONS FOR RESERVATION OF A NAME

COUNTY Troup County

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

April 2015

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DBF Outreach AND UPCOMING SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
Director for Supervision Pam Keane participated at the Georgia Bankers Association school in Athens on May 5th through May 7th, assuming the role of "Bank Examiner" for third year students as they participated in a bank simulation.

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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

April 2015
The Department is the state agency that regulates and examines Georgia state-chartered banks, state-chartered credit unions, and state-chartered trust companies. The Department also has responsibility for the supervision, regulation, and examination of Merchant Acquirer Limited Purpose Banks (MALPBs) chartered in Georgia.
In addition, the Department has regulatory and/or licensing authority over mortgage brokers, lenders and processors, mortgage loan originators, check cashers, sellers-issuers of payment instruments, money transmitters, 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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