Inside this issue: 3rd Annual 2 Community Bank Research Conference and 2015 Survey Action on 2 Applications for the Month Upcoming 4 Outreach and Speaking Engagements News and topics of interest to financial institutions regulated by the Department of Banking and Finance May 2015 Department Issues Proposed Rulemaking and Provides Opportunity to Comment On May 12, 2015, pursuant to the provisions of the Georgia Administrative Procedure Act, O.C.G.A. 50-13-1 et seq., and by the authority of O.C.G.A. 7-1-61, 7-1-1012, 7-9-13 and other cited statutes, the Department of Banking and Finance ("Department") gave notice of its intent to adopt new rules. Comments to the Department of Banking and Finance must be received by the close of business on Friday, June 12, 2015. The Proposed Rules may be viewed or downloaded from the Department's website at: http://dbf.georgia.gov/sites/dbf.georgia.gov/files/related_files/document/DBFProposedRules_512-2015.pdf. Georgia Residential Mortgage Act Fee ("GRMA") Semi-Annual Reporting and Payment Process The GRMA fee on-line reporting and payment process changed substantially effective January 2, 2015. Refer to the Department's website for a more detailed discussion of these changes at http://dbf.georgia.gov/changes-georgia-residential-mortgage-act-10-loan-feereporting-and-payment-process. To avoid fines for failure to remit GRMA fees when due, reporting and payment must be completed online at https://bkgfin.dbf.state.ga.us/GRMAFee.html by the deadlines established in Rule 80-5-1-.04. Fees collected for the period January 1 through June 30, 2015, should be remitted to the Department through the online reporting and payment site no later than the first business day of September. For the current GRMA semi-annual period, any filings made after September 1, 2015, are considered late and must be made by submitting the hardcopy fee statement form, along with the GRMA fees and any late fees due. Prior to June 30, 2015, the Department will send an e-mail notification to the contact person that submitted the prior semi-annual report through the Department's online reporting and payment site. For state-chartered institutions and Georgia mortgage licensees, the Department will also send a similar notification to the primary institution/licensee contact. IMPORTANT NOTE: Most of the Department's payment sites perform better using the Mozilla Firefox browser. If you use Internet Explorer, please ensure that you have version 10 or higher. Keep in mind that you may also need to refresh your browser and clear your browser's cache to ensure that you see the current, active page. Page 2 May 2015 3rd Annual Community Bank Research Conference and 2015 Survey In its April 2015 Financial Institutions Today newsletter, the Department provided information regarding the third annual Community Banking in the 21st Century research and policy conference hosted by the Conference of State Bank Supervisors ("CSBS") and the Federal Reserve System. 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. In May, the Department e-mailed information, including the 2015 survey link, to Georgia state-chartered banks. In the coming weeks, institutions can expect a follow-up e-mail communication from the Department (dbfpress@dbf.state.ga.us) that will include the link to the survey. Please complete the survey by June 30, 2015. 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 May 2015. FINANCIAL INSTITUTION Farmers State Bank Lumpkin, GA 31815 APPLICATIONS FOR DISSOLUTION APPROVAL Pending EFFECTIVE APPLICATIONS TO ESTABLISH A BRANCH OFFICE FINANCIAL INSTITUTION Synovus Bank Columbus BRANCH OFFICE Ellis Building Branch Office 1605 Main Street Sarasota, FL 34236 Sarasota County APPROVAL BEGIN BUSINESS Pending The Piedmont Bank Norcross Dunwoody Branch Office 1725 Mount Vernon Road Dunwoody, GA 30338 DeKalb County 03/24/2015 05/04/2015 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 Fidelity Bank Norcross Peachtree Industrial Boulevard Branch Office 4591 Peachtree Industrial Boulevard Norcross, GA 30092 Gwinnett County 05-06-2015 May 2015 FINANCIAL INSTITUTION Fidelity Bank Norcross BRANCH OFFICE Snellville Branch Office 1595 Scenic Highway North Snellville, GA 30078 Gwinnett County Page 3 APPROVAL BEGIN BUSINESS 05-06-2015 FINANCIAL INSTITUTION Ameris Bank Moultrie APPLICATIONS TO CHANGE LOCATION CHANGE LOCATION OF Jekyll Island Main Street Branch Office From: 531 North Beachview Drive Jekyll Island, GA 31527 Glynn County To: 31 Main Street, Unit 101 Jekyll Island, GA 31527 Glynn County APPROVAL EFFECTIVE 12-15-2014 05-18-2015 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 IBERIABANK LaFayette, LA 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 Georgia Commerce Bank Atlanta, GA First Bank of Georgia Augusta, GA Merchants and Southern Bank Gainesville, FL HeritageBank of the South Albany, GA APPROVAL EFFECTIVE 05-07-2015 05-08-2015 Pending 05-22-2015 04-06-2015 05-01-2015 02-04-2015 05-31-2015 Pending 05-08-2015 05-22-2015 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 05-22-2015 Page 4 BANK HOLDING COMPANY ACQUISITIONS Ameris Bancorp Moultrie, GA TO ACQUIRE May 2015 APPROVAL Merchants & Southern Banks of Florida, Incorporated 05-08-2015 Gainesville, FL APPLICATIONS FOR RESERVATION OF A NAME PROPOSED NAME Robins Financial Credit Union COUNTY Houston County APPLICANT Ms. Christina O'Brien Vice President, Risk Management Robins Federal Credit Union P.O. Box 6849 Warner Robins, GA 31095 NOTIFICATION OF APPROVAL OF APPLICATION TO SERVE A RESIDENTIAL GROUP COMMON BOND CREDIT UNION IBM Southeast Employees' Federal Credit Union to be known as IBM Southeast Employees' Credit Union Boca Raton, FL RESIDENTIAL GROUP COMMON BOND Cobb County, GA MAX Credit Union Montgomery, AL Muscogee County, GA APPROVAL 05-15-2015 05-22-2015 DBF Outreach AND UPCOMING SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS Senior Deputy Commissioner Steve Pleger will be participating on the Banker/Regulator Point-Counterpoint panel at the Community Banker Association's 37th Annual Leadership Division Convention being held in Miramar, FL on June 13th. Learn more or register for the event. HOLIDAY OBSERVANCE--OFFICE CLOSING This is a reminder that the Department will be closed on Friday, July 3rd for the Independence Day holiday. May 2015 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 5 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. We're on the Web! Visit our 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://dbf.georgia.gov under Publications, Financial Institutions Bulletin. If you would like to be added to our distribution list, send an e-mail to dbfpress@dbf.state.ga.us stating your name and e-mail address. Please be sure to include "Subscribe to Financial Institutions Bulletin" in the Subject line.