Financial institutions today, 2021 April

Inside this issue:

Community Bank

2

Sentiment Index

Results

Interagency

2

Presentation: CRA

Community

Development

Activities and COVID

Interagency

2

Statement on Model

Risk Management for

Bank Systems

Supporting BSA/AML

Compliance

Speaking

2

Engagements

Applications

3

The s pecific docume nts that co mp ris e the G uidance a re: Examinati on F req uency, Proces s ing, an d Turna ro und Goals Developme nt of Pol icies by F inancial Ins tit utio ns
News and topics of interest to financial institutions regulated by the Department of Banking and Finance
April 2021
Senior Deputy Commissioner Steve Pleger Reappointed to FFIEC State Liaison Committee
On April 2, 2021, the National Association of State Credit Union Supervisors (NASCUS) announced that it reappointed Senior Deputy Commissioner Steve Pleger as its representative on the Federal Financial Institution Examiner Council's (FFIEC) State Liaison Committee. Senior Deputy Commissioner Pleger was named to a second two-year term on the committee, which represents state supervisory interests before the FFIEC. More information on the committee can be found here.
Updates to Department Website--Consumer Resources
The Department has recently updated the Consumer Resources section of our website with particular focus on the Index of Financial Topics. In this section, information and resources are available on various topics of interest related to financial matters and financial service providers. This information can be used as a resource to provide information to your employees, customers/members, and the general public. The topics include, but are not limited to, appraisals, check cashers, credit counseling and repair, finance companies, mortgage fraud, and payday lending.
2021 National Survey for Community Banks

Survey Link: https://sri.cornell.edu/cb21/2021/ Survey Close Date: July 15, 2021
The Department would like to share with you that the 2021 National Survey of Community Banks is now live. This survey is a vital pillar of the Community Banking in the 21st Century Research and Policy Conference sponsored by the Conference of State Bank Supervisors (CSBS), the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (FRB), and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). The results from the survey have enabled community banks to inform policymakers and researchers about the opportunities and challenges facing the community banking industry.
This year's questions focus on current bank conditions and emerging issues, responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, product and service design and offerings, and the future of community banking.
The survey should take approximately 20 minutes to complete. We ask that you complete the survey by July 15, 2021 so the findings can be analyzed and presented in the national publication released during the 9th annual Community Banking in the 21st Century Research and Policy Conference, which is being held September 28-29, 2021, in St. Louis, Missouri.

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April 2021

We hope you will share your story. If you would like to participate in the survey, please complete the survey available at https://sri.cornell.edu/cb21/2021/.
This is a unique opportunity to have your voice heard during these especially challenging times. Thank you for your participation and for all you do to serve our communities.
If you have any questions regarding this survey, please contact Deputy Commissioner for Supervision Melissa Sneed at Msneed@dbf.state.ga.us.
Community Bank Sentiment Index Results
The CSBS publicly released the first quarter 2021 results of the Community Bank Sentiment Index (CBSI), which reflects data collected from 200 community banks across the nation during the month of March. The results showed a sentiment index of 115 points, up from 98 in the fourth quarter 2020 and 91 in the first quarter 2020. The continued vaccine rollout and rebounding economic sentiment pushed the index into positive territory for the first time since 2019. Prior to the pandemic, the sentiment index hovered in the low 120s. A link to the CBSI can be accessed here. The Department encourages all state-chartered banks to participate in the survey.
Interagency Presentation: CRA Community Development Activities and COVID

The FDIC, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), and the FRB of Atlanta are hosting an Interagency CRA Community Development Activities and COVID presentation on May 6, 2021 from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM. You may register for the presentation here. Bank management; CRA, community development, and other bank officers; and community development financial institutions are encouraged to attend.
The presentation will include the following topics: CRA and community development, the Joint Statement on CRA Consideration Activities in Response to COVID-19, and community development partnership opportunities in the areas of affordable housing, small business, affordable bank accounts, and workforce development.
If you have any questions about this event, then please contact Elaine M. Hunter at ehunter@fdic.gov.
Interagency Statement on Model Risk Management for Bank Systems Supporting BSA/AML Compliance
On April 9, 2021, the FRB, FDIC, and the OCC, in consultation with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network and the National Credit Union Association, issued the Interagency Statement on Model Risk Management for Bank Systems Supporting Bank Secrecy Act/Anti-Money Laundering Compliance. The joint statement addresses how risk management principles described in the Supervisory Guidance on Model Risk Management relate to systems or models used by banks to assist in complying with the requirement of Bank Secrecy Act (BSA)/Anti-Money Laundering (AML) laws and regulations. The statement indicates that it neither alters existing BSA/AML legal or regulatory requirements nor establishes new supervisory expectations, and that no specific model risk management framework is required.

Speaking Engagements
Deputy Commissioner Melissa Sneed will be speaking at the LSCU Virtual Small Credit Union Summit on May 13th. Details of the event can be found at https://www.lscu.coop/education/sas-cu/index.php.

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ACTION ON APPLICATIONS FOR THE MONTH

April 2021

The following is a summary of official action taken by the Department on certain applications by Georgia statechartered financial institutions, petitions for certificate of incorporation of financial institutions, and other matters of interest during the month of April 2021:
FINANCIAL INSTITUTION MERGERS

FINANCIAL INSTITUTION
First National Community Bank Chatsworth, GA

MERGED INSTITUTION
Heritage First Bank Rome, GA

APPROVAL DATE
04/15/2021

EFFECTIVE DATE

Wilkinson County Bank Irwinton, GA

Apex Investment Group GA, Inc. Cleveland, GA

04/27/2021

Bridgeway Credit Union Phenix City, AL

Members United Credit Union Albany, GA

Pending

Envision Credit Union Tallahassee, FL

Flowers Employees Credit League Thomasville, GA

04/27/2021

My Georgia Credit Union Gainesville, GA

First Reliance Federal Credit Union Athens, GA

11/16/2020

04/01/2021

Georgia's Own Credit Union Ft. McPherson Credit Union

Atlanta, GA

Atlanta, GA

04/29/2021

APPLICATIONS TO FORM A BANK HOLDING COMPANY

FINANCIAL INSTITUTION
M&C Bancshares, Inc McRae-Helen, GA

APPROVAL DATE
04/02/2021

FFECTIVE DATE

Primary Bancshares Corporation Atlanta, GA

01/29/2021

04/01/2021

ST HLDGS, Inc. Orlando, FL

04/28/2021 APPLICATIONS TO CHANGE LOCATION

FINANCIAL INSTITUTION CHANGE LOCATION OF

Ameris Bank Atlanta, GA

From: 1708 Old Trolley Road, Suite C Summerville, SC 29485 Manatee County

To: 140 North Main Street, Suite 102 Summerville, SC 29483 Dorchester County

APPROVAL DATE
05/06/2020

EFFECTIVE DATE
04/19/2021

Page 4

APPLICATIONS TO ESTABLISH A BRANCH OFFICE

FINANCIAL INSTITUION
OneSouth Bank Blakely, GA

BRANCH OFFICE
1204 US-19 Leesburh, GA 31763 Early County

APPROVAL DATE
01-19-2021

Barwick Banking Company Barwick, GA
Barwick Banking Company Barwick, GA
Coosa Valley Credit Union Rome, GA

111 Grand Preserve Way Daytona Beach, FL 32117 Volusia County
101 Marina Cove Drive St. Augustine, FL 32080 St. Johns County
12178 Highway 92 Woodstock, GA 30188 Cherokee County

Pending Pending 04/15/2021

Georgia Banking Company Atlanta, GA
Heritage Southeast Bank Jonesboro, GA
First IC Bank Doraville, GA

1776 Peachtree Street NE Atlanta, GA 30309 Fulton County
108 Canton Highway Cumming, GA 30040 Douglas County
3170 Peachtree Parkway Suwanee, GA 30024 Forsyth County

04/19/2021 04/19/2021 07/10/2017

Peach State Bank Gainesville, GA

6323 Grand Hickory Drive Suite 100G Braselton, GA 30517 Mecklenburg County

Center Parc Credit Union, a divi- 72 Georgia Ave

sion of APCU

Atlanta, GA 30312

Atlanta, GA

Fulton County

04/23/2021 10/27/2020

APPLICATIONS TO ACQUIRE A FINANCIAL INSTITUTION

FINANCIAL INSTITUTION

TO ACQUIRE

ST HLDGS, Inc. Orlando, FL

Rochelle State Bank

04/28/2021

APPLICATIONS TO RESERVE A NAME

Proposed Name of Institution

Applicant

Georgia Bank Holding Company, Inc.

Robert N. Flowers Stinson LLP 312 Oak Lawn Avenue, Suite 777 Dallas, TX 75219

April 2021
EFFECTIVE DATE
04-07-2021
04/20/2021 04/12/2021

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April 2021

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Subscribe to Receive this Publication: Notice of this publication is delivered to interested parties via e-mail. To subscribe to this publication as well as other items of interest, please visit our website at https:// dbf.georgia.gov/.

Department of Banking and Finance 2990 Brandywine Road, Suite 200 Atlanta, Georgia 30341-5565 Phone: (770) 986-1633

The Department is the state agency that regulates and examines Georgia state-chartered banks, state-chartered credit unions, state-chartered trust companies, international banking organizations, and bank holding companies that own Georgia state-chartered financial institutions. The Department also has responsibility for the supervision, regulation, and examination of Merchant Acquirer Limited Purpose Banks chartered in Georgia.
In addition, the Department has regulatory and/or licensing authority over mortgage brokers, lenders and processors, mortgage loan originators, consumer installment loan companies, check cashers, sellersissuers of payment instruments, and money transmitters.
Our Mission is to promote safe, sound, competitive financial services in Georgia through innovative, responsive regulation and supervision.
Our Vision is to be a willing and able partner with our regulated entities in order to support vibrant eco-