MSB newsletter, Issue 2 (Apr.-June 2006)

This Newsletter is a quarterly publication containing topics of interest to the categories of MSBs regulated by the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance. We hope that you will find this publication to be informative and valuable for providing information about the issues affecting your industry. If there are any issues you would like for the Department to highlight or address in future editions, please e-mail your questions or suggestions to dbfcorp@dbf.state.ga.us.
IN THE NEWS
FinCEN Continues Efforts to Assist MSBs
On March 8, 2006, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) issued an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking seeking comments from both the money services business (MSB) industry and the banking industry on the issue of money services businesses obtaining appropriate access to banking services. This action was part of FinCEN's ongoing efforts to address continued concerns about the ability of MSBs to open and maintain accounts and obtain other services at banks and depository institutions as well as the caution of the banking industry in dealing with MSBs.
"MSBs play an important role in America's economy by providing valuable financial services to many Americans who do not, or cannot yet, take advantage of typical savings or checking accounts," said Robert W. Werner, FinCEN's Director. "It is critical for the health and safety of the U.S. financial system that MSBs obtain and maintain banking services and not be driven underground."
Despite steps taken last year to address concerns and clarify compliance expectations, FinCEN remains concerned that MSBs may still face barriers to obtaining appropriate access to banking services. This Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking solicits updated facts concerning this situation as well as recommendations regarding the extent to which additional guidance or regulatory action under the Bank Secrecy Act might address these concerns. The Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking can be found at: http://www.fincen.gov/anprm_on_msb.pdf. Written comments may be submitted for 60 days after publication in the Federal Register.

April - June 2006, Issue #2

In This Issue:
FinCEN Continues Efforts 1 to Assist MSBs

Keep the Department

2

Informed Keep Your

Contact Information

Current

Governor Sonny Perdue

2

signs Senate Bill 529 -

Georgia Security /

Immigration Compliance

Act

Action on Applications

2

for the Previous Quarter

Department Contact

5

Information

DBF's Customer Service 6 Stars for the Month of March

REGULATORY MATTERS AND IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Keep the Department Informed - Keep Your Information Current
The Department will be moving the annual renewal processes and quarterly reporting requirements for certain licensees to an on-line format during the course of the next few years. One of the functions of an endeavor such as an on-line renewal system is that it requires up-to-date licensee data in order for the licensee to login and renew. In order for us to be prepared to best serve you when we go to the online format, please remember to notify the Department of any significant ID, contact, address, etc. information. You may send us your changes by fax, e-mail, or regular mail. See our contact information page at the end of this publication for that information.

Governor Sonny Perdue signs Senate Bill 529 - Georgia Security / Immigration Compliance Act
Atlanta, GA - On April 17, 2006, Governor Sonny Perdue signed into law the Georgia Security and Immigration Compliance Act (SB529). SB529 requires citizenship verification for individuals using Georgia's public services to ensure they are legally eligible to receive those services. It also requires citizenship verification of state employees and employers with state contracts and subcontracts. The bill requires that businesses compensating undocumented employees more than $600 a year may not claim wages as an allowable business expense, and requires a six percent state withholding tax for all nonresident aliens. SB529 gives law enforcement agencies the tools they need to work more closely with federal officials to enforce immigration laws in Georgia. Georgia's new immigration law will help ensure Georgia's public safety by giving law enforcement the authority to crack down on human trafficking and check the legal status of anyone charged with a felony or DUI.
"We recognize that immigration is ultimately a national issue that needs a national solution," said Governor Perdue. Read the Governor's Official Press Release and Fact Sheet at:
http://www.gov.state.ga.us/press/2006/press1114.shtml or for the full text of the bill go to: http://www.legis.ga.gov/legis/2005_06/fulltext/sb529.htm

ACTION ON APPLICATIONS DURING THE PREVIOUS QUARTER

APPROVED CHECK CASHERS (License/Registration)

LicNUM 21097 21109 21107 21104 21108 21110

Applicant Name JSK Group, Inc. Park, Ki Soon Smart Financial, LLC Speedy Check Cashing, Inc. Williams, Gregory Bernard Wade & Gallahar Enterprises, Inc.

DBA Old South Package Store College Inn Package Store Smart Financial Speedy Check Cashing First Choice Tax Service Save-A-Lot

City Atlanta Decatur Newnan Clarkston Douglas Summerville

Approved 01/03/2006 01/05/2006 01/05/2006 01/05/2006 01/05/2006 01/06/2006

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APPROVED CHECK CASHERS (continued)

LicNUM 21111 21112 21120 21124 21125 21130 21129 21141 21143 21140 21144 21096 21142 21152 21148 21153 21173 21163 21127 21147 21193 21128 21149 21182 21213 21214 21192 21211 21197 21126 21217 21216 21218 21195 21238 21269 21288 21287 21286 21222 21289 21292 21290 21294 21291 21295

Applicant Name KSHBU Corporation Palacios Enterprises, Inc. Jones, David Brett More Check Cashing, Inc. Xpand Petroleum, Inc. AKG Globally, LLC SRN Enterprises, Inc. H.M.R.K. Enterprises, Inc. Jong Won Enterprise, Inc. Junaid, Inc. Sweat, Kathrin L. Wade Coleman Enterprises, Inc. EasyPay80, Incorporated Om Sai, Inc. Sony Enterprises (USA), Inc. Cho & Kim Enterprise, LLC Gordon, Sandra Y. JasDiv, Inc. C&C Pawn City, Inc. Fuerza Latina, Inc. AMB-JAL-SAR, Inc. KNZS Enterprises, LLC Terrier Properties, LLC Zishan Ventures, LLC Jai Bhramhani, Inc. Peters, Stephen A. Wilkinson Title Pawn, LLC Don Tree, Inc. News Necessities, Inc. C.O.B. , Inc. Gul and Sons Corporation S.E.L. Ventures, LLC Nandlal, Inc. Shree Yogeshwar, Inc. ABC Highway 53 Package Store, LLC Boyd, Naomi P. Greene, Willie J. Pak, Sae Whan Patel, Arti SHIVMEGHNA, Inc. WYY, LLC Bismillah Investments, Inc. Jin, Hong S. Miya Family, Inc. Om Namh Shivay, Inc. Ki Sung Corporation

DBA P&D Food Mart La Providencia Mr. Bob's Meats & Grocery More Check Cashing Mableton Food Mart Doraville Package Store Buford Texaco Eagle Express #3 Larry's Quick Stop Discount Check Cashing & Grocery Sweat, Kathrin L. Coleman's Grocery JohnTre's Check Cashers 301 N. Package Raceway C & K Check Cashing Urban Convenient Pay Bay Food Store C&C Pawn City Fuerza Latina Qwik Stop #11 Clayton Check Cashing Rabbittown Package Warehouse Zishan Ventures Red Barn Grocery Jack Peters' Grocery Wilkinson Title Pawn Don Tree News Necessities C.O.B. Financial Services Texaco Food Mart S.E.L. Ventures Kali Foodmart Gary's Food Mart ABC Beer Store Associate Tax Service Casa de Cheques Smart Check Cash Kali Development All American Liquor Denny's Super Save BP Macon Mall Cascade Heights Liquor Store D&M Package Store One Stop Package Fair Street Supermarket

City Valdosta Dalton Valdosta Doraville Mableton Doraville Atlanta Unadilla East Point Atlanta Wrightsville Cusseta Atlanta Jesup Calhoun Norcross Savannah LaGrange Vidalia Atlanta Americus Forest Park Gainesville Douglasville Cartersville Monroe Milledgeville Clayton Atlanta Norcross Doraville Forest Park Statesboro Statesboro Calhoun Lithia Springs Columbus Augusta Americus Warner Robins Atlanta Macon Atlanta Atlanta Hinesville Atlanta

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Approved 01/09/2006 01/09/2006 01/12/2006 01/13/2006 01/13/2006 01/19/2006 01/19/2006 01/20/2006 01/20/2006 01/20/2006 01/20/2006 01/20/2006 01/24/2006 01/24/2006 01/24/2006 01/26/2006 01/26/2006 01/26/2006 01/27/2006 01/27/2006 01/31/2006 01/31/2006 01/31/2006 01/31/2006 02/02/2006 02/02/2006 02/02/2006 02/03/2006 02/03/2006 02/06/2006 02/07/2006 02/07/2006 02/09/2006 02/09/2006 02/17/2006 03/01/2006 03/02/2006 03/02/2006 03/02/2006 03/02/2006 03/03/2006 03/06/2006 03/06/2006 03/06/2006 03/06/2006 03/07/2006

APPROVED CHECK CASHERS (continued)

LicNUM 21301 21316 21311 21312 21315 21302 21227 21006 21225 21223 20963 21146 21331 21332 21330 21317 21333 21226 21344 21342 21340 21350 21356 21329 21357

Applicant Name Sahej, Inc. A&W Food Mart, Inc. Patel, Miteshkumar B. Southern Heritage Holdings, Inc. Tayco, Inc. Sam's East, Inc. Jai Gopal, Inc. Jay Bapu, Inc. Pragji, Inc. Pratishta, Inc. Surajba, Inc. Patel, Geeta B. Servimex, Inc. Andrade, Erica Santok Group, Inc. Farah Enterprises, Inc. Spirits "R" Us, LLC Abhay, Inc. H & K Trading, Inc. Malsch, Soon O. Shree Ram Sita, Inc. Mukhi, Inc. Henderson, Elena Jin & Jin, Inc. Kim, Sung Bum

DBA Lakeview Mart A&W Food Mart Flint River Package Jasper Food Mart Whistle Stop Package Store Sam's Club Creekside Grocery ABC Country Shoppe Adairsville Supermarket Super Grand's Convenience Store Town & Country Supermarket Yogi's Liquor Mart Servimex MY Shell at Cartersville Lex's Food Shop Jumping Johnny's Conoco Convenience Store Ken and Chris Package K & J Company The Barn Bottle Shop Calhoun Liquor Store San Marcos Market Bouldercrest Package Glenwood Grocery

City Conyers Fayetteville Cordele Jasper Blackshear Bentonville Dalton Dalton Adairsville Cedartown Calhoun Dublin Norcross Roswell Cartersville Sugar Hill Americus Cedartown Decatur Augusta Pendergrass Calhoun Calhoun Atlanta Decatur

APPROVED MONEY TRANSMITTERS

LicNUM 21210 21188 21262 21209

Applicant Name Gringo Legal Money Transmission, LLC MNESVC, Inc. Kim Dinh Vinh Phat, Inc. PSO, Inc.

DBA Giant Express

City Alpharetta Bellevue Atlanta Miami

State GA WA GA FL

Approved 03/07/2006 03/10/2006 03/10/2006 03/10/2006 03/10/2006 03/13/2006 03/14/2006 03/14/2006 03/14/2006 03/14/2006 03/14/2006 03/16/2006 03/17/2006 03/20/2006 03/20/2006 03/21/2006 03/23/2006 03/27/2006 03/28/2006 03/28/2006 03/28/2006 03/30/2006 03/31/2006 03/31/2006 03/31/2006
Approved 02/15/2006 02/21/2006 02/28/2006 03/02/2006

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Department Contact Information

NAME
Melinda Kinard, Director of Money Service Businesses and Mortgage Licensing
Joel Byers, Supervisory Manager - Money Service Businesses (MSBs)
Tervenia Mitchiner, Assistant Financial Examiner
Susan Nelson, Applications Analyst

E-MAIL ADDRESS

PHONE#

mkinard@dbf.state.ga.us 770-986-1649

byers@dbf.state.ga.us

770-986-1656

tervenia@dbf.state.ga.us nelson@dbf.state.ga.us

770-986-1639 770-986-1652

Mailing Address: Department of Banking and Finance 2990 Brandywine Road, Suite 200 Atlanta, GA 30341-5565
Website: http://www.gadbf.org
Phone & Fax Numbers: Phone: (770) 986-1633 or Toll Free: (888) 986-1633 Fax: (770) 986-1655 or 1029

E-MAILING THE DEPARTMENT
The Department would like to encourage you to correspond with us using e-mail. Providing written details in the e-mail regarding any questions or concerns you may have allows the Department to forward the request to the appropriate person who handles that area, and if sufficient details are provided in the request, that person can then more efficiently provide you an answer. The main Division e-mail address is dbfcorp@dbf.state.ga.us
In the event you still need additional information or you do not receive a timely response to your e-mail, please contact us by phone.

NOTE: 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 dbfcorp@dbf.state.ga.us and indicate your name, the company you are with, license or registration # (if applicable), and phone number.
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DBF's Customer Service Stars for the Month of March
Governor Sonny Perdue has launched a campaign to put a new emphasis on customer service - emphasizing easier access to government services, faster processes so customers can get business done quickly, and friendlier service in a customer-focused, goal-oriented culture.
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 for going above and beyond in serving our customers:
FRIENDLIER....
Larry Shelley, Supervisory Manager Mortgage: Larry received a thank you letter this month with comments such as "Thank you very much for going the extra mile..." and "We really appreciate your diligence in getting information that allowed you to honor our request instead of just saying `no'."
Deborah Long, Assistant Review Examiner: Deborah received a thank you note this month with comments such as "How very nice it was of you to help me out with the information and to help me understand certain information..." and "Thank you for your time and consideration, your help was greatly appreciated."
Melinda Kinard, Director of Money Service Businesses and Mortgage Licensing: Melinda received an e-mail this month from a licensee saying "Thanks for taking care of that like you said you would! Every time I call your department, I get nice people that truly help, thanks so much!"
FASTER, EASIER....
While not individual recognition, we would like to commend the Non-Depository Financial Institution Division and our IT staff for the online license renewal process for mortgage licensees and registrants. Automation of formerly paper-based systems has greatly improved the process and a renewal applicant is able to review online, the status of his/her application.
We received several comments regarding the on-line renewal process such as "Thank you for simplifying the process for us! I had no problem whatsoever." and "The online renewal process is great!"
CONGRATULATIONS AND GREAT JOB TO THIS MONTH'S CUSTOMER SERVICE STARS!!
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