MSB newsletter, Issue 4 (Oct.-Dec. 2009)

October - Decmeber 2009, Volume 5, Issue 4

(This Newsletter is a quarterly publication containing topics of interest to the categories of MSBs regulated by the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance (Department). 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 msb@dbf.state.ga.us).
REGULATORY MATTERS Georgia News
Check Casher License/Registration Renewal Deadline

In This Issue:

Check Casher

1

License/Registration

Renewal Deadline

Annual License

2

Renewal - Check

Sellers and Money

Transmitters

Georgia Department 2 of Banking and Finance Adopts Final Rules

The expiration date for all check casher licenses and check casher registrations was September 30, 2009. If you did not complete the online license/registration renewal forms by September 30, 2009, your license/registration has expired and you cannot conduct business as a check casher until a new license/registration is applied for and approved.
Failure to properly RENEW a license will require a REINSTATEMENT of the license in order to conduct a check-cashing business.

Department of

2

Banking and Finance

Employee Furloughs

DDS to Issue New

3

and Improved

Driver's Licenses

and Identification

Cards

Check Cashing Class 4

REMINDER: Contact with the Department
Please note that if you contact the Department via phone, email, regular mail, etc., it is very important that you include your license/registration number with your communication. This will allow us to assist you more quickly and efficiently.

Reminder: Contact

5

Information E-mail

Addresses

Action on

6

Applications for the

Previous Quarter

Administrative

8

Actions

Department Contact 9 Information

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Annual License Renewal - Check Sellers and Money Transmitters
Renewal notices have been e-mailed to all check seller and money transmitter licensees. Renewals must be completed online and submitted on or before November 1, 2009 in order to be considered filed on time and to avoid the late fee.
As in previous years, all explanations to the questions that exceed the available online space and any required supporting documents MUST be attached to the renewal cover sheet and sent to the Department in order to approve the license renewal. If you did not receive the renewal notice, which was e-mailed to the primary contact on record, please contact Teresa Koeppel at (770) 986-1639 or via e-mail at tkoeppel@dbf.state.ga.us.
Georgia Department of Banking and Finance Adopts Final Rules
On August 17, 2009, the Department adopted Final Rules. They became effective on September 7, 2009.
These rules were proposed and distributed for comment on July 13, 2009. The Department received four (4) written comment letters, three (3) regarding mortgage loan originator licensing provisions and one (1) regarding legal lending limits. After carefully considering the comments, no material changes to the Proposed Rules were made by the Department. The Department believes these Final Rules encourage safety and soundness, safe and fair mortgage lending, and conform to the law.
To view or download the Final Rules on our website, go to the Laws and Regulations section on our main page (http://dbf.georgia.gov) -
http://dbf.georgia.gov/00/channel_title/0,2094,43414745_46295996,00.html and select the appropriate link for the Final Rules,
OR you may access them directly from http://dbf.georgia.gov/vgn/images/portal/cit_1210/56/25/147559157DBFFinalRules8-17-2009.pdf
Department of Banking and Finance Employee Furloughs
As directed by the Governor's Office of Planning and Budget in a memorandum dated July 21, 2009, all state employees are required to take three furlough days during the first half of Fiscal Year 2010. The Department developed a plan to furlough all employees and close for business on September 4, 2009, November 25, 2009 and December 23, 2009.
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These dates were selected in an effort to minimize the impact in any one pay period, minimize the effect on exam schedules, maximize cost savings, and enable employees to enjoy a longer holiday weekend.
Even in these difficult fiscal times, the Department remains committed to fulfilling its mission in the same manner as always - with excellence and professionalism.

State Holiday / Furlough Date Furlough Day (DBF offices closed) Labor Day Columbus Day Veterans' Day Furlough Day (DBF offices closed) Thanksgiving Day
Furlough Day (DBF offices closed) Christmas Day

Date Observed September 4th Friday September 7th Monday October 12th Monday November 11th Wednesday November 25th Wednesday November 26th Thursday Lee's Birthday will be observed on Friday, November 27th
December 23rd Wednesday December 25th Friday Washington's Birthday will be observed on Thurs, Dec. 24th

Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS) to Issue New and Improved Driver's Licenses and Identification Cards
DDS has requested that the Department notify our financial institutions and financial service providers about the new and improved Georgia driver's licenses and identification cards that are to be issued beginning in the fall of 2009. The new cards will combat document fraud and protect the identities of Georgia's citizens by using the latest credentialing technology.
New card production began at Conyers, Covington and Locust Grove in September 2009. Statewide implementation of the new system is scheduled to take approximately two months with all customer service center locations producing the new cards by the end of November 2009. All previously issued Georgia licenses and IDs will remain valid until the expiration date when they will be exchanged for a newly-designed card.
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"We are very excited about these innovative changes allowing Georgians to have one of the most secure cards in the nation," said Gregory C. Dozier, DDS Commissioner. The new documents are designed to be more difficult to counterfeit, alter or replicate. The new cards have several security features including ghost photos, a laser-engraved signature over the primary photo to minimize alterations and a tamper resistant coating placed over the card. The cards will feature machine-readable barcodes that can be used by banks, retailers and other businesses to verify the information printed on the front. You may download the DDS brochure, which includes a description and image sample for each type of card, from our website at the following URL: http://dbf.georgia.gov/vgn/images/portal/cit_1210/10/54/147706194DDSBrochureNewLicenseDesign.pdf For further information about the new cards, you may also visit the DDS website at: http://www.dds.ga.gov/.
Check Cashing Class
Each month, the Department offers a class on the MSB Rules and Regulations for check cashers. There is no cost for the class, which is not mandatory. This class is a great way to learn about state law and regulations as well as the Bank Secrecy Act and Anti-Money Laundering requirements. Please read the law and the rules and bring your questions to ask the examiners at the class! Gain knowledge so that you can avoid violations and fines. The class is held at the Department Main Office on the second Tuesday of the month. The class size is limited in space, but if the demand is great enough, more classes will be scheduled. This is a one-hour class. You must reserve a seat by emailing msb@dbf.state.ga.us. Reserve your seat NOW! We look forward to seeing you.
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**RREEMMIINNDDEERR**
Contact Information E-mail Addresses
Since the Department's main method of communicating with licensees/registrants is via e-mail, it is very important that you supply this agency with a valid e-mail address and that you keep us informed if your email address changes. To ensure receipt of these e-mails, please make certain that:
The Department has your current e-mail address on file, and that notification of changes in that address are made via our online form at: https://bkgfin.dbf.state.ga.us/MSBUpdate.html Your e-mail account does not divert Department e-mail to your spam or junk folder. You are knowledgeable of website information, renewal or other filing due-dates, and check the DBF website for information. Information is posted on the website, in the event you did not get your personalized e-mail.
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ACTION ON APPLICATIONS FOR THE PREVIOUS QUARTER
APPROVED CHECK CASHERS (License/Registration) 3rd Quarter 2009
R=Registrant L=Full Service Page - 6 -

ACTION ON APPLICATIONS FOR THE PREVIOUS QUARTER
CLOSED/REVOKED/SURRENDERED CHECK CASHERS (License/Registration)
CHECK CASHER NAME CHANGE
APPROVED CHECK SELLERS AND MONEY TRANSMITTERS
M=Money Transmitter S=Sale of Checks Company Page - 7 -

ACTION ON APPLICATIONS FOR THE PREVIOUS QUARTER
EXPIRED/CLOSED CHECK SELLERS AND MONEY TRANSMITTERS
ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIONS
FINAL ORDERS
Awad, Gasan dba Seven Seas Bottle Shop, Inc., Powder Springs, GA - Consent Order issued 08/03/2009 became final 08/03/2009. Awad, Othman dba Hanmar, Inc., Cartersville, GA - Consent Order issued 08/10/2009 became final 08/10/2009. Awad, Othman dba Hanmar, Inc., Cartersville, GA - Cease and Desist Order issued 05/26/2009 became final 08/10/2009. Hanmar Inc. dba Gas and Go Food Store, Cartersville, GA (license# 22959) - Consent Order issued 08/10/2009 became final 08/10/2009. Seven Seas Bottle Shop, Inc. dba Seven Seas Bottle Shop, Powder Springs, GA (license# 23254) Consent Order issued 08/03/2009 became final 08/03/2009.
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Department Contact Information

NAME
Joel Byers, Supervisory Manager - Money Service Businesses Teresa Koeppel, Administrative Examiner Susan Nelson, Applications Analyst (Check Cashers)

E-MAIL ADDRESS
byers@dbf.state.ga.us tkoeppel@dbf.state.ga.us nelson@dbf.state.ga.us

PHONE#
770-986-1656 770-986-1639 770-986-1652

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

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 included in the request, that person can then more efficiently provide you an answer. The main Division e-mail address is msb@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://dbf.georgia.gov under News/Press Releases. If you would like to be added to our distribution list, please send an e-mail to dbfpress@dbf.state.ga.us and indicate your name, the company you are with, license or registration # (if applicable), and phone number. Also, please indicate which publication(s) you would like to receive. See the list under PUBLICATIONS on our home page.

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