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March 25, 2022 |
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The Georgia General Assembly is slated to complete Day 35 of its 40-day session Friday. GBA testified this week in the House Judiciary Committee expressing concerns about a telemarketing bill, spoke with legislators on the Senate Special Judiciary Committee about trust legislation that contains language GBA requested, and continues to work with stakeholders on other bills ranging from the freedom to farm without facing frivolous lawsuits to PACE lending, a type of loan given priority status over other liens. Be watching for details about these and other issues of interest when we publish this week’s Legislative Update.
HR and Marketing Conferences in Action Bank Human Resources and Marketing pros from around the state are meeting this week at their annual conferences being held concurrently on St. Simons Island. The Human Resources Professionals Institute is being led by Committee Chair Tonya Brooks, Citizens Bank of the South, and Committee Vice Chair, Terry Kennedy, Exchange Bank. The Marketing Conference is under the direction of Marketing Committee Chair Andrea Griffin, First National Bank of Griffin, and Vice Chair Anna Jones, Pinnacle Bank. Look for program summaries and more photos next week.
Georgia Dept. of Revenue Data Match Program Earlier this month the Georgia Department of Revenue (DOR) mailed banks a letter announcing its Financial Institution Data Match Program in which banks are required to provide certain information related to delinquent taxpayers to the DOR. The program, was authorized by legislation passed in last year’s General Assembly session, SB 201 by Sen. Chuck Hufstetler (R-Rome). The letter includes a memorandum of understanding banks are asked to sign to facilitate participation. We’re working with Bo Fears, Deputy Commissioner for Legal affairs for the Department of Banking and Finance, our Bank Counsel Section Board chair John Willis of Nelson Mullins, and others to get more information, so you may want to wait on that before signing the memorandum of understanding. While the program is intended to be similar to the child support payments recovery system currently used by financial institutions to report on those accounts, there are some differences in the legislation. Stay tuned for more details.
GBA participated this week in a briefing by the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) outlining the current cyber threat environment posed by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. President Biden this week urged businesses and consumers to be alert for possible cyber threats related to the conflict. During the briefing, CISA officials, as well as representatives from the FBI, stressed the importance of having a low threshold for reporting any suspicious or unusual cyber activity to CISA and the FBI, as well as making full use of the tools available to scan for known vulnerabilities. The CISA’s Shields Up website is the clearinghouse site for all the helpful information you need.
Related: 2022 Security Conference - April 11-13, St. Simons Georgia's Premier Conference for Bank Security Pros Coming Up Soon The 2022 GBA Security Conference will be April 11-13 at the King & Prince, St. Simons. The GBA Security Committee, led by David Griffin, Colony Bank, planned the agenda for Georgia’s premier conference for everyone who has bank security responsibilities. Here’s an overview of session topics:
Get available details and register here. With questions, contact Alison Moreau, 404.420.2034.
New Website Accessibility Guidance from DOJ The Department of Justice has issued new guidance about website accessibility, providing more clarity about how to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Included in the guidance are examples of barriers to accessibility, clarification of which web content must be accessible, tips for improving accessibility and links to resources and technical standards. Access the guidance here.
Our annual Georgia Banking Compensation Survey will open for participation April 1, and banks have a little bit of an extended window to participate in the national Pearl Meyer 2022 Banking Benefits & HR Policies Survey.
If you have questions about either survey, please email David Oliver at doliver@gabankers.com or Rhonda Snyder at rhonda.snyder@pearlmeyer.com.
Exhibit and Sponsorships Opportunities Available at Leadership Conference If you’re a GBA Associate Member, Strategic Partner, Bank Counsel or Bank Accountant Section member, you may be searching for the right opportunity to gain access to, increase visibility, or build relationships with GBA’s emerging leaders. Look no further! Make plans today to exhibit or sponsor the GBA Leadership Conference, July 11-13, at the Ponte Vedra Inn & Club in Ponte Vedra, FL. You’ll be able to connect with the younger demographic that is vital to increasing your business, in a destination that is perfect for networking.
We’re excited to welcome these members as exhibitors: CashTrans, CSRA Business Lending, Econocheck, Point to Point Environmental, Qualtik, and Reich & Tang.
Here’s who’s confirmed to support the conference as sponsors: Aubrey Thrasher, LLC; CRS Data; CSRA Business Lending; Elliott Davis; FHLB Atlanta; First National Bankers Bank; Holmes-Shaw Agency; Mauldin & Jenkins, LLC; McNair, McLemore, Middlebrooks & Co., LLC; Pearl Meyer & Partners, LLC; Point to Point Environmental; Qualtik; ServisFirst Bank, Correspondent Division; Steve H. Powell & Co.; Troutman Pepper Hamilton Sanders, LLP, and Wipfli, LLP.
Questions? Contact GBA’s Kathy Friestad.
Question: We have two borrowers who are requesting to refinance a loan secured by one of the borrower’s principal residences, but the purpose of the cash out will be to pay off a lien on a different residence that is only in one of the borrowers’ names. For HMDA purposes, should I report this as a Refinance since both liens are in one of the borrower’s name even if it’s not the same property?
Answer: Yes, that is correct since the HMDA definition of a refinancing does require that at least one of the borrowers be the same but does not necessarily require that that the dwelling securing the loans be the same: "Refinancing means a closed-end mortgage loan or an open-end line of credit in which a new, dwelling-secured debt obligation satisfies and replaces an existing, dwelling-secured debt obligation by the same borrower." Read more here.
Visit www.compliancealliance.com for more helpful Q&A resources.
In-Person Skill Building Key Lending Seminars Coming Up Quickly Lenders and those in support roles for lenders have two great seminars coming up that can help sharpen your skills. Check out these in-person seminars: Lending Focus: Analyzing Personal Cash Flow Seminar – March 30: Mike Allen of Cadence Bank, a faculty member of the Georgia Banking School with more than 40 years of industry experience, will cover the A-Zs of how to analyze personal cash flow and personal tax returns. This program is designed for consumer lenders, commercial lenders, and credit analysts/underwriters.
How to Craft Your Call Report GBA’s Call Report Seminar April 13 will walk participants through a detailed line-by-line review of the commonly completed Call Report schedules with helpful tips for reporting individual items. Michael Gordon and Kris Trainor of Mauldin & Jenkins are our experts.
At our Information Security Officer Seminar April 27, Safe Systems’ Tom Hinkel will explore exam expectations and how the pandemic changed the ISO function (sponsored by Safe Systems).
Register now for May 19-20 ConferenceCheck out Topics for 2022 Rural Development and Lending Conference The 2022 Rural Development and Lending Conference is set for May 19-20 at the King & Prince Beach, St. Simons. The GBA Agriculture Committee, led by Nic Worthy, Colony Bank, planned the agenda. All agriculture lenders and anyone involved with business development in rural markets will benefit from attending. Topics to be covered include:
Get details and register here.
GBA is proud to be among the state bankers associations co-presenting The American Mortgage Conference this year. The conference, April 25-27 at the Pinehurst Resort in North Carolina, brings together leading experts in the financial services industry, mortgage practitioners of every kind, policy makers and investors to discuss important issues in the mortgage field and to analyze what progress is being made in Washington. Our colleagues at the North Carolina Bankers Association organize the event each year, which has become the go-to gathering for mortgage professionals nationwide. Get details and register here.
OFAC Russia-related Designations; Belarus Designations Get the latest on all the updated sanctions lists related to Russia and Belarus in response to the war in Ukraine. Compliance Committee members earlier this month reported earlier this month that the pace of updates is keeping them on their toes. Register for the webinar here.
Check out the full lineup of upcoming webinars from national experts here.
GBA Strategic Partner BankTalentHQ The central feature of BankTalentHQ is its national bank-job board. Other key benefits include: resume search access, regional and national reach for your open positions, frequent special offers and custom sales/coaching programs. Visit BankTalentHQ to learn more. See the open positions in Georgia here, or search regionally or nationally here.
GBA Job Bank GBA will post open positions, free of charge, for GBA members. See the open positions in Georgia here. We will also post professional summaries for bank-job seekers on our Bankers Available page. To make the process easy and answer any questions, we've developed this Q&A. Please contact Katina Prokos, 404.420.2021.
GBA’s Career Paths for Bankers™ GBA’s Career Paths for Bankers™ is the most unique, organized and easy-to-use career development resource available for bankers and banks. GBA’s pioneering career development resource is unlike any other in the banking industry. Click here to start mapping your banking career today.
Why Do People Choose Careers in Banking? Whatever their talents, interests and educational background, there is a career in banking for them. Here are few good reasons to share with folks you know.
We want to share all the good work GBA member banks, bankers, Associate Members and Bank Counsel Section members do to support their communities. Read all about the Community Connections our banks and members have below. Share your Community Connections by sending a brief paragraph and any photos of activities you have to us and we'll publish them at our earliest opportunity. Send information to Katina Prokos and David Oliver, or if your company would like to sponsor this content, let us know. Here's our latest installment:
Carrollton - American Commerce Bank The bank recently opened a new office in downtown Carrollton and hosted a ribbon cutting on March 17. Read more here.
Charlotte, NC - Truist Dontá Wilson has been promoted to lead retail community banking and marketing for Truist, overseeing more than 2,100 branches across the Southeast, Mid-Atlantic and Texas. Read more here.
Chatsworth - First National Community Bank The
bank recently outlined plans for expanding its presence and
market penetration for its Acworth-based Loan Production
Office. The growth plans include expanding the bank’s
commercial and consumer lending focus throughout Paulding
County, Cobb County and metro Atlanta. The Paulding County
Loan Production Office will be led by Alex Crenshaw, who
serves as Senior Vice President and Market President
(Acworth/Paulding
Cochran - State Bank of Cochran Leo Phillips III was recently named as vice chairman of Central Georgia Banking Company as well as the vice chairman of the State Bank of Cochran Board of Directors.
Moultrie - Moultrie Bank & Trust Congratulations to Donna Lott, president & CEO, Moultrie Bank & Trust (In Organization) and her team. The bank has notified regulators it has met its minimum $20 million capital raise and will continue its campaign through April 27. The bank says it intends to break ground in the next couple of months on its building, with a target of opening to the public in mid-May, pending regulatory approvals.
Rome - BankSouth Mortgage Rebecca Gilliam has joined the BankSouth Mortgage team as vice president, digital strategy and marketing.
Atlanta - Affordable Equity Partners, Inc. Cory Burdette as joined JES Holdings, LLC/Affordable Equity Partners, Inc. as a director.
Atlanta - Mauldin & Jenkins The accounting, advisory, and consulting firm has been named one of Accounting Today’s Top 100 Firms for the 28th consecutive year. Climbing six spots, the firm came in at number 77 and was also named on the regional leader list as a top firm serving the Southeast. Read more here.
Read All About It: Send Us Your News Please remember to include the Georgia Bankers Association on the list of recipients for announcements about promotions, new employees and special recognition your bank has received. We want to share your news with your colleagues across the state. Please forward your announcements and photos to GBA's Katina Prokos. |
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Legislature
Nearing Sine Die
Shields
Up Reminder for Cybersecurity
Two
Updates on HR-Related Surveys
GBA
Associate Members and Strategic Partners
Compliance
Alliance Question of the Week
American
Mortgage Conference April 25-27
Recruit,
Retain and Develop the Best Bankers with GBA Career
Solutions
