As you work toward your bank and career goals in this new year, why not resolve to get the most use from the resources available from your GBA membership in 2019? Here’s just a reminder of all the great GBA resources available throughout the year. There’s not a day that goes by where we don’t have something of value for members. See the links below or contact any of our staff members if you have a question or need some personalized planning.

Bank regulators remain in operation as the federal government shutdown that began Dec. 22 continued this week. The FDIC, OCC, CFPB and Federal Reserve are not funded from congressional spending, so they remain open. Some federal lending programs, however, such as the SBA, FHA and USDA programs, have been curtailed. FEMA continues to issue and renew National Flood Insurance Program policies, as an extension of the NFIP’s authorization until May 31, 2019, was passed in a standalone bill before the shutdown. For customers, the important message is that deposits are safe and FDIC insurance remains in place, and social security payments will continue. Banks have many options available to help their customers who may be affected. Compliance-wise, it’s always a good idea to have an open line of communication with your bank's primary examiner in charge and keep good notes on specific ways in which you're helping customers in the event there are questions from examiners down the road. With questions, contact Joe Brannen, 404.420.2026, or Elizabeth Chandler, 404.420.2027.

With the new calendar year also comes a new state legislative and government relations calendar for our advocacy team. The Georgia General Assembly will convene Monday, Jan. 14, at 10 a.m. And, inaugural activities for Governor-Elect Brian Kemp and other constitutional officers begin that afternoon. For more information, sign up with the transition team here. Our advocacy team is set for the session. GBA will be represented throughout the session by our Senior Vice President for Government Relations, Elizabeth Chandler, 404.420.2027, President and CEO, Joe Brannen, 404.420.2026, and our Government Relations Consultant Steve Bridges, 404.420.2037. Contact any of them with questions about legislation, information about your legislator's stance on a particular issue or to request any other information related to the Georgia General Assembly. Click here for more information on the upcoming session and how you can stay on top of developments.

We always welcome seeing bankers recognized for their service and influence around the state. Georgia Trend magazine this month included several bankers among its list of most influential Georgians for 2019. SunTrust Banks, Inc. Chairman and CEO William Rogers and Synovus Financial Corp. Chairman and CEO Kessel Stelling are among the 100 most influential Georgians, as is Raphael Bostic, president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta. United Community Banks, Inc. Executive Chair Jimmy Tallent is among the notable Georgians. Access the full list here.

Related: Don’t miss hearing directly from Raphael Bostic at our Legislative/Economic Forum and Legislative Reception Jan. 16 in Atlanta! Register here.

We’ve got a great opportunity for you to entertain directors, employees and clients and raise money for GBA’s advocacy efforts coming up Feb. 7. Leadership GBA is hosting the second-annual Georgia BankPAC Sporting Clay Tournament that day at Old Hudson Plantation in Sparta. This four-shooter team tournament format is challenging and fun, and the proceeds are donated to the GBA StatePAC. With questions about the tournament, please contact GBA's Kathy Friestad at 404.420.2024. Get all the details and registration access here.

This seminar is back by popular demand. A faculty member of the Georgia Banking School with more than 35 years of industry experience, Mike Allen of State Bank and Trust Company, a division of Cadence Bank, N.A., will cover the A-Z’s of how to analyze personal tax returns and commercial financial statements during this program designed for commercial lending officers, credit trainees and analysts. To register, click here. Registration is $250 per person through Jan 22. With questions, please contact GBA's Jenna Lynn Warner, 404.420.2035.

There are several big GBA events coming up this spring you’ll want to go ahead register for and put on your calendars.

Related: Plan your entire year of GBA training by accessing the printable 2019 training calendar here.

If you’re a CFO looking to lower your bank’s effective tax rate, a CRA officer looking to improve your bank’s CRA rating, or a wealth manager looking to reduce your clients’ tax liabilities, you’ll want to connect with GBA Strategic Partner Monarch Private Capital (MPC) soon, because there are significant benefits in understanding how tax credits can create those opportunities before filing deadlines this year. A tax credit is more valuable than a tax deduction. Rather than reducing one’s taxable income, a credit enables the taxpayer to reduce its tax liability, dollar-for-dollar (see comparison table at right). Today in Georgia, there are a wide variety of tax credits available that all positively impact our communities. Click here to find out some of the key benefits for banks that buy Federal credits.

BankMarketingCenter.com (BMC) is a web-based marketing portal that helps banks quickly and easily produce professionally designed, bank-branded marketing material. For the same amount you would normally pay for one agency-designed ad or one quality stock photo, you’ll instead have access to thousands of professionally designed marketing materials, and OVER 9 MILLION STOCK PHOTOS FROM GETTY IMAGES. Once your marketing resources are created, you can easily use BMC’s portal to route the pieces through your bank’s compliance approval process and send it to the printer or publisher of your choice. Each item will be saved in an organized order history, which can be helpful for during regulatory exams. BMC also has a comprehensive and easy to deploy digital display solution. GBA members interested in learning more about BMC are encouraged to request an online demo soon. With feedback or questions, please contact BMC’s Keith Pagel, 678.528.8041.

During the next week we are asking all our GBA Associate Member representatives to please thoroughly review the information returned by the Associate Member search on the GBA website and notify us if any changes should be made. You can access the search by clicking the button on the right. We’ll be sending data to the publisher of the new GBA Bank Directory soon, and we need your help checking the accuracy of your company’s listing on the GBA website. There are three items to check: 1) Primary contact, 2) business categories and 3) business description. Click here for more information. With questions, please contact Director of GBA Member Services Bo Brannen, 404.420.2014.

Fill a Job, Find a Job with the GBA Job Bank
The GBA Job Bank is among the most popular and valuable benefits we provide to member banks and bankers. The Positions Available and Bankers Available sections on our website consistently are among the most visited pages. Best of all, the service costs nothing for member banks and bankers. If you have any questions, please contact GBA's Katina Prokos at 404.420.2021.