August 3, 2018        

Tips for Banks about Hands-Free Phone Law Policies
All of us mobile device junkies are adjusting to Georgia’s new law banning the use of a hand-held phone while driving. Aside from changing our personal habits, employers also should be mindful of their company policies related to mobile phone use. There are potential liability exposures for companies if an employee causes an accident while using a mobile phone. Some companies have gone as far having strict policies banning the use of mobile devices while driving and instructing employees they must pull over to make or take a call, email or text. We’ve all got team members out on the roads these days, and making sure everyone knows and understand the company’s rules of the road about mobile device use is critical. GBA Associate Member Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner shares practical tips for company policies here...

Loans, Talent, Technology top Issues for Georgia Bankers
Just before the GBA Leadership Conference we deployed a quick poll of conference participants, the GBA Board of Directors and Community Bankers Committee to get a pulse on key leadership and business issues. The results were pretty interesting in a number of categories. See the top answers for both groups on key issues here…

Fintech News
OCC Moves Ahead with FinTech Charter; Treasury Outlines Regulatory Fixes
There were two significant news items this week about financial technology companies. The OCC said it will begin accepting applications for national bank charters from nondepository financial technology (fintech) companies engaged in the business of banking. And, the U.S. Department of the Treasury issued a report recommending changes to a variety of regulations that would foster more technology innovation related to financial services. Get all the details here…

Large Credit Union Strays From Military Family Focus
For the past four years, Pentagon Federal Credit Union in Virginia has been operating with an aggressive growth strategy based on a mantra of "No Speed Limit," says an article in the Wall Street Journal this week. The story outlines the plans by the CEO of Pentagon Federal, the third largest credit union in the country, to grow from $18 billion in assets in 2014 to $75 billion in assets by 2025. Among other things, the company advertises "Great Rates for Everyone," even though there are common-bond restrictions on membership, the article says. Even a fellow credit union CEO is quoted in the story questioning such "anything goes" strategies by asking, "How can we possibly go to Washington and say ‘We are the small credit union serving the small guy’?" See a link to the story and GBA Chairman John Hall’s take here…

GBA Staff Profile
The Wonderful World of Warner
Bankers attending seminars and peer groups this fall won’t be able to miss the warm smile and enthusiasm of GBA’s new Professional Development Coordinator Jenna Lynn Warner. "I hope that my excitement will be passed on to our members and their teams," Warner said. In her GBA Staff Profile, she discusses honing her event planning skills, adventures in trying new food, love of all things Disney and pivotal career advice from her dad. "What can I say? Fathers really do know best," she said. Read more about her here…

Flood Insurance Program Extended
It came down to the wire, but the U.S. Senate Tuesday passed an extension of the National Flood Insurance Program through Nov. 30. FEMA says it has more than 5 million policies in place under the program. This is the seventh extension of the program since 2017, which highlights the need for a long-term reauthorization that includes a variety of reforms.

Reminder: GBA Strategic Partner ServiceLink National Flood is a leading flood zone certification provider. Details here.

Early registration deadline is Aug. 7!
How to Empower a Woman and Inspire a Leader
The fifth-annual GBA Women in Banking Conference is Aug. 22 - 24 at The Legacy Lodge on Lake Lanier. Join the big crowd of your peers from across the state who are already signed up. One of our speakers will be Professor Nancy Mansfield, Director of the WomenLead Program, Senior Faculty Associate for Women’s Leadership Development at Georgia State University, and recent winner of the International American Association of Collegiate Schools of Business Innovations that Inspire Award. Mansfield has long been committed to excellence and innovation in undergraduate education and experiential learning as part of the university experience. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear Professor Mansfield share the inspiring WomenLead story. For a detailed conference agenda, hotel information and to reserve your spot at the conference, click here. For more information about the conference, please contact GBA’s Kathy Friestad, 404.420.2024.

2018 Compliance Conference
Two Strong Fair Lending Sessions Part of Packed Program
Feeling turbulence during a fair lending exam? Wish you were better prepared? These questions and more will be answered by two speakers during the 2018 GBA Compliance Conference. First up will be Gary Clayton of the FDIC who will provide insight on identifying inherent fair lending risks in a bank’s credit operations as well as implementing fair lending compliance management system components to help mitigate these risks. Next up will be Kristen Stogniew with Saltmarsh, Cleaveland & Gund. Stogniew will discuss the new expectations from examiners, the new twist on redlining reviews, REMAs and how the new HMDA rules may affect your fair lending exam. The conference is Sept. 12-14 at the Crowne Plaza Atlanta SW in Peachtree City. The conference is planned and hosted by the GBA Compliance Committee, led by Sterling Williams, BrandBank, Lawrenceville. See the full agenda and get more details here... 

Exclusive Georgia-Focused Info Highlight of President/CEO Conference Agenda
Be a part of the largest gathering of your peer Georgia Bank chief executives this year by attending the Georgia Bankers Association's 2018 President/CEO Conference. We’ve lined up some exclusive, Georgia-specific programming you don’t want to miss. Analyst Nancy Bush will interpret special data sets about Georgia community bank performance. Economist Roger Tutterow will put his unique Georgia lens on the national economic outlook. Compensation expert Tim O’Rourke will detail Georgia bank compensation trends. A panel of Georgia economic development pros will share growth opportunities and much more. See the full agenda here.

2018 BankPAC Update
Have you contributed to the 2018 BankPAC Campaign yet? Now is the time to do so as we head into the general election season so we are ready to support those who support banking! Click here to access forms for use in making contributions to the GBA StatePAC and FedPAC. Many thanks to those contributing to the GBA StatePAC this week:

And thanks to those officers, directors and eligible employees of the following banks for contributing to the GBA FedPAC:

With questions, please call GBA’s Elizabeth Chandler, 404.420.2027.

Seminar
Small-Bank Consumer Real Estate Compliance and HMDA Reform
On Tuesday, Aug. 28, at Idle Hour Country Club in Macon, Steve Moore of Bank Compliance Services will detail financial and operational considerations of consumer real estate lending by small banks. Topics to be covered:

To register, click here. Registration is $250 per person ($275 per person within one week of the seminar date). With questions, please contact GBA's Jenna Lynn Warner, 404.420.2035.

GBA Strategic Partner FMS Helps Banks with Strategic Marketing, Branding and More
Digital marketing channels such as email, social media, blogs, online display ads, search engine optimization, search engine marketing and mobile marketing are critical for earning new business from today's bank customers. Financial Marketing Solutions, or simply FMS, is a group of strategists and creative thinkers who serve banks, and only banks. The bank brands they create are unique as well as experiential, crafted with care, personal devotion and obvious passion. FMS’ philosophy is to always keep thinking. Creativity is critically important to them, but it also has to be strategic or it’s just marketing fluff. FMS knows that a solid brand will... 

Check Out the New Look of GBA Strategic Partner DDI Technology
Don’t let the new name and logo fool you because 10-year GBA Strategic Partner DDI Technology is still the same industry-leading developer of electronic lien and titling interfaces for banks nationwide. DDI’s Premier Title Solution enables your Loan Operations team to streamline processes, improve reporting and manage exceptions within a simple, user-friendly application. DDI Technology can help your institution in all 50 states from title application to lien release while providing exceptional customer service. Other benefits include...

Associate Member News
Grow Your Business and Support GBA’s Mission with Sponsorships and Exhibits
We’ve just published our full sponsorship and exhibit program for our 2018-2019 conferences and events. We encourage associate members to take a look and participate. Here are the top three reasons to sponsor and exhibit:

Here are links to our sponsorship program details and the exhibit program details. With questions, contact either Bo Brannen, director of Member Services, 404.420.2014, or the staff contact noted for each conference or event.

Online Classes - September
Back to School with Online Training
ABA facilitated online courses feature an online learning community with fellow students, instructor guidance and feedback. For more information, contact Alison Moreau, 404.420.2034. Click here for a list of all ABA offerings. There are seven courses scheduled to begin in September...

IRA Online Institute
This course is a comprehensive, 12-week, web-based IRA training program developed and supported by Ascensus’ experienced instructors. This innovative training program teaches you in-depth, essential IRA information, and is the only approved online training program that prepares you to take the Certified IRA Services Professional (CISP) exam. Extensive IRA reference materials, objective-based training methods, and practical applications of IRA rules create an effective learning environment. Students should expect to spend 15-20 hours a week completing the readings and assignments, depending on prior knowledge of IRAs. For more information about any of these offerings, contact Alison Moreau, 404.420.2034.

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. To make the process of posting a job or resume easier and to answer any questions you may have, we've developed this Q & A document as a resource. It outlines how to submit open positions and resumes, our deadlines and timelines for posting, and other helpful details. If you have any questions, please contact GBA's Katina Prokos at 404.420.2021.