April 8 - CBA Today eNewsletter - COMMUNITY BANKERS ASSOCIATION OF GEORGIA

On Tuesday, the Small Business Administration (SBA) launched its long-awaited portal to facilitate Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) access. The new portal allows non-SBA-certified lenders to create an account on SBA Connect, request authorization to the Paycheck Protection Lender Gateway, and proceed to the Lender Gateway to begin submitting loan authorization requests. Access the SBA portal.

On Monday, the U.S. Treasury and the SBA released numerous Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on the PPP. The FAQs provide guidance on issues related to verifying borrower calculations, borrower eligibility, SBA affiliation rules, and more. In addition, the Federal Reserve announced they will establish a facility to provide term financing backed by PPP loans. Additional details will be announced this week.

Be sure to check CBA's all-in-one CARES Act resource page. CBA is providing customizable graphics for your bank to link to our resource page with answers for your customers' questions. Also, check CBA's Disaster & Pandemic Support & Preparedness page for the more updates related to COVID-19.

GA DBF Emphasizes Key Areas of Focus During Pandemic
The Georgia Department of Banking and Finance is working cooperatively with federal banking agencies and other organizations to assist regulated institutions and their customers in managing the impact of the pandemic. In the Department's March 2020 monthly bulletin, they emphasize the importance of four key areas where new guidance or best practices have been issued to assist financial institutions. These areas include lending, liquidity, business continuity planning, and regulatory reporting. Read the bulletin.

Agencies Announce Changes to the Community Bank Leverage Ratio
On Monday, the federal bank regulatory agencies announced the issuance of two interim final rules to provide temporary relief to community banking organizations. The agencies are acting to implement Section 4012 of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, which requires the agencies to temporarily lower the community bank leverage ratio to 8 percent.

The two rules will modify the community bank leverage ratio framework so that:

Beginning in the second quarter 2020 and until the end of the year, a banking organization that has a leverage ratio of 8 percent or greater and meets certain other criteria may elect to use the community bank leverage ratio framework; and
Community banking organizations will have until January 1, 2022, before the community bank leverage ratio requirement is re-established at greater than 9 percent.

To see the temporary changes to the CBLR framework, click here. To read more on the transition for the CBLR framework, click here.

Essential Business Management Resources from CISA
The following guidance from DHS CISA and the US Department of the Treasury identifies financial services sector works as essential critical infrastructure workers during the COVID-19 emergency. Banks are advised by regulators to provide a paper copy of the following documents for all employees who will be remaining at work:

For more information, read more from the FDIC and OCC.

Georgia’s community bankers do great things in their communities every day. Here is the latest on community outreach and news from CBA Members:

Oconee State Bank, Watkinsville, recently added red bows to their doors as a representation of love, support, and prayer for our communities facing COVID-19. In addition, to expand the bank's current OSB Cares bank volunteer efforts, all bank team members who support a local business or non-profit by purchasing goods or services are eligible for bank VRP credit for each occasion of support. These activities are eligible for the remainder of the time social distancing guidelines are in place that disrupt day to day routine for local businesses.

Moreover, the bank recently held a virtual Spirit Week on their Facebook page to help create social cohesion during the time of social distancing. Team members of the bank also paid their respects to late County Commissioner, Bubber Wilkes while still practicing social distancing.
Legacy State Bank, Loganville, recently provided Piedmont Walton Hospital with snacks and drinks.

Robert Vickers has been named COO of Community First Bancshares Inc. and its subsidiary Newton Federal Bank, Covington.

Dr. Robin Reich has been appointed to the boards of Community First Bancshares Inc. and its subsidiary Newton Federal Bank, Covington.

Robin Clark has joined Planters First Bank, Macon, as Director of Specialty Lending.

Jennifer Cagle, Oconee State Bank, Bogart, has been promoted to Assistant Financial Center Manager.

Cindy Frazier, Oconee State Bank, Bogart, has been promoted to Senior Personal Banker.

Congratulations to Linda Crosby, Queensborough National Bank & Trust Co., Augusta, who recently retired after five years at the bank.

Joshua McCook, PharmD, RPh, was recently named to Renasant Bank's Statesboro advisory board.

Think CBA First for Your Professional Development Needs!
Be sure to think of CBA first when it comes to your training and Professional Development needs. Here are some upcoming CBA events:

CBA is Still Accepting Applications for Memorial Scholarships
Student Applications to Bank: Friday, April 17, 2020
Applications from Bank to CBA: Friday, April 24, 2020

CBA has extended the scholarship deadlines for both the Hester Memorial Scholarship and the Walraven Memorial Scholarship. All completed applications should be sent to CBA by Friday, April 24, 2020. The winners will be announced in mid May 2020. In addition, all applications can be submitted via fax, (770) 541-4496, or by emailing all materials to Jeremy Thomens.

Considering the challenges students are facing with school closings and necessary social distancing measures, we understand that it may be difficult to obtain all of the items required for the Hester Scholarship application. Applications without all of the required materials below will still be considered for the scholarship.

Please indicate if you have had difficulty obtaining:

High school transcripts
SAT/ACT scores
Candidate's Qualifications form from teacher

Please keep in mind that applications may be strengthened by these materials. All materials submitted with each application will be considered for judging. Learn more about the Hester and Walraven Scholarships. Contact Jeremy Thomens for more information.

CBA Webinar: The CARES Act - Impact & Implications for Community Banks
Friday, April 10, 2020 | 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM

CBA is providing an informative webinar on the implications of the CARES Act. Join industry experts and learn more ways this bill will impact your bank. Register here.

CBA Offers Live STREAM Programs for Lenders, Supervisors & Credit Analysts
CBA is continuing to utilize our STREAM virtual online tool to provide live streaming options for scheduled CBA Professional Development events. Click on the links below to register and learn more about each of these upcoming programs. See a full list of CBA's rescheduled programs.

Consumer & Commercial Loan Documentation Bootcamp: Thursday-Friday, April 16-17, 2020
Supervisory Essentials: Thursday-Friday, April 23-24, 2020
Training the Credit Analyst - Level 1: Wednesday-Thursday, April 21-22, 2020
Training the Credit Analyst - Level 2: Friday, June 19, 2020

Meet Skip Willcox from Crescent Mortage: Georgia Communities First
The May/June issue of Georgia Communities First magazine features Skip Willcox, Account Executive at Crescent Mortgage, a Gold-Level Preferred Service Provider located in Atlanta. CBA invited Skip to participate in a Q&A so you can learn more about Crescent Mortgage and Skip himself.

Read the full article in CBA's latest issue of Georgia Communities First magazine, now exclusively digital and issued bi-monthly. Check out the March/April 2020 issue.

Marketing ICS® and CDARS to Georgia Public Funds
FREE Webinar for CBA Member Banks
Thursday, April 16, 2020 | 2:30 pm

CBA passed generational legislation last year in securing passage of SB157. This new law enables your bank to use ICS®, the Insured Cash Sweep service®, to offer government finance officers in Georgia access to FDIC insurance beyond $250,000 on funds placed into demand deposit accounts, money market deposit accounts, or both.

Free for CBA member banks, join Promontory Interfinancial Network for this webinar detailing ICS and CDARS® (which offers large-dollar FDIC insurance eligibility for CDs and which government finance officers in Georgia may currently use to place deposits) – the benefits, how they work, and ways to market the services to government finance officers with Promontory’s ready-to-use materials. Learn more and register.

Webinar: Ensuring Your Benefit Plan Is Compliant During COVID-19
Tuesday, April 14, 2020 | 2:00 pm ET

In the ever-changing world of employee benefits during COVID-19, it’s essential that plan sponsors stop and take stock of their benefit plans to ensure compliance with both long-standing and newly imposed requirements that will impact their business. Hear from Karen McLeese from CBIZ (a Gold-Level Preferred Service Provider) who will address employer FAQs and review the various rules impacting welfare benefit plans this season. Register here.

Founded in 1993, Crescent Mortgage has always been the premier provider of secondary mortgage offerings for Community Banks. As a Community Bank owned, top 25 national wholesale and correspondent lender, we are "totally committed to daily exceeding the expectations of our customers."

Loan products include Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, FHA, VA, USDA, Jumbo and one time close construction to permanent financing. Crescent offers Wholesale and Correspondent lending options, contract processing, free training, as well as free access to loan origination, compliance and automated underwriting systems.

To learn more, contact Skip Willcox at 478-357-4441 or visit www.crescentmortgage.com.

Here are some of the latest national news stories relevant to community banking and the financial services industry:

APRIL 8, 2020