Community Bankers Association of Georgia Endorses CommunityBanksOnline; CBO Gains Coveted `Endorsed Member Company' Status from 300 Member Trade Group

Business Wire,  Sept 19, 2003  

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Business Editors

OCALA, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 19, 2003

CommunityBanksOnline (CBO), a free, Web-based mortgage origination solution of Taylor, Bean & Whitaker Mortgage Corp. (TBW), has been named an Endorsed Member Company by the Community Bankers Association of Ga. (CBA), a trade association composed of independent community banks from across the state.

As an endorsed company, CommunityBanksOnline has an opportunity to offer and market its technology and services to CBA members under a joint marketing agreement. CBO's offering will differ from other endorsed companies, who traditionally provide products or services to association members at a discount, since CBO is provided at no charge.

The Service Corporation of the CBA of Ga. recommends companies for endorsement as part of its mission to help member banks make sound purchasing decisions by identifying companies with 'the highest quality' community bank-related products and services. Once a company has been identified for an endorsement, the CBA Board of Directors then reviews the product or service thoroughly to ensure its standards are being met.

"Being endorsed by the community bankers here in Georgia is a true testament to our dedication to community banks and also the uniqueness of our platform," said Darren Green, president of CommunityBanksOnline. "The introduction of this phase in our relationship with the organization is very significant, as it harkens back to our initial foray into the mortgage industry. Many of the community banks here were among our first clients. Our largest regional branch office is located in Atlanta and currently employs more than 200 employees that support approximately 150 community banks around the state. This new alliance will provide community banks with access to our technology, in addition to our full suite of services."

CBO currently works with more than 650 community banks nationally including CBA of Ga. member, First National Bank in St. Mary's, Ga. "CBO has helped increase our (mortgage loan) volume by approximately 40 percent," said Rhonda Lester, senior vice president of mortgage lending for First National Bank.

"We can have our customers approved before they leave the office, and that just wasn't possible before CBO," Lester added.

"CBO is more than just a technology provider, its the community banker's partner," said Steve Bridges, CEO of Community Bankers Association of Ga. "They make the mortgage lending process very simple for community bankers, the majority of which have no dedicated lending staff. Every piece of the process is automated and their staff will actually walk the bankers through every step. Our members will benefit greatly from this relationship."

About Community Bankers Association of Georgia

The mission of the CBA is to promote the preservation and continued development of locally, independently owned community banks in Georgia and the philosophy of hometown banking through unified efforts of its membership and staff.

For more information about CBA of Georgia, visit www.cbaofga.com.

About CommunityBanksOnline

CommunityBanksOnline, developed by Taylor, Bean & Whitaker Mortgage Corp. is an Internet (Web) based mortgage marketplace that combines technological efficiencies with the personal service of community banks. CBO equips local banks with a suite of online tools that streamline and automate the process of originating, underwriting, closing and funding a vast array of loans. Our automated technologies, immediate underwriting decisions, live loan status, instant loan registrations and rate locks along with online closing document capabilities, help banks deliver a faster and more efficient mortgage process to customers.

For more information about CBO call 866.699.BANK or visit www.cbobanks.com.

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