E newsletter picture 12.13.11
 In This Issue
 


Client Pictured:
Sunbelt Marketing

Pictured above is Tom Menefee, President of 

Sunbelt Marketing, with 

his banker, Ed Jenkins,

Senior Vice President.

 

Sunbelt Marketing is an employee-owned organization that has emerged as one of the largest and most successful privately held manufacturers' representatives/master distributors of Plumbing, Piping, HVAC and Refrigeration products in the United States.  Click here to read Sunbelt's client story. 

 

Cathy Cox Talks to Female Business Leaders

On November 2, Cathy Cox, President of Young Harris College, and former Secretary of State of GA, spoke to an intimate group of twenty prominent business women at Atlantic Capital Bank's first Women's Forum. Ms. Cox spoke about making successful career transitions, including her own transition from attorney to politician to college president. Ms. Cox also encouraged attendees to actively mentor younger women in order to increase the ranks of female leaders.

 

Atlanta Public Schools Superintendant Speaks to Business Leaders
At the November 29 Business Leaders' Breakfast, Atlantic Capital was pleased to welcome speaker Erroll B. Davis, Jr., the Superintendant of the Atlanta Public Schools. Mr. Davis addressed the challenges facing the school system, and spoke about the positive changes that are being implemented by the new leadership team. The leadership team includes Atlantic Capital Bank Board Member Steve Smith, who is Deputy Superintendant/Chief of Staff for the Atlanta Public Schools.

Atlantic Capital Bank's eNewsletter

4th Quarter, 2011

holidaygreetingHoliday Greetings from Atlantic Capital Bank

Season's Greetings and Happy New Year to you and your family from all of us at Atlantic Capital Bank! I hope you are enjoying the holiday season and are able to experience joy and peace in this merry but busy time.


As I reflect on the past year, I want to thank you, our clients and friends, for making 2011 a year of growth and success for Atlantic Capital Bank. With your support, we have experienced solid expansion in all three of our business lines and have cultivated relationships with over 425 commercial clients and over 400 private client households. As always, our talented team of bankers continues to work hard for you. We sincerely appreciate your partnership and look forward to being a part of your financial success in 2012.

 

Sincerely,

Doug Williams

President and Chief Executive Officer

 

EconomicandBusinessOutlookEconomic and Business Outlook, December 2011
by Doug Williams, President and CEO of Atlantic Capital Bank
Doug Williams

Douglas Williams,

President and CEO of Atlantic Capital Bank

The economy rebounded modestly in the third quarter with higher consumer spending and export sales.   However, the inability of government leaders and central bankers in Europe and the United States to settle on solutions to correct heavy debt burdens and yawing budget deficits heightened anxiety about the future course of economic activity.  As a result, business managers and consumers are expected to maintain a largely defensive posture as we begin the new year.  

 

At 70% of GDP, consumer spending is the primary engine of economic growth in the US. With persistently high levels of unemployment, limited growth in disposable incomes, and diminished home equity values, consumer priorities are still directed to reducing personal debt levels.  Until consumers see improved job security, new employment prospects, or higher earnings opportunities, there will be little opportunity for meaningful growth in consumer spending. 

 

Other key components of GDP - business investment, government expenditures, and export sales - are encountering headwinds which suggest limited prospects for growth over the next few months.  While corporate profits continue to grow with improvements in productivity, managers are reluctant to make new investments to expand productive capacity and hire new workers in view of the compounding uncertainties on the economic landscape.  Spending by local and national governments, here and abroad, has reached levels at which capital markets will no longer provide adequate financing.  Export sales activity is a function of demand from abroad and relative currency values.  While demand for US goods and services is strong in the developing world, demand in other OECD countries is more circumspect, reflecting sluggish economic conditions.  The US Dollar is still the world's reserve currency and its value has remained strong relative to that of many of our major trading partners. 

 

Given these factors we expect the economy to grow slowly for the next several months in an environment of considerable vulnerability.  If European political leaders and central bankers are able to forge viable solutions to the European debt crisis and US leaders are able to convincingly correct the growth in the US budget deficit, consumers, business managers, and financial markets will respond with confidence by spending, investing for the future and taking more risk.  These actions are the ingredients for higher than expect levels of economic growth.

 

UtilizeyourbankerUtilize one of your best assets: Your banker 

By Brian Harper, Vice President of Corporate Banking 

Harper, Brian
Brian Harper, VP Corporate Banking

The best business advice I can give a company is to fully utilize its banker's knowledge and network. 

 

As a corporate banker, I'm always out in the market, listening and interacting with companies of varying sizes in diverse industries. I get to know a lot of companies, and I often see what works for them and what doesn't.  Not only can I draw from my own experiences to answer your questions and help you find solutions, but I can also help you to leverage the expertise and knowledge of our other clients. Atlantic Capital's client base is made up of some of the best companies in metro Atlanta. When both companies are willing, we often make introductions so that clients can share business ideas and best practices.

 

Additionally, because your Atlantic Capital banker is active in the market every day, he/she is familiar with the benefits (and drawbacks) of working with certain companies. So, if you need an accountant, merchant services provider, landscaper, architect, or any number of other service providers, call us. We can help connect you with the right company that values your business just as much as much as we do. 
 

Please use my colleagues and me as a resource. We're here to help your business succeed. If you need anything - from thoughts on your new product line to a dumpster rental for a renovation - give me a call.

 

To contact Brian Harper, please call (404) 995-5826. 

CuttingCostsCutting Costs

Reviewing Analysis Statements Can Positively Impact Your Bottom Line

By Ashley Carson, Senior Vice of President of Corporate Banking

Carson, Ashley
Ashley Carson, SVP Corporate Banking

In this challenging economic environment, I frequently come across clients who are scrambling to cut expenses. Companies can find quick improvement to the bottom line through what I call a "Deposit Checkup" - a detailed review and assessment of a company's analysis statements. The "Deposit Checkup" process calls for you to work with your banker to compare the banking services you currently use and the fees you're being charged against the actual needs of your organization. I have encountered many organizations that have not reviewed their analysis statements in several years. These companies often assume that rising service charges simply reflect increased activity levels. But in reality, firms often have flat or reduced account activity and are simply paying more in service charges. By reviewing all of this information and making appropriate changes to services, you can streamline activity and also greatly reduce expense.

 

Many companies have operating accounts that generate "earnings credit," a calculation of interest paid on deposit balances, which is used to offset banking fees.  Clients with larger deposits balances tend to pay lower bank fees because their earnings credit offsets their service fees. Unfortunately, the earnings credit rate has continued to decline, resulting in lower earned interest to offset service charges. This means that in order to mitigate service fees, organizations may want to consider shifting money from savings accounts to operating accounts. In this low interest rate environment, the benefit of off-setting bank service fees is often better than the interest earned on those dollars.

 

As banking fees rise for many companies, a natural next step is to identify what services are required and what services can be discontinued. Analyzing banking fee information can also help generate more efficient business practices within your organization. For example, this may be a good time for your company to begin utilizing online ACH payments instead of more expensive wire transfers, or to begin using remote deposit capture instead of sending an employee to make a physical deposit at a retail branch. Identifying these types of changes can save both money and employees' time.


Organizations can begin the "Deposit Checkup" process by reviewing analysis statements in detail and by scheduling time to discuss them with their banker. Clearly, the amount an organization can save will vary based on both the volume and type of banking services utilized. The truth is there are numerous ways to unleash additional cash flow for both not-for-profits and for-profits by finding savings in treasury fees. As such, it behooves organizations to do some proactive investigating with their banker and pay attention to the details. By taking the time to review these bank statements in detail and make appropriate changes, your company or organization may be able make significant improvements to its bottom line.

 

To schedule a Deposit Check-up with Ashley Carson, please email her at [email protected]. 

Atlantic Capital Bank

www.atlanticcapitalbank.com

Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender