July 1, 2009

ATLANTA (AP) -- The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. has ordered four banks in Georgia to raise capital, clear bad loans off the books and improve lending practices.

The action by the FDIC was taken from mid-April to early May, but has just recently been made public.

The banks are Community Bank & Trust in Cornelia; Gordon Bank in Gordon; Crescent Bank and Trust in Jasper; and Farmers & Merchants Bank in Lakeland.

In the past year, 14 Georgia banks have been shut down by regulators, more than in any other state, including two last Friday.

The depressed real estate market is largely blamed for the states banking woes.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)