Bank Being Formed with International Trade Know-How

      A group of internationally experienced businessmen is forming a bank in North Atlanta, which will focus on the needs of small- to medium-sized companies including the development of international trade.

      The bank, to be called United Americas Bankshares Inc., is to offer private banking services as well as serve Hispanic communities throughout Georgia, the fastest growing segment of the population in the state estimated to now include some 400,000 native Spanish speakers.

      Pending approval by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), the bank will be headquartered at 3789 Roswell Rd., according to Vincent Cater, who is to be the chief executive officer of the bank and is one of the organizers.

      Mr. Cater told GlobalFax last week in a telephone interview that he expects to learn from the OCC in February whether the charter has been granted.  He added that the organizers plan to raise some $12 million with which to launch the bank. 

      He is a 30-year Atlanta banking veteran who managed the Latin American business for the Citizens and Southern National Bank prior to its merger with NationsBank.  He subsequently managed the international business of National Bank of Georgia, prior to its merger with SouthTrust Bank.  For the past few years, he has served as president of a specialty trade bank and as a bank consultant.

      Salvadore Diaz-Verson, chairman of Diaz-Verson Capital and formerly president and chief investment officer of AFLAC, the Columbus-based insurance company, is to be chairman of the proposed bank.  The vice chairman is to be Alex Suarez, vice president of BT Alex Brown Inc., a national securities dealer and investment banker.

      Other organizers are Luis Caceres, former president of Belca Foodservice and president of FBX Resources, Ignacio Taboada, president of Phoenix Mortgage Co. and Sam Zamarripa, senior vice president of the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce.

      Also part of the group are Norberto Sanchez, chairman and chief executive officer of Norsan Food Group, Reinaldo Pascual, partner of the law firms of Kilpatrick Stockton LLP, Rene Diaz, president of Diaz Foods, and Filiberto Prieto, owner of the WPLO radio station and the El TacoVeloz restaurants.

      For more information, call Mr. Cater at (770) 951-8535.