CONTACT: FRANCES E. EDMUNDS
PHONE: 229-246-8032 EXT 120

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JANUARY 30, 2007

SW GA FARM CREDIT CUSTOMERS RECEIVE
$2.8 MILLION DISTRIBUTION 

BAINBRIDGE, GA – Southwest Georgia Farm Credit customers recently received their portion of an allocated surplus distribution totaling $2.8 million. These checks represent the balance of the distribution of final net earnings originally made in 2001, where customers received $2.8 million in cash.

Each year, a portion of the association’s net earnings is paid in cash and the balance is placed in an allocated surplus account in the customer’s name. After using these funds to capitalize the association for five years, and with sound financial conditions, the board of directors can decide to retire the allocated surplus. “Our members have received a patronage refund every year since 1988, totaling over $77 million.” stated Bobby Brooks, chairman of the board.

Richard S. Monson, president and chief executive officer of the association, stated, “Customers not only gain financially from the surplus retirement, they also see more clearly the linkage between their ownership of the association and benefits derived from doing business with a financial cooperative.”

Southwest Georgia Farm Credit is a locally owned and controlled financial cooperative headquartered in Bainbridge and part of the nationwide Farm Credit System established by Congress in 1917 to ensure rural areas have access to competitively priced financing. There are 9 offices serving 21 counties with loan assets of over $475 million. Farm Credit serves rural communities with their financing needs through a variety of loan and leasing programs. Residential mortgages are also available.