Two small Georgia banking companies face increased scrutiny from regulators.

Middle Georgia Corp., which operates Central Bank of Ellaville, and FMB Bancshares, which owns Farmers & Merchants Bank in Lakeland, have entered into “written agreements” with the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta and the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance.

The orders were executed earlier this month but made public on Thursday. They piggy-back on earlier “cease and desist” orders made by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. against the two banks that require a range of financial and operational improvements.

Both Central Bank and Farmers & Merchants have a pool of troubled real estate loans.

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Travelers are seen checking in at the North Terminal at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on Monday, Nov. 10, 2025. The airport experienced hundreds of flight cancellations over the weekend as the ongoing government shutdown continues to disrupt the aviation industry nationwide. (Miguel Martinez/AJC)

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Passengers wait at a Delta check-in counter at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport domestic terminal on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025, the first day of the Federal Aviation Administration cutting flight capacity at airports during the government shutdown. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

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