EXHIBIT 31.1
RULES 13a-14(a) AND 15d-14(a) CERTIFICATION OF THE PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER

                                 CERTIFICATIONS
                                 --------------

I, J. Philip Hester, Sr., certify that:

     1.   I have  reviewed  this  quarterly  report on Form 10-QSB of  Chestatee
          Bancshares, Inc.;

     2.   Based on my  knowledge,  this  report  does  not  contain  any  untrue
          statement  of a  material  fact  or  omit to  state  a  material  fact
          necessary to make the statements  made, in light of the  circumstances
          under which such  statements were made, not misleading with respect to
          the period covered by this report;

     3.   Based on my knowledge,  the financial statements,  and other financial
          information  included in this report,  fairly  present in all material
          respects the  financial  condition,  results of  operations,  and cash
          flows  of the  small  business  issuer  as of,  and for,  the  periods
          presented in this report;

     4.   The  small  business  issuer's  other  certifying  officer  and  I are
          responsible for establishing and maintaining  disclosure  controls and
          procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules  13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e))
          and internal control over financial  reporting (as defined in Exchange
          Act Rules  13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the small business  issuer and
          have:

               (a) Designed such disclosure  controls and procedures,  or caused
               such disclosure  controls and procedures to be designed under our
               supervision,  to ensure that material information relating to the
               small business issuer, including its consolidated subsidiary,  is
               made known to us by others  within those  entities,  particularly
               during the period in which this report is being prepared;

               (b) Designed such internal control over financial  reporting,  or
               caused such  internal  control  over  financial  reporting  to be
               designed under our supervision,  to provide reasonable  assurance
               regarding  the   reliability  of  financial   reporting  and  the
               preparation  of financial  statements  for  external  purposes in
               accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

               (c) Evaluated the  effectiveness  of the small business  issuer's
               disclosure  controls and  procedures and presented in this report
               our  conclusions   about  the  effectiveness  of  the  disclosure
               controls and  procedures,  as of the end of the period covered by
               this report based on such evaluation; and

               (d)  Disclosed  in this  report any change in the small  business
               issuer's internal control over financial  reporting that occurred
               during the small  business  issuer's most recent  fiscal  quarter
               that  has  materially  affected,   or  is  reasonably  likely  to
               materially  affect,  the small business issuer's internal control
               over financial reporting; and

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     5.   The  small  business  issuer's  other  certifying  officer  and I have
          disclosed,  based on our most recent  evaluation  of internal  control
          over financial reporting,  to the small business issuer's auditors and
          the audit committee of the small business issuer's board of directors:

               (a) All significant  deficiencies and material  weaknesses in the
               design or operation of internal control over financial  reporting
               which  are  reasonably  likely  to  adversely  affect  the  small
               business  issuer's  ability to  record,  process,  summarize  and
               report financial information; and

               (b) Any fraud, whether or not material,  that involves management
               or other  employees  who  have a  significant  role in the  small
               business issuer's internal control over financial reporting.


November 14, 2005

                                             /s/ J. Philip Hester, Sr.
                                             -------------------------
                                             J. Philip Hester,
                                             Sr., President and
                                             CEO (Principal
                                             Executive Officer)