As the nation heads into the final stretch of 2009, it’s Georgia in the lead, followed by Illinois, for the top (inglorious) honor of most bank failures this year. So far, 24 financial institutions have collapsed in the Peach State, compared to the Prairie State’s 20. Georgia managed to widen its lead after three more of its banks were seized last Friday by federal regulators. The three banks—Buckhead Community Bank in Atlanta, First Security National Bank of Norcross, and The Tattnall Bank of Reidsville—cost the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation a combined $285 million. Only one bank failed in Illinois last week—Benchmark Bank of Aurora. The total number of all banks that have collapsed in 2009