From AI and crypto to complex regulatory challenges and increasingly diverse markets, bank executives face increasingly complex strategic decisions — and so do bank boards as they set and oversee the strategic direction for their banks. And yet, the average age of bank directors is 76, and many do not have expertise in these critical challenges affecting banks. On the latest episode of the ABA Banking Journal Podcast, veteran bank board members and executives Jenn Docherty and Virginia Varela discuss how bank boards can position their banks for success in a challenging environment. They discuss the importance of sourcing diverse expertise and how board members can start and lead difficult conversations about where their banks need to go, creating space for new ideas and giving management more flexibility — and more incentives — to innovate. Docherty and Varela will discuss these topics and more at the ABA Conference for Community Bankers, Feb. 16-18 in Phoenix.
In this holiday bonus episode — sponsored by TransUnion — host Evan Sparks digs into the Banking Journal archives to learn more about the “Christmas Club” savings vehicle, and what this financial product says about human psychology and behavioral economics. This episode is presented by TransUnion.
“Well, your money’s in Joe’s house, that’s right next to yours. And in the Kennedy House, and Mrs. Macklin’s house, and, and a hundred others. Why, you’re lending them the money to build, and then, they’re going to pay it back to you as best they can.” Seventy-eight years ago, George Bailey memorably explained the operation of a mutual savings and loan to a national audience in It’s a Wonderful Life. But while today’s bankers understand mutuality, do today’s potential clients? On the latest episode of the ABA Banking Journal Podcast — sponsored by TransUnion — bank leaders Gregg Tewksbury and Lori Dufficy discuss a new campaign, Mutuals Matter, that aims to educate consumers about mutual bank ownership. Among other things, they talk about: Why present, and future, customers need to be educated about the distinctive values of mutuality. How the campaign developed messaging that resonates with consumer. The role of the campaign in helping mutual bank employees understand their unique value proposition and take pride in their work. This episode is presented by TransUnion. If you can’t see the audio player above, click here to listen to this week’s episode. View the campaign at MutualBanksMatter.com. Read more in the ABA Banking Journal about public opinion on mutuality. Register for the ABA Mutual Community Bank Conference, April 6-7 in Washington, D.C.
The rarely used Congressional Review Act provides an opportunity for Congress and the president to overturn regulatory rulemakings — and the GOP trifecta in 2025 will bring new regulations up for review. On the latest episode of the ABA Banking Journal Podcast — sponsored by TransUnion — ABA experts Kirsten Sutton and Ginny O’Neill break down details about CRA that bankers need to know: Which rulemakings are subject to CRA disapproval resolutions — in financial services, principally Section 1033 and the newly finalized overdraft rule. How the GOP Congress might prioritize regulatory actions for CRA resolutions. The limitations on CRA and why, as Sutton says, “this is not a magic wand situation where Congress can just step in and CRA everything that we have a problem with.” This episode is presented by TransUnion.
Saved by the bell? Millions of American businesses faced a January 1 deadline to register their beneficial owners with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network — until a federal judge issued a preliminary injunction yesterday stopping FinCEN from enforcing the deadline. On the latest episode of the ABA Banking Journal Podcast — sponsored by TransUnion — ABA experts Heather Trew and Jonathan Blum discuss: What bankers and their business clients need to know about the preliminary injunction and its provisions. How the preliminary injunction does not affect financial institutions’ customer due diligence requirements — even if businesses are not required to report their beneficial ownership information to FinCEN, banks are still obliged to collect it from clients as part of CDD. Potential ramifications for AML/BSA activities if the Corporate Transparency Act that authorized the BOI registry is found to be unconstitutional. How this and other cases challenging the BOI registry may shake out, as well as the range of views on Capitol Hill on where to go from here. How ABA is engaging with both the current Congress and administration, and will advocate with the next Congress and incoming presidential administration, on these issues. This episode is presented by TransUnion.
Advertising jingles: corny or clever? “Imagine the repetition over years in a community that hears it regularly,” says Clark Hook of Financial Marketing Solutions. “It’s whether you love or hate jingles, you cannot deny the power of that mnemonic device to put attribution to the things you’re putting into the world.” On the latest episode of the ABA Banking Journal Podcast — sponsored by Agri-Access — we take a look at bank jingles past and present. Expert bank marketers discuss: How and why community banks still find value in their jingles. The use of “sonic branding” and audio signatures as an alternative to traditional sung jingles — and how that sonic branding builds on historically successful and long-running jingles. The role of music in memory and brand recognition. Where banks overseas are using jingles. The interesting intersections between bank marketing and pop music. Read Craig Colgan’s recent article on bank jingles.
Middle market businesses don’t get the attention of the Fortune 500 or the love that small businesses get from policymakers, but these firms are still critical to the economy — accounting for a third of private-sector GDP and employing up to 50 million Americans. On the latest episode of the ABA Banking Journal Podcast — sponsored by Agri-Access — KeyBank commercial bank president Ken Gavrity discusses the outlook for the middle market, defined as businesses with annual revenues of $10 million to $1 billion. Among other topics, Gavrity discusses: Why middle market business leaders have grown more positive this fall about the outlook. How middle market firms’ cost control and resilience-building during the inflationary period position them well as rates begin to come down. The improvement in the talent outlook for middle market firms. How middle market businesses are prepared to capitalize on the efficiencies, including automation and AI, that they instilled in the past few years. How KeyBank integrates its commercial payments business with its middle market services. This episode is presented by Agri-Access.
The Republican sweep of the presidency and Congress, with extremely narrow control of the House, sets up tax policy as a major issue in 2025. With many provisions of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act expiring at the end of next year and tax policy changes able to be passed on a simple-majority basis through budget reconciliation, bankers can expect to see tax policy front and center. On the latest episode of the ABA Banking Journal Podcast — sponsored by Agri-Access — ABA VP Joey Connor discusses what to expect from the tax policy debate in 2025, including: The priority of extending Section 199(a) provisions for Subchapter S banks. Potential approaches to paying for a multi-trillion-dollar tax package. Issues related to credit union taxation and the base erosion that accompanies CU purchases of community banks. A range of complex technical tax issues, including GILTI, BEAT and Pillar 2 changes.
With commodity prices falling and producer expenses rising, it’s a difficult moment for America’s agricultural economy. On the latest episode of the ABA Banking Journal Podcast — sponsored by Agri-Access — Dakota Mac loan production officer Caleb Hopkins discusses strategies ag lenders are using to support their clients through this cycle. As chair of ABA’s Agricultural and Rural Bankers Committee, Hopkins also provides a preview of the upcoming ABA Agricultural Bankers Conference. This episode is presented by Agri-Access.
John Asbury didn’t need a new job in 2016, but when he saw an opportunity build something lost in the 1990s — what he calls “the great Virginia regional bank” — he took it. Eight years later, Richmond-based Atlantic Union Bank has more than tripled in size and is on track to reach nearly $40 billion in assets after completion of an announced acquisition of Sandy Spring Bank. On the latest episode of the ABA Banking Journal Podcast — sponsored by Alkami — AUB CEO Asbury talks about the transformation of the bank. He also discusses his agenda as the newly elected chair of the American Bankers Association, including advocating to remove arbitrary asset thresholds that distort banks’ strategic growth plans, his approach to leadership development at the bank and his commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging.
Crypto investment scams cost Americans billions of dollars. The scammers start small with confidence or romance scams and gradually work their way up to demanding ever larger “investments.” On the latest episode of the ABA Banking Journal Podcast — sponsored by Alkami — officials from the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission break down how these scams work, typologies and red flags bankers should look out for and how banks can build proactive partnerships with law enforcement. They also discuss a new educational infographic on these scams produced jointly by the ABA Foundation and several government agencies.
How do community banks balance the need for cutting-edge technology and the human touch? On the latest episode of the ABA Banking Journal Podcast — sponsored by Alkami — Pamela Montpelier of Ballston Spa National Bank talks about how a laser-like focus on customer experience can help drive growth. Among other topics, Montpelier discusses the use of AI-based tools to improve decision-making and help bank employees replace manual processes with time spent engaging clients. She also talks about her experience working with a variety of banks as a service provider executive, prior to which she was the youngest female bank CEO in Massachusetts.
As president and CEO of $50 billion-plus BOK Financial, Stacy Kymes spends time thinking about the role of regional banks in the U.S. economy. On the latest episode of the ABA Banking Journal Podcast — sponsored by Alkami — Kymes talks about how BOK Financial finds unique niches and meets the credit and capital market needs in its core mid-America markets. Among other topics, Kymes discusses: BOK Financial’s diversified business model that balances lending with fee businesses like an EFT network and treasury and wealth management. The role of Tulsa, Oklahoma-based BOK Financial in financing the energy economy. BOK Financial’s tribal banking programs in Oklahoma and New Mexico, including a unique mortgage loan product for tribal lands. The bank’s plans to grow share in core markets of Tulsa, Oklahoma City, Denver, Phoenix, Dallas and Houston. BOK’s approach to talent management, recruitment and acquisition. The importance of having banks headquartered in “flyover states” that can meet the capital markets needs of large and middle-market firms.
Most bankers dread the thought of a core conversion, but once that decision is made, the process can open up new opportunities for strategic growth. On the latest episode of the ABA Banking Journal Podcast — sponsored by Alkami — Webster Five CIO Kate Megraw discusses her bank’s conversion and what she learned. Among other topics, Megraw explains: How a new core met the business strategy needs of Massachusetts-based Webster Five. The process of developing an RFP, exploring models and working with a core selection consultant. The role of commercial client growth in driving the need for a new core platform. Challenges and successes experienced in the conversion process. Megraw will join fellow Core Platforms Committee members to discuss conversions at the ABA Annual Convention, Oct. 27-29 in New York City.
As chief corporate responsibility officer for Webster Bank, Marissa Weidner works across the bank’s footprints and business lines to help advance the bank’s goals of financial empowerment. On the latest episode of the ABA Banking Journal Podcast — sponsored by Alkami — Weidner discusses the many dimensions of how this takes shape at the northeastern regional bank. Among other topics, she explores: Webster’s focus on access to capital for small businesses, including those owned by minorities and women. How Webster designed its special-purpose credit program focused on homeownership. Webster’s innovative “finance labs,” built in partnership with local schools and nonprofit partners, to provide hands-on financial experience for young people from low-to-moderate-income areas. The role of Bank On accounts in Webster’s financial inclusion strategy. Weidner also discusses her career journey — including experience in economic development, bank human resources and bank merger integration — that led her to her current role. This episode is presented by Alkami.
Fraud is front and center for America’s banks, and on the latest episode of the ABA Banking Journal Podcast — sponsored by Alkami — ABA’s Paul Benda and Peter Cook discuss several recent initiatives taken by ABA to help banks tackle fraud from a variety of fronts. Benda discusses ABA’s recently expanded Fraud Contact Directory, which is free to all banks and now encompasses other forms of fraud to facilitate prompt claims. He also explores new tools banks are using to tackle rising fraud numbers. Meanwhile, Cook discusses the latest incarnation of ABA’s award-winning #BanksNeverAskThat anti-phishing campaign — returning for a fourth year in October and also free to all banks — and previews a new companion initiative, Practice Safe Checks, that educates consumers about how to avoid becoming unwitting victims of check fraud.
Earlier this week, VersaBank closed on its purchase of Stearns Bank Holdingford N.A., giving the Canadian point-of-sale lender a point of entry into the U.S. market. On the season eight premiere of the ABA Banking Journal Podcast — sponsored by Alkami — VersaBank founder and CEO David Taylor discusses the bank’s growth plans in the United States. Taylor also explores his career history in banking, the story of VersaBank as the first new bank to receive a license in Canada in 18 years, how the bank developed a deposit broker network in Canada, VersaBank’s point-of-sale lending strategy (and how it can acquire loans without any equity from the finance company), and VersaBank’s talent and culture. This episode is presented by Alkami.
After a long legislative and regulatory advocacy effort, federal thrifts can finally elect “covered savings association” status, allowing them to exercise national bank powers without having to change their charters, holding companies or cultural identities as savings institutions. On the latest episode of the ABA Banking Journal Podcast — sponsored by Jack Henry — two experts walk through why eligible federal savings associations may wish to approach this election. Luse Gorman attorney Larry Spaccasi and ABA SVP Joseph Pigg discuss ABA’s role in winning passage of HOLA flexibility under the S. 2155 regulatory reform law and its more recent advocacy with the Federal Reserve to ensure institutions can benefit from the election at the holding company level, as well as the factors that thrift leaders can consider when deciding to make the election to become a CSA. Spaccasi and Pigg will be joined by a bank CEO to elaborate on these topics in greater detail at ABA’s Annual Convention, Oct. 2-4 in Austin.
The latest incarnation of ABA’s award-winning #BanksNeverAskThat anti-phishing campaign returns in October. On the season premiere of the ABA Banking Journal Podcast — sponsored by Jack Henry — ABA Chair Scott Anderson talks about how Zions Bank has been involved in #BanksNeverAskThat in the past and why Zions is excited about the refreshed campaign for 2022. Offering a couple sneak previews of the new creative elements, ABA’s Peter Cook also discusses how the campaign has been updated to educate consumers about how to protect themselves from scams using mobile payment apps, as well as the results bankers have seen from #BanksNeverAskThat participation. “I hope banks everywhere will take advantage of #BanksNeverAskThat,” Anderson says. Learn more about #BanksNeverAskThat and register. If you can’t see the audio player above, click here to listen to this week’s episode. This episode is sponsored by Jack Henry.
It’s National Financial Literacy Month, but on the latest episode of the ABA Banking Journal Podcast — sponsored by IntraFi Network — Matthew Hennessey digs into the literacy that undergirds financial literacy: the basics of economic decision-making, from prices and markets to preferences and specialization. “The main lesson at the heart of economics is that life is about tradeoffs and that economics is about choice,” Hennessey says. “When we make a choice, it almost always means we’re giving something up that we value.” In the newly released book Visible Hand, Hennessey — deputy op-ed editor at the Wall Street Journal — illuminates these concepts in a self-described “avuncular” style designed to help average Americans understand how they make economic decisions every day and to appreciate the free enterprise system that lays atop those decisions. This episode is sponsored by IntraFi Network.
Aaron Owen
de novo: starting from the beginning; a new