03/11/2014

ICBA Washington Policy Summit Speakers Confirmed

ICBA NewsWatch Today 03/11/2014

GrassrootsSpeakers Confirmed for 2014 Washington Policy SummitTwo key Senate Banking Committee members are confirmed to speak at this year’s ICBA Washington Policy Summit, scheduled for April 29-May 2 in the nation’s capital. Sens. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.) will address community bankers in attendance. Moran introduced in the Senate the CLEAR Relief Act of 2013 (S. 1349), regulatory relief legislation for community banks inspired by ICBA’s Plan for Prosperity platform. Heitkamp, a cosponsor of S. 1349, has also advocated for community bank relief from new mortgage regulations. FDIC Chairman Martin Gruenberg is also on the agenda for the ICBA Washington Policy Summit, which allows community bankers to engage members of Congress and regulators and influence the policymaking process. There is no registration fee to attend the summit. The community banking industry needs every available community banker to step up to the plate to make sure their voice is being heard in Washington. Visit ICBA’s Washington Policy Summit webpage to learn more and register today. Learn More and Register.RegulationICBA Urges CFPB Not to Impose New Credit Score Regs on Community BanksICBA urged the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau not to require community banks to provide new credit score disclosures on monthly credit card statements. The CFPB recently asked the nation’s largest credit card companies to provide this disclosure. In a letter to the bureau, ICBA wrote that community banks’ relationship-based business model ensures frequent and transparent communication with customers. The required credit score disclosure cannot be easily implemented by community banks due to their limited compliance resources, ICBA noted. ICBA also urged the CFPB not to consider the disclosure an industry best practice, which can be interpreted by bank examiners to be requirements. The association wrote that community banks should not be punished by examiners for not providing the disclosure. ICBA NewsWatch Today is sponsored by Holtmeyer & Monson:Community banks are taking advantage of SBA Lending in record numbers! It’s easy to see why. With secondary market premiums for loan guarantees at historic highs, banks are increasing non-interest fee income and commercial loan growth. ICBA Preferred Service Provider Holtmeyer & Monson does all the work, at no net cost to banks. Call (800) 340-7304 or visit www.holtandmon.com.MagazineMarch ICBA Independent Banker Features New ICBA ChairmanThe March issue of ICBA Independent Banker features a profile of new ICBA Chairman John Buhrmaster. In addition to the profile of Buhrmaster, the president of 1st National Bank of Scotia, N.Y., this month’s edition also features the nation’s newest de novo community bank, the ICBA national convention in Hawaii, a spotlight on mergers and acquisitions, the process of managing change, and more. Read This Month’s Issue.PollTake This Week’s Quick PollTake this week’s Quick Poll on the impact of winter weather on job and economic growth, and view results from the previous poll on the ICBA national convention. View the Archive.EducationICBA Compliance Institute Slated for AprilThe Certified Community Bank Compliance Officer certification is one of the most reputable compliance certifications available for community bankers. Learn how you can earn your CCBCO certification at the upcoming ICBA Compliance Institute, scheduled for April 6-11 in Memphis, Tenn. The live seminar will offer updated guidance on the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s mortgage-servicing rules and assess the latest compliance reforms in areas such as Reg. Z, RESPA, Reg. B and Reg. E. Register Today.Products and ServicesWebinar Covers Expansion Analysis and Evaluating New Markets and StrategiesBank Intelligence Solutions from Fiserv, an ICBA Preferred Service Provider, is hosting a webinar at 2 p.m. (Eastern time) Thursday, March 20, titled “Expansion Analysis—How to Evaluate New Markets and Strategies.” For many community banks 2014 represents an opportunity for growth and expansion. This webinar will outline a deliberate approach to evaluating new markets and how to identify best growth opportunities, including new market segments, existing branch footprints and new products. Register Online.Products and ServicesUpcoming Webinar: How to Solve IT Risk and Compliance ChallengesAn upcoming webinar will discuss how community banks are permanently solving their IT compliance challenges with cloud computing and IT risk and compliance services from ICBA Strategic Technology Solutions. The webinar, scheduled for 1 p.m. (Eastern time) Wednesday, March 26, will feature case studies and an overview of solutions, from self-help Web applications to fully managed compliance assurance programs. Learn More and Register Today.