Oklahoma Bankers Association We make bankers better!
In This Issue…
- From Adrian’s desk …
- FDIC rescinds notification guidance for crypto activity
- Upcoming ELT changes: What bankers, lienholders should know
- OBA Book Club announces next selection
- Keynote speaker joins OBA convention lineup
- OBA photo contest set; welcome new strategic member
- OBA education corner …
From Adrian’s desk …
By Adrian Beverage
OBA President & CEO
Just some random tidbits that might be of interest to our bankers this week!
• • •
Bankers’ Night Out events continue this week! We make our Tulsa stop tonight, specifically at the Hard Rock Hotel. Next week, on April 10, we visit Enid, and then we wrap things up at the ever-popular Pete’s Place stop on April 30 in Krebs.
It’s not too late to get signed up to attend any of these upcoming events!
• • •
We issued a Banker Direct on Friday about regulatory agencies stating their intent to rescind the 2023 Community Reinvestment Act rule, and roll back to the framework that existed prior.
It’s pretty big news, and if you missed the Direct, I encourage you to read it. Again, though, I want to caution that the agencies have said this is their INTENT, but it is not yet official.
• • •
I mentioned my ‘Huskers weren’t done yet last week, playing in something called the College Basketball Crown. Well, they emerged victorious with a win over Arizona State, and advance on to play Georgetown on Wednesday.
If someone had told me Nebraska would still be playing basketball right now, I’d call you crazy. Of course, I’m still unsure what a “College Basketball Crown” is.
FDIC rescinds notification guidance for crypto activities
The FDIC last week rescinded earlier guidance urging banks to first contact the agency before engaging in crypto-related activities, part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to ease regulatory hurdles for digital assets.
The FDIC in 2022 issued a financial institutions letter asking banks either engaged in or planning to engage in crypto activities to contact the agency, saying the “risks of this area are not well understood given the limited experience with these new activities.” The agency today rescinded that guidance and issued a new financial institutions letter stating that FDIC-insured institutions may engage in permissible activities, including activities involving new and emerging technologies such as crypto-assets and digital assets, provided that they adequately manage the associated risks.
Upcoming ELT changes: What bankers, lienholders should know
Service Oklahoma continues to modernize vehicle services with key updates to the Electronic Liens and Titles system. These changes are designed to increase convenience and efficiency for lienholders, dealers, licensed operators and customers.
Here’s what’s coming:
April 7, 2025 – New Features Launching
- Electronic Lien Placement by Dealers – Dealers will be able to add liens electronically for any lienholder through their OkCARS accounts, streamlining the process.
- Electronic Title Bill of Sale – For vehicles with electronic titles, ownership will transfer using a new notarized bill of sale form available on Service Oklahoma’s website.
- Expansion of Vehicle Information Requests – Lienholders and dealers will have access to additional vehicle information in OkCARS, providing critical details needed for transactions—even outside of normal title office hours.
July 1, 2025 – Full Transition to Electronic Titles
- All titles will be issued electronically, with limited exceptions. Paper titles will remain valid until the next transaction, at which point they’ll be converted to electronic titles.
Need Help?
- FAQs – Learn how these changes impact you in our FAQs.
- Training Guide – View step-by-step instructions on adding liens in OkCARS.
- Live Q&A Session – Join Service Oklahoma (Meeting ID: 268 206 674 210 |Passcode: CN3tj7uj) this Thursday, April 3 at 1 p.m. for a virtual session. Click here to join at the time of the event.
As always, for questions about ELT or lienholder OkCARS accounts, contact the Service Oklahoma team at eltaccounts@service.ok.gov.
OBA Book Club announces next selection
The OBA Book Club’s next selection is “Unreasonable Hospitality” by Will Guidara.
Book description:
Today, every business can choose to be in the hospitality industry — and you don’t have to be a luxury business to do it. This book of lessons about both service and leadership learned over a career in hospitality celebrates the one principle that will never go out of season: the human desire to be taken care of. In this behind-the-scenes peek at the world of fine dining, Guidara shows us how to find the magic in what we do — for ourselves, the people we work with, and the people we serve.
To get involved in the book club, please email Joan Anderson, and she will add you to the Book Club roster.
The next discussion will take place in-person this summer.
Keynote speaker joins OBA convention lineup
A former U.S. ambassador and member of the George W. Bush administration will headline the upcoming OBA convention as the keynote speaker.
Frank Lavin is a seasoned expert in global affairs, international trade and political strategy. With a distinguished career spanning diplomacy, business, and policy analysis, he brings a unique perspective on the intersection of politics, economics and world events. Lavin served on the National Security Council staff, as White House political director, then as the U.S. Ambassador to Singapore and later as under secretary for international trade at the U.S. Department of Commerce, where he led trade policy initiatives and business development strategies worldwide.
In addition to his government service, Lavin has held leadership roles in global banking and corporate strategy, advising businesses on navigating complex international markets. His insights on political risk, economic trends and U.S. foreign policy make him a sought-after speaker for conferences, corporate events, and leadership forums.
Known for his lighthearted and engaging style, Lavin delivers sharp analysis with a touch of humor, making even complex topics accessible and thought-provoking. Whether discussing the latest global developments, U.S. politics, or economic shifts, he provides audiences with actionable takeaways and a clearer understanding of what lies ahead.
OBA photo contest set; welcome new strategic member
The OBA is proud to offer again the customized calendar, “Oklahoma Views & Vistas” from photographs of Oklahoma submitted by Oklahoma bankers and their family members and board of directors and their family members.
These calendars will be sold exclusively to banks across the state of Oklahoma for bankers to give to their customers to enjoy all year long!
If you or a family member is an amateur photographer and would like the opportunity to have your creativity displayed in homes and businesses across Oklahoma, the OBA has a great opportunity for you! Send us your photos of farms, barns, agricultural activities, historical Oklahoma locations, county fairs, carnivals, parades or festivals, fall colors, winter snowfalls, spring flowers or summer fun; any photo that shows the history and beauty of the great state of Oklahoma.
The deadline to submit photos is June 6. All photos submitted will be scored by a panel of judges. The top scoring photos will be featured in the 2026 Views & Vistas calendar! Click Here for a contest form!
We’d also like to welcome a new strategic member:
Shiloh Management Group, Inc.
Since 1998, Shiloh Management Group has assisted financial institutions across the nation in maintaining exceptional credit quality and regulatory compliance. With an emphasis on M&A Advisory and Loan Portfolio Analysis, they offer an extensive suite of services to our clients: Credit Services: – Comprehensive Loan Review – Problem Asset and Risk Management – Appraisal Reviews – Development & Modification of Lending Policies and Loan Approval Processes Regulatory Interface: – Regulator Mandated Management Assessments – Mandated Asset Quality or Loan Reviews – Addressing Report of Examination Criticisms – Strategies for Removing Formal Agreements and Cease & Desist Orders Other Services: – Due Diligence for Acquisitions or Bank Stock Loans – General Bank Technology Assessment – Executive Search – Litigation Support & Expert Witness Testimony.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Contact: Steve Plunk, Doug Plunk or Connor Burch
4912 E 104th Pl.
Tulsa, OK 74137
Phone: (918) 527-3856
Email: steve.plunk@shilohmgmt.com; doug.plunk@shilohmgmt.com; connor.burch@shilohmgmt.com
LinkedIn – Shiloh Management Group Inc
OBA education corner …
Sometimes music just sounds better on vinyl. Case in point, this weekend, some of us listened to Steve Wonder’s classic album “Songs in the Key of Life” on a turntable. Hearing Sir Duke or Love’s in Need of Love Today alongside the scrapes and whistles of the vinyl just makes it more real. While communing with obsolete music storage devices, don’t forget to take part in some upcoming continuing education opportunities for you and your staff in the coming weeks!
- Understanding Commercial Loan Documents, April 7, webinar — Understanding commercial loan documents and being able to explain their content can help you expand customer relationships. In this webinar, you’ll gain insight into the various documents required for loans.
- The Rules and Regulations Governing ACH Transactions, April 10, webinar — Join the Payments Professor for a webinar that will demystify these rules, helping you understand when, where and how they apply in various ACH scenarios.
- Controlling the Risks of Power of Attorney Documents, April 10, webinar — Are you ready to tackle the complexities of Power of Attorney documents with confidence? This session will equip you with the knowledge and insights to navigate even the most challenging situations with ease.
- Customer Due Diligence And Enhanced Due Diligence – 2-Part Series, April 15/24, webinar — The new account interview should be used to establish a baseline of expected behavior for our customers both business and consumer.
- Compliance Management System Essentials, April 16, webinar — This program provides a practical, risk-based review of the basic requirements of a CMS.
- 2025 Rural Bankers/Ag Conference, April 17, Oklahoma City — Dr. Dave Kohl, an academic Hall of Famer in the College of Agriculture at Virginia Tech, will bring his keen insight into the agriculture industry gained through extensive travel, research, and involvement in ag businesses.
- Bi-Monthly Compliance Briefing, April 17, webinar — A bi-monthly update to help you keep up with changes and deadlines in the compliance area in a quick and easy format.
- Demystifying Trusts: Establishing Deposit Accounts and Loans, April 17, webinar — This webinar will provide attendees with information on doing business with trusts, including best practices in establishing deposit account and loan relationships.
- Frontline Excellence (formerly known as Essential Teller) Seminar, April 22-Oklahoma City; April 23-McAlester; April 24-Tulsa — These seminars are programs that cover five pivotal modules for today’s frontline professionals. They serve as an important reminder about the significance of their role, serving as the CEOs of the customer experience and reinforcing the importance of their actions and reactions as a reputation builder for your brand.
- Advanced Commercial Lending Workshops, May 1-Advanced Cash Flow Analysis, May 2-Advanced Tax Analysis, Oklahoma City — The cash flow analysis seminar will explore multiple models of both business and personal (business owner) cash flow analyses. Meanwhile, the tax return analysis seminar will provide the banker with several advanced tax return concepts and related analyses to help them more effectively work with their business customers.