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In This Issue…
OCC to lower assessments
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency will lower assessments in 2023 as part of an effort to close the pricing differential between state and federal charter assessments, Acting Comptroller of the Currency Michael Hsu said last week during remarks to the Texas Bankers Association.
Effective in March, the agency will make a 40% reduction in assessments for a bank’s first $200 million in total balance sheet assets. It will also make a 20% reduction for bank assets between $200 million and $20 billion. The cuts will result in a $41.3 million reduction in assessments for community banks next year, Hsu said.
‘Banks are safe’ PSAs available from OBA
The Oklahoma Bankers Association has created “Banks are safe” public service announcements for its member banks in advertising, ready for 
display at the bank, in social media posts or for insertions into local newspapers.
These ads – available at no cost to member banks – echo the Association’s successful “Nothing’s Safer Than Money In The Bank” public relations campaigns from the past two decades.
The PSAs, available as electronic files so they can be printed as needed and shared via social media and websites, will enable banks to reassure their community about the safety and soundness of their local community banks … something beneficial to BOTH communities and banks, particular with current world, national and local happenings.
These PSAs echo the OBA’s previously successful “Nothing Is Safer Than Money In The Bank” public relations campaigns in previous years and will be modified to put each bank’s specific name. They are available as electronic files.
For more information on these PSAs, or to get branded versions for your bank, contact the OBA’s Jeremy Cowen (jeremy@oba.com) at (405) 424-5252.
OBA education corner …
If you squint, you can actually see autumn in the air: cooler nights, more rain and – most importantly – football on television!
Before you go shopping for random pumpkin-spiced goods, take a second to see what the OBA has cooked up for you in continuing education as we head into the fall months!:
- Anatomy of a Cyber Attack: Business Email Compromise, Sept. 13, webinar — According to recent studies, the average user has approximately 100 passwords to remember. As if this isn’t challenging enough, password requirements differ among the myriad of applications we use. With so many passwords to remember, coupled with the never-ending list of password requirements, users are partaking in a risky solution – reusing passwords.
- Loan Documentation 101: Basic Secured Loan Documentation, Sept. 21, webinar — Learn about basic loan documentation principles and practices under Revised Article 9 for collateral.
- Loan Documentation 101: Lien Perfection, Business Collateral, Sept. 22, webinar — Learn about specific classifications of collateral and language description requirements for UCC-1s and security agreements.
- Endorsements A to Z, Sept. 22, webinar — Having an understanding of endorsements and handling checks is crucial to making sound check cashing decision. A check is a unique type of contract where ownership can be transferred by way of the endorsement on the back of the item.
- 2022 Credit Analysis Basics, Sept. 22-Tulsa; Sept. 23-Oklahoma City — Attend this proactive seminar and learn how banks make lending decisions based on the five Cs of credit- capacity, capital, collateral, conditions and character.
- Best-Ever Compliance Checklists for Commercial Loans, Sept. 27, webinar — This colorful checklist, patterned after the popular Best-Ever Consumer Checklists, will guide bankers through those traps and ensure compliance.
Also, mark your calendars for the 2023 OBA Senior Management Forum! The Forum is set for April 2-4 at the Bellagio in Las Vegas. Look for more information in the coming months!