December 2021

  • December 16, 2021

    Small business optimism index increases in November

    In November, the NFIB Small Business Optimism Index rose 0.2 points to 98.4. The Uncertainty Index fell 4 points to 63 points. Business owners intend to generate new employment at a seasonally adjusted net 25.0%, down 1 point from the previous month. The percentage of business owners who believe now is a favorable time to expand remained unchanged from the …

  • December 14, 2021

    Week of Dec. 13

    In This Issue… OBA taking donations for tornado victims OCC nominee withdraws from consideration OBA education corner … OBA taking donations for tornado victims Last week, Kentucky suffered severe tornado damage, the worst in state history. The primary tornado was tracked as being on ground for more than 200 miles, impacting at least 19 counties and four other states. Banks …

  • December 9, 2021

    Supervisory Highlights Report Flags Mortgage Servicing, Fair Lending Issue

    The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) today released a “Supervisory Highlights” report concentrating on examiner observations of different financial products from January to June 2021. Credit card account management, debt collection, deposits, fair lending, mortgage servicing, payday lending, prepaid accounts, and remittance transfers are among the areas where problems were discovered, according to the bureau. To read the full report, …

  • December 7, 2021

    Week of Dec. 6

    In This Issue… Compliance Alliance offers demo days, complimentary access, exclusively for OBA members Thank you to 2021 Oklahoma Bankers Hall of Fame sponsors! OBA welcomes new strategic member OBA education corner … Compliance Alliance offers demo days, complimentary access, exclusively for OBA members Compliance Alliance is offering demo days for OBA members, allowing complimentary 48-hour trials of the service. …

November 2021

  • November 30, 2021

    PPP loans prompt state-level employment growth

    The Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland determined in a new study brief this week that Paycheck Protection Program loans served to reduce the effects of the pandemic-related recession on state-level employment growth and had “substantial” advantages overall. Researchers discovered that providing one additional week of payroll support through PPP loans during the first round of PPP lending “would have minimized …

  • November 30, 2021

    Week of Nov. 29

    In This Issue… Banks stay strong as banking system conditions improved in 2021 2021 Oklahoma Bankers Hall of Fame induction ceremony set for Thursday OBA education corner … Banks stay strong as banking system conditions improved in 2021 The banking system’s financial situation remained improved in the first half of 2021, according to the Federal Reserve’s latest supervision and regulation …

  • November 23, 2021

    Week of Nov. 22

    In This Issue… State banking board approves reduction in 2022 assessments OBA offices closed Thursday, Friday this week OBA education corner … State banking board approves reduction in 2022 assessments The Oklahoma State Banking Board voted  at its November meeting unanimously to reduce the assessments paid by Oklahoma state-chartered banks. The 2022 assessment rate was discounted 40% for each bank …

  • November 22, 2021

    November 2021 OBA Legal Briefs

    Don’t ignore the FDCPA regulation coming November 30 (Part 1) New Stuff on Legal Links Don’t ignore the FDCPA regulations By John S. Burnett The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s revisions to Regulation F become effective on November 30, 2021, less than a month from now. While on their face the rules in Reg F will apply to debt collectors who …

  • November 19, 2021

    Executive News: Bankers’ Night Out events wrap up autumn season

    The first week of this month, we wrapped up our fall Bankers’ Night Out events. We traveled to six different locations across the state and were able to visit with more than 700 bankers. Thanks goes to Miles Pringle with The Bankers Bank, who joined us to talk about everything bitcoin and digital currency. Along with Miles, we covered a …

  • November 18, 2021

    IRS reporting issue not part of initial budget framework

    The Biden Administration and House leaders released the framework and legislative text of the Build Back Better plan in late October, and the package does not contain any language on the tax information reporting proposal opposed by the ABA, OBA and other state bankers associations. Please note, however, the release of the framework and text is only a part of …