Oklahoma Banker

January 2021

• January 11, 2021

  COVID relief package passes; latest PPP round underway

  In late December, shortly before the holiday season began, Congress cast final votes to pass the $900 billion bipartisan coronavirus relief package. Shortly afterward, the bill was signed by President Trump and put into action. The bill did include more funds for a new round of the Paycheck Protection Program, and that round is currently underway as this issue of …

December 2020

• December 11, 2020

  Executive News: Christmas joy … especially this year

  Each December, I write this column to wish you and yours a very merry Christmas. In the past I’ve also used this opportunity to summarize what we’ve been doing for the past year. I’ve also written this column to demonstrate the value of your bank’s OBA membership, and that’s been especially true this year. Working in tandem with my colleagues …
• December 11, 2020

  Consumer credit growth increases

  In October, consumer credit increased at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 2.1%. Revolving credit decreased at an annual rate of 6.7%, and nonrevolving credit increased at an annual rate of 4.8%. Federal government holdings of student loans continue to be the largest portion of non-revolving credit, comprising approximately 43.2% of outstanding credit. Depository institutions and finance companies are secondary …
• December 11, 2020

  Oklahoma banks show upward trajectory in third quarter

  Oklahoma banks showed increasing numbers in their net income for the third quarter of 2020 according to the just-released FDIC Quarterly Banking Review. Oklahoma banks have a net income of $1.05 billion in 2020 as of the Sept. 30 numbers, compared to a net income of $1.03 billion at the same time frame in 2019. This year’s $1.05 billion is …

November 2020

• November 11, 2020

  Executive News: What a mess!

  As this issue of Oklahoma Banker goes to press, we still don’t know for absolute sure who the next president of the United States will be. Bummer. What DO we know? Well, we know a few things: The Oklahoma Hous e of Representatives gained some additional Republican members. The state Senate remained pretty much even. State Question 805 was soundly …
• November 11, 2020

  Fed maintains rates as recovery continues

  The Federal Reserve will keep its target range for the federal funds rate at zero to 0.25% as the economy remains well below levels of output seen at the start of the year, even as economic recovery continues, the Federal Open Market Committee said on Nov. 5. The committee said it expects to maintain that range until the labor market …

October 2020

• October 11, 2020

  Executive News: Four weeks out, all is well … ?

  … umm … maybe. Maybe not. The upcoming election is about four weeks away. This year has been interesting/challenging, to say the least. That being the case, I have just a couple of quick election-related observations. The Trump Administration seems to be in the crosshairs of this dreaded COVID-19 virus: First it was Hope Hicks; then it was the president …
• October 11, 2020

  ABA, OBA create voting toolkit

  It’s officially October, and news on the presidential election is on every corner. The conversation has taken over social media, television and even the dinner table. While talking about the election is a great way to educate yourself and others, the most essential part is exercising your right to vote. The American Bankers Association has teamed with the Oklahoma Bankers …

September 2020

• September 22, 2020

  Executive News: Next big hurdle: DEI, compliance concerns

  We’ve all been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, some more than others. As many of you who read this column know, my wife and I have been self-quarantined since mid-March. Most days I work from home and I find the environment surprisingly calm and productive. On at least a weekly basis, I go to the office when no one else …
• September 22, 2020

  Navigating work absences due to closed schools

  Crowe & Dunlevy As the school year begins, Oklahoma’s banks once again face the challenge of accommodating the need for employees to be home to care for school-age children due to the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. This article focuses on the relevant paid leave mandates of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, the challenges caused by the varying …