Oklahoma Banker

April 2020

• April 15, 2020

  Executive News: Nightmare on main street

  There I was, minding my own business, with thoughts of the upcoming anniversary of my heart attack. Happy thoughts they were because I was so very blessed to have survived it. That memory brought back feelings of gratitude and praise that I lived to celebrate my 74th birthday. It was the best one ever, as you might imagine. Now I’m …
• April 15, 2020

  Implementing the CARES Act – successes, frustrations

  We’re almost a week into the process of implementing the CARES Act, and still there seem to be more questions than answers. “We have been trying to keep our member banks up to date on various aspects of the PPP (Paycheck Protection Program),” said Adrian Beverage, OBA’s chief of staff. “It just seems like once we think we have an …

March 2020

• March 11, 2020

  Executive News: Credit unions – Enough is enough already

  Over the years, many of you have heard me talk about credit unions and their growing presence both in Oklahoma and across the nation. And every time I see a commercial for Navy Federal Credit Union, I want to barf. What are we, 1,500 miles away from an ocean? Isn’t that where one would expect to find our “navy” and …
• March 11, 2020

  Nominations open for OBA Board

  Pursuant to Section 5.4 of the bylaws of the Oklahoma Bankers Association, this will serve as official notice of the process of selecting members of the board of directors of the Association. There are six board nominating committees, each of which will select a banker to replace the board member whose term on the OBA’s board will expire at the …

February 2020

• February 21, 2020

  Executive News: Looking at the Alliance

  One of the things many of you have heard me talk about over the last five years or so deals with the Alliance between and among the 51 state bankers associations across the country and the ABA. The alliance is of immeasurable value to the commercial banking industry, but it wasn’t always so. When I first arrived at the OBA …
• February 21, 2020

  Bankers’ Night Out events set for Spring

  The dates for the OBA Bankers’ Night Out programs have been finalized. Mark your calendar for the date of the program that’s in your area of the state and plan to attend. Bring your coworkers with you so that everyone can be up to speed on the most recent developments affecting their job. In addition to state and federal legislative …

October 2019

• October 27, 2019

  Executive News: Onward to Senate

  In spite of all of the impeachment noise late last month, the industry was successful in obtaining passage of the Secure and Fair Enforcement Banking Act (the SAFE Act) by a strong bipartisan vote: 323-101. While far from perfect, the SAFE Act is at least a step in the right direction for the industry. While I would have preferred different …
• October 27, 2019

  Hall of Fame inductees unveiled

  The OBA is proud to announce the group of inductees for the Oklahoma Bankers Hall of Fame, with the ceremony set for Dec. 5 in Oklahoma City. John V. Anderson, with F&M Bank in Crescent; Mick Thompson, with the Oklahoma State Banking Department; Clark and Wanda Bass, with First National Bank & Trust Co., in McAlester; and Morrison Tucker, a …
• October 27, 2019

  New language in Act seeks parity for banks, credit union

  Section 2821 of the National Defense Authorization Act for the 2020 fiscal year includes a significant change that means a more-level playing field between banks and credit unions located on military installations. The issue has to do with how banks are now required to compete with credit unions on military bases and posts beyond their tax-exempt status. Credit unions currently …

September 2019

• September 22, 2019

  Executive News: Your bank’s future depends on FinTech?

  I recently read an article in the American Banker about traditional community banks and their need for FinTech firms. The headline, “Traditional Banks Continue to Flirt with Obsolescence,” got my attention and, after reading what I thought was a sales pitch, I began to think about what he said or was trying to say. Robertson is the founder and CEO …