Oklahoma Banker

August 2019

• August 22, 2019

  Executive News: Some thoughts on Fed’s proposed RTP system

  Every August, like clockwork, Congress goes home for five weeks to campaign, travel their district or the state, read, do interviews – something other than doing the work of the people. A lot of folks think this is a good thing because it holds any action they might take in abeyance in terms of trying to make news or otherwise …
• August 22, 2019

  Hall of Fame ballots hitting banks this month

  Ballots for the 2019 Oklahoma Bankers Hall of Fame induction class will be mailed mid-August. An identical group of five ballots is being sent to every president/CEO of each bank in the state. We’re leaving it to the discretion of the presidents/CEOs to distribute these ballots how they see fit among their banks’ respective staffs. Each ballot will be counted …
• August 22, 2019

  Bankers’ Night Out programs set to begin in late September

  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 updates, the …
• August 22, 2019

  Fed announces plans for future RTP system

  The OBA has been at the forefront of a nationwide effort to encourage the Fed to decide whether it would develop its version of a real-time payments in the U.S. We’ve made the position known since last year and, like our colleagues, we believe every bank in the country and their customers will benefit from a seamless, ubiquitous real-time payments …

July 2019

• July 12, 2019

  Executive News: This guy was a great one!

  I’ve never written my column like this before. I’ve never commented in this space about a former OBA chairman who has passed away, and there have been a few. I should have. I should have paid proper tribute to these outstanding leaders. Over the past 31 years, there have been several who have passed on to better things and a …
• July 12, 2019

  Report: Credit unions fail serving ‘modest means’

  Late last month, a study by Karen Shaw Petrou from Federal Financial Analytics found credit unions are not meeting their statutory mission of serving individuals of “modest means.” The study also confirmed that credit union members are disproportionately from middle- and upper-income households. The report also notes that credit unions’ lack of “mission compliance” deepens economic inequality in the United …
• July 12, 2019

  OBA Emerging Leaders Academy taking applications for 2019-20

  Take note the OBA 2019-20 Emerging Leaders Academy is currently accepting applications. The OBA extends an invitation to any employee of a bank that is a member of the OBA to apply. A panel of bankers will review the applicants and choose those accepted into the Academy. Participants must attend all sessions to successfully graduate from the program. There are …
• July 12, 2019

  Washington Visit set for September

  The OBA’s Annual Washington Visit has been scheduled for Sept. 15-17, 2019, and the hotel will be the Trump International Hotel Washington, D.C. Additionally, NEW this year, we are offering an offsite excursion to Mount Vernon that will include transportation, private tour (of the historic area, mansion & tomb), lunch and free time to explore the grounds. Registration information should …

June 2019

• June 11, 2019

  Executive News: D-Day, lessons learned

  This month marks the 75th Anniversary of the Normandy Invasion by Allied forces during the Second World War. Led by American and British troops, it was and remains the largest invasion by air, land and sea in history. More than 5,000 ships, 11,000 airplanes and 150,000 soldiers from the United States, Britain and Canada stormed the Nazi-occupied French beaches of …
• June 11, 2019

  SAFE Banking Act scored positively by Budget Office

  Late last month, the Congressional Budget Office released its cost estimate for H.R. 1595, the SAFE Banking Act, to enable banks and credit unions to serve legitimate cannabis businesses in Oklahoma and 32 other states that have legalized the use of marijuana for either medical or recreational use. According to the CBO, this bill, which is strongly supported by the …