Oklahoma Bankers Association We make bankers better!
In This Issue…
- From Adrian’s desk …
- OCC issues information on ‘debanking’
- FinCEN releases guidance on foreign information sharing
- Save the date: OBA convention, senior management events set for 2026
- OBA education corner …
From Adrian’s desk …
By Adrian Beverage
OBA President & CEO
Just some random tidbits that might be of interest to our bankers this week!
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I visited some banks last week and enjoyed the experience of having a tire blowout along the way. Luckily, the tire ended it’s life literally right next to a tire shop in southwestern Oklahoma, so I didn’t even need to pull out a jack or spare!
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I’m not sure whether to qualify the above as “lucky” – ending up next to a tire shop – or “unlucky” in having the whole tire ordeal in the first place. I certainly hope its the latter as I prepare for a trip down to Austin to visit with some of my peers at other bankers associations later this week, and then head east for the OBA’s Annual Washington Visit, which takes place at the beginning of next week.
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The drama about “debanking” continues this week as the OCC released a pair of updates for banks on Monday. You can read more about the OCC’s notices in this issue of the OBA Update, but I also encourage you to pick up upcoming September edition of the Oklahoma Banker newspaper where I talked about the issue at length in my column.
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Nebraska continued its winning ways this past weekend with a 68-0 pasting of Akron. I’ve not much to add since Akron has yet to score a point this season after a 10-0 shutout in week one against Wyoming. Funny enough, the schedule actually gets EASIER for my ‘Huskers this week as something called Houston Christian travels to Lincoln, Nebraska.
Wake me in two weeks when Michigan visits.
OCC issues information on ‘debanking’
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency issued two bulletins on Monday for financial institutions “to eliminate politicized or unlawful debanking in the federal banking system.”
The first bulletin seeks to remind banks of their legal obligations to protect their customers’ financial records, “even if that information is requested by government agencies,” according to the OCC. The second bulletin clarifies how the agency considers politicized or unlawful debanking in licensing applications filed by banks and banks’ records of performance under the Community Reinvestment Act.
President Trump last month signed an executive order directing federal agencies to investigate whether banks and credit unions denied services to customers because of their political beliefs or because they were engaged in certain business activities, such as cryptocurrency. The two bulletins implement that order, and the OCC has also updated its online customer complaint website to allow consumers to report “unlawful debanking” by banks.
Earlier this month, the Small Business Administration sent a letter to over 5,000 lenders in response to President Trump’s executive order “Guaranteeing Fair Banking For All Americans.”
FinCEN releases guidance on foreign information sharing
The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network and U.S. banking agencies released guidance on Monday for financial institutions on how to share financial information with their counterparts in other countries without running afoul of the Bank Secrecy Act.
The guidance is meant to encourage “appropriate, voluntary cross-border sharing of information” between financial institutions to help combat money laundering, terrorist financing and other illicit finance activity, according to the document. The guidance seeks to clarify that the BSA generally does not prohibit cross-border information sharing. It also provides examples of information that typically would not reveal the existence of a suspicious activity report and, as a result, is not prohibited from sharing.
Save the date: OBA convention, senior management events set for 2026
Mark your calendars as the OBA Convention and OBA Senior Management dates and location have already been set for next year!
The 2026 OBA Convention will be held May 18-20, back at the Okana Resort, in Oklahoma City. Meanwhile, the 2026 OBA Senior Management Conference will be held on March 29-31 at the Renaissance Esmeralda Resort and Spa, in Indian Wells, California.
More details will be available in the coming months, but go ahead and get those notes on your calendar today!
OBA education corner …
Zach Top’s new album was released last week, and it doesn’t disappoint! From sunny, happy ditties like Good Times & Tan Lines (where he channels Alan Jackson) and Flip–Flop (where Jimmy Buffet is an obvious influence) to the slower, more introspective songs like Between The Ditches and, arguably the album’s best track, South Of Sanity, it’s pretty much a perfect follow up to his debut album from last year. So, while sitting back and humming the steel guitar parts in When You See Me, we hope you also have time to check out what’s happening on the continuing education front, including the following:
- W-9s, W-8BENs, and Interest Reporting: IRS Mismatches and Errors, Sept. 23, webinar — During this program, we will do a line-by-line review of the forms and the subsequent tax reporting to the IRS.
- Community Bank Cryptocurrency Primer Workshop, Sept.23, webinar — It is essential for community banks, no matter the size, to understand the crypto economy, the illicit typologies, and have open-source tools in hand to investigate when needed.
- Call Report: Current Matters and Common Questions, Sept. 25, webinar — We will cover the latest regulatory updates, examiner expectations, and practical tips to help you ensure accuracy and maintain compliance with confidence.
- Stablecoins & Electronic Banking: What the GENIUS Act Means for Your Financial Institution, Sept. 26, webinar — Stablecoins were just signed into U.S. law – financial institutions are now in the game. Reserve your spot today and start your journey to becoming a GENIUS about stablecoins.
- Real Estate Lending Compliance, Oct. 1-2, Oklahoma City — This program provides an overview of the real estate lending requirements from 10 regulations, along with comprehensive coverage of selected topics, policy suggestions, employee training tips, audit techniques and steps to eliminate past problems.
- 2025 OBA Consumer Lending School, Oct. 6-10, Oklahoma City — This school exposes students to major issues consumer lenders face. It provides a framework for examining a bank’s consumer credit programs, policies and procedures.
Additionally, please take note of IntraFi’s upcoming complimentary webinars, including: “FDIC Deposit Insurance Coverage and Related Matters,” a webinar for CPAs, financial advisors, and other business professionals explaining the intricacies of FDIC deposit insurance. CPAs can receive 1 CPE credit. Or check out “Explaining ICS and CDARS” and discover how IntraFi’s ICS and CDARS can help your bank grow large-dollar, franchise-building relationships.