Oklahoma Bankers Association We make bankers better!
In This Issue…
- From Adrian’s desk …
- HMDA data filing period opens
- CRA ‘small-bank’ asset-size threshold updated 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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Things are slowly returning to normal around the office as we move away from the holiday season. Don’t get me wrong: I REALLY enjoy Christmas and New Year’s. I, however, also enjoy getting back into a routine once they’re over.
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Only a couple of weeks after a group of Democratic state attorney generals filed a lawsuit to stop CFPB defunding, now a coalition of non-profit organizations are doing the same. It’s anyone’s guess whether any of the groups will be successful, but it does continue to throw the CFPB’s continued existence and relevance up in the air.
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Sharon, in our fraud department, has told me that – in a twist of the old grandparent scam – pesky fraudsters are now monitoring public arrest records and contacting relatives and friends they find on social media sites. They pose as law or court officials trying to extort money for early release or a “course” that is mandatory for the arrested party to be bonded out.
As a reminder, when someone is in legal trouble, it is not advisable to talk to law enforcement or court officials without legal representation, and fines, bonds or course payments are never made via online payment platforms like Venmo, Zelle or PayPal.
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Umm, things didn’t end well for Nebraska’s football team last week in the Las Vegas Bowl. Who cares, though!? Our men’s basketball team might go undefeated!
HMDA data filing period opens
The filing period for Home Mortgage Disclosure Act data collected in 2025 began on Jan. 1, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
Banks can use the HMDA platform to upload their loan/application registers, review edits, certify the accuracy and completeness of the data, and submit data for the filing year in compliance with the reporting requirements. CFPB said submissions will be considered timely if received on or before March 2. Users will receive a confirmation email upon submission of their data, which will be sent to the email account of the user that sent the submission.
CRA ‘small-bank’ asset-size thresholds updated for 2026
The Federal Reserve and FDIC released the updated Community Reinvestment Act “small-bank” and “intermediate small-bank” asset-size thresholds for 2026 last week.
The thresholds ticked up slightly for the coming year.
CRA regulations establish the criteria by which relevant agencies assess a financial institution’s record of meeting the credit needs of its entire community, including low- and moderate-income neighborhoods. The asset-size thresholds are adjusted annually based on the average change in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, which is a measure of inflation. The CPI-W for the period ending in November increased 2.51%.
The small-bank asset-size threshold is for an institution that, as of Dec. 31 of either of the prior two calendar years, had assets of less than $1.649 billion. The threshold for 2025 was $1.609 billion. The updated threshold for an intermediate small bank is for an institution that, as of Dec. 31 of either of the prior two calendar years. had assets of at least $412 million and less than $1.649 billion. The 2025 threshold was at least $402 million and less than $1.609 billion.
OBA education corner …
Welp, we’re back to record-setting high temperatures now. Of course, we were doing the same two weeks ago, only to follow it up with a good freeze. Now, we hear, the cedar count is moving up from Texas to make our allergies miserable. While you prepare your weather-and-allergy-proof plastic bubble, make sure you take a little time to keep up with what’s happening on the continuing education front, including the following:
- Using AI as Your Writing Assistant, Jan. 12, webinar — This webinar looks at employing artificial intelligence ethically and efficiently in every step of the writing process: planning, drafting, revising, editing and proofreading.
- ACH Rules Update: Are You Prepared for the 2026 Changes, Jan. 13, webinar — Nacha’s latest rules bring new fraud monitoring requirements, return code updates and funds availability exceptions. Stay ahead of the changes that impact your institution.
- Handling Accounts at Death, Jan. 15, webinar — When your account holder dies, many issues and questions arise. Learn about checks, IRAs, deposit ownership, trusts, UTMA, affidavits of heirship and other complex issues that can occur when an account holder is deceased.
- Instant Payments Compliance: OFAC, Reg. E & Beyond, Jan. 20, webinar — FedNow and RTP bring speed, but also heightened compliance risk. This webinar dives into Regulation E, OFAC screening, and network-specific rules to help you protect your institution while serving customers in real time.
- Community Investment Act Regulations’ Current Requirements: Succeeding Today While Planning for the Future, Jan. 22, webinar — Detailed discussion of CRA status: where we are today as well as looking to the future. Compliance with existing regulations: requirements and suggestions for success.
- Handling Legal Documents – POAs, Trusts, Estates and Guardianships, Jan. 22, webinar — During this program we will look at the high risk involved in fiduciary accounts and the legal documents that come with them. From guardianships to power of attorneys, we will look at the key players, who can do what and whether you can refuse the account.
- 2026 Compliance Updates: Operations: Jan. 22-Tulsa; Jan. 27-Oklahoma City Lending: Jan. 22-Tulsa; Jan. 27-Oklahoma City — This annual update provides a look back at hot topics and will offer guidance on upcoming trends and regulatory concerns.
- 2026 Key Ratio Analysis: Calculating and Interpreting the Numbers Correctly!, Jan. 29, Oklahoma City — Attend this proactive seminar and learn a “five-step” analysis plan to calculate the key ratios covering liquidity, activity, leverage, operating performance and cash-flow analysis, and correctly interpret the financial condition of the business client.
- 2026 OBA Commercial Lending School, March 1-6, Oklahoma City — This school is an intensive, one-week functional school designed for bankers with a basic understanding of credit and financial analysis. The school will demonstrate how to apply this knowledge in profitable commercial lending situations.
Also, an OBA program to be aware of is the OBA Intern Program.
The Intern Program will be active in 2026 and we’re looking for participating banks! For more information on this IMPORTANT program – important not only to aspiring students, but also to participating banks – Contact the OBA education department at (405) 424-5252 or click here for more information!