Week of Jan. 26

In This Issue…

• From Adrian’s desk …
• OBA, ABA, state bankers associations oppose Credit Card Competition Act
• ABA Washington Summit set
• 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!

•        •         •

I hope everyone survived our big winter storm the past few days! I was able to take my kiddos sledding through the neighborhood, so that’s always fun!

•        •         •

We’re preparing for our first OBA board meeting of the new year, on Wednesday. It’ll also be our first in-person meeting since October, although “in-person” might be a wishful thinking since roads are still covered out there and it could be tough for some of our board members from farther away to make it in. Regardless, with this board meeting (as well as same-day’s Government Relations Council meeting) being the last one before the state legislative session starts, I’m sure there will be lots to discuss … which I’ll try to share with everyone in my Oklahoma Banker newspaper column in February as well as upcoming OBA Updates!

•        •         •

In case you missed it last week, we will start monthly fraud calls Feb. 6. Sharon will cover the top 10 fraud threats and then give attending bankers the chance to talk about what frauds they are seeing. These meetings will bring tremendous value to your fraud fighters, so make sure they tune in at 10 a.m. on Feb. 6. Watch for details and the link to join in next week’s edition of the Update.

•        •         •

The undefeated roll of my ‘Husker basketball team continued unabated with a blowout at Minnesota on Saturday. Things get incredibly tougher tonight, though, as Nebraska travels to No. 3 Michigan for a big showdown. I have a sneaking suspicion the winning streak might come to a halt …

Back to top

OBA, ABA, state bankers associations oppose Credit Card Competition Act

The OBA, the American Bankers Association and 51 other state bankers associations expressed strong opposition to the Durbin-Marshall Credit Card Mandate on Monday – also known as the Credit Card Competition Act – warning in a joint letter to Congress that the proposal would harm consumers, small businesses and banks of all sizes.

In the letter, the associations write that the legislation “would harm consumers, small businesses, and banks alike by reducing card choice, increasing fraud risks, reducing rewards, increasing the cost of allocating credit to borrowers, and creating economic challenges for smaller financial institutions.”

The groups note that nearly 15 years of data demonstrates that the original Durbin amendment failed to deliver promised consumer benefits. The letter further explains that expanding this failed framework to credit cards would produce similar outcomes, stating that “expanding this failed policy to impose new regulations on credit card interchange fees will lead to similar consumer harm.”

The associations also warn that “this legislation would limit credit access and upend credit card rewards programs, which are funded through interchange fees, with the worst effects being felt by minority and lower income consumers.” The letter cites an independent analysis that found the CCCA could cost the U.S. economy $228 billion and 156,000 jobs by eliminating rewards programs supporting travel and tourism nationwide.

The letter also raises concerns that the CCCA would primarily benefit large retailers rather than consumers or small businesses. According to the associations, “the CCCA will not increase competition in the credit card marketplace, but it will benefit corporate megastores at the expense of consumers, community financial institutions and smaller neighborhood retail merchants.”

In addition, the groups highlight significant fraud risks associated with the legislation, warning that the CCCA “will also enable a large increase in fraudulent card activity” and would reduce funding used to “invest in fraud prevention and other credit card security features” that protect consumers and small businesses.

Back to top

ABA Washington summit set

The ABA’s Washington Summit is scheduled for March 9-11. Click here for more information.

There is no registration fee for this event. There is an all-day Emerging Leaders Forum on Monday, March 9. Hill Visits will take place on Tuesday, March 19.

Contact Megan McGuire at the OBA for more information!

Back to top

OBA education corner …

Well, we’re still digging ourselves out here at the OBA after the snowfall over the weekend.  Our 2026 Compliance Update seminars fell victim to the winter weather, although they are rescheduled for mid-February. We hope everyone stayed warm and safe and are looking forward to the sunnier times of spring! While daydreaming of nice weather, take a little time to keep up with what’s happening on the continuing education front, including the following:

• ACH Basics: Understanding the ACH Network, Feb. 3, webinar — Get back to basics with this essential introduction to the ACH Network. Learn how it works, who the players are and why it matters to your institution.
• Regulation CC Compliance, Feb. 5, webinar — This regulation was passed in 1988 and continues to be one of the toughest compliance problems in financial institutions around the country.
• FedNow Fundamentals: Instant Understanding of What It Is, How It Works and Where It’s Headed, Feb. 5, webinar — What exactly is FedNow, how does it work and what do financial institutions need to know to stay compliant, manage risks and serve their customers?
• Talent Management: Hiring for the Right Fit & Unlocking Potential, Feb. 6, webinar — Equipping managers and supervisors with the skills to excel in the hiring and development process is essential for both employee and organizational success.
• Do’s And Don’t for Signature Cards, Feb. 10, webinar — The signature card/account agreement is the most important document on the deposit side of the financial institution.
• The UCC for Bankers, Feb. 11, webinar — Gain a thorough understanding of the impact of the Uniform Commercial Code on secured lending transactions.
• Flood Insurance: Compliance and Enforcement Challenges, Feb. 13, webinar — Deep dive into the world of flood insurance compliance, including requirements, best practices and common risks and violation areas.
• 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.
• 2026 Retail Management Workshop, March 10-11, Oklahoma City — This workshop is designed to provide a complete overview of management and leadership principles for retail managers serving in all roles of retail banking.
• 2026 OBA Senior Management Forum, March 29-31, Indian Wells, California — One of the key benefits in the conference will be talking with your peers. Attendees at the OBA 2024 Senior Management Conference will be surrounded by those with similar titles, similar workloads, similar problems and likely solutions to issues that can be just as similar. If you have any questions or want to get signed up, contact the OBA’s education department at 405-424-5252.

Also, several scholarships are now available to bankers from OBA-member banks for various graduate schools of banking. Applications should be submitted to the OBA’s Janis Reeser by email (janis@oba.com), regular mail (643 N.E. 41st St., OKC, 73105) or fax (405-424-4518).

Back to top