Oklahoma Bankers Association We make bankers better!
In This Issue…
- From Adrian’s desk …
- FDIC extends comment period for Genius Act
- Bankers at state Capitol: Register for OBA’s 2026 Contact Banker Program
- OBA Book Club announces next selection
- OBA Bankers’ Night Out programs ready for spring
- Welcome new strategic members
- 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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The state legislative season continues this week and we’re still busy sorting out everything. I should have a more up-to-date synopsis on what’s going in next week’s Update as we get our arms around it all. In the meantime, however, I encourage you to pick up the February issue of the Oklahoma Banker newspaper for my in-depth column previewing the session.
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You can also find out firsthand how things are working at the state Capitol by joining our Contact Banker program. You can learn more in the story below in this OBA Update.
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Well, after last week’s hiccups, the Nebraska basketball team got back on the right side of the ledger with a win over Rutgers on Saturday. I hope it created some momentum as 13th-ranked Purdue comes to Lincoln this evening!
FDIC extends comment period for Genius Act
The FDIC announced Friday it will push back the deadline for comment on its proposal to create a process through which banks can seek agency approval to issue stablecoins through a subsidiary.
The FDIC issued proposed rule-making in December to begin implementing the Genius Act. The agency originally set a comment deadline of Feb. 17, but in a statement, it pushed that deadline back to May 18. The extension comes after several national associations urged the FDIC to extend the comment period.
Bankers at state Capitol: Register for OBA’s 2026 Contact Banker Program
We have set the dates for the 2026 Contact Banker Program: March 3, March 24, April 14 and April 21.
9 a.m. – Briefing at Capitol
Noon – Depart Capitol for lunch
1:30 p.m. – Adjourn
On the date you select, there will be a short briefing before we start walking the halls of the Capitol. We will stay together as a group the entire morning and do our best to have you spend a few minutes with both your state senator and state representative to either start a new relationship or strengthen an existing one. We won’t ask you to discuss current legislation. We want you to just chat with your member about issues facing your community. Depending on the date you select, we will either sit in on a committee meeting or in the gallery to watch the action on the floor. Once we have finished at the Capitol, the OBA Government Relations Team will take everyone to lunch to discuss the events of the morning.
Everyone at the Capitol knows bankers are involved in the political process because of the Contact Banker Program. This program is meant for all employees at the bank. There is no cost to attend other than your time.
Please register online (preferred) OR submit the form linked here. Click the date below that works best for you to register online.
When you register, you will be asked two questions:
- Who is your state senator?
- Who is your state representative?
Not sure who is your senator or representative? Click this find your legislators link and enter your HOME ADDRESS (home address, not bank address).
Questions? Please contact Megan McGuire (megan@oba.com/405-424-5252).
OBA Book Club announces next selection
The OBA Book Club announced its next book selection – a memoir from Nike’s Phil Knight titled Shoe Dog. It should be a fascinating look at one of the most famous business executives in the world, in his own words. If the book interests you, read along and join the 30-min Zoom discussion at 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 5.
To get involved, please email Joan Anderson, and she will add you to the Book Club Roster.
OBA Bankers’ Night Out programs ready 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 updates, the program will include a discussion on the recent developments in your industry.
As in the past, the schedule for each of these meetings is:
5:30 p.m. – Drinks.
6:15 p.m. – Program.
7 p.m. – Dinner.
PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. The cost is $60 per person. Click here for a registration form.
Locations and dates for this year’s events are:
- Tulsa, April 7.
- Oklahoma City, April 8
- Ardmore, April 14
- Guymon, April 23
- Krebs, April 16.
Additionally, lunch editions of the Bankers Night Out events will be held on April 7 in Grove, and on April 23 in Woodward. It will start at 11:30 a.m. and the cost is $50 per person.
Please contact Thi Pham (thi@oba.com) for sponsorship questions!
Welcome new strategic members
Please welcome these new strategic members to the OBA!
Oculus Software
Banking software and technology called BNControl by Oculus Software. BNControl transforms your data into actionable insights by providing a comprehensive view of your organization, enabling data driven decisions and maximizing efficiency.
Contact: Leah McCann
120 South Jefferson Ave. Suite A
Cookeville, TN 38501
Phone: (931) 650-1922
Email: lmccann@oculus-software.com
Website: https://www.oculus-software.com/
Rosell & Love, PLLC
Rosell & Love, PLLC is a law firm that provides legal services to banks. The areas of practice include commercial and residential foreclosure actions, replevin actions, loan document drafting, assistance with underwriting, creditors rights in bankruptcy actions, creditor claims in probate actions.
Contacts: Armando Rosell & Jeff Love
101 North Robinson Avenue, Suite 700
Oklahoma City, OK 73102
Phone: (405) 702-0888
Email: arosell@rlok.law
jlove@rlok.law
Website: www.rlok.law
OBA education corner …
Some of us here at the OBA were lucky enough to take in the New Edition/Boyz II Men/Toni Braxton concert on Friday night in Oklahoma City! It was one of the better concerts we’ve seen as the three acts took turns singing songs, instead of just going one at a time. From Braxton’s Un-Break My Heart, to Boyz II Men’s Motownphilly, to New Edition’s If It Isn’t Love, the evening was packed with hit after hit. So, while you Cool It Now, we urge you while On Bended Knee to take a little time to keep up with what’s happening on the continuing education front, including the following:
- The Right of Setoff: What Bankers Need To Know, Feb. 17, webinar — The right of setoff is a complicated, but very effective, tool for collecting debts owed to a financial institution.
- IRA Reporting To The IRS: Dodging The Pitfalls, Feb. 18, webinar — Following the “garbage in/garbage out” rule, if we don’t use the correct transaction descriptions or codes for the IRA contributions and distributions, the resulting incorrect IRS reporting will trigger a letter and bill from the IRS to our customers.
- Exploding Check Fraud, Feb.19, webinar — It’s crazy the amount of check fraud in our current environment. Your institution can fall victim to check fraud in many ways and many of them are preventable.
- Health Savings Accounts: Financial Institution vs. Customer Responsibility, Feb. 26, webinar — Health savings accounts have been in existence for over 20 years now. To keep insurance premiums lower, many people are choosing to have a High Deductible Health Plan to minimize costs.
- Opening Business Accounts, March 24-Oklahoma City; March 25-Tulsa — In this seminar, participants gain confidence and a clear understanding of the regulatory, compliance, documentation and state law requirements for opening business accounts.
- 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.