Oklahoma Bankers Association We make bankers better!
In This Issue…
- From Adrian’s desk …
- Treasury Department publishes reports to combat financial crimes
- OBA Washington Visit registration open
- 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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Just a quick update today as I’m in the nation’s capital for the ABA Washington Summit, alongside several Oklahoma banker colleagues!
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During the Summit today, we’re going to hear from several federal banking regulators today about policies going forward. Some of the live events from the Summit will be broadcast via the ABA’s “X” feed.
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It still feels weird to call Twitter, “X.” Jeremy Cowen, our OBA director of communications, said he inserts a little “poison pill” within an assignment each semester in the Writing for Mass Communications course he teaches at OU. The assignment mentions the word “Twitter” and he requires students to replace the word “Twitter” with the phrase “X, formerly known as Twitter“.
Such a tricky little fellow, isn’t he? Must come with the bow ties and goofy socks.
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Well, I don’t think we’re exactly STORMING into the Big 10 Tournament, especially after getting our doors blown off by UCLA last week, but my Cornhuskers did garner the No.2 seed and don’t have to play until Friday.
Treasury Department publishes reports to combat financial crimes
The Treasury Department recently announced the publication of three reports on efforts to combat financial crimes: the National Money Laundering Risk Assessment, the National Terrorist Financing Risk Assessment and the National Proliferation Financing Risk Assessment.
It also released a report to Congress on technologies that financial institutions use to counter illicit finance involving digital assets.
The risk assessments are the fifth iteration for money laundering and terrorist financing since 2015 and the fourth iteration for proliferation financing since 2018, according to the department. They outline existing and emerging illicit finance threats facing the U.S. related to illicit fentanyl, transnational criminal organizations, money laundering networks, and foreign adversary malign activities, among others.
The report on digital assets was required under the Genius Act, which created a regulatory framework for payment stablecoins.
- 2026 National Risk Assessment on Money Laundering
- 2026 National Risk Assessment on Terrorist Financing
- 2026 National Risk Assessment on Proliferation Financing
- GENIUS Act Innovation Report
OBA Washington Visit registration open
The OBA’s Annual Washington Visit has been scheduled for Sept. 20-22 and the hotel will be the Mayflower.
All the usual – and incredibly useful – meetings with the movers and shakers on Capitol Hill will take place during this premier event on the OBA’s calendar … one we encourage as many as possible to attend.
Registration information is live on our website, but you can also download the registration and information form, and get more info on the hotel, by clicking here (.pdf). Click here to access the hotel reservation link.
If you have any questions, contact Megan McGuire at the OBA
OBA education corner …
Intros to songs can usually be cool, and The Cure has always been one of the best at it. Everyone knows the catchy, upbeat opening to “Just Like Heaven” – when that synthesizer hits, you can’t help but smile! The Cure’s magnum opus of opening riffs, however, has to be the long intro to “Pictures of You.” Sure, it helps stretch the song into a radio-unfriendly 8-plus minutes, but listeners are all the better for it. Now that we’re done with this intro, don’t forget to keep up with what’s happening on the continuing education front, including the following:
- Regulation E, March 17, webinar — Understanding who is covered and what is covered is an important part of your financial institutions program for Regulation E.
- Avoiding Check Fraud Liability: From Prevention to Loss Allocation, March 17, webinar — This webinar provides attendees with tips to avoid check fraud losses, as well as an overview of the laws that apply to loss allocation when check fraud occurs.
- Banker’s Guide to Letters of Credit, March 18, webinar — Whether your bank issues letters of credit, accepts letters of credit, or takes liens on letters of credit rights, this program is for you.
- SAR Decision Making, March 19, webinar — There are two major sources of red flags: the systems and the frontline. What are your procedures from systems or frontline to investigation to SAR?
- How to Craft an Effective Commercial Loan Write-Up, March 23, webinar — The session will also cover additional important loan write-up items, including assessing the company’s strategic plan: marketing, financing, and management.
- TRID – Dealing with Risks: Common Violations, Gray Areas, and Regulatory Concerns, March 24, webinar — Exploration of where the most common problems and violations occur under the TILA-RESPA Integrated Disclosures (TRID) rule.
- Fraud and Cashier’s Checks: Best Practices for Avoiding Loss, March 25, webinar — Learn about the unique risk cashier’s checks pose to financial institutions and the best practices for limiting losses when processing these transactions.
- Mortgage Origination Compliance – 3-Part Series, March 27, webinar — How can you keep all the requirements straight in your head so you can be sure to not miss anything?
- 2026 BSA Essentials, April 8-9, Oklahoma City — Are you ready to master the essentials of BSA compliance and gain practical tools to protect your compliance and gain practical tools to protect your institution?
- 2026 Spring Human Resources Seminar, April 10, Oklahoma City — From updating employee files to reviewing company policies, here’s a checklist to guide you through the essential tasks that can make a real difference for your business and your team.
- 2026 Frontline Excellence, April 14-Tulsa; April 15-Oklahoma City; April 16-Enid — This program serves as an important reminder about the significance of their role, serving as the CEOs of the customer experience and reinforcing the importance of their actions and reactions as a reputation builder for your brand.
Also, are you interested in joining an OBA board or committee? Click here to complete the Committee Interest Form for 2026-2027. We would love for you to get involved!