Oklahoma Bankers Association We make bankers better!
In This Issue…
- From Adrian’s desk …
- OBA, ABA, state bankers associations urge Congress to approve SCAM Act
- OBA Convention time is near! Register today!
- Oklahoma agencies to host virtual fraud prevention conference
- Voting continues for OBA Emerging Leader chair
- MAFIA meeting slated for Elk City
- New edition of OBA Directory of Banks available
- 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’m at the state Capitol today for our Contact Banker Program! As I’ve mentioned before, this program provides an invaluable opportunity to bring our bankers face to face with their elected officials. At this point, the legislators know to expect the bankers at the Capitol each spring as part of this program, which speaks loudly at how connected to the government relations process our industry is!
There’s still one more Contact Banker on tap for this legislative session, on April 21. Get signed up today!
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Speaking of government relations, with a budget almost done, we may be seeing the last few days of this legislative session unfolding. Which is a darn weird thing to say when we’re not even halfway through the month of April! Yet, here we are as the final bows are tied onto the budget and it appears sine die might be here before we know it.
Usually, the session drags on well into May. In fact, during our annual convention each year in May, I usually have to keep one foot out the door ready to rush to the Capitol in case I’m needed. This year, however, I may be able to sit back and enjoy the convention without such worries – which is a good thing considering all we have in store for you this year! You can read more about convention in this issue of the OBA Update!
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Nebraska softball and baseball continue their good seasons. While softball is not really a surprise, with the ‘Huskers having the luxury of Jordy (Bahl) Frahm wearing our colors, baseball has been the more out-of-left-field development. The ‘Huskers are a legit top-20 team!
OBA, ABA, state bankers associations urge Congress to approve SCAM Act
Legislation to hold social media companies accountable for the scam ads appearing on their platforms would reduce consumer fraud losses by targeting “a key entry point” for the crime, the OBA, American Bankers Association and all 51 other state bankers associations said in a joint letter to members of Congress sent on Monday.
The Safeguarding Consumers from Advertising Misconduct, or SCAM, Act (S. 3774 and H.R. 7548) would require online platforms to implement procedures to verify an advertiser’s identity before placing an ad. Platforms must also implement a program to detect impersonation on their site.
A recent report by the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center found Americans lost nearly $20.9 billion to cybercrime last year, representing a 26% increase from the previous year and likely an underestimate, as much fraud isn’t reported. The associations noted criminals increasingly rely on fraudulent or misleading paid ads to impersonate trusted financial institutions.
“Paid advertisements are not neutral or passive user content,” they said in the letter. “They are commercial products that platforms actively curate, target and monetize. Platforms that profit from advertising should bear responsibility for preventing the dissemination of fraudulent paid ads.”
The associations also said they support the bill’s focus on interagency coordination to combat ad-based scams.
OBA Convention time is near! Register today!
The Mother Road is calling your name, but we at the OBA would love to see you take a quick detour off of Route 66 during its centennial celebration this year to visi
t us for “Route 2026” – our annual OBA Convention!
Join us in Oklahoma City this May for the can’t-miss event of the year—packed with valuable sessions, networking, and a chance to reconnect with Oklahoma’s banking community. Whether you’re looking to expand your knowledge or simply enjoy a great time with fellow professionals, this event has something for every banker.
This year’s event will feature chats with FDIC Chairman Travis Hill, as well as visits with Oklahoma gubernatorial candidates Gentner Drummond and Charles McCall III!
The connections are real, the conversations are waiting and your name tag is practically begging for a lanyard. We may not have the same kitschy roadside attractions as Route 66 (blue whales, buried Cadillacs and round barns!), but we do have the ultimate gathering this side of the Golden Driller! Register now to secure your spot!
Oklahoma agencies to host virtual fraud prevention conference
The Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office, FBI Oklahoma City Field Office, Oklahoma Insurance Department and the Oklahoma Department of Securities are holding their fourth annual Fraud Prevention Conference on July 15-17.
This conference will cover different topics on each date:
- July 15 — Breaking the Psychological Hold: What Frontline Professionals Need to Know (great for bank staff!).
- July 16 — Protect Yourself: What Every Consumer Needs to Know About Scams.
- July 17 — Working Together: Building a United Front Against Fraud.
Each conference date will be held from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at Metro Technology Center District Conference Center in Oklahoma City. This conference is free but does require registration. This is an excellent opportunity for our member banks to host a virtual “watch party” for staff and community members.
Click here to register as a participant or to host a virtual site.
Voting continues for OBA Emerging Leader chair
The OBA has heard from bankers interested in serving as chair of the Emerging Leaders Division. This position is open to any OBA Emerging Leaders who are currently enrolled in OBA Emerging Leaders Academy or had previously graduated from an OBA Leadership Academy.
The Emerging Leaders chair will serve a two-year term and will work closely with OBA staff to continue to build and direct the OBA Emerging Leaders program. The chair will also serve as a member on the OBA Board of Directors. To learn more about the candidates, click here to access their bios and then cast your vote.
Voting is closed at the end of the day on Thursday!
Voting is limited to members of the OBA Emerging Leaders Division.
- Shannon Adamson, Mabrey Bank, Tulsa
- Amy Biggs, Seiling State Bank, Seiling
- Haylie Calicott, First Security Bank & Trust Company, Oklahoma City
- Pam Duran, Quail Creek Bank, Oklahoma City
- Mickeal Hammontree, Peoples Bank & Trust, Edmond
- Raynie Harrison, First Enterprise Bank, Oklahoma City
- Angela Lee, First Enterprise Bank, Oklahoma City
- Devyn Lunsford, First Bank of Owasso, Owasso
- Donna Malaguti, AVB Bank, Broken Arrow
- Ryan Miller, First Fidelity Bank, Oklahoma City
- Whitney Randall, Citizens Bank of Edmond, Edmond
- Darian Shaw, Bank7, Oklahoma City
All OBA Emerging Leaders are encouraged to learn more about the candidates and vote for the division chair.
Click here to cast your vote. Voting will close Thursday.
MAFIA meeting slated for western Oklahoma
The OBA Fraud Department and the Elk City Police Department will host the first western Oklahoma MAFIA fraud meeting on Tuesday, April 21.
The event will start at 2 p.m. at the Western Technology Center, 301 Western Drive, Elk City. This meeting does not require RSVP and is open to any financial institution, law enforcement, or governmental agency investigator.
If you have locations in western Oklahoma, please join us!
New edition of OBA Directory of Banks available
The latest edition of the OBA Directory of Banks is now available.
This essential resource, with all information updated for 2026, includes financial data, important information about all Oklahoma banks, savings and loans, savings banks and holding companies, key personnel by function and title, answers to rules and regulations, legislators, state and national agencies, courthouses, a fast-find index, handy access to products and services, and much more!
Each Directory is $40 per copy for OBA-member bankers, and $60 for non-members.
Price breaks are available for larger bulk buys of more than nine copies: contact Thi Pham (thi@oba.com; 405-424-5252) for more information.
OBA education corner …
It appears storm season is upon us this week! Be sure to be weather aware out there! Also, don’t forget to keep up with what’s happening on the continuing education front, including the following:
- 2026 Rural Bankers/Ag Conference, April 21, Oklahoma City — This all-day event will feature information for bankers in both agricultural and rural markets.
- Lending Basics for Bank Managers and Support Personnel, April 27, webinar — The webinar will cover the basics of the three main areas of lending: consumer, mortgage and commercial lending. Each of the three areas will be illustrated with real life case studies, including cash flow analysis.
- Basic Bankruptcy for Bankers, April 28, webinar — Every banker should have a fundamental understanding of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code and your bank’s rights and obligations under it.
- Demystifying Trusts: Establishing Deposit Accounts and Loans, April 29, webinar — This webinar will provide attendees with information on doing business with trusts, including best practices in establishing deposit account and loan relationships.