Week of July 27

July 28, 2026

In This Issue…

From Adrian’s desk …
FinCEN alert issued on fraud schemes targeting federal student aid
Western OK MAFIA meeting set for August
OBA Emerging Leaders Academy taking applications
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 on vacation for most of this week, so just a few quick notes to share!

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I wanted to mention again that our longtime employee, Nancy McKinnis, announced her retirement a few weeks ago and that day is coming at the end of this week. Nancy has been with us for 31 years, and during those three-plus decades, she has been a part of the lives of so many of our bankers.

While there won’t be a public party for Nancy, I encourage anyone and everyone to take a few minutes out of their day at some point this week and either drop by our offices here and congratulate her in person, or give her a phone call or email (nancy@oba.com). I know she’d appreciate it!

We’re going to miss her dearly!

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I’ve shared interesting articles in the past about what banks can do with college athletics and the new world of NIL. The ABA Banking Journal has another really good story about this in today’s edition, which I think is a good share considering the love of college sports in our state!

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After a crazy up and down first few months of the season, my Cubbies have settled in and are playing pretty darned good ball right now! I have my doubts they can catch the Brewers for the division title, but I feel pretty comfortable about at least a wild card spot. If anything, it keeps my interest during the dog days of summer here as we wait ever so patiently for college football season!

FinCEN alert issued on fraud schemes targeting federal student aid

The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) issued an alert last week to urge financial institutions to be vigilant in detecting, identifying and reporting suspicious activity connected to fraud schemes targeting The U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Federal Student Aid programs.

Fraud rings use stolen and fraudulent identities, as well as other tactics, to enroll in educational institutions and unlawfully acquire funds from Federal student aid programs. The schemes not only
result in losses to Federal student aid programs, but also, in some cases, real students face difficulties enrolling in classes because of the number of fraudulently enrolled “students.”

The Department of Education has launched a nationwide effort to prevent fraud in federal student aid programs, according to the alert. The document lists types of scams targeting FSA programs, such as the creation of “ghost students” using false identities to obtain funds. It also lists red flags associated with student aid-related fraud.

Western OK MAFIA meeting set for August

Speaking of fighting fraud, the second quarterly Western OK MAFIA meeting will be held at 2 p.m. on Aug. 11 at the Western Technology Center Safety Center, in Elk City.

No RSVP is required. If your bank is facing higher than expected fraud losses, meet with your peers to discuss fraud trends in your area, ideas for combating losses, ways to share critical information, etc.

OBA Emerging Leaders Academy taking applications

Take note the OBA 2026-27 Emerging Leaders Academy is currently accepting applications. We’re looking for the best and brightest bankers who seek to sharpen their leadership skills.

There are six sessions to the Academy: Nov. 4, Dec. 8, Jan. 22, Feb. 24, March 25, April 29. Each session delivers takeaways that can be implemented immediately. Graduation will take place in May 2027 at the OBA Annual Convention.

Academy applicants should be able to demonstrate an increasing level of responsibility, potential for continuing to play a leadership role in Oklahoma banking and a desire to further their careers and grow professionally. A panel of bankers will review the applicants and choose those accepted into the Academy (maximum 30 bankers).

Click here to apply! The application deadline is Sept. 25. For more information, please contact Megan McGuire at megan@oba.com or (405) 424-5252.

OBA education corner …

Umm, it got hot outside … REAL hot. This week anyway. While we await a “cooldown” to the lower 90s on the horizon this weekend, make sure to stay frosty and keep up with what’s happening on the continuing education front, including the following:

Tokenized Deposits vs. Stablecoins: What’s the Difference?, Aug. 4, webinar — In this session, the Payments Professor explains the distinctions between tokenized deposits and stablecoins, highlighting how each model functions, the regulations that apply and the opportunities they create.
ACH SEC Codes Explained: PPD, CCD, TEL, WEB & More, Aug. 5, webinar — Attendees will learn how to manage time, recognize question types and apply their ACH knowledge effectively under pressure.
OFAC in Focus: Elevating Your Program Beyond the Basics, Aug. 5, webinar — Stay ahead of evolving compliance expectations in this essential webinar on OFAC sanctions requirements.
Consumer Real Estate Lending, Aug. 6, webinar — Take this opportunity to expand your knowledge of current compliance rules and take your loan processing skills to the next level.
Bi-Monthly Compliance Briefing, Aug. 7, webinar — A bi-monthly update to help you keep up with changes and deadlines in the compliance area in a quick and easy format.
Mortgage Servicing Compliance Requirements and Updates – 2-Part Series, Aug. 10/Aug. 12, webinar — An in-depth discussion of the legal and regulatory requirements of servicing consumer mortgage loans, including when loans are current as well as when the borrower is delinquent or in default.
2026 Opening New Accounts, Documentation & Compliance Seminars, Aug. 12-Tulsa; Aug. 13-Oklahoma City — Unfortunately, new account personnel are too often trained “on the job,” which results in an environment of potential vulnerability and unnecessary losses for the bank. This full-day program is one of the country’s most comprehensive seminars on opening deposit accounts.
Effectively Managing Wire Transfer Fraud, Aug. 13, webinar — Wire transfers remain one of the most common methods used by scammers.
Teller Training – 4-Part Series, Aug. 13/Aug. 20/Sept. 3/Sept. 10, webinar — We will tell you the why behind many of the things we do at the teller line.
Appraisal Review Workshop, Aug. 14, webinar — Appraisals are a key element of any loan decision as they truly depict the market valuation at the time of the loan.
2026 OBA Compliance School, Aug. 17-21, Oklahoma City — Students will return to their banks equipped to deal with compliance regulations that impact lending practices and deposit functions as well as other related federal and state laws and regulations.
Community Bank HMDA Workshop, Aug. 18, webinar — How does your community bank handle HMDA data reporting?
AI 101: What You Need to Know About AI and Banking Today, Aug. 21, webinar — The use of artificial intelligence over the next few years is poised to revolutionize not only our society as a whole, but the banking industry in particular.
2026 FDIC Banker Outreach, Aug. 27, Oklahoma City — Sessions will be tailored to directors, risk management and consumer compliance staff to bring participants up to date on current economic trends and regulatory issues.
Treasury Management: A Powerful Tool to Increase Deposits and Fee Income, Aug. 27, webinar — Unlock the potential of Treasury Management with a basic yet comprehensive course designed to elevate your financial institution’s success.
2026 Supervisor Bootcamp, Sept. 2-Tulsa; Sept. 3-Oklahoma City — Whether you are new or seasoned managers and supervisors, attendees find this experiential training invigorating, motivating and applicable to managing and supervising others.
2026 OBA Basic Banking School, Sept. 14-17, Oklahoma City — The school is designed to introduce students to basic banking concepts as they relate to the overall functioning of a bank.