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 …

The OBA was proud to host Shred Fest in partnership with AARP Oklahoma and the Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office, with special thanks to Absolute Data Shredding for providing secure on-site shredding services. AARP Oklahoma will also host additional shredding events on April 18 in Shawnee and Enid, April 22 in Edmond and May 2 in Tulsa. Thank you to everyone …

Banking regulators advanced three proposed rules last week to lower capital requirements for banks of all sizes as part of an effort to boost lending activity. The first proposed rule would implement the Basel III endgame agreement by revising the risk-based capital requirements for the largest banks. The second proposal would revise how the surcharge for globally systemically important banks, …

Every spring, the OBA welcomes bankers to join us for a firsthand look at the legislative process.         During their February session this year, the current Emerging Leaders Academy started their day with Commissioner Mick Thompson (above left) before hearing from Speaker Kyle Hilbert, Senate Appropriations Chair (and fellow banker) Chuck Hall and several of their respective …

On Friday afternoon, President Trump signed a new executive ordered titled “Promoting Access to Mortgage Credit.” The order directs the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and other financial regulators to consider a variety of changes aimed at making compliance easier for smaller, community banks. It also calls for agencies to revise existing policies to support community bank lending for construction, expand …

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 …

President Trump took to Truth Social on Thursday to announce Oklahoma U.S. Sen. Markwayne Mullin is his choice to replace Secretary Of Homeland Security Kristi Noem. Sen Mullin – if confirmed by the Senate – would take over the position on March 31. The White House said it will pursue Mullin’s Senate confirmation as quickly as possible. With the announcement of Mullin’s …

The FBI has issued reports regarding cyber threats in response to the U.S.- and Israel-launched strikes on Iran over the weekend. Here is information concerning these possible threats: Iranian Cyber Actors May Target Vulnerable U.S. Networks and Entities of Interest

Pursuant to Section 5.4 of the bylaws of the Oklahoma Bankers Association, this Banker Direct will serve as official notice of the process of selecting members of the board of directors of the Association. There are six board nominating committees, each of which will select a banker to replace the board member whose term on the OBA’s board will expire …

The Federal Reserve will soon issue proposals to change the regulatory capital framework in ways that incentivize banks to originate and service mortgages, Vice Chair for Supervision Michelle Bowman said at ABA’s Conference for Community Bankers in Orlando this past Tuesday. Specifically, the proposals would “remove the requirement to deduct mortgage servicing assets from regulatory capital while maintaining the 250% …