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Oklahoma banks continue their collective journey to another record-earnings year, according to the FDIC’s release of the Quarterly Banking Profile on Monday. “Needless to say, this is great news for the industry,” OBA President and CEO Roger Beverage said. “The previous record was set in 2015, at $1.024 billion. At the end of September, the year-to-date net income for the industry …

We want to wish all our bankers and their families a happy Thanksgiving! Try not to eat too much turkey this weekend! The OBA offices will be closed on Thursday and Friday this week in observance of the holiday. We will reopen at our regular time on Monday, Nov. 27.

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Director Richard Cordray announced today he will be leaving his position, effective by the end of this month. Cordray, the first director of the CFPB, is thought to be considering a bid as governor of his home state of Ohio in next year’s election, although he has not confirmed this nor launched an official campaign. He …

On Nov. 13, members of the Senate Banking Committee unveiled a proposed compromise on regulatory relief for community banks, according to OBA President Roger Beverage. “It’s not everything we wanted,” Beverage said. “I still want to see if this is the final ‘take-it-or-leave-it’ version or if we can add some tweaks. “The most obvious omission is that it doesn’t talk …

We have now confirmed the ranking member of the Senate Banking Committee, Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), has walked away from the negotiations with Committee Chairman Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) on a proposed package for regulatory relief aimed at community banks. He did so in spite of his public statements some three weeks ago that progress was being made on a compromise, bipartisan …

I was recently in D.C. with 70 fellow bankers. During our visit, Rep. Lucas took time out of his busy schedule to meet with us for a few minutes. His dedication is greatly appreciated. During our visit, a hot topic was tax reform. As I understand it, the bill would have an easier road if it were revenue neutral. I …

The recent OBA Annual Washington Visit was highlighted in the Oklahoma State Banking Department’s monthly newsletter for October. The newsletter mentioned our Oklahoma bankers made a “powerful statement with record attendance” during the Visit, and also pointed out how several OBA Emerging Leaders made the trip. Oklahoma State Banking Commissioner Mick Thompson joined the more than five dozen bankers on the annual …

Last week, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau released its final rule that covers generally the small-dollar lending market. Importantly, the final rule protects banks that make small-dollar “accommodation loans” to customers on an occasional basis. “The OBA challenged the complexity of the initial proposal in 2016 and its applicability to traditional community banks,” said OBA President Roger Beverage. “When we …

Forty percent of Americans manage their bank accounts online more frequently than any other method, according to a recent survey conducted by Morning Consult on behalf of the American Bankers Association.  One in 4 consumers (26 percent) use their mobile devices most often to conduct their banking business, while 18 percent visit their bank’s branch the most frequently. “Since the …

Last week, the Trump administration and congressional leaders released news about a joint framework for tax reform that was (apparently) hammered together by White House insiders, the speaker and the president pro temp of the Senate. This outline provides a very general road map for the House Ways and Means Committee as the long-awaited tax reform package is finalized. Democrats …