Oklahoma Banker

The dates for the OBA Bankers’ Night Out programs have been finalized. Mark your calendar for the date of the program that’s in your area of the state and plan to attend. Bring your coworkers with you so that everyone can be up-to-speed on the most recent developments affecting their job. In addition to state and federal legislative updates, the …

The OBA has been at the forefront of a nationwide effort to encourage the Fed to decide whether it would develop its version of a real-time payments in the U.S. We’ve made the position known since last year and, like our colleagues, we believe every bank in the country and their customers will benefit from a seamless, ubiquitous real-time payments …

I’ve never written my column like this before. I’ve never commented in this space about a former OBA chairman who has passed away, and there have been a few. I should have. I should have paid proper tribute to these outstanding leaders. Over the past 31 years, there have been several who have passed on to better things and a …

Late last month, a study by Karen Shaw Petrou from Federal Financial Analytics found credit unions are not meeting their statutory mission of serving individuals of “modest means.” The study also confirmed that credit union members are disproportionately from middle- and upper-income households. The report also notes that credit unions’ lack of “mission compliance” deepens economic inequality in the United …

Take note the OBA 2019-20 Emerging Leaders Academy is currently accepting applications. The OBA extends an invitation to any employee of a bank that is a member of the OBA to apply. A panel of bankers will review the applicants and choose those accepted into the Academy. Participants must attend all sessions to successfully graduate from the program. There are …

The OBA’s Annual Washington Visit has been scheduled for Sept. 15-17, 2019, and the hotel will be the Trump International Hotel Washington, D.C. Additionally, NEW this year, we are offering an offsite excursion to Mount Vernon that will include transportation, private tour (of the historic area, mansion & tomb), lunch and free time to explore the grounds. Registration information should …

This month marks the 75th Anniversary of the Normandy Invasion by Allied forces during the Second World War. Led by American and British troops, it was and remains the largest invasion by air, land and sea in history. More than 5,000 ships, 11,000 airplanes and 150,000 soldiers from the United States, Britain and Canada stormed the Nazi-occupied French beaches of …

Late last month, the Congressional Budget Office released its cost estimate for H.R. 1595, the SAFE Banking Act, to enable banks and credit unions to serve legitimate cannabis businesses in Oklahoma and 32 other states that have legalized the use of marijuana for either medical or recreational use. According to the CBO, this bill, which is strongly supported by the …

At some point recently, you’ve probably asked yourself, “What’s next for banking?” I know I’ve asked that question many times as the run-up to the 2020 elections gets more crowded. The political turmoil coming out of Washington dominates the daily headlines and makes up most of the lead stories on the evening n ews. But one thing I have noticed …

Nominations for induction into the Oklahoma Bankers Hall of Fame are now being taken and may be made by any bank employee of an OBA-member bank. The Oklahoma Bankers Hall of Fame has been created by the OBA Board of Directors to honor individual bankers for their contributions to the banking industry and the State of Oklahoma. In addition, the …