Weekly Update

From the chairman By Curtis Davidson OBA Chairman Chambers of Commence are one of our strongest allies. Be it local or national, chambers and banks have the same goal: to support economic growth, job creation and entrepreneurship. Last week, I watched a webcast from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Capital Markets Summit titled “Kickstarting Growth: The Small Business Story.” I …

CHOICE Act introduced, to be considered Wednesday Thursday, Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-Texas), who chairs the House Financial Services Committee, released his latest version of the Financial Choice Act.  We’ve talked about this approach before in this space and we featured it at the recent Bankers’ Night Out Programs across the state.   The intent of this 600-page bill is to “repeal …

From the chairman By Curtis Davidson OBA Chairman Someone once said, “What you put into life is what you get out of it.” That same concept is also true as it relates to your bank’s investment in the OBA.  As we were preparing the budget for the next fiscal year, it caused me to closely examine what my OBA dues …

From the chairman By Curtis Davidson OBA Chairman Here’s the real story about my favorite community banker. P.D. moved to Ardmore a year after he married his childhood sweetheart, Raymonde, who was known simply as Ray. He found a cashier job with Ardmore National Bank. He soon worked directly under Lee Cruce, who would become Oklahoma’s second governor. P.D. and …

From the chairman By Curtis Davidson OBA Chairman OBA road trip continues. We have reached our half way point for the OBA Spring Bankers’ Night Out events. Attendance has been great at all three locations; Lawton, Oklahoma City and Tulsa. Over 300 bankers and vendors have come together to do what we do best; eat and socialize. We also learned …

From the chairman By Curtis Davidson OBA Chairman Last Thursday’s meeting between President Trump and community bankers has been widely reported and discussed, and is covered in more detail below. I would also like to reflect on a few points and the significance of this meeting. Can you remember when a sitting president has met with bankers who represent the …

From the chairman By Curtis Davidson OBA Chairman If you are still sitting on the fence about attending the ABA Government Relations Summit on March 20-22, let me encourage you to go. ABA has assembled a top-notch program and the price of admission couldn’t be better. It’s free to all bankers whether or not you are an ABA member. Here’s …

OBA Bankers’ Night Out programs ready for spring 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. …

From the chairman By Curtis Davidson OBA Chairman Maybe it’s not so bad we aren’t at the very top of President Trump’s priorities. Previously, we wrote financial reform is one of the top 10 but not the top three issues the Trump administration will address. After witnessing an ill-fated, sloppy rollout of the travel ban, I think the White House …

From the chairman By Curtis Davidson OBA Chairman There may be more than one way to skin the regulatory cat. Nothing is higher on a banker’s wish list than regulatory reform. The problem is how to get from wish to reality. Currently there are three methods being discussed. These methods are probably familiar to you but I would like to …