Oklahoma Banker

July 2018

• July 15, 2018

  Executive News: Well – now what?

  On June 26, I was closely following the results of the primary election in a hotel room where I was attending the annual meeting of bankers associations located in the Heartland. The governor’s primary was of keen interest, of course, as were the races for attorney general and the First Congressional District, among others. And there was this other thing …
• July 15, 2018

  Sticky situation

  On June 26, Oklahoma voters approved State Question 788, which purports to “legalize” the growth, distribution and sale of marijuana for medicinal purposes. A hard-fought campaign between the proponents of the state question and the business community which, in general, opposed the measure that was adopted by a 14-point margin, 57-43 percent. “Oklahoma is now one of 30 states and …

June 2018

• June 10, 2018

  Executive News: Holy cow!

  Assuming you read my column last month, you may recall that I shared a bit of my childhood about growing up a Harry Caray and Chicago Cubs fan. In the column I noted what got me so hooked on Harry – the way he described a home run. “There’s a drive to left field; it might be outta here; it …
• June 10, 2018

  Community banking victory

  By Jeremy Cowen Vice President/Communications Editor In what was a major win for the banking industry, as well as for banking customers across the country, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a regulatory relief package on May 22, which was signed into law by President Trump two days later. The bill, S. 2155 — Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief and Consumer …
• June 10, 2018

  Oklahoma Bankers Hall of Fame taking nominations for introductory class

  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 Hall of Fame is intended to recognize bankers’ achievements on behalf of the Association’s member banks. Bankers make a difference in their communities every day. To …

May 2018

• May 14, 2018

  Executive News: ‘It might be, it could be‘

  When I was a little kid, Harry Caray was the play-by-play announcer for the St. Louis Cardinals. Harry began announcing for the Cardinals in 1945 on station KMOX. My big brother was (and still is) a baseball nut. He’s a scholar (he’s written four books on baseball), statistician, historian (inducted into the Pacific Coast League Hall of Fame last summer) …
• May 14, 2018

  Oklahoma bankers make voices heard on Capitol Hill visit

  Oklahoma bankers made their way to Washington during the last week in April to meet with members of the Oklahoma congressional delegation and specifically ask them to support quick action on S. 2155. These Oklahomans were among the more than 1,300 bankers attending the Government Relations Summit hosted by the American Bankers Association. “It was a great group of our …

April 2018

• April 11, 2018

  Executive News: Still waiting

  As this issue of the Oklahoma Banker goes to press, we’re no further along than we were last month on getting regulatory relief for traditional community banks over the goal line. But it’s not without hope. I think. The delay is being caused by Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-Texas), who chairs the House Financial Services Committee. I’m told he has 30 …
• April 11, 2018

  Answer the CALL at 2018 OBA convention

  The 2018 OBA Annual Convention & Trade Show is coming soon, set for May 21-23 at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Catoosa. This year’s convention theme is “Answer the C.A.L.L. (community/advocacy/leadership/legacy). Lt. Col. Robert Darling, a retired member of the U.S. Marine Corps., who served in the first Gulf War and supported the president in the President’s Emergency …
• April 11, 2018

  State associations urge swift passage of S. 2155

  In a letter to the speaker of the House of Representatives and the minority leader in the House, the Oklahoma Bankers Association joined the other state bankers associations urging for swift passage of the community bank regulatory relief bill, S. 2155. “We thought it was important to make certain House leadership on both sides of the aisle be aware of …