State Meetings

SBA: Outreach during pandemic sparked economy, community banks

SBA Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman said her organization has strengthened its  relationship with community banks by increasing its number of preferred lenders and helping bankers navigate a sometimes complicated lending process. Guzman’s Aug. 16 comments came during a roundtable in downtown St. Paul as part of a nationwide tour intended to highlight the nation’s economic recovery from the pandemic and emphasize the importance of vaccinations to ensure further growth. [Continue]

Credit union discussion percolates at IBA convention

Leadership of the Iowa Legislature gathered for a panel discussion at the 133 rd annual convention of the Iowa Bankers Association. Meeting at the Veterans Memorial Auditorium in Des Moines on Sept. 24, credit union competition dominated the conversation among five elected officials, all Republicans. [Continue]

Mentorship, peer networks key to women’s success

The importance of mentorship and women helping other women in their careers was a key refrain offered by a panel of three veteran female bankers recently. Mary Kay Bates, president and CEO of Bank Midwest, Spirit Lake, Iowa; Laurie Nordquist, lead regional president for the Upper Midwest for Wells Fargo, and Del Mari Runck, chief operating officer for Neighborhood National Bank, St. Cloud. [Continue]

True tales of ownership succession

The sometimes painful process of bank ownership succession planning was highlighted at the recent Nebraska Bankers Association annual convention by a panel of CEOs who became new owners when presented with the opportunity by previous owners. [Continue]

Iowa officials update bankers on flooding at IDoB event

Spring flooding was on the minds of Gov. Kim Reynolds and Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig as they updated bankers on conditions on the ground in southwestern Iowa during the 26th annual “Day with the Superintendent,” held April 18 in Des Moines. The event was hosted by the Iowa Division of Banking. [Continue]

Trust through transparency: FDIC chair describes priorities

FDIC Chair Jelena McWilliams offers commentary on the Trust through Transparency initiative, the FDIC’s increased focus on cybersecurity, her listening tour of bankers and efforts to streamline regulations at the agency, even though “it’s not the nature of a regulatory agency to declutter.” [Continue]