A new era in deposit insurance?
Has deposit insurance changed forever? Regulators boldly protected all depositors at Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank when they failed. Is 100 percent coverage of bank deposits now the norm? [Continue]
Writer: Tom Bengtson
Remembering the man behind the Guenther-gram
I was saddened to learn of the Jan. 25 death of Kenneth Guenther, the leader of the Independent Community Bankers of America from 1982 to 2004. When I bought this magazine to start NFR Communications in 1992, Guenther was one of the first people to reach out to me. [Continue]
Inflation’s disparate impact
I am convinced community banks feel the impact of inflation more than big banks. Inflation means upward pressure on interest rates, and community banks generally need to increase the interest rates they pay on CDs and savings accounts more rapidly than the largest banks because people still feel larger banks are safer than smaller banks. No matter what regulatory changes occur, most people still believe too-big-to-fail is real. [Continue]
Retirements cause leadership shake-up at region’s Fed Banks
Charles Evans and Esther George were both born on January 15, 1958, which means they bumped up against the Federal Reserve’s mandatory retirement age for bank presidents last month. Leadership changes, therefore, are underway at the Chicago and Kansas City Federal Reserve Banks: Austan Goolsbee was named the new president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. The Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City has yet to permanently fill the vacancy created by George’s departure; she was replaced on an interim basis by Kelly Dubbert, first vice president and chief operating officer. [Continue]
No time like the present
Turning the pages of the calendar on a new year encourages us to think about timing. The world isn’t slowing down, and a few wise words might be just what we need to make the most of the present. [Continue]
Wisconsin bankers chart a course for success at Nicolet’s helm
Intent on reinvigorating a strong community banking culture in northern Wisconsin, Bob Atwell and Mike Daniels left one of the state’s largest banks to start Nicolet Bankshares in November of 2000. With nearly $9 billion in assets, Nicolet is now the second-largest banking organization based in the state, behind their former employer, Associated Bank. [Continue]
What a difference a year makes!
Things can certainly change over the course of a year. The interest rate environment is completely different than it was at the beginning of the year. [Continue]
Deposit insurance premium increase not necessary
The FDIC board decision on Oct. 18 to raise deposit insurance premium assessments beginning first quarter 2023 is disappointing on at least three counts. First, the agency is on track to reach its legally-mandated coverage ratio of 1.35 percent by September 2028 without any increase in rates. [Continue]
Wisconsin partners navigate M.O.E. hurdles
n ambitious merger of equals is underway in south central Wisconsin, bringing together two Madison-area organizations. The merger involves SBCP Bancorp, Inc., the holding company for the $1.6 billion State Bank of Cross Plains, and Monona Bankshares, Inc., the holding company for $1.17 billion Monona Bank. [Continue]
Customer experience at 40,000 feet
If your business model depends on great service, you have undoubtedly spent time considering the customer experience. With money essentially a commodity, it is the customer experience that separates your bank from others. [Continue]