Writer: Tom Bengtson

A fast-growing web service aimed at bankers has the potential to take industry collaboration to an entirely new level. [Continue]

Tom Olson, a banker for 52 years, will be honored this fall by the American Bankers Association with its Bruning Award. [Continue]

The 2,300-page financial reform legislation does many things but for community bankers the most important may be recognition of distinct status for their sector of the industry. [Continue]

Superintendent concerned about high number of 3-4-5 rated banks       Tom Gronstal, Iowa Superintendent of Banking, said the number of 3-rated banks is growing. “At the end of June, we were up to 49 banks that were rated 3, 4 or 5 in the state, of state charters. I am hoping we are coming to the … Read more

Political developments have never had so much influence on the economy, commented Jim Nowak, assistant vice president-risk management for United Bankers’ Bank, Bloomington, Minn. [Continue]

Bankers gathering in Brainerd August 5-8 for the annual convention of the Independent Community Bankers of Minnesota took time to assess the industry landscape at the dawn of the Dodd Frank Act era. [Continue]

      Will the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau make utilities out of the nation’s larger banks? I think it is a question worth pondering. Elizabeth Warren, Michael Barr or whoever President Obama names to head the new bureau certainly will not take the job to be a caretaker. They will want to make a … Read more

     Budgets are tight at most community banks and I think most of the businesses that serve the banking industry would tell you their business has been off a bit over the last one to two years. This demonstrates the importance of the banking industry: Its fortunes affect a lot of organizations, including NorthWestern … Read more

      Congress has passed financial reform legislation. Now what?       Well, we know that the regulatory agencies will be spending the next two to three years writing rules to implement the 2,300-page legislation. Certainly the associations and their respective members will work hard to be a part of this crucial process.       But I wonder … Read more

An interview with Bob Rutten by Tom Bengtson [Continue]