IBAT's Bottom Line April 6, 2009

FDIC Comment Letters

Thanks to all of you who took the time to write the FDIC in regards to the proposed special assessment rule.  Many of you have sent copies of your letters to me and I commend you for the careful thought that was put into each.

Last week as a result of the IBAT Executive Committee's trip to Washington, several members of the Texas congressional delegation issued a letter to the FDIC relative to this proposal. You may view a copy of this letter here.  Senators Hutchison and Cornyn weighed in with letters of their own. Congressmen Hinojosa, Bernice Johnson, Edwards and Green also filed their own letter with the FDIC.

You may wish to express your thanks to your elected representative if they participated.  We all anxiously wait to see what the FDIC board decides to do on this and future assessments.  I am convinced that the community banking industry has done an excellent job  in communicating our strong objections to this proposal by the FDIC which will likely result in a substantially modified plan and lower assessment premiums.

Enjoy this week's newsletter.

Question: I have two questions. First, can a lender make a home equity loan on a parcel of the homestead that is surveyed out, but does not include the house?  We were advised that because the loan was not secured by a portion of the homestead that contained the house, it would have to be made as a conventional real estate secured loan.  This brings up the second question:  What would happen if we had taken this advice and made a conventional real estate secured loan on the surveyed-out parcel of the homestead that didn't contain the house.

To find out the answer, click here.

Nuts and Bolts of Banking
April 28-29, 2009 - Austin, TX
More Information . . .

Purpose:  To inform attendees of the complete banking process:  How community banks are structured and regulated; what are the banking functions including payments, deposits, and credit.  The summit will include time management, risk mitigation, and an overview of capital, assets and earnings. 

The Labor Department indicated this morning that payrolls for the month of March dropped 663,000, slightly more than economists were expecting . . .Even though joblessness continues to rise, stocks are slightly stronger from the week prior . . . Read More in the Baker Market Update.

Although this information has been obtained from sources, which we believe to be reliable, we do not guarantee its accuracy. This is for information purposes only and is not intended as an offer or solicitation with respect to the purchase or sale of any security.

Community bankers who have business customers in the Central Texas area may be interested in inviting them to a special program on April 16 on the UT Campus in Austin.  The 2009 Business In Action & Economic Summit will feature Blake Hastings, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, San Antonio Branch; our own, Robert Hulsey, American National Bank of Texas, Terrell and Foundation chairman; and Jason Rhode, Cirrus Logic, President and CEO. The program will provide a discussion on the economy from a global, state, and local perspective impacting business and banking. Click here for a flyer about the event.

The program is the official launch to Financial Fitness Greater Austin, one of many events across the state that focuses on April as Financial Literacy Month. Consider setting up a table with your own invited business guests, or join IBAT Foundation at its table. For information click here or send a note to mlange@ibat.org.

IBAT Career Center is free to all job seekers and provides you with access to the best employers and jobs in the Texas community banking industry.

An added feature of the IBAT Career Center is that IBAT job seekers also have instant access to job listings from the following assocations, thru the IBAT Career Center: Mortgage Bankers Association, National Association of Credit Management, FORIUS (formerly NACM North Central), California Mortgage Bankers Association, International Association of Registered Financial Consultants, Equipment Leasing and Finance Association, International Accounts Payable Professionals.

In addition, IBAT Career Center offers the most targeted advertising for your Texas community banking industry job openings.

Jump start your career with the IBAT Career Center.

You should have received a letter from IBAT this past week about the annual PAC Drive.  Please help our community banking industry by conducting a PAC Drive with not only your board of directors, but your employees.  To be entered in the drawing, we need:
1.    Your board members to contribute a minimum of $100 to either the IBAT PAC or the IBAT FedPAC
2.    Ask your employees to contribute to one of the two PACs.  And remember, the sale of Dream Vacation tickets counts as a PAC Drive.  Not only do your employees have an opportunity to contribute to the industry that provides their livelihood, they might also be in the Dream Vacation drawing during the IBAT Convention.

For more information, click here.
PAC Contribution Form
PAC Drive Drawing Information

We Need Your Help

Thanks to all of the banks who have volunteered to collect donations for the Governor’s Mansion restoration project.  IBAT members already helping in this effort include:
Amarillo National Bank
American Bank of Texas, Marble Falls
American National Bank, Gonzales
Citizens Bank, Claude
Citizens National Bank, Henderson
D'Hanis State Bank
First-Lockhart National Bank
First National Bank of Bastrop
First National Bank of Hico
First National Bank, Jasper
First National Bank, Quanah
First National Bank, Wichita Falls
First State Bank, Clute
First State Bank, Louise
First State Bank of Uvalde
Happy State Bank
Lakeside National Bank, Rockwall
Liberty National Bank, Paris
Menard National Bank
Mills County State Bank, Goldthwaite
Pioneer Bank, SSB, Dripping Springs
Preferred Bank, Houston
Round Top State Bank
Star Bank, Fort Worth
Texas Leadership Bank, Royse City

Statement Stuffers are also available.  To view, click here: Governor's Mansion Statement Stuffers

For a complete Order Form with pricing, click here: Governor's Mansion Order Form

Read the: Governor's Mansion Press Release and the Governor's Mansion Fact Sheet.

The restoration drive runs through April 30.  For additional information, call Mae Beth at 800.749.4228.

For a complete listing of upcoming events, CLICK HERE.  Meanwhile, please mark your calendar for some of our key upcoming events.

Congressional Visit
May 12-14 - Washington, D.C.

IBAT/SWACHA Bank on Boot Camp
June 2-3 - Austin

IBAT Leadership Conference
June 18-20 - San Antonio

IBAT 35th Annual Convention
October 10-13 - Westin La Cantera Resort, San Antonio