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It has been a busy week both in Austin and Washington.
Your IBAT staff has worked feverishly to ensure our proactive agenda is advanced in the State legislature as we race toward the end of a very long session.
State Legislative Update
Of particular interest to community bankers is the State's technical correction to the margins tax passed in 2006. Both the House and now the Senate have passed measures that retain the very important apportionment language that we have led to help reduce substantial tax increases that have fallen disproportionately on most community banks...now we await House concurrence to Senate amendments and final passage of the bill.
Four other measures, including the industry's state ILC bill (which would prohibit Wal-Mart and other big box stores from locating their own commercial bank in their stores) are on their way to the Governor's desk for signature.
IBAT will make available a complimentary end of session telephone conference to all members on June 12 to discuss all measures passed in the 80th Texas Legislature. It is scheduled from 8:00-9:30am CDT. Please mark your calendars accordingly.
Federal Legislative Update
On the federal legislative front, IBAT and ICBA applauded the introduction of our Communities First Act in the U.S. Senate. This measure would provide comprehensive legislative and regulatory relief. A summary is available to you by clicking HERE.
In addition, IBAT weighed in on the prospective mark-up of the 2007 farm bill and the quest for the Farm Credit System to expand their lending authority. A copy of the letter sent to Congressman Henry Cuellar can be accessed by clicking HERE. Many IBAT members from Congressman Cuellar's district also weighed in on this important issue at our urging. |
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| IBAT 33RD ANNUAL CONVENTION |
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Last week we sent out information relating to sponsorship and exhibit opportunities for our convention. We were delighted with the overwhelming response, and would like to take this opportunity to thank all the banks and companies that stepped up to help us. CLICK HERE to see a current list.
The Preliminary Schedule is also available at that link, as is an Early Bird Registration Form. |
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| CAST YOUR VOTE FOR THE IBAT FIVE*STAR AWARD |
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For the past several years, IBAT has presented the Five*Star Award to one or more Associate Members who provide superior service to our industry.
Click HERE to cast your vote for this year’s Five*Star Award honorees.
We are also happy to announce our first Five*Star Legacy Award to McCoy Myers, a CSI Company, based in Amarillo, Texas, who after winning this award for five years, has retired from the competition. Hats off to McCoy Myers for their years of dedication and service to the community banking industry!
Voting ends June 5.
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| BEST OF COMMUNITY BANKING AWARDS COMPETITION |
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Showcase your bank by entering the 2007 Best of Community Banking Awards competition. You deserve recognition for all you do for the State’s economy and your local community. Why not share your accomplishments with your banking colleagues and peers across the state and give your customers, shareholders and employees something to talk about!
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| PAC AUCTION |
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If you want your PAC Auction item included in the IBAT PAC Auction online directory, be sure to return your Auction Form as soon as possible. This directory provides our members with a “sneak peak” of the items that will be available during the annual IBAT convention in Fort Worth.
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| LEGAL EASE QUESTION OF THE WEEK |
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Question: Must the bank's cashier/corporate secretary be a director?
To find out the answer, click on the flashing question mark. And you can also check out our searchable database of other frequently asked questions. |
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| SOLUTIONS FROM SERVICES |
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Deluxe ID Theft Block
The average loss per identity fraud case is $6,383, according to recent research. Yet consumers shoulder only 7 percent of these financial losses. It is businesses, such as yours, that often take the hit.
Now there is a new way to minimize your write-offs due to identity theft. By providing your consumers access to professional recovery support right after an identity theft is discovered, you could significantly reduce the impact of this invasive crime. Click HERE to learn how IBAT Endorsed Service Provider, Deluxe ID Theft Block can help!
MSI
Marketing Solutions, Inc. (MSI) has announced the signing of an acquisition agreement with Fidelity National Information Services, Inc., a Fortune 500 provider of products and services to community banks.
On Wednesday, May 2, 2007 MSI officially became part of the Fidelity family of outstanding products and services offered to the financial industry. MSI and Fidelity share the same vision and commitment in serving the technology needs of financial institutions. MSI continues to be committed to the IBAT/MSI endorsement relationship and to providing only the most robust, comprehensive CRM solution, CONNECTIONS to IBAT member financial institutions. Click HERE to learn more! |
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| IBAT EDUCATION FOUNDATION |
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Community bankers with locations in Central Texas are invited to spread the word to their customers about the Family Financial Literacy Fair on June 9, 1-4pm in Austin. The event is the first of a series sponsored by the Alliance for Economic Inclusion, the FDIC's new national initiative to establish broad based coalitions of financial institutions, community-based organizations and others in nine markets across the country to help bring the unbanked and underserved populations in the financial mainstream. The links below take you to a poster that can be downloaded and printed. Please post in your community rooms, drive-ins, teller windows, lobbies, and other natural gathering points in your community. Table top exhibits are available should any bank wish to take an active role in the event. For information, contact Arlene Davis. 800/568-9161 ext 8011.
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| BAKER WEEKLY |
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Headline consumer prices slowed…Core CPI figures rose…Housing starts unexpectedly rose…Industrial production jumped...Read more in this week's Baker Weekly.
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. |
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| ON THE EDUCATION FRONT |
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The fall schedule for the IBAT Summits has been set:
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Advanced Bonds
August 2 - San Antonio
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Bank Operations Institute
October 7-12 - Dallas
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Lending Compliance
August 23-24 - Addison
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Sales Culture
November 6-7 - Arlington
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Liquidity Management
Sept. 6-7 - San Antonio
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COMING SOON |
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For a complete listing of upcoming events, click here. Meanwhile, please mark your calendar for some of our key events for 2007.
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June 14-16, 2007 - Hyatt Lost Pines Resort |
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September 29 - October 2, 2007 - Fort Worth |
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FDIC Banker Outreach
October 23 - Richardson
October 25 - Arlington |
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Financial Literacy Summit
December 4-5 - TBD | | |
