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| APRIL IS COMMUNITY BANKING MONTH |
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Celebrate! Celebrate!
At this time, therefore, I encourage Texans to recognize the important role that community banks play in fortifying our local communities. As such, they highlight the best of the Lone Star State.
So reads a portion of the official Proclamation issued by Governor Rick Perry recognizing April as Community Banking Month in Texas. To view the Proclamation in its entirely, click here.
At a time in our nation’s economy that the too-big-to-fail banks are faltering, IBAT salutes the independent banks of Texas whose sound lending practices and commitment to the local community do indeed make them the best of the Lone Star State!
If you have any special celebrations planned to highlight Community Banking Month, e-mail Mae Beth at mbpalone@ibat.org and we’ll highlight your celebration on our website. |
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| 2008 LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE |
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Catch the Wave to Leadership Excellence
June 19-21, 2008
Online registration is open, and we still have sponsorship and exhibit opportunities available.
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| BEST OF COMMUNITY BANKING AWARDS |
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Put Your Thinking Caps On
We’re still finalizing this year’s Best of Community Banking brochure and you should be receiving information in the mail over the next couple of weeks. But, it is not too early to start thinking about your entry for this year.
Categories include:
• Marketing
• Architectural Design
• Financial Literacy
• Community Service
What a great way to highlight your bank to your colleagues and peers! Start planning your entry today and watch your mail for more information. |
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| CONSUMER TIPS |
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Checking accounts have changed. According to a report issued by the Federal Reserve, of the 9 billion non-cash payments made in 2006, 63 billion were made electronically, compared to 30 billion using paper checks.
This month’s edition of Consumer Tips will help your customers better understand the world of check processing and the importance of managing their checking accounts.
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| IBAT EDUCATION FOUNDATION |
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2008 RAISE Texas Asset-Building Action Summit
April 29–30, 2008
Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas-Houston Branch
Register now - participation is limited!
The Alliance for Economic Inclusion (AEI), RAISE Texas, and the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas will convene the 2008 asset-building summit for bankers, credit union professionals, community organization leaders, government professionals and policymakers April 29–30 in Houston. This action summit will launch a series of initiatives (products, programs, legislation) to increase financial prosperity for low-income families in our state. Four action campaigns will be discussed at this summit. When registering, you will be able to choose one action campaign to work on. The event will include plenary sessions, breakout sessions to discuss the campaigns, invited speakers, and a dinner/reception on the evening of April 29. The action campaigns are:
• Matched savings accounts;
• Community tax centers;
• Alternative small dollar consumer loan products; and
• Home mortgage foreclosure prevention.
Click HERE for more information about the four action campaigns.
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| LEGAL EASE QUESTION OF THE WEEK |
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Question: Bank customer altered the payee on a check to reflect their name…from “IRS” to “MRS” followed by their name. The alteration was not an obvious one. The check was drawn on another bank and was paid by that bank when it was presented through the system for payment. According to regulations, what (if any) liability does our Bank as the depositing bank have regarding reimbursement of funds on this altered check since the alteration is not an obvious one? I know that our Bank would be responsible if the endorsement was forged, but, in this case, the endorsement was as the check payee read.
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 Loyalty Solutions help member banks create more loyal customers by creating improved purposeful, memorable experiences. If you’ve noticed any of the following warning signs in your bank, then you’ll be delighted to take advantage of IBAT’s endorsement of Deluxe’s Loyalty Solutions!
Warning Signs:
Indications That Your Customer Experience Needs Improvement
• Spending a lot of money on acquiring accounts but not getting referrals
• Lower budget for retention than acquisition – not committing resources to retaining customers
• Considerable employee discord and turnover
• Unacceptable attrition rate
• Low deposit penetration of account holders
AND THE SURE SIGN: Ask yourself if your best friends were moving to town, which of your branches would you send them to? If you are quick to name a branch…and even a specific person at that branch…your customer experience is not as positive as it could be.
THE ANSWER: Should be any person at any branch!
Jump start Deluxe’s Discovery Process right now by contacting Tim Sullivan, Deluxe’s Business Development Executive, Tim.Sullivan@Deluxe.com, 281.356.3888 or 877.330.6945.
Click HERE to see how two IBAT member banks have improved their customers' experience! |
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| BAKER WEEKLY |
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March’s consumer confidence forecast for the next six months plummeted to the lowest level since the Nixon era…Crude oil prices rose this week $3.50/bbl to $105.32/bbl…Annualized GDP for Q4 was finalized at 0.6%, as expected, with quarter-over-quarter core personal consumption expenditures slowing to 2.5%...Other news this week was the Treasury auction of T-Bills to fund borrowing from the discount window, which was recently open to securities firms and all totaled, these firms borrowed $37B of the $45B total. 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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ICBA Loan Review Processes to Meet Regulatory Compliance
April 17-18, 2008
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 upcoming events.
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April 29-May 1, 2008 - Washington, DC |
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June 19-21, 2008 - Moody Gardens, Galveston |
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September 20-23, 2008 - Hyatt Lost Pines Resort, Austin/Bastrop |
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October 5-10, 2008 - Dallas | | |
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Contact IBAT or if you have comments or questions about this newsletter,
email or call Bonnie Kankel at (800) 749-4228. |
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