DBA Digest for August 22, 2025

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Whatever you call it, we at the DBA/DFEA and our members are working individually and collectively to advance the industry by educating grade school students about banking and finance; engaging high school students in conversations about how that knowledge helps them as they move towards adulthood; training college kids in the fundamentals of our industry; providing professional and leadership development opportunities to early-stage and mid-career banking colleagues; and ultimately sparking greater economic development in the State of Delaware and well beyond.

In the months ahead we hope to celebrate the enactment into law of HB203 – the bill to require financial education in high schools across the state, support the University of Delaware in taking the Trust Management Minor program to a new level with a new leader, and find ways to replicate this successful pipeline-building model more broadly across elemental banking skill sets. A 2024 report from the American Bankers Association on industry hiring trends and emerging skill needs highlights that banks that host internship programs tend to see fewer skill gaps overall in recent hires, with those hires showing enhanced skill sets in most skill areas surveyed, especially in regulatory compliance expertise, risk management and leadership skills.

And yet, 43% of banks, especially those under $1B in assets, don’t have internship programs, and those same banks— up to 59%—also don’t have formal in-house skill development training programs for new hires. That’s not surprising, since training and internships require resources (time, money, staff) that our smaller banks can’t efficiently supply in-house. All the more reason for the DBA to seek ways to provide these tools either ourselves or in partnership with others, for the benefit of our membership.

What kinds of training gaps are you experiencing? Where can the DBA be most helpful to you? Please reach out and let us know!

2025 Women Connect Network - September 19 - Lewes

Register today for the next Women Connect Networking Event on Friday, September 19 in Lewes, DE at the Biden Environmental Training Center on Cape Henlopen State Park. 

The program will include sessions on Strengthening your Leadership and Networking for Introverts. Attendees will explore their natural leadership and communication styles through self-assessments, group discussions, and strategies to build stronger relationships. Leave with new connections and an organic matching of peer to peer mentoring.

Join us the night before on Thursday, September 18 for additional networking opportunities and plan a stay at the beach. For more information on accommodations email Corinne.Stayton@debankers.com 

2025 Foundations of Delaware Trusts

Now Available On-Demand

All three of this year's Foundations of Delaware Trust series are now available for on-demand viewing. Educate your entire staff with these convenient webinars. Sessions are just $199 each for DBA members or $499 for all three. Contact Renee Duncan to order yours.

Trust Modification

Instructors: Michael M. Gordon, Director, Gordon, Fournaris & Mammarella, P.A.; Elizabeth M. Luk, Head of Delaware Trust, BNY Wealth, BNY Mellon Trust of

Delaware.

How to Communicate with Trust Beneficiaries - The When, Why and How of It All

Instructors: Cindy Brown, Director of Special Situs Trusts, Wealth Management, Mechanics Bank; Bobbi Lynn Kent, Chief Fiduciary Officer & Chief Administrative Officer | Senior Vice President, The Northern Trust Company of Delaware.

Estate/Wealth Transfer Planning Techniques - Why the Grantor Created the Trust

Instructors: Matthew P. D'Emilio, Managing Member, McCollom D'Emilio Smith Uebler LLC; Tara S. Hersh, Associate, McCollum D'Emilo Smith Uebler LLC

2025 Delaware Trust Conference

Great Speakers! Great Topics! Register Today!

The 20th annual edition of the Delaware Trust Conference features more of the top speakers and topics that have made it one of the nation's premiere wealth management events. The 2025 Delaware Trust Conference will be live at The Chase Center on the Riverfront, AND live-streaming, on October 28 & 29, AND on-demand through November for credit. Earn up to 17.0 CLE, including 2.0 Ethics Credits. Register today.

72 Richards, Layton & Finger Attorneys

 Named in Best Lawyers

Seventy-two Richards, Layton & Finger attorneys are named in the 2026 edition of The Best Lawyers in America, more lawyers than from any other Delaware firm. Best Lawyers has also selected four Richards Layton attorneys as Wilmington, Delaware Lawyer of the Year in five practice areas, an award presented to one outstanding lawyer in each specialty in a metropolitan area:

• Mark Collins in Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
• Kelly Farnan in Litigation – Patent
• Mark Gentile in Mergers and Acquisitions Law
• Jennifer Jauffret in Employment Law – Management

“We are proud to have so many of our attorneys recognized by Best Lawyers in America,” said Paul Heath, president of Richards Layton. “This honor reflects their exceptional talent, dedication to clients, and commitment to the highest standards of our profession.” See the full list of Richards Layton attorneys named in The Best Lawyers in America via the link below.

40 Morris Nichols Attorneys Listed in The Best Lawyers in America 2026

Forty Morris Nichols attorneys were included in this year’s edition of The Best Lawyers in America®, a peer-reviewed catalog of the nation’s top lawyers.

Morris Nichols partners David Harris, Derek Abbott, Jeff Wolters, and Bill Lafferty were named “Lawyer of the Year” in their respective practice categories (indicated with an asterisk below). This recognition is awarded annually to the attorney who receives the highest peer review ratings in each practice area and geographic region. Only one lawyer is selected for each specialty and location per edition.

Additionally, six firm attorneys were listed the Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch^® in America, which recognizes lawyers who are earlier in their careers for their professional excellence in private practice.

Three Gordon, Fournaris & Mammarella, Directors Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America

Peter S. Gordon

Thomas Mammarella

Michael M. Gordon

Gordon, Fournaris & Mammarella, P.A. is proud to announce that three of the firm’s directors have been included in the 2026 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America^®. The attorneys are each recognized for their excellence in specific practice areas: Peter S. Gordon (Litigation-Trusts and Estates, Tax Law, and Trusts and Estates), Thomas Mammarella (Real Estate Law) and Michael M. Gordon (Tax Law and Trusts and Estates). GF&M is honored to have received so many positive peer reviews to be recognized by Best Lawyers®. 

DCF Delivers $545,000 in Meet the Moment Grants to Delaware Nonprofits 

The Delaware Community Foundation (DCF) announced $545,000 in Meet the Moment grants. As part of the DCF’s Meet the Moment initiative to support 100 nonprofits in its first round, these grants help organizations adapt to federal funding changes by funding scenario planning, new revenue models, legal support for mergers, advocacy and other adaptive strategies. Through the generosity of DCF donors, the initial grant pool was increased from $425,000 to $545,000.

“We recognize that nonprofits need immediate support and the DCF is in a position to help lead the way,” said DCF Executive Vice President Sarah Hench. “This grant program is part of a larger, coordinated effort with internal and external partners to share resources, workshops and trainings with the Delaware nonprofit community.”

Belfint Lyons & Shuman, CPAs

Celebrates Summer Promotions

Belfint, Lyons & Shuman, P.A. (BLS), a Top 300 certified public accounting and consulting firm headquartered in Delaware, announces multiple well-earned promotions.

Mark Sweeney has been promoted to Supervisor in the firm’s Tax & Small Business Practice Group. Nick Allen, Nate Grubb, and Bella LaPlante have been promoted to Staff II Accountant.

Santora CPA Group Announces a Promotion

Santora CPA Group, a Newark-based Certified Public Accounting and Consulting firm, is pleased to announce that:Melanie Seifrit, CPA, MBA has been promoted to A&A Manager. She joined SCG in September 2016. Melanie is a graduate of Philadelphia University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting (2015) and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration (2016). She is a member of the American Institute and the Delaware Society of Certified Public Accountants.

New Toolkit for Workforce Development Professionals

We have some great news to share as we approach Workforce Development Month. We've added a new toolkit for workforce development professionals to the Occupational Mobility Explorer (OME), the online skills-based career visualization tool from the Federal Reserve Banks of Philadelphia and Cleveland.

The toolkit includes:

• an easy-to-follow guide;
• use cases for in-demand occupations; and
• other helpful resources for working with job seekers and employers.

These tools make it easier for people working in job training and career development to use the OME.

Go Back to School with Wilmington University

Thinking about going back to school? Wilmington University makes it easier than ever, and we’re proud to support your journey. The DBA and DFEA have partnered with WilmU to offer you access to a range of educational perks. Fall classes begin Tuesday, Sept. 2, and there’s still time to enroll.

Here’s what you can enjoy through our partnership:

· Guaranteed admission

· Flexible degree programs available in person or 100% online, including Business Management, Human Resource Management, Master of Business Administration and more!

· Discounted tuition

· A complimentary Transfer Credit Evaluation

· A waived $35 application fee with a special promo code

If you’re interested in enrolling, or if you’d like to explore forming a cohort with fellow colleagues, connect with a WilmU partnership specialist via the link below.

Developing Delaware: Conversation, Collaboration, Innovation, October 9th

Delaware is small but diverse. As you travel around our three counties, you discover there is a lot to be learned from the success of our neighbors. We all benefit in the end if we engage in conversation and collaboration to generate job creation and economic growth. The innovations created from these partnerships will help businesses thrive in Delaware.

This event is an opportunity to share the good things that are happening, compare Delaware to the successes around the region, hear innovative ideas, and create new business partnerships. And it is our hope that we walk away with inspiration and ideas—maybe even a to do list—on how to continue moving the First State forward. Join us Thursday, October 9, 2025 @ 8:30 AM - 1:00 PM, Delaware Technical Community College- Terry Campus, 100 Campus Drive, Dover, DE 19904

Rodel Child Care Survey of Employers 

Attention Delaware employers: Take this 5-minute survey and tell us about your experience with your employees and child care. This survey is for CEOs, organizational leaders, HR directors, managers, and business owners. Multiple representatives from an organization are permitted to respond.

Don't Miss These Upcoming OnCourse Learning Webinars

Community Banking HMDA Workshop - August 26th

Join us for this special 2.5-hour workshop for community banks to explore the requirements and the environment for HMDA reporting and accuracy. This means varying degrees of automation may be utilized. This session will include breakout rooms where you will get the opportunity to collaborate with peers, as well as our industry expert, Lauren Sparks. Space is limited, and live attendance is a must for this high-value learning experience!

Audience: This session is ideal for anyone with hands-on responsibilities for HMDA, the Community Reinvestment Act, or Fair Lending, and/or compliance, as well as those handling key functions in lending from application through onboarding. This can include the loan operations team, loan officers, credit staff, compliance officers, and auditors.

BSA/AML Summer Update - August 26th

The AML rules are looming, and we expect changes in our risk assessment procedures and purpose statements. In addition, exploding fraud on checks and debit card fraud impact our institutions and require diligence for reporting on SARs.

Audience: This session is ideal for BSA officers, BSA staff, deposit operations, compliance, management, training, and branch managers.

Learn more and browse all the webinars via the link below.

Grand Opening of the DEBCC Headquarters & Business Incubator

We are thrilled to invite you to the Grand Opening of the Delaware Black Chamber of Commerce Headquarters + Business Incubator! Join us as we celebrate this exciting new chapter with our official ribbon cutting ceremony.

Tuesday, August 26, 2025, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM. 321 E 11th Street, 3rd Floor, Wilmington, DE 19801.

ABA Agricultural Bankers Conference - November 12-14,  St. Louis, MO

Ongoing challenges in the agricultural sector, coupled with economic uncertainty, loom large over your loan portfolio. Do more than just weather the storm — get the tools and actionable insights you need to grow your ag banking business despite tough conditions. Don’t miss the nation’s premier conference for ag lenders — now condensed into 3 jam-packed days to reduce travel costs and time away from your business! Early-bird savings end Sept. 19! Register now and save $300!