DBA Digest for July 31, 2026

Through the 
DBA Lens


Margaret Cregan
Chief Administrative Officer

2026 Women Lead Symposium

Finding Visibility, Building Leaders

One of my favorite early, early morning things to do is to meet with my Bestie to exercise, then play Bananagrams over a cup of coffee. If you don’t know about Bananagrams (we call it B-Grams), it’s a tile-laying word game where players can race or not race to build personal crossword grids. Yesterday’s Women Lead Symposium reminded me of a fabulous “v” word: Visibility.  Merriam-Webster’s definition of visibility is the state of being able to see or be seen.

One of yesterday's shining moments during the 2026 ABA/DBA/SBA Women Lead Symposium half-day program was the "CEO Visibility Lab: Leading in Full View" panel. This session featured Delaware Bankers member Jenn Poulsen, CEO & President of Hebron Savings Bank. Jenn was joined by fellow banking leaders on this panel, who shared their journeys and practical strategies to gain visibility with purpose and confidence, creating a blueprint for what leadership can look like. Jenn and the panel’s insights reminded us that authentic leadership isn't about taking center stage—it's about creating space for others to shine, too.

The virtual sessions of the 2026 ABA/DBA/SBA Women Lead Symposium were buzzing with big ideas, bold conversations, and reminders that the future of banking is brighter when we lead, lift, and learn from one another.

From inspiring stories to practical takeaways, over 960 attendees explored what it truly means to lead with confidence, purpose, and visibility. Thank you to the ABA, our fellow State Bankers Associations, the speakers, and everyone who participated in making yesterday's symposium such a success! We are proud to support and celebrate the incredible people leading Delaware and our nation’s banking forward. 

Let’s continue to lead in full view and build a stronger future together!

2026 Delaware Trust Conference
Early Bird Registration Now Open!

Join us October 27-28, 2026, at the Chase Center on the Riverfront in Wilmington, Delaware, for one of the nation's premier educational and networking events for trust and wealth management professionals. Attend in person or virtually via live stream and gain valuable insights from nationally recognized speakers and industry leaders.

Highlights include:

• Partnership Tax "Hacks" with Paul Lee
• Preventing Trust Breakdowns (Ethics)
• Delaware Trust Act & Legislative Update
• Delaware Court of Chancery Panel
• Federal Tax Update with Sam Donaldson
• Review of Significant Fiduciary Litigation Decisions
• Trust Situs and Conflict of Laws with Professor Robert Sitkoff
• Expanded breakout sessions on emerging issues and industry trends

With more than 450 professionals attending each year, participants can earn up to 16.0 CLE credits, including 2.0 Ethics credits.

Register online today and reserve your spot!

Sponsorship and exhibitor opportunities available.

October 27 - 28 | 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. ET | Wilmington

Ask the Senate to Protect Lending in Local Communities by Closing the Payment of Interest Loophole

In July, President Trump signed the GENIUS Act to regulate payment stablecoins and protect consumers, including a ban on issuers offering interest. However, a loophole allows non-issuers to offer rewards, creating confusion and risk for consumers while potentially draining deposits from community banks and limiting local lending. Last week lawmakers in the Senate Banking Committee voted to approve the related and long-awaited Clarity Act establishing a regulatory framework around digital assets. The latest version of this bill chips away at the stablecoin loophole but still leaves space that we believe needs to be addressed in order to protect lending in communities.

Banks support responsible innovation and appreciate the ongoing bipartisan work to preserve local lending by closing the stablecoin loophole. We believe lawmakers should clarify the prohibition on interest and yield, eliminate provisions that could be used to circumvent congressional intent, and better align the bill’s text with the goal of protecting consumers and financial stability.

Ask your Senators to close the interest loophole to protect lending in local communities.

Delaware’s $2 billion corporate franchise is good business for all Delawareans

In so many ways, there’s no better place to be than Delaware.  

That’s certainly true for about 2.2 million businesses who continue to call our state home, even as other states work to claim Delaware’s title as the nation’s corporate capital.

After decades of dominance as the preferred legal home for U.S. corporations, Delaware still stands above the ever-increasing competition, thanks to a time-tested mix of expert courts, nimble laws, and a responsive state government.

Here’s a look at why that really matters – to every Delaware resident, and to the state’s continued prosperity.

McCollom D’Emilio Smith Uebler Honored 
by Chambers High Net Worth Guide

Chambers High Net Worth ranked McCollom D’Emilio Smith Uebler LLC (MDSU) in the Band 2 category for Private Wealth Law and Private Wealth Law Disputes in Delaware. Named in the guide since 2022 for Private Wealth Law, this is the second year MDSU was ranked for Private Wealth Law Disputes. Described by Chambers, 

“McCollom D'Emilio Smith Uebler has a strong reputation for its private wealth practice in Delaware. It handles matters such as trust and estate planning and fiduciary litigation.”

MDSU partners Matthew D’Emilio, Daniel Hayward, William Lunger, Kimberly Gill McKinnon, and Jennifer Smith were also recognized in the Chambers High Net Worth 2026 rankings for Private Wealth Law in Delaware. MDSU partner Thomas Uebler was recognized by the guide for Private Wealth Law Disputes in Delaware. 

Richards Layton’s IP Practice and Directors Honored in Managing IP’s IP Stars Lists

Richards, Layton & Finger has earned Managing Intellectual Property’s top Highly Recommended firm ranking. Directors Fred Cottrell and Kelly Farnan are recognized as Patent Stars and Jason Rawnsley is recognized as a Rising Star in the 2026 edition of IP Stars. Richards Layton is nationally recognized for handling difficult, large-scale intellectual property matters in Delaware. With one of the most active and respected IP litigation practices in Delaware, the firm regularly tackles complex, high‑stakes disputes in the Delaware District Court, one of the leading venues for IP litigation in the United States, as well as in the Delaware Court of Chancery and Superior Court.

American Bankers Association AI in Banking Workshop

AI adoption is accelerating across the industry. The banks that gain an advantage won't just invest in technology. They'll invest in employees who know how to use it.

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ABA's AI in Banking Workshop starts August 3 and will help employees build practical AI skills they can apply across the institution, turning awareness into action and preparing your organization for what's next.

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Over four weeks, your team will:

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• Explore practical AI use cases across banking functions
• Build prompt engineering skills that drive stronger results
• Apply governance and risk considerations for responsible AI use
• Identify opportunities to improve productivity and decision-making

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Investing in AI readiness today can help position your organization to adapt and thrive as technology continues to evolve.

August 3 - 28, 2026 | 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. ET | Virtual

Join Wilmington University at its Virtual Open House on Wednesday, Aug. 5. Stop by online from 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. to chat with WilmU staff, browse academic programs, and learn how some WilmU courses may apply to more than one degree or certificate program, helping students save time and tuition. Plus, join special information sessions throughout the day.

Why Attend WilmU's Open House?

• Connect with WilmU staff to explore financial aid, credit for your work experience, admission requirements, student life and more.
• Browse 200+ academic programs to find options that align with your experience and goals. More than 150 are offered entirely online, and our 80+ industry-leading graduate programs will elevate your career to new heights.
• Learn how some WilmU courses may count toward more than one degree or certificate, helping you save time and tuition through Dual-Credit ADVANTAGE.
• Find out how to complete your degree using various sources, including military experience, industry training, standardized tests and up to 90 credits of prior college -level coursework.

August 5 | 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. ET | Virtual

Join the Next

ABA Hispanic/Latin Bankers Unidos Event

Join in on this session to explore what it means to build executive presence without compromising your identity, especially when navigating spaces where you may be the only one who looks or sounds like you. Participants will reflect on what to unlearn, what to hold onto, and how to lead authentically and confidently. Open to all ABA members.

August 13 | 3:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. ET | Virtual

Apply Now for Youth Banking Connect Academy

Banking access is foundational to financial stability. Across the country, dozens of local governments have used their Summer Youth Employment Programs (SYEPs) and other youth workforce programs as an opportunity to connect youth workers to safe and affordable banking accounts, demonstrating how an early job can be a first step towards a strong financial future. Your youth workforce program can join this movement, adding banking access and targeted financial education to help participants make the most of their paycheck and achieve broader financial stability.

The CFE Fund is excited to announce that we are now accepting applications for Youth Banking Connect Academy, our entry point for the Youth Banking Connect (YBC) initiative, formerly known as Summer Jobs Connect. With generous support from the KeyBank Foundation and other partners, YBC Academy participants will receive no-cost, robust technical assistance to learn how to integrate banking access into their youth workforce programs, build partnerships with financial institutions, deliver financial education, and leverage data to improve program performance. Academy participants will join the national Youth Banking Connect learning community. They also will receive support to attend an in-person YBC Academy convening, access to our robust resource library, and more. We are also excited to continue to offer expanded eligibility for YBC: any youth program that provides a paid work opportunity to youth ages 14-24 and has a government connection can now apply to YBC Academy.

The CFE Fund will hold an informational webinar about the YBC Academy opportunity on August 13th at 3:00 pm ET. Note: we strongly encourage interested participants to attend the webinar before filling out the application.

August 13 | 3:00 p.m. ET | Virtual

Got a Project You Need Resourced?

Submit it for Action Via the

University of Delaware Lerner Technology Capstone

The Lerner Technology Capstone (LTC) is a one-semester program where senior management information systems (MIS) students from the University of Delaware partner with client organizations to identify business improvement opportunities and deliver custom technology solutions. Running from February through May each year, the 13-week program is structured in two phases: students begin by conducting a thorough needs analysis and developing a comprehensive proposal, then transition to building, implementing, and training clients on their solutions.

Have a project in mind? Submit your idea below for Spring 2027! All project ideas must be submitted by Friday, August 28th.

Elevate Your Bank’s Audit and Compliance Strategies

The regulatory environment continues to evolve, making it more important than ever for

compliance, audit and risk professionals to stay informed. Join bankers from across the

country for the 2026 Bank Compliance & Audit Conference, a three-day virtual event

taking place September 1-3.

Designed for compliance officers, auditors, risk managers and bank leaders, this

conference delivers practical guidance on the issues shaping today's banking

environment. Featured sessions will cover AI-powered compliance, AI governance,

digital KYC and customer due diligence, the Federal Reserve's Large Financial

Institution Rating System, global internal audit standards, fair lending, BSA information

sharing, examination readiness, ISO auditing and physical security testing.

Whether you’re looking to strengthen your institution’s compliance program, prepare for

your next examination or better understand emerging risks, you’ll leave with practical

strategies and actionable insights from experienced industry professionals.

September 1 - 3, 2026 | 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. | Virtual

Submit Your Idea for

Reinventing Delaware

The Pete du Pont Freedom Foundation is thrilled to announce the return of the highly anticipated Reinventing Delaware Dinner on November 18, at the Wilmington Club where it was first held in 2014. As a beacon of innovation, this year’s event promises to bring together visionaries, business leaders, community stakeholders, and creative minds from across the state to foster collaboration and share groundbreaking ideas aimed at catalyzing job growth, enhancing the economy, and making Delaware an even better place to live, work, and raise a family.

PDFF invites you to submit your bold idea for a chance to join an exclusive gathering of industry leaders for dinner. Public submission is open now through Oct. 30, 2026.

2026 ABA Agricultural Bankers Conference

November 4-6, 2026 | Minneapolis, MN

Today’s agricultural lending environment is full of risks — and opportunities. The 2026 Agricultural Bankers Conference will help position your loan portfolio to maximize growth now and seed profitability for the next ag cycle.

This year’s conference program will help you strategize at a higher level to navigate federal policies, national hot-topic issues, talent development and emerging technologies that will affect you and the future-focused decisions you need to make.

Join ag bankers from across the country in Minneapolis for the leading national conversation shaping the future of ag lending! Our event is condensed into 3 jam-packed days to reduce travel costs and time away from your business. Register early to save $300!

November 4-6, 2026 | Minneapolis, MN

Urge Congress to support the SAFE Banking Act

Back in October 2024, as Delaware prepared for its launch of the state’s legal adult-use cannabis industry, state lawmakers approved legislation, proposed by State Treasurer Colleen Davis, providing protections for banks and other financial institutions that serve licensed marijuana businesses. Legislation protecting banks serving legal marijuana businesses can help bridge the gap between state legalization and federal banking laws.

Now we have a chance to close the gap in how federal and state law treat cannabis businesses, as the SAFE Banking Act (S. 4942/H.R. 9471) has been (re)introduced in Congress. This legislation would allow banks to serve cannabis-related businesses if their state (like ours) has legalized cannabis in some capacity. 

Reach out to your Senators and Representative today and ask them to support the SAFE Banking Act. You can do so easily at the link below. Share it with your colleagues and community!

We want to hear from you! Please send your news items to

Corinne Stayton at corinne.stayton@debankers.com