DBA Digest for June 20, 2025

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Picture Lady Justice’s scales, or maybe a see-saw – but thankfully not a log-roll or highwire or devil/angel on my shoulder kind of balancing act. This week was a balancing act in several ways.

Yesterday we celebrated Juneteenth, commemorating June 19, 1865, the day when Major General Gordon Granger ordered the final enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation in Texas at the end of the American Civil War, as the demarcation of when slavery ended in the United States. On Juneteenth we balance the commemoration, the salute, to this remarkable date in history and at the same time its prompt for today forward to continue to seek freedom, access, and opportunity for all.

In a much less historical way, I’m also reflecting on a week balancing advocacy and relationship-building, two of our key functions at the DBA. On one side of the scale, we are driving at warp speed towards the end of the Delaware legislative session and the battle in Congress over the reconciliation bill and so much more before our lawmakers’ version of “school’s out” for the summer. On the state side, the budget is still up in the air, and we received an urgent call on an item that’s vital to our mission at the DFEA – financial education – to help get it to the finish line. On the federal level, there is new talk about reciprocal deposits, continued complex discussions on cryptocurrencies, and as always, horse-trading and debates on taxes taxes taxes. 

On the other side of the scale, I’ve been connecting with our peer institutions in several states and expanding touchpoints with the ABA and the state Alliance. I spent some time with our contact at the FDIC’s Ombudsman’s Office, who shared some good information and offered to be a resource in several ways (more to come on this topic separately). Most valuably, I spent time with several of our members – institutions large and small, some represented on our board and others not, some new and others veteran to the DBA. Having one or more of my DBA colleagues join me for these conversations definitely added to the mutual benefits of the dialogues. This work will continue in earnest not only in the near term, and we will add in opportunities for small gatherings of members in different locations, formats, and segments of our network so that you continue to benefit from the relationships and support our association represents. Do let me know if you have ideas for events that would be useful to you.

Let Your Customers Know How the Banking Industry Benefits Delaware! Order Your DBA Community Cards Today!

Delaware’s Financial Services Industry is a vital part of the First State. Our banks provide much needed revenue, support well-paying career opportunities, underwrite affordable housing, and support many other initiatives that benefit the entire community. You know all that, but do your customers? Let them know with the Delaware Bankers Association community card! The DBA has produced this attractive double-sided card illustrating just some of what our members do for Delaware. The cards are available free of charge for you to display and distribute at your branches. Contact Renee Duncan to order yours. See the full card online via the link below.

AHP and Voluntary Housing Grant Initiative Funding Round Opens June 26

Approximately $57.5 million in Affordable Housing Program (AHP) funding and $17.0 million in voluntary housing grant initiative funding (for in-district projects only) is available this year.

The AHP Online application portal opens on June 26, and all applications are due by 5 p.m. EDT on Thursday, Aug. 7. Awards will be announced on Thursday, Dec. 11.

Starting June 26, requests for assistance will be limited to AHP Online technical functionality issues only (e.g., AHP Online login or financial feasibility spreadsheet upload issues). For questions related to scoring and feasibility guidelines, please consult the 2025 AHP Implementation Plan via the link below. If you have questions about AHP or the voluntary housing grant initiative, please contact ahp@fhlb-pgh.com.

Virtual Event! ABA Women Lead Symposium - July 17th!

Don't miss the Women Lead Symposium, July 17, a convenient virtual program

designed to help emerging leaders and seasoned professionals become successful leaders.

This joint effort between the American Bankers Association, the Delaware Bankers Association, and other state bankers associations will help you gain critical leadership skills that will support your bank’s growth goals and advance your career. You’ll learn leading practices and actionable insights to navigate key positions at your bank and foster workforce excellence. You’ll walk away with leadership resources and a strong professional network!

See the full agenda and registration information via the link below!

2025 Delaware Trust Conference - October 28 & 29 - Sponsorships and Exhibitor Spaces Now Available!

Sponsorships and exhibitor spaces are now available for the 2025 Delaware Trust Conference, to be held October 28th and 29th at the Chase Center on the Riverfront and Live Stream. Join Platinum Sponsor, The Bryn Mawr Trust Company of Delaware (a WSFS Company); Diamond Sponsors, Gordon, Fournaris & Mammarella, P.A.; McCollom D'Emilio Smith Uebler LLC, Gold Sponsor, Morris, Nichols, Arsht & Tunnel LLP, and Bronze Sponsor, JTC Trust Company (Delaware) Limited, at this prestigious event. Full agenda and early-bird registration information is coming soon!

Exhibitor Space is also open! Join these prestigious exhibitors: Campbell University Trust and Wealth Management Program; Delaware Community Foundation; and, Fiduciary Education Foundation.

Don't Miss These Upcoming OnCourse Learning Webinars!

Components of a Valuable Incident Response Plan - June 23rd

In today’s cybersecurity world, we can’t afford to assume that our business will never be compromised. Organizations must properly invest in cybersecurity - not only in preventing cyber attacks, but also in the ability to detect and response to today’s cyber threats. With cyber attacks on the rise, it’s time to sharpen your response procedures and improve your Incident Response Plan (IRP).

Audience: This session is ideal for IT and IS professionals who need to understand the strategic and regulatory aspects of cybersecurity to better support their organization's goals. 

Monthly and Quarterly Board Reporting for CECL - June 26th

In this Monthly and Quarterly Board Reporting for CECL webinar, you will get the knowledge and abilities needed to improve your CECL board reporting. You will be able to report key indicators and changes in risk, and use powerful data visualizations. You will also be able to keep the board informed and up-to-date with the current risk assessments.

Audience: This session is ideal for employees from financial institutions who are involved in CECL processes.



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

Abigail Quinn Joins Gordon, Fournaris & Mammarella

GF&M is excited to announce that Abigail Quinn has joined the firm as an Associate.

Abigail earned both her Juris Doctor and MBA from Delaware Law School and Widener University in December 2024 and was admitted to the Delaware Bar on June 25, 2025. Abigail has been an integral part of our team since joining the firm as a law clerk. Her hard work, dedication, and professionalism have consistently impressed us, and we are so proud to see her reach this important milestone. 

GF&M is proud to celebrate this achievement with Abigail and looks forward to her continued success as she embarks on her legal career.

Maria Hurd, CPA, RPA Recognized on

Forbes’ List of America’s Best-In-State CPAs

Belfint, Lyons & Shuman, P.A. (BLS), Top 300 certified public accounting and consulting firm headquartered in Delaware, gives a very special congratulations to Maria Hurd, CPA, RPA for being recognized on Forbes’ list of America’s Best-In-State CPAs.

Forbes produced the inaugural America’s Best-In-State CPAs list to assist in the search for a CPA with demonstrated excellence above and beyond. The list, created by Forbes editorial staff, is a compilation of the finest CPAs active in public practice, culled from a collection of candidates sourced through independent nominations and recognitions from numerous associations of CPAs. Those nominated were rated on a range of weighted criteria, including expertise, innovation, thought leadership, experience, and service to the community and to their profession.

Potter Anderson Attorney Lilianna Anh P. Townsend

Elected to Delaware Bar Foundation Board

Potter Anderson & Corroon LLP is pleased to announce that firm counsel Lilianna​​​​ Anh P. Townsend has been elected to the Board of Directors of the Delaware Bar Foundation. She will serve a four-year term beginning July 1.

“We congratulate Lilianna on her election to serve as a board member of the Delaware Bar Foundation,” said Potter Anderson Chair Peter J. Walsh, Jr. “Lilianna has demonstrated a commitment to service to our profession and will be a great proponent for improving the administration of justice in Delaware.”

A member of Potter Anderson’s Corporate Litigation Group, Townsend focuses her practice on representing companies, directors, officers, and stockholders in corporate and M&A litigation in the Delaware courts.

Volunteers Needed: Healthy Foods for Healthy Kids

Healthy Foods for Healthy Kids, the First State School Garden Experts, are looking for volunteers to dig in and help build school gardens for a healthier future generation. Whether building gardens, caring for them, or joining one of our active committees, Healthy Foods for Healthy Kids offers a variety of interesting and fulfilling opportunities to get involved.

Upcoming garden builds include:

• Hartly Elementary - July 8 (rain date 7/10)
• Maclary Elementary - July 16 (rain date 7/17)
• East Dover Elementary - August 8/12 (rain date 8/14)

Follow the link below for more information and to volunteer.

Bank of America Private Bank Market Minute

West Texas Intermediate (WTI) futures briefly surpassed $77 per barrel last Thursday night amid rising tensions between Israel and Iran. By last Friday’s close, oil prices finished at $73/barrel with the day’s 7.3% increase marking the steepest daily surge in prices since March 2022. Last Friday’s risk-off session included major U.S. Equity Indexes each shedding 1-2% while gold rose 1.4% on the day to its 24th record closing high of the year. Though 0.4% lower over the week, the S&P 500 remained less than 3% off its February 19 all-time high and 5.4% higher versus Liberation Day (April 2) at the end of the week. Cooler inflation data in the face of tariffs dominated U.S. economic news last week. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 0.1% in May, less than expectations at 0.2%. Year-over-year, headline inflation stood at 2.4%, up from 2.3% in April. Excluding food and energy, core inflation rose less than forecasted for the fourth straight month, up 0.1% over the month and 2.8% over the year. The Producer Price Index (PPI) rose 0.1% in May and 2.6% over the year. Continuing claims surged from a revised 1.90 million to 1.96 million for the week ending May 31, a level not seen since November 2021.