DBA Digest for May 2, 2025

Women Connect!

Bernadette Thomas, Owner, Monarch Wellness Center; Dr. Coleen Jimenez, CEO/Founder, Living Better, Inc.; and, Devona Fields, CEO/Founder, Achieving Good Succes, L.L.C.

Caroline Dickerson, CEO, Commonwealth Trust Company, and Brenda Heckert, CEO & Founder, There is No Normal.

Thursday, the Delaware Center for Horticulture in Wilmington bloomed with an invigorating morning of engagement, empowerment and networking during the latest Women Connect event. The morning began with a guided meditation, after which there were sessions on wellness, well-being and elder care. Speakers include: Caroline Dickerson, CEO, Commonwealth Trust Company; Amy Boyers, President, Galen Hope; Devona Fields, CEO Achieving Good Success; Brenda Heckert, CEO, There is No Normal; Dr. Coleen Jimenez, Delaware State University; Amanda Koplin, CEO, Koplin Consulting; and, Bernadette Thomas, Monarch Wellness Center.

Thank you to our sponsors: Brown Brothers Harriman Trust Company; Delaware Community Foundation; Pinion; Wilmington University; and, Visa U.S.A., Inc.!

DBA 130th Annual Meeting & Dinner, May 15th! Register Today!

There's still time to register for the Delaware Bankers Association's 130th Annual Meeting and Dinner, May 15th, at the DuPont Country Club in Wilmington. The evening will feature special appreciations to outgoing DBA President Sarah Long, and former Senator Tom Carper, a conversation with incoming DBA President, Karyn Polak, and more!

Thank you to our sponsors: Belfint Lyons Shuman; Delaware Community Foundation; The Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh; Fulton Bank; McCollom D'Emilio Smith Uebler; Pinion; Potter Anderson Corroon; Richards Layton Finger; Santora CPA Group; Troutman Pepper Locke; Visa U.S.A., Inc.; Weiner Benefits Group; Wilmington Trust, and, Young Conaway!

And Bank Table Sponsors: Bank of America; Barclays; Capital One; Comenity Bank; Commonwealth Trust Company; County Bank; Discover Bank; First Citizens Community Bank; JPMorgan Chase, M&T Bank; PNC Bank; Sallie Mae; US Trust Company of Delaware; Wilmington Trust; and, WSFS Bank!

Don't Miss These Upcoming OnCourse Learning Webinars!

Branch Manager Best Practices: Leading an Exceptional Branch - May 6th

How do you excel at leading while fulfilling your responsibilities as a branch manager? It's a challenge that this program aims to overcome! Come learn how to build a team that works together for the common good, and how to coach and motivate your team. Boost your expertise and your enthusiasm in this full-speed, highly motivating webinar. Participants will receive tools to use in implementation after the session.

Audience: This session is ideal for branch managers, assistant branch managers, and those that train and/or lead them.

Top 10 Loan Documentation Mistakes and How to Avoid Them - May 7th

When it comes to loan documentation, you must know the correct procedures and how to avoid frequent exceptions and mistakes. Experienced professionals will benefit from confirmation of knowing “the right thing to do.” New lenders will learn to avoid the most frequent exceptions and loss-causing mistakes. The focus is on commercial asset-based lending rather than real estate or consumer. All types of collateral are covered.

Audience: This session is ideal for anyone involved in loan documentation, including loan officers, loan assistants and secretaries, loan operations personnel, credit analysts, and loan administration personnel.

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

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!

Bank of America Private Bank - Market Minute

Major U.S. Equities rebounded last week with the S&P 500 (+4.6%) and Nasdaq Composite (+6.7%) each notching their second-best weeks so far this year. The S&P 500 closed last Friday 10.9% above its April 8 low but remained 10% below its February 19 high. Sectors that have underperformed this year (Technology, Consumer Discretionary, and Communication Services) led last week while sectors that have outperformed year-to-date (Utilities, Consumer Staples, Real Estate) lagged. The Chicago Board Options Exchange Volatility Index eased from recent highs, closing the week below 25. U.S. economic news continued to highlight uncertainty among U.S. consumers and businesses, with the University of Michigan’s Consumer Sentiment Index declining from 57 in March to 52.2 in April, slightly above consensus expectations but follows the worst three-month decline in sentiment since the 1990 recession. Long-run inflation expectations rose from 4.1% to 4.4%, the highest level since 1991. The Federal Reserve’s (Fed) latest Beige Book revealed that economic activity remained relatively unchanged from the prior report, though tariff-related uncertainty has risen. Durable goods orders surged 9.2% in March, well above expectations.

Kelly Farnan Named Managing IP’s Delaware Litigator of the Year

Richards, Layton & Finger director Kelly E. Farnan has received the prestigious 2025 Managing IP Litigator of the Year (Delaware) award. Managing IP, which provides news and analysis on intellectual property developments around the world, annually recognizes the firms, individuals, and corporations behind the year’s most innovative and challenging IP work.

“We’re thrilled that Kelly has won the Delaware Litigator of the Year award,” said Lisa Schmidt, president of Richards Layton. “Kelly is a skillful lawyer and a fierce litigator, and I know her colleagues and clients alike join me in congratulating her on this distinguished, well-deserved recognition.”

Wilmington University Open House - May 7th:

Online and In Person!

Join Wilmington University at its Open House on Wednesday, May 7. Stop by online from 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. or in-person at WilmU’s New Castle Campus from 3 – 7 p.m. Connect with staff, explore academic programs, learn about Dual-Credit ADVANTAGE™ and more. Plus, join a doctoral programs information session at 1 p.m. and “The Evolution of WilmU’s Year-Long Residency Program” presented by the College of Education & Liberal Arts at 5 p.m. The application fee will be waived at this event.

Learn More About Delaware EARNS - May 12th

On Monday, May 12, from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., Delaware employers are invited to attend an in-person educational event about Delaware EARNS. There will be a panel discussion featuring Treasurer Davis, Dorsey, State Rep. Larry Lambert, and Troy Farmer, program manager for the State Small Business Credit Initiative. Their combined perspectives will provide additional clarity on how employers and employees alike stand to gain value from participating in EARNS.