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Message From the President
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By John Witkowski, President & CEO
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This quote has served as my personal motivation throughout my different ventures in life; and it embodies how we operate at IBANYS. With the new year comes a fresh start, and now is the time to strategize as new challenges await.
As we continue to build on the strong foundation we have built since 1974, IBANYS is ready for 2019 and is looking forward to coming together with our membership to advance the interests of New York community banks. Teamwork is essential in the coming months as there will be different dynamics and factors that will affect the community banking industry:
- Governor Cuomo delivered his ninth inaugural address on Ellis Island this past Tuesday, officially beginning his third term in office. In addition, next Wednesday he will deliver his State of the State address and present his 2019-20 state budget when the new session of the State Legislature also convenes. The political landscape in Albany is very different from last year, as Democrats now hold the majority within the state government. This includes every statewide elected office, State Assembly, State Senate, and all committee chairs and senior staff.
- The Cuomo administration will see various changes, beginning with a new Superintendent of Financial Services appointee, replacing Maria Vullo who will leave on February 1. There is strong speculation that he plans to nominate his chief of staff and former federal prosecutor, Linda Lacewell as her successor. The position requires approval from the State Senate. Governor Cuomo has also recently named a number of new senior aides
- Congress returns this week with a divided government, as Democrats now control the House while Republicans run the Senate. Nancy Pelosi will be elected Speaker of the House. Maxine Walters (D-CA) and Mike Crapo (R-ID) will present contrasting priorities and agendas as new chairs of the House Financial Services and Senate Banking Committees. A number of New York Representatives will hold key positions in the House, and Sen. Schumer continues as Senate Minority Leader.
- IBANYS' 2019 agenda continues to take shape with the help of our membership and various committees. Our Government Relations Committee, Compliance Peer Group and CFO Peer Group have all met and begun formulating policies, issues, agenda items and conference topics. Our Board of Directors will have their first meeting on January 29 to discuss the new year, the current political landscape, IBANYS meetings etc.
As always, IBANYS remains committed to providing real value to all of our members and to protecting and enhancing the interests of community banking. With a packed agenda and long list of goals, there is much to do and it cannot be done alone. We look forward to working with and for you to make 2019 a success for New York's community banks, our industry and association.
Remember: IBANYS is YOUR association. Make it work for you!
- John
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Follow IBANYS On Social Media!
Connect With Us Today!
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Get Ready For Next Year's Convention!
SAVE THE DATE
When:
June 10-12, 2019
Where:
5218 Patrick Rd, Verona, NY 13478
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Get Ready for 2019 Meetings!
Our 2019 Meeting dates and locations are now available! These educational conferences cover various subjects that are important within the community banking industry, spoken by the experts.
T
hey are also a great opportunity to network and earn CPE credits. Here is what we have planned for 2019:
Compliance Conference
March 12, 2019 March 13, 2019
DoubleTree by Hilton Hilton Garden Inn
1111 Jefferson Road 235 Hoosick Street
Rochester, NY 14623 Troy, NY 12180
Directors Conference
April 16, 2019 April 17, 2019
RIT Inn & Conference Cente Hampton Inn Poughkeepsie
5257 W.
Henrietta Road
2361 South Rd.
Henrietta, NY 14467 Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
Security Conference
May 7, 2019 May 8, 2019
RIT Inn & Conference Center Hampton Inn Poughkeepsie
5257 W. Henrietta Road 2361 South Rd.
Henrietta, NY 14467 Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
Lending Conference
May 21-22, 2019
Harbor Hotel Watkins Glen
16 North Franklin Street
Watkins Glen, NY 14891
Banking Executive Symposium
September 9-11, 2019
Location TBD
IBANYS' meetings provide insight into relevant issues spoken by experts in the field. They are also a great opportunity to network and earn CPE credits.
Have an idea for one of our meetings? Want to see a meeting or forum on a different subject? We want to hear from you!
Contact Linda Gregware at [email protected] or me at [email protected] with your thoughts and/or comments.
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Have You Signed Up for IBANYS' 2019 Committees & Peer Groups?
 Has your bank signed up to participate on IBANYS' 2019 committees and peer groups? They provide member banks with direct input on policy development, offer a peer forum to share information and offer a prime feedback opportunity for your bank. IBANYS committees and peer groups are crucial as they help shape many aspects of our organization.
Most importantly, you can bring back information that can help keep your employees stay fully informed and up-to-date.
Take a look at the list below, and email President & CEO John Witkowski ([email protected]) or Director of Administration and Membership Linda Gregware ([email protected]) to let us know who will represent your bank on each committee/peer group.
- Government Relations Committee
- Compliance Peer Group
- Security Peer Group
- CFO Peer Group
- Innovation Committee
IBANYS CEOs: Sign up yourself, or designate someone from your senior team to represent your bank in these efforts!
Contact IBANYS' Government Relations Director Steve Rice at
[email protected]
or President/CEO John Witkowski at
[email protected]
to join. NOW is the time!
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IBANYS is always open to new ideas. If you have suggestions about a committee, product or service, program topic or speaker, tell us! IBANYS is member driven and we work together to make the community banking industry better each day.
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IBANYS Education/Webinars
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The 2019 Webinar is now available!
The Independent Bankers Association of NYS (IBANYS) partners with CBWN to bring you more than 150 webinars each year covering compliance, lending, regulations, security, operations, new accounts, collections, fraud, security and other topics. Even better, each time you purchase a webinar, you support IBANYS, because a portion of your registration comes directly to us. Thank you!
You can view the 2019 Webinar Schedule here or by category here. In addition, CBWN has made some recent updates to provide better service to its consumers. Unfortunately, some changes may have caused you to miss important webinar announcements. Please read the IBANYS letter to view the updates and ensure that you do not miss another webinar.
NEW WEBINARS ADDED FOR 2019
CBWN has added more than 140 webinars to the IBANYS webinar calendar, covering all the essential topics (listed above). Start the new year off right by gaining the knowledge and tools to make 2019 the best year yet!
CBWN and IBANYS thank you for your continued support of the education in the community banking industry.
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2019 Webinar Series - Available Now
6 Webinars
for the Price of 5
or
10% off a 4-Part Series
Credit Analysis & Underwriting Series - Designed for credit analysts and loan officers of all experience levels, this series will give your lending staff the tools to make consistent, sound lending decisions.
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Regulation E Series - Regulation E is a confusing, complex array of rules and requirements applicable to any transaction involving an electronic fund transfer. This series will address an array of areas, including fundamentals, debit card error resolution, provisional credit, and auditing for regulatory compliance.
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ACH Specialist Series - This series will cover a wide variety of topics, including operating rules, dispute resolution, exceptions, adjustments, and return deadlines. Don't miss this opportunity for ACH specialists to enhance their hands-on practical skills.
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Mortgage Lending Hot Spots Series - Mortgage lending has recently undergone some of the most sweeping changes in history. Now is the time to focus on your mortgage lending program and the "hot spots" of greatest concern.
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Board Reporting Series - Good decisions begin with good information. This series will explain what board members should look for in reports from various sources.
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Teller Training Series - Regulations, operations, loss prevention, compliance... today's tellers must possess broad knowledge and provide excellent service. This series will provide tellers with the information and tools needed for success.
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BSA Series - This comprehensive job-specific series will provide the most current BSA rules, trends, and guidance to ensure compliance. This series is one-stop shopping for lending, operations, board, and frontline employees' BSA required compliance training.
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C-Suite Series - Regardless of title, executives are expected to have a working knowledge of strategic concepts that affect the whole institution. The C-Suite series will cover important topics for today's financial institution executives and provide the insight needed to actively engage your colleagues in strategic discussions.
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Call Report Series - Correctly completing Call Reports is essential. Once the reports are filed, they become public information and are often used by examiners, investors, and even consumers to monitor your institution's current performance and historical trends. This series will give you the tools you need to get it right the first time.
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Consumer Collection Series - When a loan becomes delinquent, it is important for loan officers and loss-mitigation specialists to understand all available mitigation options. This series will provide the broad knowledge needed to make informed, effective decisions about the legalities, compliance issues, and best practices for consumer debt collections.
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IRA Series - IRAs continue to be an essential part of retirement planning. This series will clarify multiple IRA issues, including rollovers, distributions, error resolution, and other misunderstood areas.
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Vining Sparks'
2019 Economic Outlook Webinar
When: Thursday, January 10, 2019
Time: 10:00 A.M. CST
About this webinar:
The U.S. economy roared in 2018 as a perfect storm of tailwinds converged to yield an unprecedented acceleration in economic growth. Yields rose as the ever-tighter labor market and near-target inflation allowed the Fed to continue gradually tightening monetary policy. However, cracks began to emerge in the markets as overnight rates approached neutral, global growth decelerated, and trade fears gripped investors. Turning to 2019, the economy remains on solid footing but risks to stability are growing. The sustainability of the second-longest expansion on record is likely to be dependent on inflation. Vining Sparks' first 2019 Economic Outlook Webinar will look back at 2018, detail the growing risks to stability, and highlight the critical role inflation will play.
*Beneficial for Portfolio Managers, CFOs, CEOs/Presidents
About the speaker: This webinar is presented by
Craig Dismuke,
Executive Vice President and Chief Economist for Vining Sparks. He is responsible for the projection and publication of Vining Sparks' economic and interest rate forecasts, publishes research articles for Vining Sparks as well as other national publications, and speaks often at industry conferences on the health of the U.S. economy and expectations for interest rates. Craig is a frequent guest on CNBC, Fox Business, and Bloomberg TV and is quoted often in the financial news. Prior to joining Vining Sparks, Craig was a Managing Director in Institutional Fixed Income at Bear Stearns and Company.
*This webinar is free of charge.
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Protecting Against Potentially Dangerous Decreasing Rates
When: February 26, 2019
Time: 2:00-3:00 P.M. EDT
Scott Hildenbrand, with the Financial Managers Society, will discuss the emerging theme of down risk and its impact on community banking. Tactical balance sheet repositioning, off-balance sheet hedging, and liability restructurings will be covered, among other actionable ideas.
If you have any questions, please contact your Sandler O'Neill representative or email us at
[email protected].
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Webinar:
Target Marketing - Activation at the Point of Excitement
Visit the Vetter webinar archives page to view/download recording and presentation materials from previous webinars:
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FREE WEBINAR: ICS & CDARS
What the New Law Means for Banks
Thanks to the newly signed regulatory relief bill, most reciprocal deposits are no longer brokered. This comes as banks face intense and increasing competition for deposits.
Join Us for a Webinar
Join Promontory Interfinancial Network-- the nation's leading provider and inventor of reciprocal deposit placement services-- for a free webinar that outlines key provisions of the new law and the impact ICS®, or Insured Cash Sweep®, and CDARS® can have on banks' balance sheets. The webinar will also cover how banks can use ICS and CDARS to capitalize on the opportunities at hand; presenters will discuss cost-effective ways to use the services to attract high-value relationships (even as deposit competition intensifies) and to lock-in more low-cost funding (even as interest rates continue to rise.) This webinar is a "must" for decision-makers at banks of all sizes, especially for community banks that utilize collateralized deposits and/or listing services.
Choose a date and time that works for you!
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Reg relief makes most reciprocal deposits nonbrokered, providing banks the opportunity to attract even more deposits. Thanks to the newly signed regulatory relief bill, most reciprocal deposits are no longer brokered. This comes as banks face intense and increasing competition for deposits.
Join Promontory Interfinancial Network - the nation's leading provider and inventor of reciprocal deposit placement services - for a free webinar that outlines key provisions of the new law and the impact ICS®, Insured Cash Sweep®, and CDARS® can have on banks' balance sheets. The webinar will also cover how banks can use ICS and CDARS to capitalize on the opportunities at hand; presenters will discuss cost-effective ways to use the services to attract high-value relationships (even as deposit competition intensifies) and to lock-in more low-cost funding (even as interest rates continue to rise). This webinar is a "must" for decision-makers at banks of all sizes, especially for community banks that utilize collateralized deposits and/or listing services.
Numerous new banks are joining the Promontory Network. In order to give these newly on-boarded banks an opportunity to begin transacting, we have decided to extend this incentive program through March 31, 2019.
Choose a date and time that works for you!
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Cuomo's Vision For 2019: Legislative Agenda Takes Shape
Governor Cuomo's third inaugural Tuesday on Ellis Island was viewed nationally. While he has denied interest in running for president in 2020, he is now one of the longest tenured governors in the nation and holds high-profile leadership roles at the National Governors Association and the Democratic Governors Association. Speaking after Attorney General James, Lt. Gov. Hochul and Comptroller DiNapoli were sworn in, he promised the "most progressive agenda this state has ever seen, period."
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Cuomo Inauguration, Tuesday, January 1, 2019
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The 2019 state legislative session will convene next Wednesday, January 9 with the Governor's State of the State and then be defined by his 2019-20 State Budget presentation. He
plans to include the bulk of his legislative agenda in his state budget proposal.
W
ithin the first 100 days of his third term he wants to see the passage of legislation to make it easier to vote in New York, strengthen abortion rights, reform gun control and campaign finance laws, and legalize recreational use of marijuana.
Some of the bills will likely be approved by the Legislature before the budget is due at the end of March;
those that are not will most likely be included in the budget agreement.
With Democrats now in firm control of both chambers, legislative action may well start early. Interestingly, Assembly Speaker Heastie and Senate Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins skipped the inaugural. Heastie is at odds with the Governor concerning a legislative payraise. Both Heastie and Stewart-Cousins have indicated a willingness to work together in dealing with Cuomo.
The Governor previously unveiled his agenda for the first 100 days of the new session to outline his view of Albany's path until the budget is approved.
In addition to the priorities noted above, it includes:
- Keeping the millionaires' tax;
- Cutting taxes for working families;
- Getting the Equal Rights law passed in New York;
- Opposing the $10,000 annual limit on the federal deduction for state and local taxes (SALT) provisions, which have hit New York taxpayers harder than in many other states;
- Keeping the property tax cap and make it permanent next year. It limits the amount school districts and local governments can raise their property tax levy to 2 percent or the rate of inflation, whichever is lower;
- Advancing climate change; and
- "Countering the impact of the policies of the Trump administration and the federal government".
Senate Committee Chairmanships of Interest
to Community Banks
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Top from left to right: James Sanders, Liz Krueger, Brad Hoylman & James Gaughran
Middle from left to right: Kevin Thomas, Leroy Comrie & Jen Metzger
Bottom from left to right: Brian Kavanaugh & Neil Breslin
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With the new year comes a new State Senate. Various chairmanships have changed with the new Democratic majority, Important chairmanships that are essential to the community
banking industry are:
- Banks (James Sanders, D- Queens)
- Finance (Liz Krueger, D-Manhattan)
- Judiciary (Brad Hoylman, D-Manhattan)
- Local Government (James Gaughran, D-Nassau/Suffolk Counties)
- Consumer Protection (Kevin Thomas, D-Nassau County)
- Corporations (Leroy Comrie, D-Queens)
- Agriculture (Jen Metzger, D-Hudson Valley)
- Housing (Brian Kavanaugh, D-Brooklyn/Manhattan)
- Insurance (Neil Breslin, D-Albany)
Without Felder, Senate Democrats To Control 39
of Chamber's 63 Seats
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Simcha Felder
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Brooklyn Sen. Simcha Felder, who caucused with the Senate GOP the past few sessions despite being elected as a Democrat, was not invited back into the Senate Democratic Conference. Every Senate Democrat other than Felder was
appointed to chair a committee or subcommittee. The Senate Democratic Majority will thus control 39 of the chamber's 63 seats - well above the 32 votes needed to pass legislation.
Felder, who ran in November on both the Democratic and Republican lines, had previously said he would sit with whichever conference offers him the chance to do the most for his constituents.
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Assembly Chairmanships of Interest to Community Banks
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Top from left to right: Ken Zembrowski, Fred Thiele, Jr., Jeffrey Dinowitz & Michael DenDekker
Bottom from left to right: Kevin Cahill, Steven Cymbrowitz, Amy Paulin & Donna Lupardo
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Ken Zebrowski, D-Rockland County); Local Government
(Fred Thiele, Jr, D-Suffolk County); Judiciary
Jeffrey Dinowitz (D-Bronx);Consumer Affairs
(Michael DenDekker, D-Queens); Insurance
Kevin Cahill (D-Hudson Valley); Housing
Steven Cymbrowitz (D-Brooklyn); Corporations
Amy Paulin (D-Westchester County);Agriculture
Donna Lupardo (D-Broome County).
Similar to the State Senate, the State Assembly will also have new chairmen due to the new Democratic majority. Important chairmanships that are essential to the community banking industry are:
- Banks (Ken Zembrowski, D-Rockland County)
- Local Government (Fred Thiele, Jr., D-Suffolk County)
- Judiciary (Jeffrey Dinowitz, D-Bronx)
- Consumer Affairs (Michael DenDekker, D-Queens)
- Insurance (Kevin Cahill, D-Hudson Valley)
- Housing (Steven Cymbrowitz, D-Brooklyn)
- Corporations (Amy Paulin, D-Westchester County)
- Agriculture (Donna Lupardo, D-Broome County)
Governor Cuomo's Year-End Bill Signings, Vetoes
 Before the end of 2018, Governor Cuomo cleared his desk of 2018 legislation by signing legislation (A. 2881B Brindisi/S. 2420B Griffo) that expands the eligibility of certain securities used as collateral for municipal deposits, conforming with federal guidelines.
He also signed legislation that authorized: 1) a public campaign to educate consumers about joint deposit and convenience accounts, and 2) a study of how other states (and nations) regulate cryptocurrencies. Meanwhile, the Governor vetoed a bill that would have guaranteed up to 12 weeks of paid bereavement leave, and another bill that would have guaranteed funding levels at state and city universities.
2019 Legislative Session Begins Next Week:
Have You Reached Out to Your Representatives Yet?
 The 2019 New York State legislative session and congressional session are now just weeks away, and there will be a significant number of new members in the State Senate, State Assembly and New York Congressional Delegation.
All will need to be informed and educated about New York community banks, their essential role in the local and state economies and their legislative/regulatory needs. We encourage IBANYS members to step up, reach out and play a key role in establishing new relationships.
IBANYS recently mailed our outreach program to all member banks and encouraged you to meet with your new members of the State Senate, State Assembly and New York Congressional Delegation. The program materials include:
- Talking points for your use in your meetings, emails and phone calls to introduce yourselves and to help inform them about New York's community banks.
Please let us know which state and federal lawmakers you have reached out to and update us on the results of those meetings by emailing both John Witkowski ([email protected]) and Steve Rice ([email protected]).
As always, when a new legislature and congress are seated, IBANYS will provide a full directory of ALL state legislators and New York congressional representatives in early 2019. We also encourage you to join our IBANYS Government Relations Committee to assist in our advocacy and share your ideas.
Your voice matters!
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Washington, D.C.
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New York Community Banks:
Contact Federal Regulators On Call Report Relief
 Key House Financial Services Committee members joined ICBA's call for federal banking regulators to revisit their proposed rule implementing call report relief for community banks. The Committee's subcommittee chairs followed up on a previous
bipartisan Senate letter and said the proposal does not meet congressional intent.
ICBA supports the provision in the S. 2155 regulatory relief law that establishes a short-form call report in the first and third quarters for banks with less than $5 billion in assets.
However, ICBA notes the agency proposal "barely moves the needle" in reducing unnecessary reporting burdens.
ICBA and IBANYS urge community bankers to weigh in by contacting federal regulators and expressing concerns with the proposed rule. ICBA offers separate alerts on its Be Heard grassroots action center for community banks with less than $1 billion in assets and those between $1 billion and $5 billion.
Flood Insurance Update
ICBA and other financial services groups
reiterated their calls
for banking regulators to revise a 2016 proposed rule on private flood insurance. In a joint letter ahead of the expected release of a final rule next month, the organizations provided six recommendations on mandatory coverage terms, contractual provisions, state law compliance, and more.
18-Month Exam Cycle Rules Finalized
Federal regulators have issued final rules (adopting
interim final rules issued last August) that expand eligibility for the 18-month examination cycle. As authorized by the S. 2155 relief law and long advocated by ICBA, the agencies
raised the qualifying asset threshold for the 18-month exam cycle from $1 billion to $3 billion.
Otting Named Acting FHFA Directror
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| Joseph Otting (right) & Mark Calabria (left) |
The President has named Comptroller of the Currency Joseph Otting as Acting Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) upon completion of current Director Mel Watt's term on January 6. Otting will serve until a permanent director is confirmed. The President previously announced plans to nominate Mark Calabria, currently chief economist to Vice President Mike Pence, to serve as FHFA director.
Join Us In Washington, D.C. for the
2019 ICBA Capital Summit
The 2019 ICBA Capital Summit will be held April 28 - May 1 in Washington. Community bankers from around the nation will travel to Washington to meet with their Members of Congress in their offices "on the hill" and hear federal financial regulators to discuss key issues. We'll hear firsthand from financial and policy leaders, and influence the policy-making process. New York community bankers: Mark your calendars and hold the dates.
IBANYS will be scheduling meetings with the members of the New York congressional delegation. With a Democratic House of Representatives, a new agenda in the House Financial Services Committee, a number of new Representatives from the state and several key New Yorkers now holding key positions in a number of committees, the dynamics have changed dramatically. All this makes it more important than ever to bring your voices, your priorities and your stories to their attention.
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Industry Trends & Updates
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EGF: 3 Client Success Stories
When banks partner with Excelsior Growth Fund (EGF), everyone wins. As a U.S. Treasury-certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), EGF offers responsible and affordable financing options to small businesses.
By partnering with EGF, banks not only help their clients access capital, they also connect them to all the business services and support they need to become eligible for traditional financing in the future.
Clients receive the funding they need to grow their business and banks get to help their clients succeed while keeping the door open with them for the future.
EGF values the critical role that their banker partnerships play in their mission. With the support of those partners, they're able to help small businesses and strengthen communities. To show their thanks and demonstrate the power of partnerships, EGF is sharing three success stories that were made possible by their banking partners.
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Leveraging Customer Data for Growth
by Samantha Vance, Vice President of Marketing
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Samantha Vance
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A recent survey revealed that 57% of banks say internal silos are their biggest obstacles to big data success. Sharing customer data across departments and even across marketing channels can be challenging, but the benefits are worth it.
Your bank may not be leveraging retail customer data to its' full potential, but the good news is that it is a big opportunity...and it can be easy to implement. Customer segmentation analysis transforms a basic customer and address list into an insightful and powerful targeting tool.
Data has the power to drive customer acquisition, improve customer relationships, unlock new opportunities and increase profitability. Analytics provides the knowledge to empower your institution to drive retail customer growth.
Read the full article.
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Muni Revolution
Tax-Free Supplies & Demand Are Evolving
by Jim Reber, President, ICBA Securities
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Jim Reber
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However you slice it, municipal bonds have a big impact on community bank investment performance-even if you don't own any. That's because your bank's collection of bonds is destined to be in the bottom of the rankings amongst its peers, unless you own some.
This, of course, is not news. For decades, a hallmark of high bond portfolio performance is a large weighting of tax-free securities. Among the investments that community banks are permitted to own, munis tend to be the highest yielding. There are several reasons for this.
First, they're not guaranteed by the federal government or one of its agencies. (That doesn't necessarily indicate they don't have really good credit quality.) Second, munis have a limited supply, which could mean they have a scarcity value that makes them expensive but instead means they have somewhat lesser liquidity than other sectors. Third, and most importantly, munis have the longest durations of any category in the portfolio, which is mainly a function of a perpetually steep yield curve.
Read the full article.
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Impact Of Federal Government Shutdown On Banks, Customers
During the federal government shutdown, federal banking regulatory agencies (FDIC, Federal Reserve, OCC, CFPB) remain open. Federal lending programs (e.g., the SBA, FHA and USDA) will operate at a reduced level, as will the National Flood Insurance Program. Estimates are that a
s many as 50,000 New York residents are currently employed by the federal government and may be impacted by the shutdown through the loss of their income. Many banks are working with customers who are impacted.
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Latest On Home Values
A new report by CoreLogic found that home values in November were 5.1 percent higher compared with November 2017, but down from the 5.4 percent annual gain seen in October. CoreLogic is now projecting a smaller, 4.8 percent gain in November of 2019. The report states that asking prices for homes are coming down as sellers face the reality that interest rates are higher than a year ago, and that potential buyers are worried about the economy. The report concludes that it's "beginning to look more like a buyer's market."
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Vining Sparks & ICBA Securities Balance Sheet Academy
Registration is now open for Vining Sparks and ICBA Securities' Balance Sheet Academy seminar in Memphis, Tennessee from Monday, April 29 to Tuesday, April 30 2019. This
advanced seminar is designed to expose seasoned community bank portfolio and balance sheet managers to advanced products and concepts. The objective is to enable the attendees to consistently outperform their peers. The dynamics of a community bank balance sheet require an investment professional to be versed in a wide range of topics.
Balance Sheet Academy
provides discussion and practical classroom exercises to equip the attendees for these demands. Examples of these topics include:
- Advanced interest rate risk management strategies;
- Low cost funding strategies; and
- Strategies for serving bank customers while managing interest rate risk.
Attendees will learn how the changing economic data impacts market interest rates from Vining Sparks' Chief Economist. The Balance Sheet Academy is structured for more experienced investment managers, particularly those who have attended Bond Academy.
It incorporates balance sheet strategies into the day-to-day management of an institution's investment portfolio, wholesale funding and interest rate risk management. Bank personnel with an intermediate level of understanding of investments who are integral to the investment and balance sheet management process will benefit the most from this advanced course. New directors serving on the investment or asset-liability committee will also find this course beneficial.
Contact:
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Further Your Education at Barret Graduate School of Banking
Barret and IBANYS are aligned with a common interest: to represent the interests of the industry through effective advocacy and high quality educational offerings.
Located in Memphis, TN, Barret Graduate School of Banking offers a comprehensive graduate learning program for professionals in the financial services field. IBANYS has established partnerships with key industry educators including the Barret Graduate School of Banking. The school provides community bankers with an opportunity for a graduate degree in banking.
We are currently endorsed by ICBA, ICBA Securities, Arkansas Community Bankers, CBAofGA, Indiana Bankers Association, CBAofKS, MIBA, CBAofOH, CBAofWV - with a couple more on the way.
To learn more about Barret Graduate School of Banking, please visit
www.barret.ws.
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Keep The Door Open For Your Small Business Customers
Excelsior Growth Fund (EGF) is NYBDC's nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution and IBANYS' exclusive online lending partner. Join the growing number of banks that work with EGF to offer their customers an affordable and responsible option when they do not qualify for traditional financing. EGF offers loans up to $500,000 with a convenient, digital process. Loans under $100,000 are disbursed within 5 business days.
EGF's experienced team can work hand-in-hand with yours to develop a customized process to make referring seamless. To learn more about offering your customers a second look through EGF contact Bryan Doxford, SVP, at [email protected] at at (212) 430-4512.
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Spotlight Bank of the Week
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Corporate Headquarters in Rochester, NY
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Five Star Bank has a long history in Western and Central New York dating back to our origin in 1817. Our predecessor banks each operated in a rural area and they played important roles in helping to meet the credit needs of these communities. We currently have 53 branches in 15 contiguous counties, with our headquarters in Warsaw and regional offices in Rochester and Buffalo.
We remain committed to serving the needs of the communities in our rural legacy footprint as we focus on expanding in Rochester and Buffalo. We believe that we have significant opportunities to grow deposits, loans and fee-based businesses in these cities. As a locally-headquartered and community-focused bank, we can provide the personal attention and local decision-making leadership that retail and commercial customers seek.
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Buffalo, NY Branch/Financial Solution Center
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Our new branches are designed to serve as financial solution centers, meeting evolving customer needs and accommodating a wide spectrum of customer preferences with no teller lines, no barriers between bank associates and customers and hands-on support. We have opened four financial solution centers in Rochester and Buffalo and are remodeling traditional branches to remove barriers and provide new technologies.
We have transformed our branch staff from traditional teller and platform roles to a universal banker role - our Certified Personal Banker, or CPB. Five Star Bank CPBs are experts, trained to assist customers with nearly all their needs - transaction processing, product opening, service or education. As customers are often seeking financial counseling or financial solutions when they visit a branch, our new universal staffing model means that everyone in the branch is well-trained and ready to assist.
Five Star Bank is committed to the omnichannel concept, where all channels are available to the customer - branch, web, mobile, call center and ATM - and all offer the same high-quality experience. We are working to tailor our digital solutions to leverage the convenience of the digital experience without losing the human or emotional connection that comes with face-to-face interaction.
In February 2018, we launched a brand campaign designed to increase awareness of Five Star and the depth of services we offer in community banking, wealth management and insurance. Our campaign line of "Today is tomorrow in progress" conveys our customer promise and reinforces our goal of providing solutions today that lead to financial well-being in the future.
As a community bank, we understand that our success is directly linked to the success of our communities. We invest in and support our communities in many ways, including volunteer activities, charitable investments and product offerings.
- Our employees support more than 400 different community and professional organizations as volunteers, trustees and committee members.
- We are proud to support many organizations in the markets we serve through donations and community sponsorships.
- Our comprehensive product offerings include several products tailored to meet the needs of the under-banked or low-to-moderate income residents.
At Five Star, we continue to evolve our banking, wealth management and insurance offerings to help people build financial security for today and the future. We understand that access to bank accounts, home ownership, small businesses and community development projects are integral to sustainable economic growth.
Five Star Bank, Member FDIC
Insurance and investment products and services are not FDIC Insured, are not a deposit or bank guaranteed, are not insured by any Federal governmental agency, and are subject to investment risks, including possible loss of the principal invested.
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About Spotlight Bank of the Week
 Spotlight Bank of the Week is a new feature that we have added to our website and e-newsletter. It is an opportunity to promote anything about your organization, such as fun facts, organization news, special events, etc. The Spotlight Bank of the Week will be featured on our homepage slider, e-newsletter, and our social media platforms for one week. So don't miss out on this exceptional opportunity to showcase your bank to thousands of people!
View banks that have been featured as our Spotlight in the past!
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IBANYS Spotlight Is On...
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Pentegra, an IBANYS preferred partner, is a leading provider of retirement plan, fiduciary outsourcing and institutional investment solutions to clients nationwide. Founded by the Federal Home Loan Bank System in 1943, Pentegra does not answer to shareholders, but to clients. Their boards of directors are made up of clients, Presidents and CEOs, who use Pentegra's services and place their own futures in Pentegra's hands. The Boards serve with excellence and the highest ethical standards and set the very same ones for the organization.
Pentegra provides retirement services including:
- Non-Qualified Plans
- BOLI
- Qualified Plans
- Retirement Plan Services Retirement Services
For more information, please contact:
Fabrizio D'uva, Regional Director, BOLI & Non Qualified Benefits Plans
Phone: (800) 872-3473
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IBANYS identifies offers products and services that provide value to your banks, companies, employees communities. These brief summaries provide links for information. Please contact IBANYS President John Witkowski with questions.
Health & Wellness
My Wellness Resource & TELADOC 
The health and wellness landscape continues to evolve. "My Wellness Resource" can be a nice addition to your existing benefit package.
Teladoc can save your banks time and money, and provide real value to your employees as this testimonial from a New York community bank CEO proves:
HERE'S WHAT YOUR FELLOW NEW YORK
COMMUNITY BANKER SAYS. . .
"I wanted to let you know that some of our employees and I have been using "Teladoc" and it is one of the best things we have done for the bank. We all love it: We are saving time, avoiding waiting in an urgent care center or a doctor's waiting room for non-emergency related illnesses
. . .and it is easy to use and convenient. Once you use it, you are hooked! This was a great find! Would recommend it to all banks."
Mario Martinez
Chairman & CEO
Catskill Hudson Bank
Contact Alan Justin: (716) 907-5500.
"Cure the Blue" Helps Banking Industry Battle Prostate Cancer!
The "Cure the Blue" program sponsored by the Buffalo Bills Alumni Foundation allows New Yorkers to participate in one of the most comprehensive efforts to help promote prostate cancer awareness and research in the United States.
Lake Shore Savings Bank has provided prostate cancer literature and Cure the Blue information at all eleven of its  branches and their headquarters in Dunkirk. The bank also offered Cure the Blue ceramic lapel ribbon pins for a $5.00 donations to Cure the Blue to all their customers. "We fully understand the severity of this disease and the devastating effect it can have on families" said Lake Shore Savings Bank President and CEO Dan Reininga. "Our support of the Buffalo Bills Alumni Foundation's "Cure the Blue" initiative is something that we are taking very seriously and are proud to support." Buffalo Bills Wall of Famer and Alumni Foundation President Booker Edgerson, a two time prostate cancer survivor, said the bank has been a tremendous longtime supporter, noting: "They have really stepped up to the plate with their unwavering support of our Cure the Blue initiative."
IBANYS urges all of our member banks, associate members and allies to join the effort. Cure the Blue" raises funds and awareness regarding prostate cancer in New York State. Visit
curetheblue.com
to get involved! Of all new cancer cases in the nation, prostate cancer represents 9.6%. In 2017, there were an estimated 161,000 new cases, and more than 26,000 fatalities due to the disease. Support IBANYS' "Cure the Blue" campaign to help New Yorkers participate to promote prostate cancer awareness and research.
Secure, Enhanced Internet Presence
The .bank program by fTLD operates trusted, verified, more secure, easily-identifiable internet locations for financial companies and
customers. www.icba.org
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Governor Cuomo will deliver his State of the State address next week. The office of the governor was established by the first New York Constitutions in 1777. Fifty-six people have served as governor. Four served non-consecutive terms, including one acting governor. New York's longest-serving governor was George Clinton, who was the first governor of New York. He took office on July 30, 1777 and served seven terms in two different periods, totaling just under 21 years in office.
There are currently three living former New York Governors: George Pataki (who served from 1995-2006), Eliot Spitzer (2007-2008), and David Paterson (2008-2010).
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New York community banks play a key role in our state and local economies. Help spread the good news among our customers, business, elected leaders and the media!
John J. Witkowski
President & Chief Executive Officer
Stephen W. Rice
Director of Government Relations & Communications
Linda Gregware
Director of Administration & Membership Services
William Y. Crowell III
Legislative Counsel
Natalie Rowan
Marketing & Social Media Assistant
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