Welcome to August. As summer enters its closing weeks and the so-called "dog days", IBANYS is busy making plans for autumn and beyond.

• This morning we held our board of directors meeting -- the third of the board's four scheduled meetings for 2026. The agenda included detailed updates on state and federal government relations activities, as well as updates on our operations, administration, meetings and more.

• Have You & Your Team Signed Up For IBANYS' Executive Leadership Symposium October 5-7, 2026 at the 1000 Island Harbor Hotel in Clayton, NY – in the heart of the beautiful Thousand Islands? Join us and experience a mix of timely educational sessions and great networking experiences. Earn up to 10 CPE credits as you gain valuable insights into today's most important banking topics. Register today Registration Deadline Sept. 18. (Register Early & Save — "Early Bird" Deadline: Aug. 14..) Secure your sponsorship before opportunities are gone! See below in today's newsletter, or visit our website (ibanys.net), click on resources and read last week's July 29 newsletter for full details on the program, registration and sponsorship.

• PentEdge Launches AIMS™ Manifest: AI Governance for Community Banks. IBANYS member banks have requested AI governance priced for a community bank budget. That is AIMS™ Manifest. No core integration, nothing installed on endpoints. Upload a spreadsheet of your vendors and the platform returns a scored, defensible inventory, with an AI Risk Score™ for each tool and five standard reports. Aligned to the NIST AI RMF. $3,000/year for up to 5 users, $5,000/year for up to 10, one-year term. For a demo or more info, contact Lisa Pent, Founder and CEO, PentEdge, LLC: +1 646 283  0282; Lisa@ThePentEdge.com.

• Meet With Your Federal & State Legislators During August! Members of Congress will be home in their districts throughout August — and, your local state legislators are out of session and back in the districts until January. What a great opportunity for community bankers to build and strengthen relationships with local Representatives and continue your dialogue on our priority issues AND on the vital role that your banks play in the local and state economies. Why not use the upcoming weeks to invite them to your banks? ICBA’s free toolkit, “Meetings on Main Street,” walks bankers through the process. ICBA’s Take Action Center offers tools to contact officials, ways to follow-up after the meetings, track bills, and the latest “Meetings on Main Street” materials. Visit icba.quorum.us. Also: Read this article. https://www.independentbanker.org/w/how-to-advocate-for-the-industry-during-the-august-recess. NOTE: IBANYS recently concluded regional meetings across upstate New York with Sate Senate Banks Committee Chairman Sanders (D-Queens) on community bank issues and priorities. . .Use this in your local meetings with your State Senators and Assembly members.

IBANYS EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP SYMPOSIUM

🌟 Where Banking Leaders Connect, Learn & Look Ahead

2026 IBANYS Executive Leadership Symposium

October 5–7 | 1000 Islands Harbor Hotel | Clayton, NY

Mark your calendar—this is one event you won't want to miss!

• The 2026 IBANYS Executive Leadership Symposium brings together community banking leaders for three days of thought-provoking education, meaningful peer connections, and conversations about the future of our industry.

From AI and cybersecurity to economic trends, regulatory developments, technology modernization, executive leadership, and the future of community banking, this year's program tackles the issues that are keeping bank leaders focused today—and preparing for tomorrow.

And there's plenty of time to connect outside the conference room. Enjoy networking receptions and dinners, a sunset cruise on the St. Lawrence River, and optional golf and fishing activities in the beautiful Thousand Islands.

Make Your Company Part of the Experience

Sponsorship opportunities are available! Showcase your organization and connect directly with community banking decision-makers through a variety of sponsorship opportunities, including meals, receptions, the boat cruise, golf, fishing, and more. Sponsors receive valuable visibility throughout the event, including signage, website and e-newsletter recognition, podium recognition, and select complimentary registrations. Sponsorships are first come, first served.

Earn up to 10 CPE credits. Build relationships. Gain perspective. Be part of the conversation shaping the future of community banking.

Don't Just Hear About What’s Next—Be Part of It.

📅 October 5–7, 2026

📍 1000 Islands Harbor Hotel | Clayton, NY

💰 Early Bird Registration Ends August 14

Register today and secure your place at the 2026 IBANYS Executive Leadership Symposium!

Meet the Speakers

Scott Hildenbrand serves as chief balance sheet strategist and head of depository markets & strategy at Piper Sandler.

Previously, he was a principal and chief balance sheet strategist of Sandler O’Neill + Partners, L.P. He headed the balance sheet analysis and strategy group, working with financial institutions on balance sheet strategy development, which includes interest rate risk management, investment portfolio strategy, retail and wholesale funding management, capital planning, budgeting, and stress testing. Hildenbrand also worked closely with the firm’s investment banking group to identify and develop strategic opportunities for clients involved in mergers and acquisitions.

Hildenbrand previously worked in Sandler O’Neill’s interest rate products group, focusing on developing and implementing structured wholesale funding strategies for financial institutions. He spent his first four years at the firm in the asset/liability management group. Prior to joining Sandler O’Neill in 2004, Hildenbrand worked as a financial analyst in asset/liability management at Tower Federal Credit Union in Maryland.

Hildenbrand joined the Financial Managers Society Board of Directors in 2021. He also serves as treasurer on the board of directors for Liam’s Room, a non-profit organization that focuses on pediatric palliative care, a specialized approach to medical care for children with serious illnesses.

He is a frequent speaker at industry conferences and seminars. He holds a Master of Business Administration degree in finance from Loyola College in Maryland and a bachelor’s degree with a concentration in accounting and finance from Gettysburg College.

Rob Blackwell is the Chief Content Officer and Head of External Affairs for IntraFi, and the host of its podcast, Banking with Interest. A former journalist and editor-in-chief of American Banker, Rob interviews top lawmakers, regulators, CEOs, journalists, and academics about the key policy issues facing banks. Previous guests have included House Financial Services Committee Chair French Hill, House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, Ranking Member Maxine Waters, former NEC Director Gary Cohn, and entrepreneur Mark Cuban. 

Fishing Boat

Breakfast - Tuesday

Sunset Boat Cruise

Fishing Boat & Golf Refreshment Cart

Dinner Wine - Tuesday & Golf Tee

Refreshment Breaks

Dinner Wine - Monday

Breakfast - Wednesday

IBANYS AUGUST WEBINARS

Associate and Preferred Partners

ICBA Information

ALBANY UPDATE

Legislative & Political Updates

• NYS Legislature Gearing Up For '27 Session. Even though the legislative session is over and every member of the state Legislature is up for reelection in November, meaning all active bills will need to be reintroduced in January, many members of the state Senate and Assembly continue to churn out new legislation. https://nystateofpolitics.com/state-of-politics/new-york/politics/2026/07/30/lawmakers-introduce-bills-despite-january-reset.

• Senate Finance Chair Returns. State Sen. Liz Krueger (D-NYC) has been a force in the Senate and in budget negotiations for a quarter century, including as Chair of the powerful Senate Finance Committee. Her stroke last April caused her to be absent from the process in 2026, especially for the prolonged budget negotiations and the end of the legislative session in June. She is recovering well, and "City & State” discussed her plans for the future. Read the full interview with Krueger.

• Renewed Push For 2027 Tax Hikes. NYC Democratic Socialists (DSA members) recently confirmed their next order of business is "to pressure Gov. Hochul to raise income taxes on the wealthiest New Yorkers" when the 2027 state legislative session begins in January, the Times reports. A coalition of left-leaning interest groups believes the move will be popular with rank-and-file voters and is “a winning issue in general elections.” Gov. Hochul resisted broad-based tax increases this year (she ultimately supported a narrowly tailored surcharge on high-cost second homes in New York City.) The GOP would likely make tax hikes an issue in their campaigns – but raising taxes on the wealthy is perennially popular. The New York Post reported Wednesday that NYC Mayor Mamdani plans a post-Labor Day push for tax hikes.

• Key State Legislative Races To Watch. City & State took a look at some of the most competitive state legislative races this year. Democrats are seeking to increase their numbers -- especially in the State Senate, where they briefly held a two-thirds veto-proof supermajority but lost it in 2024. With 41 current members, they need to add just one more seat while protecting their incumbents. Read more here. In the Assembly, Democrats hold103 of the 150 seats -- a supermajority, but less than their peak of 107 seats in 2022. While they do have some pick-up opportunities, they'll also be on the defensive in some races. Here are some of the big races to watch in November. Read more here. 

• Senate Dems' New Campaign Finance Leader. New York Senate Democrats have tapped state Sen. Shelley Mayer (D-Yonkers) to lead their campaign finance committee. She will be taking over from Sen. Mike Gianaris (D-Queens), the No. 2 Democrat.

State Regulatory Items

• Updated MWBE Platform. Governor Hochul announced the Empire State MWBE Hub, a new mobile-friendly online platform to modernize key operations of New York State’s Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprise program. It’s intended to make it easier for businesses to apply for MWBE certification, manage their applications and business profiles, receive assistance and connect with state contracting opportunities. Access the Empire State MWBE Hub.

• Latest On Reg Relief Programs. The Hochul administration said the new MWBE Hub builds on the state’s EXPRESS NY initiative, her effort to address "outdated and burdensome" regulations, policies and practices. It features 50 actions across 22 state agencies — projected to save tens of millions of dollars in unnecessary fees and compliance costs, and over one million hours of time spent navigating the regulatory process.

• Reg Relief, Part II. Earlier this month, Hochul also signed an Executive Order launching the Regulatory Reset Initiative requiring state agencies to conduct a comprehensive review of outdated regulations, fines and fees, and mandated reports in an effort to "save New Yorkers and small businesses time and money." https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-hochul-announces-launch-empire-state-mwbe-hub-modernized-platform-new-yorks-minority

• DFS Gives Limited Purpose Charter To Circle. Circle Internet Group, Inc. (NYSE: CRCL), a global financial technology company and stablecoin market leader, has received a limited purpose trust charter from the New York Department of Financial Services for Circle Internet Trust Company LLC, doing business as Circle New York Trust. Circle’s platform includes the world’s largest regulated stablecoin network anchored by USDC, Circle Payments Network for global money movement, and Arc, an enterprise-grade blockchain designed to become the Economic OS for the internet. https://www.circle.com/pressroom/circle-granted-trust-charter-by-the-new-york-department-of-financial-services.

Economic & Political Items

• Latest On Foreclosures. There is a decline in foreclosures citywide in NYC, but the number of homeowners in the Bronx facing such cases has nearly doubled from last year -- "highlighting worrying economic trends in the borough." The City Reporter reports.

• New York is viewed as critical in this year’s battle for the House majority. Now, Democrats’ House campaign arm is reportedly targeting two New York districts President Trump won by double-digits in 2024: GOP Rep. Nick LaLota’s Long Island district, and the upstate district where GOP businessperson Anthony Constantino is looking to succeed outgoing Rep. Elise Stefanik.

• Meanwhile, Re: A House Speaker From Brooklyn. Some members of the Congressional Black Caucus want to set a condition for incoming Democrats seeking to join their ranks: They must support House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-Brooklyn) for speaker. That could impact Darializa Avila Chevalier, who has so far declined to commit to backing Jeffries, Axios reports.

FEDERAL UPDATE

• Small Businesses & Community Banks. According to new ICBA polling.small businesses say lawmakers should ensure digital assets legislation does not hamper community bank lending. The ICBA polling of small-business decision makers conducted by Morning Consult in July found:

1. 86% say it is important for policymakers debating crypto policies to ensure digital assets policy avoids harming bank lending in local communities.
2. 77% say the cryptocurrency debate should sustain consumer access to community banks.
3. By a two-to-one margin, small-business decision makers agree that policymakers should prohibit crypto companies from offering interest-like rewards.
4. Small-business decision makers showed continued support for community banks, with 86% having a favorable impression of community banks compared to a 47% favorability rating for digital asset and crypto companies.

• More On Digital Assets & Stablecoin. ICBA said it strongly supports a federal illicit-finance framework for permitted payment stablecoin issuers that is as robust as the framework applicable to community banks. Read ICBA's  letter responding to the FDIC’sGENIUS Act proposal on Bank Secrecy Act and anti-money laundering/countering the financing of terrorism standards for stablecoins

• Feds Revise Regs. Federal banking regulators published revisions to the compliance guide for the Community Bank Leverage Ratio framework. The CBLR simplifies regulatory capital requirements for community banks that choose to adopt it, replacing risk-based capital ratios with a relatively simple leverage ratio. Available for eligible banks with assets below $10 billion, approximately 40% of qualifying banks have opted into the CBLR framework.

• Take Action On Clarity Act! With senators working to advance the Clarity Act this week ahead of its August recess, ICBA is continuing its advocacy on stablecoin yield with a new ad campaign in Politico. In advertisements running in Politico’s Morning Money newsletter, ICBA this week is urging policymakers to establish clear, responsible crypto guardrails that protect local economies and businesses. With the Senate debate over the Clarity Act continuing, ICBA is calling on community bankers to use its Be Heard grassroots action center to urge their senators to strengthen the bill’s prohibition on stablecoin yield. An ICBA economic data analysis shows failing to extend the prohibition on stablecoin yield could reduce community bank lending by $850 billion due to a $1.3 trillion reduction in the industry’s deposits.

• Senate Farm Bill News. The Senate Agriculture Committee is slated to mark up the farm bill this week, and ICBA is encouraging community bankers to urge their senators to oppose an amendment expanding Farm Credit System home mortgage lending. The committee is scheduled to mark up the Agriculture Act of 2026 at 9:30 a.m. (Eastern time) tomorrow (Thursday, Aug. 6.) Community bankers can use ICBA’s Be Heard grassroots action center to urge senators to oppose the amendment.

• Stay Informed! ICBA has updated its “Advocacy in Action” government relations dashboard for the third quarter with the latest community banking advocacy successes and priorities. The resource spotlights hot-button community banking advocacy issues, such as ACRE Act implementation, artificial intelligence, community bank regulatory relief, a regulatory framework for digital assets, and more. Access the dashboard.