View as Webpage

The NBA Board of Directors approved the affirmative legislation for the 2024 Nebraska Legislative session at a meeting on Dec. 8. The NBA plans to introduce legislation in several areas, including: political subdivision investment pools, central bank digital currency, misleading solicitations and rural workforce housing funding. The Board also considered updates to the NBA Articles and Bylaws.

Senator Deb Fischer attended the meeting and shared her perspectives on the budget and appropriations process, national security and the pending farm bill. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) Director Rohit Chopra joined the board via Zoom for a discussion on recent and upcoming CFPB regulations, risks to consumers from non-bank financial services providers and this spring's bank closures.

The NBISCO Board of Directors approved a new virtual human resources services provider as a preferred vendor. This service will roll out in January.

Nebraska bankers are invited to join the NBA and more than 1,000 bankers from across the country at the American Bankers Association (ABA) Washington Summit on March 18-20, 2024. At the Summit, NBA members have an opportunity to advocate their bank's needs to better serve their customers by visiting with the Nebraska congressional delegation. Our collective voice is critical in educating policymakers on the important role that banks play in economic growth and job creation.

Additionally, the ABA Emerging Leaders Forum, held concurrently with the ABA Washington Summit, is an opportunity for young bankers to share challenges and strategies with peers to cultivate a strong, dynamic and diverse banking industry for the future.

The NBA and ABA are providing two $1,500 scholarships for emerging leaders or young bankers to attend. The events are free, so the scholarships can be used to cover travel and hotel costs. Interested emerging leaders or young bankers should submit their names for the drawing by noon CDT on Jan. 26, 2024, to Jennifer Heaton at the NBA at [email protected]. Scholarship recipients will be notified by Jan. 29.

Legislative, Policy and Regulatory Updates

Compliance Update - December 8, 2023

• Regulation Z - Consumer Credit Transactions Threshold Amount
• Special Appraisal Requirements for Higher-Priced Mortgage Loans

NBA, State Associations Urge Broad Support in Federal Reserve Rulemakings

In a letter to Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, the NBA and 51 other state bankers associations emphasized the importance of broad support among board members for Federal Reserve rulemakings. "Failure to consider views from all board members may result in a regulatory pendulum effect, where rules change rapidly with changes in leadership and political winds," the associations said. Additionally, they urged Powell to consult with the Subcommittee on Smaller Regional and Community Banking to consider the unique challenges faced by community banks in regulatory decision-making.

Read the Letter

CFPB to Propose Rules on Fees

The Biden Administration's upcoming rulemaking agenda includes several items affecting the banking industry. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is expected to propose a rule this month to assess whether overdraft fees qualify as finance charges under Regulation Z, potentially subjecting them to Truth in Lending Act requirements. Additionally, the CFPB plans to issue a proposed rule identifying certain circumstances where nonsufficent fund fees may be deemed unfair, deceptive or abusive. A final rule limiting credit card late fees is also anticipated.

The Department of Labor aims for an April 2024 final rule to update the salary level determining federal minimum wage and overtime applicability. The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network expects to release the beneficial ownership information access rule by the end of the month.

View the Agenda

As a co-sponsor of the Graduate School of Banking at Colorado (GSBC), the NBA has partnered with GSBC to recognize community banks across Nebraska for their innovative approaches to serving their customers and communities with a new, nomination-based scholarship. 

The scholarship is called the Bolder Banking Scholarship and is an extension of GSBC’s Bolder Banking campaign, which aims to highlight bold leaders in the community banking industry by sharing innovative information and ideas with fellow bankers. 

The Bolder Banking Scholarship will afford the NBA the opportunity to recognize and reward our member banks displaying innovative approaches to banking. GSBC will fund the scholarship for a rising star within the recipient bank to use toward tuition at GSBC’s Annual School Session. 

NBA member banks may nominate themselves or another bank to be a Bolder Banking Scholarship recipient. 

There is one of these bank-wide scholarships given annually. To submit a Bolder Banking Scholarship nomination for your or another bank displaying innovative, out-of-the-box initiatives, complete the nomination form by Feb. 15, 2024. The recipient bank will be decided on by March 1. 

Nomination Form

Dec. 6 - 12

Email your news, press releases, photos and/or newspaper articles to be published in Banks & Bankers. Send content to [email protected].

Review Alliance

Do you know the types of transactions that are considered Electronic Funds Transfers (EFTs)?

Learn More

Compliance Alliance

Q: Is an opt-out option required for fraud alert calls and texts?

Learn the Answer

Notary Filing Moving Online

The Nebraska Secretary of State's Office has begun accepting notary applications online. After Dec. 31, 2023, the Secretary of State will no longer accept paper filings for notary applications, renewals, change of address or other forms. The filing system can be found at business.nebraska.gov. Users will need to create an account to submit applications or other documents.

Learn More

SBA Releases Nebraska Lender Rankings

The Nebraska District Office of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) released fiscal year 2023 Nebraska lender activity reports for 7(a) and 504 loan programs.

Learn More

Preferred Vendor: Bank Marketing Center

'Tis the season...to market your bank for the holidays! From social media posts, door signs, digital signage, flyers and more, Bank Marketing Center (BMC) has everything you need to create holiday-themed marketing materials.

Make sure to mention you're an NBA member when registering for a demo or speaking with a BMC representative to take advantage of promotional pricing.

Register for a Demo