Donations Needed for BankPAC Silent Auction

The Annual NBA State BankPAC Silent Auction will be held during the NBA Convention on May 3-5 at the Embassy Suites in La Vista, and donations are needed!

Your investment, large or small, in this exciting event will produce tremendous results for Nebraska banking. Your participation is critical. The Silent Auction will raise funds for the NBA State BankPAC so that the NBA can help elect state senators and constitutional officers who understand banking and its special needs. It is critical for bankers to be involved in the political processes that shape their industry.

Donation Form

For questions, contact Jennifer Heaton at the NBA at [email protected] or 402-474-1555.

Don't Miss Your Opportunity to Advocate for Banking

You know that what happens in Washington, D.C., impacts you and your bank daily. You can help ensure lawmakers and regulators understand the impact of their decisions by attending the NBA Washington Legislative Visit and ABA Washington Summit on March 20-22. View the agenda and register here.

Two $750 scholarships are available for emerging leaders or young bankers to attend. Registration for the event is free, so the scholarships may be used for hotel and travel expenses. To enter the drawing to win a scholarship, submit your information by Feb. 13 to Ron Arrigo at the NBA at [email protected].

Legislative, Policy & Regulatory Updates

Legislative Update

Jan. 20, 2023

Stay up to date by subscribing to the NBA Legislative Update. Sent every Friday during the legislative session, the newsletter recaps the week in the Nebraska Unicameral and issues affecting the banking industry.

Appraisal Bias Focus of Hearing

The Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council's Appraisal Subcommittee held a public hearing yesterday on appraisal bias. At the hearing, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) Director Rohit Chopra raised questions about the "Byzantine system" governing appraisals, particularly the nonprofit Appraisal Foundation that sets appraisal standards. Appraisal Subcommittee Executive Director Jim Park noted his organization's oversight authority is limited to monitoring and reviewing the foundation's work and has no enforcement authority. Another panelist, Junia Howell, visiting assistant professor of sociology at the University of Illinois Chicago, said there is a "moral" problem with the current structure.

Learn More

Industry Groups Seek VA Home Loan Reforms

In a letter to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), financial services and industry and advocacy groups urged an expansion of the loss mitigation options available under the VA Home Loan Guaranty Program to help borrowers avoid foreclosure. The groups also noted the program needs additional resources to better help veterans pursue homeownership and also keep their home in the event of financial challenges.

Read the Letter

CFPB Suggests Offering COVID-Related Options in Non-pandemic Situations

In a blog post last week, the CFPB said that as long as streamlined loss mitigation options are available to homeowners experiencing COVID-19 hardships, the same options should be extended to those not experiencing COVID-related hardships.

Learn More

Upcoming Events

Feb. 7-8 – Operations Conference, Lincoln
Feb. 13-14 – Mid-Winter IRA Essentials Workshop, Virtual
Feb. 14 – Young Bankers Day at the Capitol, Lincoln
Feb. 15-16 – Mid-Winter Advanced IRA Workshop, Virtual
Feb. 17 – Health Savings Account Seminar, Virtual
Feb. 22 – Safe Deposit: The Legal & Practical Issues Seminar, Virtual
Feb. 22-26 – Bank Executives & Directors Conference, Cabo San Lucas, MX
March 14-15 – Supervisor Boot Camp Conference, Lincoln
March 21 – Bank Robbery Safety Tips Workshop, Kearney
March 22 – Bank Robbery Safety Tips Workshop, Omaha
April 18 – Opening Business Accounts in Nebraska Workshop, Virtual

To see the complete event schedule, visit the NBA Event Calendar.

Graduate Schools of Banking Opportunities

Enrollment is open for the Graduate School of Banking at Colorado’s next session, July 16-28, 2023, in Boulder, CO. Learn more and apply here.

The Graduate School of Banking-Wisconsin (GSB-Wisconsin) and the NBA are co-sponsoring a variety of schools throughout 2023 including: Bank Technology Management, Bank Technology Security, HR Management, Financial Managers, Sales and Marketing, and Digital Banking.

2023 Full Schedule

Banks & Bankers

Jan. 18 - 24

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

NE Chamber to Host Annual Meeting, Hall of Fame Banquet

The Nebraska Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting and Hall of Fame Banquet is Feb. 2 in Lincoln. The 2023 inductees into the Nebraska Business Hall of Fame are: Dick Tegtmeier, Encore Manufacturing; Mildred Brown, Omaha Star; Jim Clifton and Jane Miller, Gallup; Tony Messineo, Valentino's; and the Ralph and Beverly Holzfaster family.

ABA Announces 2023 Financial Education Campaigns

The American Bankers Association Foundation launched four financial education campaigns: Teach Children to Save, Get Smart About Credit, Safe Banking for Seniors, and the Lights, Camera, Save! video contest. The Foundation programs are free to both ABA member and non-member banks. Bankers interested in learning more about the Foundation's programs can attend a webinar on Feb. 22 at 2:00 p.m. CST.

Learn More