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2026 Short Session Now Underway | | The General Assembly has reconvened for the 2026 “short” session. In even years, the General Assembly convenes in the spring, with the goal of adjourning around July 4. | | | | |
This session, considerable attention is focused on whether the House and Senate will agree on a long-delayed budget for the state and whether legislators will advance a proposal to put before voters a constitutional amendment on how cities and counties set property taxes. | From a banking perspective, much of our interest remains directed at encouraging legislators to finalize a proposal (H 754) to: 1) allow stays of banking transactions when financial exploitation of an older or disabled adult is suspected, and 2) modernize the state’s savings bank laws in Chapter 54C to better align them with the commercial banking laws in Chapter 53C. | We also remain focused on making sure that any credit union legislation that is considered (such as H 187) is limited to a common-sense modernization and does not contain covert changes intended to allow anyone, anywhere, and any business to be a member of a North Carolina state-chartered credit union. | | | | |
The OCC has terminated the lease for the CFPB’s Washington headquarters after 14 years. The original 20-year lease required the CFPB to pay $11.4 million in rent to the OCC for 2012, with the amount increasing annually by 2%. OCC agreed to transfer the property to the General Services Administration (GSA), which manages government real estate, at no cost. It is unclear whether the CFPB will pay rent to the GSA. | The Trump Administration has been seeking court approval to reduce the CFPB's workforce to a third of its previous size of approximately 1,700. | | Fed Chairman Nomination Hearing | All eleven Democratic members of the Senate Banking Committee have joined a letter to Senate Banking Committee Chairman Tim Scott (R-SC), urging that the committee refuse to consider the nomination of Kevin Warsh to be the next Federal Reserve chairman until the Trump Administration drops its investigations into Fed Chairman Jerome Powell and Fed Governor Lisa Cook. | | | | |
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ICBA Capital Summit | April 29 - May 1 | The ICBA Capital Summit empowers you to make your voice heard on Capitol Hill, ensuring policymakers understand the vital role of community banks in driving growth and opportunity. Join community bankers from across the country in Washington on April 29 - May 1! | | | | | |
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Interview with Kyle R. Chavis, CEO of Lumbee Guaranty Bank: The Lumbee Tribe’s Journey to Full Federal Recognition | On December 18, 2025, a decades-long pursuit for justice reached a historic conclusion. With the stroke of a pen, the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina finally achieved full federal recognition, a designation that promises to reshape the economic and social landscape of Robeson County, NC and the surrounding region. | | Pictured: Kyle R. Chavis, Lumbee Guaranty Bank | | In a recent conversation with Lumbee Guaranty Bank’s CEO, Kyle R. Chavis, a prominent voice and leader within the Lumbee community, he shared his reflections on the significance of this milestone. For Chavis and many others, the word "full" is the most critical part of the achievement. | The Lumbee people have lived in a state of partial recognition since 1956. While the government acknowledged them as a tribe during that era, it explicitly denied them the federal benefits and services usually afforded to indigenous nations. | "Our tribe was recognized in 1956 by the federal government... but we were denied any federal benefits," Chavis explained. "For myself, and a lot of people, full federal recognition, finally being able to achieve that, is a lot about righting a wrong from many years ago and it has been very gratifying.” | | | | |
NC Bankers Meet with Congressman Richard Hudson in Charlotte | | NCBA Chairman Jim Marshall, President & CEO of blueharbor bank, recently hosted a meeting in Charlotte with Congressman Richard Hudson (NC-9) and a group of North Carolina bankers. The discussion covered several key banking issues, including stablecoins and fraud prevention. | A longtime friend of the banking industry and the NCBA, Hudson currently chairs the National Republican Congressional Committee and serves on the House Committee on Committees. NCBA President & CEO Peter Gwaltney thanked the congressman for his continued service and support of the industry. | | | | |
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Grand Openings and Groundbreakings in Belmont | | It’s been an exciting time for banking in Belmont, with one NCBA member opening a new branch and another breaking ground on its future location. | | Fifth Third Bank officially opened its new Belmont branch last week with a strong community turnout. NCBA President & CEO Peter Gwaltney joined the celebration and congratulated Lee Fite and the Fifth Third team on the successful opening. During the event, Gwaltney also met Kerri Massey, President & CEO of Holy Angels, and learned more about the organization’s work supporting individuals with special needs and their families. Fifth Third marked the occasion with a donation to Holy Angels in support of its mission. | | Commercial Bank also celebrated a major milestone in Belmont, breaking ground on a new branch as part of its continued North Carolina expansion. Gwaltney attended the event, which drew local supporters, public officials, and advisory board members, and later spoke with the bank’s advisory board. He thanked Dan Boyd, EVP and President of Branch/Retail Banking, for the invitation and congratulated President & CEO Terry Lee and the Commercial Bank team. | | | | |
On the Road with NCBA: Bank Visits Across the State | | NCBA President & CEO Peter Gwaltney recently made a series of visits with First Bank in Greensboro, Select Bank in Burlington, Truist in Charlotte, and Uwharrie Bank, meeting with bank leaders from across North Carolina and the region. | In Greensboro, Gwaltney thanked Adam Currie, Elizabeth Brantley Bostian, Christian W., Katie Doyle, and NCBA Director Bill Bunn for hosting his visit to First Bank. Chartered in 1935 in Southern Pines, First Bank has grown into one of North Carolina’s largest community banks, with $13 billion in assets and 113 branches across North and South Carolina. | In Burlington, Gwaltney visited with Don Jennings at Select Bank and thanked him for his time and hospitality. Chartered in Forest, Virginia, in 2007, Select Bank has grown to more than $500 million in assets and operates six offices, including its Burlington location. | Gwaltney also joined NCBA Chairman Jim Marshall for a visit with Bill Rogers, Chairman & CEO of Truist, in Charlotte. Formed in 2019 through the merger of BB&T and SunTrust, Truist is now one of the largest regional banks in the country and a strong supporter of the NCBA. Chris Bell, NC East Region President, serves on the NCBA Board of Directors and remains actively involved in the association’s work. | Gwaltney and Marshall were also on the road together for a visit with Roger Dick, Founder and CEO of Uwharrie Bank, and David Beaver, President. Chartered in Albemarle in 1983, Uwharrie Bank has grown into a $1.3 billion institution with 10 offices across Stanly, Cabarrus, Anson, Rowan, and Mecklenburg counties. | | | | | |
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Federal Legislative &
Regulatory Update⚖️ | | Warsh Speaks to Senate Banking Committee | Although Kevin Warsh does not currently have the votes to be confirmed as the next Fed Chairman, given a block by Sen. Thom Tillis and current opposition by Democrats, he appeared before the Senate Banking Committee this week to speak and answer questions. | | | Committee members asked him about media reports suggesting that he told President Trump that he would cut interest rates. Warsh said he never committed to any path on interest rate policy. | | | | |
Easing Section 1071 Reporting Burdens | The House Financial Services Committee has passed the Small LENDER Act (H.R. 941), significantly expanding the proposed exemptions for small-business lending data reporting. Rep. Tim Moore is an original cosponsor of the bill. | You will recall that Section 1071 of the Dodd-Frank Act amended the Equal Credit Opportunity Act to expand data collection and reporting requirements. | | Left: Rep. Tim Moore | Right: Rep. French Hill | | Under a key amendment from Chairman French Hill (R-AR), the bill would now exempt lenders with less than $10 billion in assets or those that originated fewer than 2,500 small-business loans over the prior two years. Additionally, it narrows the "small business" definition to entities with $1 million or less in gross annual revenue. | While the Congress.gov text currently reflects the original 500-loan threshold, the version passed by the Committee adopts these higher 2,500-loan and $10 billion asset limits. | | | | |
Agencies Issue Revised Model Risk Management Guidance | The federal banking agencies have issued revised model risk management guidance with a focus on tailoring to the size, complexity, and risk profile of a bank. The guidance does not set out enforceable standards or prescriptive requirements, and non-compliance will not result in supervisory criticism. | | | As part of the release, the FDIC and the OCC identified financial institution letters and OCC Bulletins that are being rescinded in conjunction with the issuance of the new guidance. | | | | |
The CFPB has issued a final rule to remove disparate impact from enforcement of the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, clarify the prohibition on discouraging prospective applicants, and establish new limits on special-purpose credit programs offered by lenders. | | | | | |
Letters of Credit for Discount Window Advances | The Council of Federal Home Loan Banks has sent a letter to FHFA Director Bill Pulte, seeking a change to allow the use of short-term FHLB letters of credit to secure advances through the Federal Reserve’s discount window. | | | “Under this structure, the FHLBank letter of credit would be fully secured by collateral already pledged by the member to the FHLBank, but the Federal Reserve Bank would obtain an irrevocable repayment obligation from the issuing FHLBank, enabling the member to borrow promptly at the discount window while the underlying collateral transfer processes are being prepared, if necessary,” the council said. | | “This tool is designed to serve as a bridge mechanism during periods of stress, including weekends and off-hours, when timing and valuation challenges are most acute,” it explained. | | | | |
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NC Digital Asset and Stablecoin Act | Legislators in the NC House have filed H 1029, a bill to enact recommendations from the House Select Committee on Blockchain and Digital Assets. The bill draft in Part I seeks to create a clearer framework for the custody of digital assets by banks and credit unions in NC. Part II would adopt the NC Stablecoin Act, which is intended to focus predominantly on nonbank issuers. | | | Two of the bill’s primary sponsors are Rep. Allen Chesser and Rep. David Willis who cochaired a House select committee that studied digital asset issues in recent months during the interim period between the end of the 2025 “long” session and the start of the 2026 session. The other two primary sponsors are Rep. Stephen Ross, Chairman of the House Commerce and Economic Development Committee, and Rep. Mike Schietzelt. We are reviewing the legislation for issues or any needed refinements. | | | | |
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Welcome to Our New Online Experience! | |
The NCBA experience just got a major glow-up. We are thrilled to announce the launch of our new online management system, designed to make managing your membership, event registrations, and resources faster and more intuitive than ever.
What’s New?
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While you can still find everything you need at ncbankers.org, you’ll notice a fresh look and feel to many of the pages with more to come. To access the enhanced features of our member portal, everyone will need to establish a new login.
Getting Started is Easy:
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Existing Partners & Members: Your data is already securely mapped over! Simply visit members.ncbankers.org and click "Forgot Password" to set your new credentials and dive in.
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New Users: If you’re new to the NCBA community, follow the prompts to "Create an Account" on the portal page.
| Note: Access to login accounts is currently exclusive to our Member Banks and Affiliate Members/Vendors, you’ll see that in the account creation drop down options. | Thank you for your patience and partnership as we transition to this improved digital experience. We can’t wait for you to explore the new pages! If you have specific questions for events please see those event contacts or general login issues please message teresa@ncbankers.org. | | | | |
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Looking to skill up? For a limited time, North Carolina Bankers Association is making it easier than ever to invest in your professional growth. Sign up for one of the upcoming webinars from our partnered providers: | | Need Credits? Earn CRCM, CPE, SHRM and More! | | | | |
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blueharbor bank Announces 1Q2026 Earnings | |
blueharbor bank reported net income of $3,332,169 and $1.11 per diluted share for the first quarter of
2026, an increase of 39%, or $939,222, as compared to $2,392,947 and $0.79 per diluted share for the
first quarter of 2025.
| | | The bank reported total assets of $623.3 million at March 31, 2026, an increase of $101.0 million, or 19%, when compared to $522.3 million at March 31, 2025. Gross loans increased $95.3 million, to $530.3 million at March 31, 2026, from $435.0 million at March 31, 2025. Total deposits were $549.6 million at March 31, 2026, an increase of $92.2 million, or 20%, when compared to $457.4 million at March 31, 2025. | Asset quality remained very strong for the first quarter of 2026, with no non-performing assets. | | | | |
First Carolina Bank Appoints Steven Deaton as Chief Financial Officer | First Carolina Bank announced the appointment of Steven Deaton as Chief Financial Officer of the bank, effective March 27, 2026. Deaton will continue to serve as Chief Financial Officer of First Carolina Financial Services, Inc, and Chief Risk Officer of both the company and the bank. He joined First Carolina Bank in March 2022 as Chief Credit Officer. | | Pictured: Steven Deaton, First Carolina Bank | | “Steven's performance in the Chief Financial Officer role for the Company over the past two years has been outstanding,” said Ron Day, Chairman, President, and CEO. “The alignment of the CFO title at the bank and the company is a natural progression, and Steven’s deep industry experience and command of our strategic vision uniquely qualify him for this expansion of his executive responsibilities. With his home base in our Atlanta office, his leadership is instrumental to our growing risk and finance team in that market.” | | | | |
United Community Banks, Inc. and Peach State Bancshares, Inc., The Parent of Peach State Bank & Trust, Announce Merger Agreement | United Community Banks, Inc. and Peach State Bancshares, Inc. announce the execution of a definitive merger agreement, pursuant to which United will acquire Peach State, and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Peach State Bank & Trust in a stock and cash transaction.
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“We are very pleased to join forces with Peach State to strengthen our presence in Gainesville, which is an outstanding area,” said Lynn Harton, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of United. “United's culture and Peach State's culture fit seamlessly together, where we share a deep commitment to service and a strong presence in the communities we serve. Because we already operate in the Gainesville area, this partnership creates a unique opportunity to learn from one another, combine local knowledge, and deepen our impact. Together, we will build even stronger, service-minded teams focused on improving our communities - one customer at a time.”
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"To love someone is to desire that person’s good."
- Søren Kierkegaard |
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