DBA Digest for July 24, 2026

Through the 
DBA Lens


Corinne Stayton
Director of Events

Online Registration Now Open for the 2026 Delaware Trust Conference!

Get ready for the industry's must-attend event of the year! Join us October 27-28, 2026, at the Chase Center on the Riverfront in Wilmington, Delaware, for one of the nation's premier educational and networking events for trust and wealth management professionals. Attend in person or virtually via live stream and gain valuable insights from nationally recognized speakers and industry leaders.

Highlights include:

• Partnership Tax "Hacks" with Paul Lee
• Preventing Trust Breakdowns (Ethics)
• Delaware Trust Act & Legislative Update
• Delaware Court of Chancery Panel
• Federal Tax Update with Sam Donaldson
• Review of Significant Fiduciary Litigation Decisions
• Trust Situs and Conflict of Laws with Professor Robert Sitkoff
• Expanded breakout sessions on emerging issues and industry trends

With more than 450 professionals attending each year, participants can earn up to 16.0 CLE credits, including 2.0 Ethics credits.

Register online today and reserve your spot!

Sponsorship and exhibitor opportunities are still available.

October 27 - 28 | 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. ET | Wilmington

Beyond the DBA Lens 
by Karyn Polak, President & CEO

Yesterday, thanks to the American Bankers Association's CEO Rob Nichols and Hill expert Alex Catanese, the three of us met with Senator Blunt Rochester and her staff to press for her support on our stablecoin yield/rewards issue. She made clear that she's on board with the industry's position generally, and she noted that getting the CLARITY Act through the Senate will be challenging on a variety of fronts, not least of which is this one. We also thanked her for her championing of housing matters, including those she pressed for and got included in the Main Street Capital Access Act, which passed the House earlier this week. Lots of activity still to come in these last 100 days or so of the U.S. Congress's term!

(Photos from previous events)

NEXT WEEK! ABA Women Lead Symposium

July 30, 2026 | 1:00 p.m. - 4:45 p.m. ET | Virtual

Register today for the upcoming ABA Women Lead Symposium!

The DBA/ABA/SBA Women Lead Symposium is a convenient virtual program designed to help emerging leaders and seasoned professionals become successful leaders. This joint effort between associations will help you gain critical leadership skills that will support your company’s growth goals and advance your career. You’ll learn leading practices and actionable insights to navigate key positions at your bank and foster workforce excellence.

Whether you're looking to expand your leadership toolkit, build meaningful professional relationships, or gain new ideas to bring back to your organization, this event delivers. The symposium is open to all professionals throughout the banking and trust industry.

Program Details:

• July 30, 2026, 1:00 p.m. - 4:45 p.m. ET
• Zoom Platform
• Price: $169 per person/$599 for group of 5

MAKE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON YOUR BANK/TRUST COMPANY AND YOUR CAREER!

July 30 | 1:00 p.m. - 4:45 p.m. ET | Virtual

Ask the Senate to Protect Lending in Local Communities by Closing the Payment of Interest Loophole

In July, President Trump signed the GENIUS Act to regulate payment stablecoins and protect consumers, including a ban on issuers offering interest. However, a loophole allows non-issuers to offer rewards, creating confusion and risk for consumers while potentially draining deposits from community banks and limiting local lending. Last week lawmakers in the Senate Banking Committee voted to approve the related and long-awaited Clarity Act establishing a regulatory framework around digital assets. The latest version of this bill chips away at the stablecoin loophole but still leaves space that we believe needs to be addressed in order to protect lending in communities.

Banks support responsible innovation and appreciate the ongoing bipartisan work to preserve local lending by closing the stablecoin loophole. We believe lawmakers should clarify the prohibition on interest and yield, eliminate provisions that could be used to circumvent congressional intent, and better align the bill’s text with the goal of protecting consumers and financial stability.

Ask your Senators to close the interest loophole to protect lending in local communities.

Urge Congress to support the SAFE Banking Act

Back in October 2024, as Delaware prepared for its launch of the state’s legal adult-use cannabis industry, state lawmakers approved legislation, proposed by State Treasurer Colleen Davis, providing protections for banks and other financial institutions that serve licensed marijuana businesses. Legislation protecting banks serving legal marijuana businesses can help bridge the gap between state legalization and federal banking laws.

Now we have a chance to close the gap in how federal and state law treat cannabis businesses, as the SAFE Banking Act (S. 4942/H.R. 9471) has been (re)introduced in Congress. This legislation would allow banks to serve cannabis-related businesses if their state (like ours) has legalized cannabis in some capacity. 

Reach out to your Senators and Representative today and ask them to support the SAFE Banking Act. You can do so easily at the link below. Share it with your colleagues and community!

New Guide to Strengthen Bank-Nonprofit Partnerships

The ABA Foundation released The Power of Collaboration 2.0: Steps for Nonprofits to Build and Sustain Partnerships with Banks, an updated guide designed to help nonprofit organizations develop strong, lasting relationships with financial institutions.

The guide offers practical strategies for building partnerships rooted in shared goals, mutual respect, and measurable community impact. We encourage you to share this resource with nonprofit partners in your state.

Taylor Bank Awards 2026 For Good Grants Providing $15,000 to Nonprofits in Maryland, Delaware, and Virginia

Taylor Bank is proud to announce the recipients of its 2026 For Good Fund grants, awarding a total of $15,000 to three nonprofit organizations that are creating meaningful change in communities across Maryland, Delaware, and Virginia. Each organization received a $5,000 grant to support programs that strengthen families, expand educational opportunities, and improve long-term community well-being.

The annual For Good Fund grants reflects Taylor Bank's commitment to investing in local organizations that address critical community needs and create opportunities for individuals and families to thrive. One nonprofit was selected from each state within Taylor Bank's service area based on the potential impact of its proposed project.

"At Taylor Bank, we believe some of the most meaningful community impact begins at the local level," said Peyton Goslee, Market Branch Manager & Relationship Officer and Chair of Taylor Bank's Giving Committee. "Through our For Good Fund grants, we are proud to support organizations that are helping families overcome challenges, equipping young people with essential life skills, and creating pathways to brighter futures. These recipients embody the spirit of community service and innovation that makes our region stronger."

Gordon, Fournaris & Mammarella, P.A. Ranked Band 1 in the 2026 Chambers High Net Worth Guide

Gordon, Fournaris & Mammarella, P.A. (GF&M) has again earned Chambers’ highest ranking—Band 1 in Private Wealth Law: Delaware—in the 2026 edition of the Chambers High Net Worth (HNW) Guide. The firm also received a Band 2 ranking in Private Wealth Disputes: Delaware. Chambers describes GF&M as “a highly respected firm in Delaware that offers trust and estate planning services and acts in fiduciary litigation.”

Three GF&M directors were individually ranked in the 2026 guide. Peter Gordon and Michael Gordon are each ranked Band 1 in Private Wealth Law: Delaware, and William Kelleher is ranked Band 1 in Private Wealth Disputes: Delaware. Chambers highlights their experience in trust and estate planning and administration, business succession planning, Delaware trust law, and fiduciary litigation before the Delaware Court of Chancery.

The 2026 edition marks GF&M’s tenth consecutive year in the Chambers HNW Guide—an important honor for the firm. GF&M thanks the Chambers sources whose feedback contributed to this recognition. 

Richards, Layton & Finger and Four Directors Earn High Marks in Private Wealth Law

Richards, Layton & Finger’s trusts and estates practice and directors have been recognized in Chambers HNW, the international guide to the world’s leading high-net-worth advisors, for more than a decade. Four directors are recognized for excellence. Chad M. Shandler is recognized in Private Wealth Disputes, and F. Peter Conaty Jr., Beth Gansen Knight, and W. Donald Sparks, II are named in Private Wealth Law.

Richards Layton’s trusts and estates team represents financial institutions, corporate fiduciaries, and high-net-worth individuals in sophisticated estate planning, trust and estate administration, tax issues, and fiduciary matters. The firm’s fiduciary litigation attorneys have won significant cases in court involving private wealth disputes. “Richards Layton has a depth of experience and knowledge in the tax and estate arena that is hard to match. Additionally, it has a 'roll up our sleeves' mentality towards completing projects for clients” (Chambers HNW, 2026).

Morris Nichols Receives Band 1 Rankings in 
Chambers High Net Worth 2026

Morris Nichols’ Trusts & Estates/Private Client practice has again been recognized among Delaware’s leading private wealth practices by Chambers High Net Worth, earning Band 1 rankings in both Delaware Private Wealth Law and Delaware Private Wealth Disputes for the eleventh consecutive year.

Attorneys Todd Flubacher, Matt Clark, and Zach Haupt are distinguished as leaders in their field. Todd is recognized in Band 1 for both Private Wealth Law and Private Wealth Disputes. Matt is ranked Band 1 for Private Wealth Disputes. Zach is recognized in Band 2 for Private Wealth Law.

According to Chambers sources, the Morris Nichols Trusts & Estates/Private Client team “set[s] the standard” through “class-leading communication, responsiveness, quality and value” and is “the very best at handling any complex or sophisticated family planning.”

22nd Annual Downtown Newark Food & Brew Fest

The Newark Food & Brew Fest is all about celebrating the unique relationship between the culinary arts and the brewing sciences! Out & About Magazine is proud to present what has become a summer tradition: the Downtown Newark Food & Brew Festival.

The event showcases more than 40 beers paired with creative food offerings from a diverse collection of Newark’s restaurants. Unlike most beer festivals, this event takes place in the restaurants. You travel from restaurant to restaurant to sample the featured brews and tasty dishes designed to spotlight those brews at that particular establishment. Tickets are not required. This is a pay-as-you-go event. All you need is your wallet and your state issued ID because you must be at least 21 years of age to sample the beers.

Beer tastings and food specials begin at 12:00 p.m. and run until 7:00 p.m. The first 2,000 guests will receive a Food & Brew Fest commemorative 5 oz.-tasting mug. These are available at the information booth at the Academy Lawn (Academy & Main streets along with an official program listing the venues). Disposable sampling cups will be available at each venue; you are encouraged to keep your tasting mug as a souvenir. Also, be sure to stop by your favorite local vendor during the Hops & Shops Sidewalk Sale portion of the event!

July 25 | 12:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. ET | Newark

Join Wilmington University at its Virtual Open House on Wednesday, Aug. 5. Stop by online from 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. to chat with WilmU staff, browse academic programs, and learn how some WilmU courses may apply to more than one degree or certificate program, helping students save time and tuition. Plus, join special information sessions throughout the day.

Why Attend WilmU's Open House?

• Connect with WilmU staff to explore financial aid, credit for your work experience, admission requirements, student life and more.
• Browse 200+ academic programs to find options that align with your experience and goals. More than 150 are offered entirely online, and our 80+ industry-leading graduate programs will elevate your career to new heights.
• Learn how sone WilmU courses may count toward more than one degree or certificate, helping you save time and tuition through Dual-Credit ADVANTAGE.
• Find out how to complete your degree using various sources, including military experience, industry training, standardized tests and up to 90 credits of prior college -level coursework.

August 5 | 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. ET | Virtual

Greater Philadelphia Leadership Exchange (GPLEX)

If you are an emerging or established civic leader seeking to ‘find your tribe,’ the Economy League's Greater Philadelphia Leadership Exchange is for you. With over 1,200 alums in the public, nonprofit, and private sectors, GPLEX is working to deepen connectivity and create spaces for collective solutioneering. 

Through a combination of in-region programming and highly curated learning and networking field trips to other cities, GPLEX provides a unique opportunity to meet our region's present and future movers and shakers and see our region through the lens of another.

Since 2005 GPLEX has been helping to build civic muscle by exposing participants to cutting-edge policies, organizations, and programs in other regions and strengthening a diverse community of cross-sector leaders who are shaping a truly greater Philadelphia region. 

The GPLEX Ambassador Program is back with applications due July 31st, and a pre-GPLEX Happy Hour and information session on July 28th.



October 14 -17 | 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. ET | Virtual

Reinventing Delaware Public Idea

The Pete du Pont Freedom Foundation is thrilled to announce the return of the highly anticipated Reinventing Delaware Dinner on November 18, at the Wilmington Club where it was first held in 2014. As a beacon of innovation, this year’s event promises to bring together visionaries, business leaders, community stakeholders, and creative minds from across the state to foster collaboration and share groundbreaking ideas aimed at catalyzing job growth, enhancing the economy, and making Delaware an even better place to live, work, and raise a family.

PDFF invites you to submit your bold idea for a chance to join an exclusive gathering of industry leaders for dinner. Public submission is open now through Oct. 30, 2026.

2026 ABA Agricultural Bankers Conference

November 4-6, 2026 | Minneapolis, MN

Today’s agricultural lending environment is full of risks — and opportunities. The 2026 Agricultural Bankers Conference will help position your loan portfolio to maximize growth now and seed profitability for the next ag cycle.

This year’s conference program will help you strategize at a higher level to navigate federal policies, national hot-topic issues, talent development and emerging technologies that will affect you and the future-focused decisions you need to make.

Join ag bankers from across the country in Minneapolis for the leading national conversation shaping the future of ag lending! Our event is condensed into 3 jam-packed days to reduce travel costs and time away from your business. Register early to save $300!

November 4-6, 2026 | Minneapolis, MN

We want to hear from you! Please send your news items to

Corinne Stayton at corinne.stayton@debankers.com