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Have You Contributed to NYSIBPAC This Year?
If not...now is the time! We need your help in this statewide election year to support candidates and committees who understand community banks' needs. Can we count on you?
CLICK HERE for our 2015 PAC contribution form. Help support IBANYS' political action efforts in New York State.
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For more information, visit:
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GUESS WHAT?
There Are Now Just
WEEKS
UNTIL. . .
- N.Y. Community Bankers
- IBANYS Preferred Providers
- IBANYS Associate Members
- Business Show Exhibitors. . .
Register Today!
Join Your Industry Peers & Colleagues
Sept. 16 - 18, 2015
At The Hotel Thayer,
West Point, New York
Don't miss the most comprehensive, best-attended meeting of our year. The Convention will bring together CEOs, senior management teams and board members of community banks from throughout the state, and important partner companies related to our industry. . .all under one roof. It will provide timely, relevant educational/ business sessions. . . unique and extensive networking opportunities. . . and, enjoyable recreational activities.
Such as:
- Business/Educational Sessions: (All Panel Discussions Thursday, and All Single Presenters Friday)
- Networking Opportunities at Breakfasts, Luncheons, Dinners, Refreshment Breaks
- Golf On West Point Golf Course: Wednesday at 11:00 AM-4:00 PM
- West Point Tour: ("History and Tradition Of West Point"): 2:30 - 4:45 PM Thursday
- Top Notch Trade Show & Vendors Welcome Reception
- Trade Show will be site of our traditional PAC Silent Auction Thursday evening from 6:00 - 8:30 PM with reception and carving stations
- Our new "6-Minute Spotlight" -- IBANYS' Preferred Providers Showcase Their Firms From Podium
We'll examine the current banking, business and regulatory environments. . .and, explore today's (and tomorrow's) strategic challenges
- Jim Reber of ICBA Securities ("Investment Management for 2015: What Happens When Rates Rise, or Don't?)
- Patrick MacKrell, President & CEO of New York Business Development Corporation ("Get It Fast When You Need It Bad--What Happens When Your Customers Go Online To Borrow")
- Steve Cundall, CEO - The Cornerstone Group ("Winning The Talent Game: Three Disciplines Of Great Banking Leaders")
- ICBA Chairman Jack Hartings (President & CEO, The Peoples Bank Co. in Coldwater, Ohio)
- ICBA Immediate Past Chairman (and incoming IBANYS Chairman) John Buhrmaster (1st National Bank of Scotia),
- IBANYS Chairman Chris Dowd (Ballston Spa National Bank)
- IBANYS President & CEO John Witkowski;
- Panel discussions on such topics as: "The Branch of the Future for Community Banks", "The Impact of Cybersecurity On Banking" and "Managing Risk"
- Kevin Christensen of SHAZAM will discuss "Emerging Payments Technology"
- "The Passing Of The IBANYS Gavel" From 2014-15 Chairman Chris Dowd to 2015-16 Chairman John Buhrmaster
- PLUS, coming soon: Exciting news about our Keynote Speaker Wednesday evening.
You Can Support A Great IBANYS
Tradition:
Did you realize you can participate in IBANYS' silent auction, showcase items from your region or unique items others may enjoy. . .while at the same time, support our New York community banking industry's
political action efforts? DONATE A GIFT: The gift donation is not tax deductible. Nationally-chartered banks must donate through a holding company, an individual officer, or a director. State-chartered banks may donate directly or through the holding company. All items shipped to IBANYS must arrive by Sept. 1, 2015. We recommend a minimum value of $100 for each donation.
. . .And Also Help Us Launch A NEW tradition:
IBANYS preferred providers and select associate members the chance (from the podium, during business sessions) to take a brisk six minutes and showcase their firms, products and services - in short, to explain what they can do to help New York community banks. Registration cards will be distributed for the six minute drills. Those selected will have a contribution made in their name (or their bank's) to the "Cure the Blue" effort, co-sponsored by IBANYS to raise funds and awareness regarding prostate cancer research in New York State.
Now You Know: It's Time To Sign Up And. . .
- IBANYS Member Banks: CLICK HERE for UPDATED convention packets, including registration/ information.
- IBANYS preferred providers, associate members & exhibitors:CLICK HERE for your registration/information packets.
Registration & information is also available at www.ibanys.net under Upcoming Meetings.
GOVERNMENT RELATIONS
Albany
Banks Victorious In NYC Lawsuit
A US federal judge has termed New York City's responsible banking law (formulated in 2012) as unconstitutional. The law requires the city's banks to report to a new board within the New York City Department of Finance to reveal how they meet the credit requirements of the city's lower-income areas. The information was then to be used by the state to decide where to deposit its funds.
NYBA challenged the law by filing a lawsuit claiming the law conflicts with federal and state statutes. The decision written by US District Judge Katherine Polk Failla noted: "While the animating concerns of the City Council are valid, the means by which it sought to harness banks to redress those concerns intrudes on the province of the federal and state governments." NYBA President Michael Smith called the ruling "an important decision for the banking industry with nationwide ramifications." ICBA issued a statement supporting the decision.
IBANYS' Writes To DFS On
TILA-RESPA Integrated Disclosure
IBANYS has written to the NYS Department of Financial Services regarding the TILA-RESPA Integrated Disclosure. IBANYS believes it is important that we are on record asking DFS to interpret "consummation at the execution of the closing of the promissory note."
Click here to read the text of IBANYS' letter
Join The Fight Against Credit Unions
"Power Grab"
On Business Lending
The National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) recently proposed major changes to tax-exempt
 credit union member business lending (MBL) that would loosen important safeguards on MBL, change the calculation of the MBL cap in a way contrary to statute and create new exceptions to the cap. ICBA says the proposal would encourage "reckless lending" by credit unions, asks community banks to alert their Congressional Representatives and express opposition, to them and to the NCUA:
www.icba.org/beheard/#/22
UPCOMING SESSIONS
Free Webinar I
Regulatory scrutiny is at an all-time high and bankers across the entire country are reporting that their exams are tougher than ever. In this session you'll learn why as we analyze the most current trends in enforcement actions over the last year. More importantly, you'll learn the steps you can take now to prepare your financial institution to withstand the increased regulator scrutiny!
Free Webinar II
Worried about the how the deluge of new flood insurance regulations will impact your institution? In this session, we separate fact from fiction and break down the new interagency rules affecting loans in flood hazard areas. The surge of updates include changes regarding detached buildings, mandatory escrow, and forced placement clarifications. These significant changes become effective in two waves: October 1, 2015 and January 1, 2016. Don't wait for the high-water mark: begin your planning and preparation now!
Free White Paper: Six Best Practices For a More Efficient, Regulator-Friendly CMS
Download a Free Copy of this Industry White Paper: "
Six Best Practices For a More Efficient, Regulator-Friendly CMS
." Based on regulatory guidance, this white paper explains the six key objectives of an effective CMS: understanding the regulations that apply to a financial institution; keeping up with applicable regulatory changes that apply; making sure everyone understands their regulatory responsibilities; embedding regulatory requirements into daily operations; routinely verifying that the FI is on track; and having a reliable and transparent way to fix what breaks. The paper also offers a holistic solution for satisfying and implementing the six points of the CMS framework.
Free Cyber Security Webcasts
A number of free c
yber security webcasts
are being offered by the New York State Enterprise Information Security Office/Security Governance Risk and Compliance. For a complete listing of the webcasts during August,
click here.
IBANYS' President & CEO John Witkowski reviewed the NYS legislative session, key community banking issues and IBANYS' activities in the August issue of IB Magazine. Interested in reading John's article, and updates from four other state associations? Visit online.qmags.com/IB0815#pg54&mode2
Small Business Optimism Up In July
The National Federation of Independent Business said this week that its Small Business Optimism
 Index increased 1.3 points to 95.4. About 1,495 businesses took part in the survey. July's increase partially recouped June's decline, which had pushed the index to its lowest level since March 2014.
Consumer Borrowing Set Record In June
The Fed says Americans piled on another $20.7 billion in debt in June, bringing total consumer borrowing to a record $3.42 trillion. U.S.  consumer
borrowing in the category that includes auto and student loans rose by $15.2 billion. Borrowing in the category that includes credit cards rose by $5.5 billion.
Economists expect consumers to borrow and spend more the rest of the year. Consumer spending accounts for nearly 70 percent of economic activity.
Consumers drew confidence from an improving job market: Employers added 215,000 jobs in July, and unemployment stayed at a seven-year low of 5.3%.
Join Your Colleagues:
Support
"Cure The Blue" Fight
Against Prostate Cancer
"Cure the Blue" raises funds and awareness regarding prostate cancer research in New York State. Lake Shore Savings Bank President & CEO Dan Reininga recently joined former Buffalo Bills Head Hall-of-Fame Coach Marv Levy and former Bills and Buffalo Bills Alumni Foundation  members Booker Edgerson and Ed Rutkowski at a recent event on behalf of Cure the Blue. The Bills Alumni Foundation and IBANYS are spearheading this long overdue effort, and IBANYS' member bank Lake Shore Savings Bank is strongly supporting the campaign. "Cure the Blue" ribbon pins can be purchased for a donation at all the bank's branches. As
Lake Shore President & CEO Dan
Reininga stated:
"
The exciting thing about this is that it's going to be a national campaign at some point. It's very exciting and we're very proud. It's what Lake Shore is all about - putting people first.
Can we count on YOUR bank or firm to join this truly important effort?
How Community Banks Can Control
Their Health Care Costs
Are high deductible health insurance plans hitting your bank or company hard? The "My Wellness Resource Card" may be your solution. You can upgrade your employee benefits with a low-cost,
 non-traditional program that can save your bank/company time and money, and help you retain employees. It will provide on demand health care, from U.S. board-certified doctors who will provide diagnosis, treatment options and necessary prescriptions via unlimited telephone medical consultations through
Telehealth. It will also provide discounts and significant savings on a variety of medical and dental products.
Sponsored by My Wellness Resource, Inc. and by IBANYS, this program was specifically
designed to improve productivity, decrease absenteeism and boost morale without straining your bottom line.
Click here and
here to learn more about this exciting new alternative, or visit
www.ibanys.net for details and to enroll.
IBANYS' WEBINARS FOR NEW YORK
COMMUNITY BANKS
Have You Checked The Schedule Lately?
New York community banks are facing a multitude of challenges in today's banking, business and regulatory environments. Bank officers, board members and employees have seen their responsibilities and potential liabilities continue to evolve. Are you doing everything possible to provide them with the information and tools necessary to remain fully informed and up-to-date so that they are equipped to manage the bank and guide it into the future? New York community banks are benefitting from IBANYS' webinars, especially designed to meet the needs of community banks in today's world. IBANYS' webinars are effective, cost-effective. Your bank's officers, directors and employees can participate directly from their offices. The sessions are timely and provide real bottom line value. That's why participation has been consistently increasing. Take a moment to review upcoming programs, including presentations on EMV and credit cards, current trends in cyber crime and payments fraud, regulator & industry hot buttons for bank directors and much more, including:
- New accounts
- CFPB rules for mortgage servicers
- BSA compliance
- TILA/RESPA disclosure
- Monitoring work-related social media
- Credit risk in agriculture lending
- EMV and debit cards
- Trends in cyber crime and payments fraud
- Revised escrow rules
Click on the link below to review our upcoming webinars through September.
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IBANYS Spotlights. . .
Strategic Resource Management (SRM)
Founded in 1992, Strategic Resource Management, Inc. (SRM) is an independent professional services firm that draws on extensive experience, market insight, and a robust, proprietary benchmarking database to help clients all across the U.S. and Canada. SRM employs a proven spectrum of sourcing, procurement and revenue-enhancement services designed to help reduce operating expenses and optimize efficiency. They specialize in identifying previously undiscovered opportunities for growth or savings, aligning expenses with industry benchmarks, and fostering supplier partnerships with a focus on quality and long-term stability. As a leader in the bottom line enhancement industry, SRM provides a fresh, innovative, results-driven perspective to supply chain management and purchasing strategy. Further, they utilize a no-risk, performance-based business model. If they cannot objectively demonstrate cost savings and/or revenue enhancement, they don't get paid. You can count on complete impartiality from SRM. They have no preferred providers or ancillary products to sell, and understand the value of your current vendor relationships. In fact, 90% of all SRM projects are implemented with clients' existing vendors. All assessment work is completed with the highest integrity, based on your economy of scale and specific to your needs only. SRM is currently serving over 200 financial institutions to reduce expenses, enhance revenue and maximize bottom line performance. Drawing on its extensive experience, market insight, and proprietary benchmarking database, SRM helps banks improve their bottom line, without sacraficing qulaity or valued vendor relationships. For more details, visit their website at
www.srmcorp.com, or call or email EVP Ben Mrva at (901) 681-0204, bmrva@srmcorp.com.
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DID YOU KNOW. . .
That in 2011, there were 28.2 million small businesses in the United States, and 17,700 firms with 500 employees or more? Did you also know that small firms accounted for 63% percent of the net new jobs created between 1993 and mid-2013 (or 14.3 million of the 22.9 million net new jobs)? Since the end of the recession (from mid-2009 to mid-2013), small firms accounted for 60% percent of the net new jobs. Small firms in the 20-499 employee category led job creation.
(Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics)
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| New York community banks play a key role in our state and local economies. Help spread the good news among your customers, business and elected leaders and media! |
| Click here for quotes from Governor Cuomo and DFS Superintendent Lawsky extolling the performance and value of New York community banks. |
| Click here for the full NYS Study on community banking. |
| Click here to read IBANYS President & CEO John Witkowski's comments on the new tax changes and benefits for New York community banks as approved in the 2014-15 State Budget. Click here for IBANYS' letter to the Editor of Consumer Reports Magazine correcting failure to mention community banks as an alternative to using "big banks." _________________________________ |
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John J. Witkowski
President and Chief Executive Officer
Stephen W. Rice
Director of Government Relations and Communications
Linda Gregware
Director of Administration and Membership Services
William Y. Crowell, III
Legislative Counsel
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