May 3, 2021

The top banking challenges in 2021 are growing loans and earnings, according to Independent Banker’s recent 2021 Community Bank CEO Outlook survey. More than half of respondents (53%) named increasing earnings as among their top three challenges, and 48% cited increasing loans.

We all have them — clients who wait until the very last minute to file their tax returns. Those same clients are the ones who will be in your office at 4 p.m. on April 15 to make a 2020 contribution (i.e., a prior-year contribution). Although they may be making a contribution at the last minute, at least you know that they’re making it by their tax filing deadline.

Over the past year, cybercriminals have proven they are adept at taking advantage of the vulnerabilities stemming from changing work environments and increased usage of digital channels. As institutions continue navigating the risks and challenges of remote workforces, it is imperative to stay informed of existing and emerging cybercrime trends.

TILA. Q: Our flood vendor no longer separates out the life of the loan portion of the fee. Should the entire fee now be considered a prepaid finance charge?

As we proceed into the second quarter of 2021, I’ve happily been building out presentations to a number of community banking groups. I noticed that the past year generated products, strategies and terms that hadn’t been used much previously or, in some cases, didn’t exist.

Congress Strikes! The Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA) was signed into law on Dec. 27, 2020. As you probably know, virtually any legislation passed at the federal level is a potpourri of goodies or, maybe not so goodies depending upon your point of view! The CCA included a change in the interest rates that are used

“Unlike our credit union counterparts, we pay taxes, and those tax dollars are spent at home to ensure our communities grow.” The more things change, the more they remain the same. As we kick off Community Banking Month, I can’t help but reflect on that statement and the changes of this past year. While we