PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Last week we heard the two words that bring dread to all of our hearts – bank failure. You hopefully saw the communications the ABA put out after it hit the news. That information has been compiled in one place on our website. Click on the “Fed Facility & Customer Resources” box on our Homepage to find it. We will continue to update the page as any new information becomes available.

These events certainly led to calamity and confusion, but the banking community, as always, pulled together to help your customers and your community understand what happened and that their money is safe and sound in our Arkansas banks!

As I’ve told every news outlet that I spoke with, those failures were not representative of our banking system and we are not in a crisis. One thunder-bolt does not a storm make.

We know the answer to the problems those two banks had is not rolling back S2155 and tailored regulation, or adding other onerous regulation that hurts the customer more than it helps them. I’m writing this from my hotel room on our spring Washington D.C. trip, and as you can imagine, the tone changed from what was on our agenda to discuss two weeks ago. However, we will still be discussing the issues that affect banking and over-reaching regulators that need to be addressed by Congress. The state General Assembly is also still in session and we are working hard on several issues. You will see a summary of that in our Q2 issue and we will offer any education needed about new Arkansas laws that will affect you.

Speaking of education, let’s talk about the world class professional development that ABA provides. We set a record number with our Women in Banking conference – 200 attendees! It was exhilarating to be with everyone and I know the event will continue to grow. At our Annual Convention, the ABA membership will elect new Officers, Board Directors, Emerging Leaders Council, and a Group Vice-Chairman. The incoming ABA Chairman of the Board is also “pinned.” We have a fantastic speaker line-up as well as fun dueling pianos entertainment paired with the Chairman’s dinner. (jeans night!) I truly appreciate all of you investing your training dollars with us so that we can in turn invest in you with our advocacy efforts and other member benefits.

We will weather this storm together and I have faith that the purest ore will be what is produced once we get to the other side. Never hesitate to reach out if there is anything you need, we are here for you and because of you.

Lorrie Trogden, President & CEO