JUNE 2022
WISCONSIN BANKERS ASSOCIATION
FOUNDED 1892
Experts at Marquette Event Say It’s Time for Banks to Focus on Climate Change By Paul Gores Efforts to mitigate climate change are under way globally, and banks of all sizes would be prudent to prepare for regulations that climate concerns are bound to spur, experts say. Getting ahead of the curve now will give banks time to develop a thought-out strategy rather than having to deal with it quickly as mandates are issued, according to speakers at a recent Marquette
University banking conference titled, “Climate Change: What are the risks, realities, and challenges?” Although at this point only banks with assets of $100 billion or more are being targeted to include climate risk considerations in their examination routines, eventually those rules will find their way to smaller banks and credit unions, said Kent Belasco, the director of Marquette’s commercial banking program, which
hosted the online conference this spring. Belasco, who has held
annual commercial banking conferences on topics such as cybersecurity, financial crimes, and fintech, said he felt the time was right to look at what banks need to know about the eventuality of regulations focused on climate change. “What I wanted to structure was just purely
an informational session that says, OK, it may not be affecting me from a regulatory standpoint right now, but me, as a former banker, I knew that whenever the Fed started talking about something — even if they said it’s not going to affect you right now — it will, and you better get prepared for it,” Belasco said in an interview for the Wisconsin Bankers Association about the event. (continued on p. 10)
An Era of Evolution:
Expanding Good Practices Beyond 2020
The third in a series exploring the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on banks in Wisconsin.
By Hannah Flanders Following one of the deadliest pandemics the world has seen, U.S. government officials, businesses, and individuals alike have naturally begun
to reassess what safe health practices look like. In banks throughout Wisconsin, this is certainly no different. From plexiglass to constant reminders
to sanitize, cover your mouth, and stay home when you are sick — these lessons aren’t a byproduct of the COVID-19 pandemic but rather knowledge
that has subtly been around us this whole time without us really noticing. From buffet sneeze guards to “employees must wash hands before returning to work” signs, safe health practices were evident in public spaces long before COVID. What the pandemic did bring about, however, was the general public’s awareness to safety and health practices. At the onset of the pandemic, bankers across Wisconsin
assembled plexiglass screens and masked up for the protection of themselves, their coworkers, and every customer. Unlike before, health protocols were broadcasted on the news, posted on doors, and mentioned at every meeting. This hyperawareness, while effective in helping stop the spread, has highlighted specific efforts needed to accommodate the safety of every member of the community. (continued on p. 22)
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Madison, WI 53718 4721 South Biltmore Lane Wisconsin Bankers Association
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