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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 2016 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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IBANYS is pleased to welcome our newest associate members. They join the ranks of our valued partners who provide valuable products and services to New York's community banks.
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The James Paul Group specializes in providing solutions to the key challenges facing banks today in attracting, engaging, converting and expanding customer relationships. They are skilled in delivering training and consulting solutions that give their bank clients the competitive edge required to achieve and sustain optimal profitability. Contact Eric Scholnick: (914) 671-5600, [email protected] or visit
www.jamespaulgroup.com.
- Stratis Technologies, Inc. helps financial institutions tailor deposit products to optimize customer satisfaction and product profitability. Areas of expertise include demand deposit configuration, "start fresh banking" (a proprietary "second chance" program), overdraft protection program optimization and customer onboarding/ communication strategies. For information, contact Mark Shuff: (800) 581-1511 ([email protected]), or visit the website at www.stratistech.com.
- Volum8 Creative Inc. is a highly specialized branding, web design/development and local search optimization company. They focus on user experience and storytelling, with a strong understanding of the millennial market. Contact Charles Graham at (845) 202-2206, [email protected] or visit the website at www.volum8.co
. . .For These Upcoming IBANYS Events!
Our
Spring Upstate Regional Compliance Conferences are March 30 & 31 in Western New
 York and the Capital District.
The
format will include expanded presentations by federal and state banking regulators, topical presentations by outside consultants and a "bankers peer panel" discussion. In each format, we will be addressing a number of timely "hot button" issues and concerns such as:
- Cyber security and risk management
- CRA/fair lending/community development loans
- Flood insurance
- HMDA, BSA/AML
- Complaint management, including portal systems.
Our
CFO/Senior Management Conference is
May 9-11 at the beautiful Harbor Hotel in Watkins Glen, New York. Gary Keith, Chief Economist
with M&T Bank, will be our keynote speaker and will provide  his
State of the Economy in New York State. The IBANYS CFO Peer Group, chaired by Cathy Califano (Gold Coast Bank), helped design the agenda. It focuses on operational, financial & regulatory challenges facing New York's community banks. We'll incorporate panel discussions, extended q. and a. and stand alone presentations.
- An Economic Update from Gary Keith, Chief Economist with M&T Bank
- A Tax & Accounting Update
- A Regulatory Update
- A Cyber Security/IT Discussion
- A Discussion Of The New FDIC Compliance Manual
- Updates On Interest Rates & Investment Portfolio Management
- Best Practices Updates On Compensation & Employee Benefits
- A Discussion Of The New FASB CECL Model
- Presentations & Discussions On Trends In Banking
We will hold our Second Annual Lending Conference at the Woodcliff Hotel & Spa in Fairport, New York near Rochester. We'll review and discuss all aspects of the lending process. These will include loan review, risk, sales, portfolio management and the impact of CECL.
In late September, we will hold our 42nd Annual Convention
-- our premier educational meeting and business show of the year. We will
have a number of top notch  speakers and presenters on hand.
Jack Hubbard
, Chief Experience Officer at St. Meyer and Hubbard, is a
n author, lecturer and instructor whose expertise and out-of-the-box thinking focuses on sales and sales management in business and commercial banking. He will address
Driving Performance in Today's Banking Environment
. We'll also have the highly respected political analyst and commentator
Steve Greenberg
of Greenberg PR, who will examine
and analyze the impact of political and electoral trends in New York  State. November will see the election of
the entire New York State Legislature, with an anticipated close contest for control of the State Senate, and the entire New York Congressional Delegation.
The Convention has also
traditionally been our major fundraising event for our state political action committee, NYSIBPAC.
IBANYS will also participate in two important ICBA meetings: The Annual Convention in New Orleans, March 6-10, and Washington Policy Summit in late April. There, IBANYS members will meet "on the hill" with Members of our New York Congressional Delegation. We hope you attend. Watch for details.
IBANYS 2016 Calendar of Events:
Keep up with everything IBANYS has to offer!
All of our 2016 events are listed on our website (www.ibanys.net, under Education/Upcoming Meetings. We provide CPE credits, offer our member banks unique networking opportunities. . . and afford our preferred providers, partners and associate members valuable sponsorship & exhibiting opportunities.
Board of Director Meetings
- February 10, 2016 - Sovay Bank, Solvay, NY - 12:00 - 2:00 p.m.
- May 11, 2016 - Harbor Hotel, Watkins Glen, NY - 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
- July 28, 2016 - Conference Call - 2:00 - 3:00 p.m.
- October - date and time to be announced
Regional Conference Meetings
- March 30, 2016 - Compliance Conference - Rochester, NY
- March 31, 2016 - Compliance Conference - Castleton, NY (Albany)
- April 13, 2016 - Directors Conference - Rochester, NY
- April 14, 2016 - Directors Conference - Castelton, NY(Albany)
- May 9-11, 2016 - CFO/Senior Management Conference - Watkins Glen, NY
- June 29-30, 2016 - Lending Conference - Fairport, NY (Rochester)
- September 28-30, 2016 - 42nd Annual Convention - location to be announced
- October 19, 2016 - Security Conference - Rochester, NY
- October 20, 2016 - Security Conference - Castleton, NY (Albany)
All of our 2016 events are listed on our website (www.ibanys.net, under Education/Upcoming Meetings. We provide CPE credits, offer our member banks unique networking opportunities. . . and afford our preferred providers, partners and associate members valuable sponsorship & exhibiting opportunities.
GOVERNMENT RELATIONS UPDATES
Cuomo Nominates Maria Vullo
As Financial Services Superintendent
Governor Cuomo has nominated Maria T. Vullo to serve as the Superintendent of the New York State Department of Financial Services (DFS). The nomination requires confirmation by the state senate. "Maria Vullo is a dedicated, tough and fair litigator with the right combination of public and private sector experience  needed to lead the Department of Financial Services," Cuomo noted. "Maria has shown an immovable commitment to upholding the law and protecting consumers, and I am confident that she would be a strong and tireless advocate for the people of New York as Superintendent." Ms.Vullo has more than 25 years of practice in business litigation and investigations. She is of counsel at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP, where she was a partner for 20 years. She previously oversaw the Economic Justice Division in the Office of then New York State Attorney General Cuomo. S
he oversaw the Bureaus of Investor Protection, Antitrust, Real Estate Finance, Consumer Frauds and Internet, and handled consumer protection, investor protection and antitrust matters. DFS was created in 2011 with the merger of the NYS Banking and Insurance Departments. Benjamin Lawsky, the first Superintendent, left last June and DFS has been run by interim superintendents since.
IN WASHINGTON
Take Action. . .
Early February will bring two deadlines for key grassroots issues important to community banks. Visit
www.icba.org and access the "Be Heard Grassroots" section to take action!
- On February 4, a delegation of community bankers will meet with FASB to express concerns over theCurrent Expected Credit Loss (CECL) model. The industry continues to all for an alternative plan for community banks.
- February 8 is the deadline for comments on the NCUA's proposed changes to credit union field of membership rules. The plan would bypass Congress and nearly eliminate the common bond requirement.
Larger Banks Reducing Employees
Some large U.S. consumer banks are cutting jobs and trimming branches, as they perform more functions for customers online. Together, Bank of America and Citigroup reduced their employees by about 20,000, and JPMorgan
employs 6,700 fewer workers than a year ago.
The banks also reduced the number of branches. More tellers may have gotten pink slips in the last 12 months, but compliance and regulatory professionals are coveted even while banks are scaling back elsewhere. Meanwhile, as big consumer banks are scaling back, investment banks are adding employees.
Banks Can Control Health Care Costs,
Help Retain Employees
A Forbes article (November 23, 2015) on healthcare innovators on the success of TelaDoc demonstrates the company's outstanding performance to date, and likely growth in the future. The article notes: "Patients with a wide array of non-emergency medical conditions obtain the care they need -- from diagnosis to treatment to necessary prescriptions -- quickly, conveniently and affordably."
Click here to read the full article.
Here's a way to lower your health care costs, and offer a boost in employee benefits that could help retain employees. The "My Wellness Resource Card" offers a
low-cost, non-traditional program to save time and money, and allow your bank to  provide on demand health care from U.S. board-certified doctors. They'll provide diagnosis, treatment options and necessary prescriptions via unlimited telephone medical consultations. The program will provide discounts and significant savings on a variety of medical and dental products. Sponsored by My Wellness Resource, Inc. and IBANYS, this program is designed to improve productivity, decrease absenteeism and boost morale without straining your bottom line. It's a way to provide health care benefits, reduce cost and retain employees.
Click here
and
here
to learn more about this exciting new alternative, or visit
www.ibanys.net
for details/to enroll.
"Cure The Blue" Is Fighting Prostate Cancer
-- Join The Battle!
The Buffalo Bills Alumni Foundation and IBANYS have joined to lead the effort to raise funds and awareness regarding prostate cancer research in New York State. IBANYS' member bank Lake Shore
Savings Bank is among the community banks strongly supporting the campaign: Its "Cure the Blue" ribbon pins are available for purchase for a donation at all eleven branches, and Lake Shore conducted a branch wide fundraising event earlier this fall. As Lake Shore's President & CEO Dan Reininga noted: "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 YOUR bank or firm to join this effort?
The Latest Snapshots. . .
- A key measure of consumers' attitudes was better than expected for January. The Consumer Confidence index hit 98.1, up from a revised 96.3 in December 2015, according to The Conference Board. Analysts ad expected a reading of 96.5. The monthly survey, a closely-followed barometer of economic health, measures the attitude of American consumers toward current overall conditions, future expectations and the job market. Looking forward, more consumers expect business conditions to improve than to worsen in the next six months.
- U.S. home prices continued to rise, at a faster clip in November than analysts expected. The S&P/Case-Shiller 20-City Composite rose 5.8% year over year in November. That was above consensus estimates for a 5.6% jump and faster than the 5.5% increase in October. Sales of existing homes were up 6.5% in 2015 vs. 2014, and the number of homes on the market averaged about a 4.8 months' supply during the year.
IBANYS Webinars Provide
Bottom Line Value!
Community bankers are facing significant challenges. Bank officers, board members and employees know their responsibilities and potential liabilities are not about to diminish. Is YOUR bank doing everything possible to provide the type of information and tools necessary to prepare for the future?
IBANYS' webinars are specifically designed to meet the needs of community banks. They are effective -- and, cost-effective. Your officers, directors and employees are able to participate directly from their offices.
There's a reason
why your industry and association peers are signing up in growing numbers...and why participation in IBANYS webinars has expanded dramatically over the past eighteen months.
Review
all
our upcoming
programs by clicking the link below:
https://ibanys.fed.financialedinc.com/store/webinar
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IBANYS SPOTLIGHTS:
Crowe Horwath LLP
Crowe Horwath is one of the largest public accounting, consulting, and technology firms in the United States.
Banks must respond to an evolving regulatory climate, anticipate fast-changing competitive pressures, and address rising stakeholder expectations - all while managing risk and long-term strategic issues. In this complex environment, banking executives need experienced service providers with demonstrated records of success to help them address their industry's challenges.
With more than 50 years of banking industry experience, Crowe Horwath LLP is recognized as a leading provider of audit, tax, advisory, risk, and performance services. Financial institutions are their largest area of focus. They have an experienced team of more than 800 professionals focused on financial institutions.
Contact
Wendy Cama at
(212) 572-5500, email
[email protected]. Visit the website at Website:
www.crowehorwath.com.
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DID YOU KNOW. . .
. . .when IBANYS was established in 1974, the a
verage cost of a new house nationally was
$34,900? Did you know that the average income per year was $13,900, yearly inflation rate in the U.S. was 11.3%, the year-end close Dow Jones Industrial Average was 616, the cost of a gallon of Gas was 55 cents and the average cost of a new car was $3,750?
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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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