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Message From the President
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By John Witkowski, President & CEO
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April is
"Community Banking Month"
where we celebrate the importance of community banks and the benefits they provide, both locally and nationally. With the help of ICBA, IBANYS has a variety of ways to help you celebrate.
Educationally, IBANYS has a full calendar of conferences that are designed for bankers by bankers including directors, compliance, security, lending and bank leadership. Our CEO Forum, held this past Tuesday (April 2) in Rochester, NY at the Oak Hill Country Club, was for IBANYS member bank CEOs only. The forum provided an informal, open-ended discussion focused on important relevant topics selected by the attendees. Participants were able to obtain different perspectives on these topics and network with fellow community bank CEOs.
Next Tuesday (April 9) IBANYS we be holding our first Compliance Conference in New York City at the offices of our partners, UHY Advisors, NY Inc. at 1185 Avenue of the Americas (38th Floor), New York, NY 10036. We are excited to expand this conference favorite into the downstate and New York City areas to help community bankers gain insight into a variety of compliance regulation, topics and challenges such as the current regulatory climate for cybersecurity and monitoring risk, recent federal/state regulatory changes, updates directly from FDIC (FDIC New York Regional Director John Vogel) and OCC (OCC Community Consumer Compliance Officer Sheila Steck), and more. There is also an opportunity to earn 6 CPE credits and network with fellow community bankers.
Also on the meeting calendar this April is our annual
Directors Conferences which will be held April 16 in Rochester at the RIT Inn & Conference Center, and April 17 in our NEW location of Poughkeepsie at the Hampton Inn Poughkeepsie. The agenda will examine issues such as ERM and the role of the board, hot topics for audit committees in 2019, the loan committee's role in underwriting & CECL preparation, and more. Attendees will have the
opportunity to earn up to 7 CPE credits as well.
Wrapping up April's educational meetings is
ICBA's Capital Summit on April 28 - May 1. IBANYS and our members will be in attendance with
two important events on our agenda. First,
IBANYS will be co-hosting a welcome dinner on Monday, April 29 with preferred partner Luse Gorman, P.C. On Tuesday April 30 will be our congressional "hill visits" where IBANYS will
meet with representatives of the New York Congressional Delegation. We also plan to meet New York representatives from across the state, New York delegates on the House Financial Services Committee and New York Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand. In addition to these events, we will also hear updates from Senate Banking Chairman Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and FDIC Chairwoman Jelena McWilliams. Please join IBANYS in Washington. Full schedule and registration details are below.
The meeting fun doesn't end in April. IBANYS has an array of engaging and informative conferences planned for May, June and September. In May will be our Security and Lending Conferences. Our Security Conference will be held May 7 in Rochester, NY and May 8 in Poughkeepsie, NY. Our Lending Conference will be May 21-22 at the Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel in Watkins Glen, NY. Brochures and registration are now open for both of these conferences. In September will be the IBANYS Banking Executive Symposium at the Harbor Hotel 1000 Islands, with more information to be released soon. Our main event of the year, the 2019 Annual Convention, will be June 10-12 at Turning Stone Resort & Casino in Verona, NY. Full information including sponsorship and exhibitor opportunities, are included in today's newsletter and on our website. Be sure to save the dates, submit your registrations and book your hotel room as soon as possible to secure your place.
Meet
With Our
New York Congressional Delegation
at the ICBA Capital Summit
In just one month, we need you to join us in Washington, D.C. at the ICBA Capital Summit where New York community bankers will have the opportunity to join IBANYS' leadership and colleagues from throughout the state to advocate for our industry's top federal issues and priorities.
IBANYS is lining up congressional meetings with members of the New York Congressional Delegation for Tuesday, April 30.
We need your presence and your voice to demonstrate to our federal lawmakers how community banks are vitally important to New York's economy and social fabric. . .and, advocate for our industry's priority issues. In addition to these key "hill visits" we will hear from
a
wide assortment of speakers from the regulatory and legislative arenas. Join us Monday night, April 30 for our IBANYS dinner, featuring a briefing on the next day's activities and issues -- co-hosted
by IBANYS' preferred partner Luse Gorman, P.C.
Register to attend at ICBA.org. . .then, email us the names of the Representatives with whom you'd like to meet.
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If there is someone at your bank who is not currently receiving the e-newsletter, send us their names and email addresses and we will add them to our list! Email
Linda Gregware or Natalie Rowan to add additional recipients or for more information. In addition, ensure everyone is following IBANYS on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn to stay-up-to-date with all IBANYS news.
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Follow IBANYS On Social Media!
Connect With Us Today!
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Get Ready For 2019 Annual Convention!
SAVE THE DATE
When:
June 10-12, 2019
Where:
5218 Patrick Rd, Verona, NY 13478
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Attend One of Our Educational Meetings!
Our 2019 Meeting dates and locations are now available! These educational conferences cover various subjects that are important within the community banking industry, spoken by the experts.
T
hey are also a great opportunity to network and earn CPE credits. Here is what we have planned for 2019:
April 9, 2019
1185 Avenue of Americas, 38th Floor
New York, NY 10036
CPE Credits Available = 6
April 16, 2019 April 17, 2019
5257 W.
Henrietta Road
2361 South Rd.
Henrietta, NY 14467 Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
CPE Credits Available = 7
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May 7, 2019 May 8, 2019
5257 W. Henrietta Road 2361 South Rd.
Henrietta, NY 14467 Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
CPE Credits Available
= 7
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May 21-22, 2019
16 North Franklin Street
Watkins Glen, NY 14891
CPE Credits Available
= 7
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Banking Executive Symposium
September 9-11, 2019
200 Riverside Drive
Clayton, NY 13624
CPE Credits Available
= TBD
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Have an idea for one of our meetings? Want to see a meeting or forum on a different subject? We want to hear from you!
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IBANYS Education/Webinars
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The 2019 Webinar is now available!
The Independent Bankers Association of NYS (IBANYS) partners with CBWN to bring you more than 150 webinars each year covering compliance, lending, regulations, security, operations, new accounts, collections, fraud, security and other topics. Even better, each time you purchase a webinar, you support IBANYS, because a portion of your registration comes directly to us. Thank you!
You can view the 2019 Webinar Schedule here or by category here. In addition, CBWN has made some recent updates to provide better service to its consumers. Unfortunately, some changes may have caused you to miss important webinar announcements. Please read the IBANYS letter to view the updates and ensure that you do not miss another webinar.
NEW WEBINARS ADDED FOR 2019
CBWN has added more than 140 webinars to the IBANYS webinar calendar, covering all the essential topics. Start the new year off right by gaining the knowledge and tools to make 2019 the best year yet!
CBWN and IBANYS thank you for your continued support of the education in the community banking industry.
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$175 Billion State Budget Passed On Time
 The State Legislature has passed the $175 billion state budget for Fiscal Year 2019-20.
The budget includes nearly every priority the Governor outlined in his State of the State budget message in January.
On the tax front, the budget includes a permanent property
tax cap, and - instead of a recurring pied-Ã -terre tax - the state will raise the so-called "mansion tax" and the real-estate transfer tax on multimillion-dollar properties. Those taxes will be one-time fees and raise a combined $365 million. T
he tax would be increased
in seven "progressive" tiers: Homes sold for between $2 million and $3 million would see an increase of 1.25%, and the increase would " top out" at 4.15% on homes sold for $25 million or more. Homes that are sold for $25 million or more would also see an increase in the state transfer tax, from
0.4% to 0.65% for residential New York City properties.
That would bring the total to 4.55% for the most expensive homes - more than tripling current rates. New York City will also become the first city in the country to introduce congestion pricing.
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Governor Cuomo
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Among the Governor's other stated objectives included in the budget are a
limited plan to publicly finance campaigns and bail reform.
The budget addresses some campaign finance reform by guaranteeing a small-donor match system, but details were left up to a newly created commission that would determine key details like the ratio of the match and contribution limits.
In addition to reaching a timely budget, the Governor was able to achieve
a
$10,000 legislative pay raise (which was dependent on the timely budget) as well as a payraise for himself from $179,000 annually to $200,000. Cabinet secretaries and the Lt. Governor also received raises.
The Governor stated: "This is the best budget that has been produced since I've been governor and I applaud all the people who worked on it."
Assembly Speaker Heastie (D-Bronx) was less enthused, noting: "I'll be the first one to say that this is not a great budget. There's not a lot of happiness in this budget. There's a lot of things that are missing in this budget."
The Senate and Assembly Democratic Majorities did achieve some progressive goals that had been stopped by the Republican Senate in previous years including:
- a suite of criminal justice reforms;
- a provision making permanent the property tax cap
- codification of parts of the Affordable Care act into state law;
- an increase of school funding; and
- to create the framework of a statewide public campaign financing system.
With the 2019-20 state budget now completed,
there are approximately three months remaining in the 2019 legislative session. T
he post-budget session will likely consider some form of marijuana legislation.
Governor Cuomo said New York will pass a law to legalize recreational marijuana - left out of the final budget - before the State Legislature adjourns in June, although supporters are concerned that a stand-alone bill may not have the support to pass.
Banking Legislation Activity
- S. 727 (Montgomery) would permit state and federal credit unions to participate in the State Business Development District Program. There is no companion bill yet in the Assembly. IBANYS is once again opposing this legislation, based on the fact that credit unions pay no income taxes to NYS and should not receive the benefits funded by taxpayer dollars.
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S. 1461 (Sanders) would allow credit unions to join the Excelsior Linked Deposit Program. IBANYS continues to oppose it this year, for reasons noted above on S.727.
- S. 2106A (Sanders)/A. 4618 (Wright) requires banks to disclose negative consequences of establishing alternative payment schedule on a loan (e.g., due to renegotiation, default) has passed the State Senate. For example, providing a disclosure that the transaction could have a negative consequence on their credit score. IBANYS is seeking modifications to the bill, such as restricting the application to consumer mortgages and consumer loans, not commercial loans, and perhaps inserting the disclosure as an add-on.
- S. 133 (Carlucci)/A. 5635 (DenDekker) proposed at the request of State Attorney General James, would expand current data breach notification areas to include biometric data, credit and debit cards, and emails with passwords/security questions. It includes a limited exemption for banks who notify of breaches (under the federal Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act) to avoid duplicate obligations.
- S. 1864 (Gaughran)/A. 4403 (McDonald), which would update the state's "zombie property" law, has passed the State Senate and been reported by the Assembly Real Property Tax Committee. The bill would reduce from two years to one the time a city, town or village must wait before beginning the process to take ownership of an abandoned property.
- S. 4182 (Salazar)/A. 1800 (Magnarelli) would expand the current vacant and abandoned property requirements to include covering HOA/co-op fees. The legislation was on the floor in the Assembly this week, and on the Senate Housing Committee's agenda.
- A. 5610 (Weinstein)/S. 2396 (Hoylman) which would allow for an arbitration ruling to be vacated where an arbitrator disregards the law, passed the Assembly this week. It has not yet moved in the Senate.
- S. 2884A (Sanders)/A. 2611A (Dinowitz), which would prohibit the disclosure or use of consumer credit history in hiring, employment and licensing determinations, with an exemption for those required to utilize the credit histories for "licensing or permitting purposes," was reported out of the Senate Consumer Protection Committee. It has not yet moved in the Assembly.
- A. 02071C (Zebrowski) would require certain loan servicers to obtain a license from the Department of Financial Services and prohibit certain practices by servicers that could defraud or mislead borrowers. The bill was referred to the Assembly Codes Committee. There is no Senate companion bill as of yet.
- A. 03408 (Zebrowski) (same as S. 02426) would amend the financial services law in relation to student debt consultants and set standards of practice for the student debt consulting industry in New York. The bill was referred to the Assembly Codes Committee.
- A.1800 (Magnarelli)/S.4152 (Salazar) would expand current vacant and abandoned property requirements to include covering HOA/co-op fees. It has been passed by the Senate and the Assembly and will be forwarded to Governor Cuomo.
- A.6522 (Galef)/S.2115 (Sanders) would allow for a commission to study the feasibility of establishing a bank owned by the state of New York. It has been reported by the Senate Rules Committee, but has not moved in the Assembly.
Legislation recently introduced:
- A.6909 (Weinstein)/S.4827 (Thomas) would enact the "Credit Consumer Fairness Act." It would shorten the statute of limitations for consumer credit transactions from the current six yearsdown to three years, and would revise procedures governing actions to enforce consumer credit obligations.
- A.5613 (Weinstein)/S.4806 (Thomas) would require a recording officer not to record or accept a transfer or assignment of interest in a mortgage unless it is accompanied by a mortgage ownership assignment.
Have You Reached Out To Your New State
Legislators
&
Members Of Congress?
There are 39 new members of the State Legislature and 5 new members of the new York Congressional Delegation. IBANYS has provided lists of all the new State Senators, Assembly Members and Congressional Representatives, as well as talking points to help them understand and appreciate the importance of community banks to New York's state and local economies and communities (see below) as part of our
outreach program to all member banks and encouraged you to meet with your new members of the State Senate, State Assembly and New York Congressional Delegation. The program materials include:
- Talking points for your use in your meetings, emails and phone calls to introduce yourselves and to help inform them about New York's community banks.
Please contact your new state and federal lawmakers, then let us know the results by emailing John Witkowski and Steve Rice.
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Washington, D.C.
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Tell Regulators: Exempt More Community Banks
From Basel III Capital Rules
ICBA and IBANYS continue encouraging community banks to submit comment letters
urging regulators to exempt more community banks from the Basel III capital rules. Community bankers can use
ICBA's Be Heard grassroots action center to tell regulators that their proposed 9 percent community bank leverage ratio is too high and to call for an 8 percent CBLR.
Community bankers can also plan to continue our grassroots advocacy on a variety of pressing federal issues at next month's ICBA Capital Summit in Washington.
ICBA Unveils "Community Focus 2020: The Community Bank Agenda for Expanding Economic Opportunity"
Community Focus 2020 includes policy prescriptions on the following issues areas:
- Regulatory Relief: ensuring common-sense reforms that tier regulations to community banks' scale and risk profile, including capital standards and the bank exam environment, to better promote the flow of credit and economic opportunity for all individuals and families.
- More Competitive Landscape: Promoting a fair playing field between current providers of financial services, such as community banks, and new entrants in the marketplace while scrutinizing the taxpayer-subsidized advantages enjoyed by tax-exempt credit unions and Farm Credit System lenders.
- Community Bank Innovation: Promoting financial innovation and collaboration with fintech companies as well as regulations that foster a level playing field across the financial sector.
- Bank Secrecy Act/Anti-Money Laundering: Addressing outdated BSA/AML rules to make them more efficient and effective by raising the currency transaction report and suspicious activity report thresholds and ensuring that beneficial ownership information is collected and verified by either the IRS or other appropriate federal or state entities at the time a legal entity is formed.
- Data Security, Fraud and Privacy: Advancing proper security and confidentiality of customer information and supporting equally strong safeguards for the many other entities that use and store consumer financial data.
- Preserving Mortgage Lending: Supporting access to an open and robust secondary mortgage market, including Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which are a source of capital for lenders of all sizes and are obligated to serve all markets at all times.
- Tax Relief: Promoting tax and budget policies that foster economic growth and support the community banking sector by providing tax reforms and encouraging private savings and small business investment.
- Industry Concentration and Systemic Risk: Advancing legislative and regulatory changes that would curb or end advantages enjoyed by too-big-to-fail banks while preserving the separation of banking and commerce to ensure unbiased credit decisions and avoid excessive market power.
- Agriculture and Rural America: Advocating policies that will support rural America by strengthening community banks, which fund nearly 80 percent of all agricultural loans from the commercial bank sector.
- Payments: Creating a legal and regulatory environment governing payments that does not discourage community banks from offering various payments services that best address consumer needs.
- Cybersecurity: Supporting policies that broaden supervision of technology service providers while recognizing existing cybersecurity frameworks, tools, and assessments for community banks to avoid duplicative and counterproductive obligations.
Other Significant Updates:
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 Regulators published Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) data for approximately 5,400 financial institutions. This is the first year in which additional data reported by certain institutions under the 2015 HMDA rule will be available. The Modified Loan Application Registers contain loan-level information for 2018 on individual HMDA filers, modified to protect privacy. Additional information will be published later in 2019 related to HMDA, including a complete loan-level data-set and disclosure reports. These will be accompanied by an article highlighting key trends.
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The FDIC Board approved proposals to amend two rules to simplify the process for making insurance determinations in the event a bank is placed into receivership. One, which applies only to institutions with more than 2 million deposit accounts, would facilitate the payment of insured deposits to customers if the institution were to fail.
The second applies to all FDIC-insured institutions and provides an alternative method for separately insuring deposits in a joint account from deposits individually owned by the account's co-owners. Current rules require each co-owner to have signed a signature card. The proposal would allow the signature card requirement to be satisfied by other information contained in an institution's deposit account records.
- The Federal Reserve Board announced the appointment of Patrick McClanahan as Chief Operating Officer, effective April 29. McClanahan will be responsible for the operation of the board's administrative and financial management functions, technology services, short- and long-term strategic planning, and data management.
- Small Business Administration Administrator Linda McMahon announced she will step down April 12 after two years at the SBA. She plans to return to the private sector helm, and will chair the President's 2020 America First Action super PAC supporting his re-election.
- The OCC recently reminded national banks that they are prohibited by regulation from disclosing nonpublic OCC information. Any unauthorized disclosure or use of OCC exam reports and CAMELS ratings, supervisory correspondence, investigatory files and other nonpublic information without the OCC's permission may be subject to criminal penalties under federal law.
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Industry Trends & Updates
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Bob Fisher Interviewed By IB Magazine
Bob Fisher (President & CEO, Tioga State Bank) was among the members of ICBA's new executive committee/banker leadership team interviewed in the current "Independent Banker" magazine. Bob is a fifth generation community banker, former IBANYS Chairman and member of our board of directors. He discussed 2019 legislative issues, including continued regulatory relief, the need to focus on greater
financial literacy and much more.
Read the full interview
.
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EGF Offers Reduced Rate Loans for Veteran Business Owners
 At
Excelsior Growth Fund (EGF), veteran-owned small businesses can qualify for loans up to $250,000 at reduced interest rates. EGF loan advisors are experienced in lending to veteran entrepreneurs and will work one-on-one with them. Larger loans are also available through EGF's affiliate, the New York Business Development Corporation (NYBDC).
Excelsior Growth Fund (EGF) helps businesses grow by providing streamlined access to business loans and advisory services. EGF is a nonprofit organization and is certified by U.S. Department of Treasury as a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI). As an affiliate of NewYork Business Development Corporation and The 504 Company, EGF can also facilitate access to a full suite of alternative financing products.
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April Is "Community Banking Month"
 Community banks continue to expand and innovate to meet the needs of consumers and local communities - whether rural, suburban or urban. In honor of
ICBA Community Banking Month in April, the Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) is shining a spotlight on the nation's community banks and their role in fostering local economic prosperity.
"As local small businesses themselves, community banks only thrive when their customers and communities flourish," ICBA President and CEO Rebeca Romero Rainey said.
"Local market knowledge, relationship-based lending, and civic-minded service are community banking hallmarks and the cornerstone to our industry's success and longevity. ICBA is proud to represent America's favorite lenders and support their ongoing efforts to create stronger, more vibrant communities-one loan at a time."
Community banks take in local deposits and redistribute them back into the community-making roughly 60% of small-business loans and 80% of agriculture loans from the banking sector. They also contribute tax dollars that help maintain local municipalities and keep local neighborhoods viable and vibrant because serving the best interests of customers is fundamental to their business philosophy.
Community banks:
- Are robust lenders. Community bank loan growth has outpaced that of noncommunity banks for six consecutive years.
- Offer high-touch, high-tech service. This gives consumers access to modern-day conveniences while maintaining the high-quality customer service for which community banks are known.
- Understand and embrace local businesses. Small businesses that apply for loans with community banks are the most successful and most satisfied, according to a study from the 12 Federal Reserve Banks. ICBA celebrates local entrepreneurship on the third Wednesday of every month with Go Local Wednesday by supporting and promoting local businesses on social media.
Follow the ICBA Community Banking Month conversation on social media with #BankLocally.
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Latest Results of Promontory's Bank Confidence Index
 IBANYS' associate member firm Promontory Interfinancial Network's "Bank Confidence Index" has hit a four-year low. Its latest Bank Executive Business Outlook Survey Report details the results of the survey, which is based on bank leaders' forward-looking expectations for access to capital, loan demand, deposit competition, and funding costs. The report includes overall confidence and component readings by region for the past four years. For bankers, 2018 was a turning point. Bankers noted a number of factors
(e.g., weaker growth in loan demand, higher funding costs, more competition for deposit)
that underscored a much tougher environment for the industry. Other h
ighlights from the survey include:
- Loan Demand. A major change from a year ago. Last year, 64% of respondents predicted an improvement in loan demand for 2018. This year, just 39% expected to see an improvement in the indicator over the next 12 months.
- Deposit Competition. Expectations for deposit competition remained relatively stable-at high levels-for the past year.
- Funding Costs. At the end of 2018, 88% of respondents expected funding costs to rise, down slightly from recent quarters, but in line with predictions from the beginning of the year.
- Access to Capital. After a drop in the first quarter, expectations regarding access to capital remained steady throughout 2018.
Note: Promontory helps financial institutions of all sizes thrive. Promontory Network members use its solutions ̶ Bank Assetpoint, Insured Cash Sweep, or ICS, CDARS, IND, and Yankee Sweep ̶ to source new asset opportunities, diversify their asset portfolios, reduce collateral requirements, purchase funding, and build multi-million-dollar relationships.
Contact Kevin Hamilton to see how Promontory can help your bank manage its balance sheet more profitably at:
Phone: (866) 776-6426 ext. 3329
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The Economy By The Numbers
- According to a new CNBC "Invest In You and Acorns Savings Survey," 75% of Americans manage their own finances, with no help from a professional or online service. Only 17% said they use a financial advisor. Recent reports that many workers are living paycheck to paycheck and not even half of all adults would be able to cover an unexpected $1,000 expense.
- Job growth hit an 18-month low in March. Private payrolls increased by just 129,000 for the month, well below the 173,000 that economists surveyed by Dow Jones had expected. Overall, though, March was the worst month since September 2017, which saw an increase of just 111,000.
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Vining Sparks & ICBA Securities Balance Sheet Academy
Registration is now open for Vining Sparks and ICBA Securities' Balance Sheet Academy seminar in Memphis, Tennessee from Monday, April 29 to Tuesday, April 30 2019. This
advanced seminar is designed to expose seasoned community bank portfolio and balance sheet managers to advanced products and concepts. The objective is to enable the attendees to consistently outperform their peers. The dynamics of a community bank balance sheet require an investment professional to be versed in a wide range of topics.
Balance Sheet Academy
provides discussion and practical classroom exercises to equip the attendees for these demands. Examples of these topics include:
- Advanced interest rate risk management strategies;
- Low cost funding strategies; and
- Strategies for serving bank customers while managing interest rate risk.
Attendees will learn how the changing economic data impacts market interest rates from Vining Sparks' Chief Economist. The Balance Sheet Academy is structured for more experienced investment managers, particularly those who have attended Bond Academy.
It incorporates balance sheet strategies into the day-to-day management of an institution's investment portfolio, wholesale funding and interest rate risk management. Bank personnel with an intermediate level of understanding of investments who are integral to the investment and balance sheet management process will benefit the most from this advanced course. New directors serving on the investment or asset-liability committee will also find this course beneficial.
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Further Your Education at Barret Graduate School of Banking
Barret and IBANYS are aligned with a common interest: to represent the interests of the industry through effective advocacy and high quality educational offerings.
Located in Memphis, TN, Barret Graduate School of Banking offers a comprehensive graduate learning program for professionals in the financial services field. IBANYS has established partnerships with key industry educators including the Barret Graduate School of Banking. The school provides community bankers with an opportunity for a graduate degree in banking.
We are currently endorsed by ICBA, ICBA Securities, Arkansas Community Bankers, CBAofGA, Indiana Bankers Association, CBAofKS, MIBA, CBAofOH, CBAofWV - with a couple more on the way.
To learn more about Barret Graduate School of Banking, please visit
www.barret.ws.
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Keep The Door Open For Your Small Business Customers
Excelsior Growth Fund (EGF) is NYBDC's nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution and IBANYS' exclusive online lending partner. Join the growing number of banks that work with EGF to offer their customers an affordable and responsible option when they do not qualify for traditional financing. EGF offers loans up to $500,000 with a convenient, digital process. Loans under $100,000 are disbursed within 5 business days.
EGF's experienced team can work hand-in-hand with yours to develop a customized process to make referring seamless. To learn more about offering your customers a second look through EGF contact Bryan Doxford, SVP, at
bryan.doxford@excelsiorgrowthfund.org at at (212) 430-4512.
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Tompkins Bank Of Castile Expands To Buffalo
 Tompkins Bank of Castile will celebrate the grand opening of its first Buffalo branch on Thursday, April 4 at 1 Hopkins Road, Amherst - marking its growing presence in Western New York.
"We are excited about our first official location in Buffalo region," said John McKenna, President and CEO of the bank. "We have been doing business in the Buffalo region for years and we are looking forward to continuing that momentum with this new branch and experienced staff."
Tompkins as a whole is committed to creating long-term value for its clients, communities and shareholders, providing its clients with the highest quality financial products and exceptional service. Its holistic team-based approach encompasses banking, financial advisory, and insurance services.
"For years, we've taken great pride in contributing to our surrounding communities," says Adam Desmond, Buffalo Region Market Leader at Tompkins Bank of Castile. "Our team members are committed to the region, and we believe in the power of the local people working together to help our communities grow."
Tompkins Bank of Castile will celebrate its 150th
anniversary this spring, and plans are underway to celebrate this milestone in a number of ways at several key events throughout 2019.
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Tompkins Financial Corporation Donates $150,000 to
Healthy Living Campus to Benefit Residents
 In keeping with its longstanding commitment to the community and marking the 150th Anniversary of the founding of Tompkins Bank of Castile, Tompkins Financial Corporation, one of the largest employers in the city of Batavia, has pledged $150,000 to support the new joint YMCA and Rochester Regional Health Healthy Living Campus in Genesee County. The project benefits YMCA members and senior citizens by providing services to thousands of individuals currently residing in Genesee and neighboring counties.
This donation supports a $22.5 million land redevelopment project that includes the current YMCA and United Memorial Medical Center (UMMC) Cary Hall on Main Street in Batavia. The initiative will have a substantial impact on Main Street, which is home to the headquarters of Tompkins Bank of Castile and Tompkins Insurance
Agencies.
"This project will be transformational for downtown Batavia and benefit thousands of community residents for many years to come,"
said John McKenna, President and CEO of Tompkins Bank of Castile. David Boyce, President and CEO of Tompkins Insurance, added,"We're excited to play a pivotal role in a project that is going to bring such positive change to the community."
This community initiative is expected to boost the regional economy by about $60 million in over a decade. Rob Walker, YMCA Chief Executive Officer and Daniel Ireland, UMMC President, said that the Genesee County Economic Development Center anticipates $60,478,540 (in benefits to the GLOW region- including jobs at the new campus and during construction.
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Spotlight Bank of the Week
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With roots dating back to 1920, Evans Bank has evolved into a full-service financial institution focused only on Western New York.
Our mission is the same today as it was nearly 100 years ago, to help our customers meet their financial goals and businesses build their dreams.
Throughout our history, Evans has proudly made significant contributions to the growth and resurgence of the region. We do this by providing real value to our customers, associates, shareholders and communities.
In 1977, the bank opened its second branch and has since added 12 more financial centers. In 2000, Evans Bancorp acquired the M&W Agency Inc., our insurance subsidiary known today as The Evans Agency LLC.
This summer, the Company intends to open its 15th full-service financial center, its first in the Central Business District of Downtown Buffalo. The proposed Business & Relationship Center will offer full-service banking, insurance, investments and employee benefits services while featuring a consultative setting for client meetings, as well as, modern and convenient banking technologies. It will enhance our ability to serve more of the local community and its businesses in the radius around the heart of the City that is enjoying a resurgence.
Our insurance operation has acquired more than a dozen local agencies and offers a suite of products and services tailored to meet the needs of both retail and business customers. The Evans Agency achieved record revenues in 2017 on the strength of increased Commercial and Personal Lines sales and Employee Benefits expansion.
At Evans, our associates remain our key competitive advantage and differentiator to betterserve our clients, fulfilling our purpose and driving strategic growth.
The Company was successful in recruiting three new senior executives in 2017 - a Chief Risk Officer, Chief Commercial Banking Officer, and a new Director of Employee Benefits, who will help our organization advance in sophistication and capabilities. For the fifth consecutive year, based upon employee engagement, Evans was recognized by Buffalo Business First as a Best Place to Work among dozens of companies regionally in Western New York.
In 2017, the Company also made a commitment to ensure that diversity and inclusion was a top priority. Evans created a new Diversity & Inclusion Council whose charter is to foster an open and inclusive environment, encourage recruitment of associates of diverse backgrounds and thought, in an atmosphere free of harassment and intolerance. The Council is comprised of a broad based team of associates and management, and serves as a resource for the organization to address individual and systemic issues regarding diversity and inclusion.
Since its inception, the council has adopted a logo, participated in an inclusion awareness workshop lead by the National Federation for Just Communities of WNY and created a Plan, Do, Check and Act (PDCA) exercise for carrying out change. The council identified several focus areas aimed to broaden diversity within Evans and enhance an inclusive workplace.
Continuing the pattern of support for the communities it has served and invested in for almost a century, Evans expanded participation in volunteer activities, associate service hours and financial support in 2017. The Company also made a $300,000 contribution to its Foundation this past year, the largest such contribution in its history, to be invested in not-for-profit entities that enhance the quality of life within Western New York.
Despite local competition increasing with several new market entrants, Evans is confident in our position to compete successfully and expand our presence in the region. Our value-added service, capabilities, reputation and knowledge of the marketplace, provide us with a competitive advantage over other financial institutions. With greater size and scale, we are competitively positioned against the regional and national banks.
We remain thankful for the acceptance and support received from our customers, associates and shareholders, and look forward to more business growth and investment in our communities.
To learn more about Evans, our products, services and career opportunities, please visit www.evansbank.com.
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About Spotlight Bank of the Week
 Spotlight Bank of the Week is a new feature that we have added to our website and e-newsletter. It is an opportunity to promote anything about your organization, such as fun facts, organization news, special events, etc. The Spotlight Bank of the Week will be featured on our homepage slider, e-newsletter, and our social media platforms for one week. So don't miss out on this exceptional opportunity to showcase your bank to thousands of people!
View banks that have been featured as our Spotlight in the past!
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IBANYS Spotlight Is On...
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La Macchia Group is a comprehensive consulting and design-build firm. Their capable, experienced team provides thorough due diligence, strategic site selection, compelling design and rigorous project management. Their highly specialized experts create financial institutions that are brand-centered facilities tailored to meet La Macchia Group's clients' needs and exceed their expectations.
La Macchia Group is dedicated to planning, branding, designing, building and evolving financial institutions. This has been their mission from the firm's inception in 2002. The strategic assembly of La Macchia Group's leadership team guides the success of your financial institution with support and collaboration with the most talented, driven people in the industry.
For more information, contact David Welsh, Senior Director of Business Development:
Email: dwelsh@lamacchiagroup.com
Phone: (414) 223-4400
Website: www.lamacchiagroup.com
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IBANYS identifies offers products and services that provide value to your banks, companies, employees communities. These brief summaries provide links for information. Please contact IBANYS President John Witkowski with questions.
Health & Wellness
My Wellness Resource & TELADOC 
The health and wellness landscape continues to evolve. "My Wellness Resource" can be a nice addition to your existing benefit package.
Teladoc can save your banks time and money, and provide real value to your employees as this testimonial from a New York community bank CEO proves:
HERE'S WHAT YOUR FELLOW NEW YORK
COMMUNITY BANKER SAYS. . .
"I wanted to let you know that some of our employees and I have been using "Teladoc" and it is one of the best things we have done for the bank. We all love it: We are saving time, avoiding waiting in an urgent care center or a doctor's waiting room for non-emergency related illnesses
. . .and it is easy to use and convenient. Once you use it, you are hooked! This was a great find! Would recommend it to all banks."
Mario Martinez
Chairman & CEO
Catskill Hudson Bank
Contact Alan Justin: (716) 907-5500.
"Cure the Blue" Helps Banking Industry Battle Prostate Cancer!
The "Cure the Blue" program sponsored by the Buffalo Bills Alumni Foundation allows New Yorkers to participate in one of the most comprehensive efforts to help promote prostate cancer awareness and research in the United States.
Lake Shore Savings Bank has provided prostate cancer literature and Cure the Blue information at all eleven of its  branches and their headquarters in Dunkirk. The bank also offered Cure the Blue ceramic lapel ribbon pins for a $5.00 donations to Cure the Blue to all their customers. "We fully understand the severity of this disease and the devastating effect it can have on families" said Lake Shore Savings Bank President and CEO Dan Reininga. "Our support of the Buffalo Bills Alumni Foundation's "Cure the Blue" initiative is something that we are taking very seriously and are proud to support." Buffalo Bills Wall of Famer and Alumni Foundation President Booker Edgerson, a two time prostate cancer survivor, said the bank has been a tremendous longtime supporter, noting: "They have really stepped up to the plate with their unwavering support of our Cure the Blue initiative."
IBANYS urges all of our member banks, associate members and allies to join the effort. Cure the Blue" raises funds and awareness regarding prostate cancer in New York State. Visit
curetheblue.com
to get involved! Of all new cancer cases in the nation, prostate cancer represents 9.6%. In 2017, there were an estimated 161,000 new cases, and more than 26,000 fatalities due to the disease. Support IBANYS' "Cure the Blue" campaign to help New Yorkers participate to promote prostate cancer awareness and research.
Secure, Enhanced Internet Presence
The .bank program by fTLD operates trusted, verified, more secure, easily-identifiable internet locations for financial companies and
customers. www.icba.org
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. . .That the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) was c
reated as a bureau of the U.S. Department of the Treasury by the National Currency Act of February 25, 1863? Since its inception, five New Yorkers have served as the Comptroller of the Currency:
- Lawrence Murray (1908-13)
- A. Barton Hepburn (1892-93)
John Heimann also served as Superintendent of the New York State Banking Department (a predecessor of the New York State Department of Financial Services) and as State
Commissioner of Housing and Community Development before moving on to the OCC under President Carter.
During his term as Comptroller, Heimann also served as Acting Chairman of the FDIC and was the first chairman of the
Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC)
.
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New York community banks play a key role in our state and local economies. Help spread the good news among our customers, business, elected leaders and the media!
John J. Witkowski
President & Chief Executive Officer
Stephen W. Rice
Director of Government Relations & Communications
Linda Gregware
Director of Administration & Membership Services
William Y. Crowell III
Legislative Counsel
Natalie Rowan
Marketing & Social Media Assistant
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The U.S. 
