South Dakota Banks Make a Difference in Our Communities
 The SDBA unveiled the latest results of its Banks Make a Difference Project during its State Legislative Day on Feb. 8, 2017, in Pierre. Copies of the promotional handout were provided to all attendees and to all state legislators. Copies will also be mailed to all member banks and branches.
Each January, the SDBA surveys its member banks and collects data on the importance of banks to their local communities and to the state as a whole. The annual project demonstrates that banks are great corporate citizens and serve as “stewards” of their communities and the state in ways beyond routine banking services.
The document is a great tool that banks can use to promote all of the things they do for their communities. Banks are encouraged to use the document in their promotional efforts, make copies as needed and link the document on their websites. Download a high resolution copy for printing.
If you have questions about the survey or if you need the handout in a different format, contact Alisa DeMers, SDBA, at 800.726.7322 or 605.224.1653.
SDBA Seeks Officer Candidates
Are you interested in becoming an officer of the South Dakota Bankers Association?
SDBA officers include the chairman, chairman-elect, vice chairman and immediate past chairman. The SDBA is currently seeking people who are interested in running for the vice chairman position, which will be elected at the SDBA Annual Convention on June 6, 2017, in Rapid City.
The current chairman-elect, Dave Rozenboom (First PREMIER Bank, Sioux Falls), will automatically assume the chairman position on June 6, 2017. The current vice chairman, Karl Adam (First Dakota National Bank, Pierre), will be eligible to run for chairman-elect. The position of vice chairman will be up for election. Current Chairman Paul Domke (Heartland State Bank, Redfield) will automatically become the immediate past chairman.
If you are an executive officer of any SDBA member bank, you are eligible to run for vice chairman. If you are interested in running for the position, contact a member of the nominating committee for more information and submit a letter of intent to SDBA President Curt Everson at [email protected] or by mail prior to the SDBA Annual Convention.
SDBA Increases Stipend for Government Relations Summit Attendees
The SDBA Board of Directors has increased the stipend the Association provides to member bankers who attend the ABA Government Relations Summit from $250 to $500 a person to encourage more bankers to attend.
The ABA Government Relations Summit will be held March 20-22 in Washington, D.C. This year brings big changes to Washington--and it's a critical time for enacting pro-growth legislation. The SDBA is encouraging member bankers to join bankers from across the U.S. to show lawmakers that America's banks are ready for policies that will create jobs, grow the economy and help bankers serve their communities.
"We simply must be willing to put our words into action," said SDBA President Curt Everson. "A great first step that bankers can take to show the industry's commitment to push for real change in Washington is to show up in support of our message."
While registration for the Summit is free, attendees are asked to register for the Summit. The SDBA will issue stipends following the Summit, which can be used to help defray travel expenses.
Bankers Urged to 'Power Up' Banker Advocacy
ABA has announced its 2017 “Power Up” advocacy challenge for bankers, intended to increase bankers’ clout and voice with policymakers. To help “power up” banker advocacy and win growth-oriented reforms on Capitol Hill, ABA is urging all bank leaders to:
- Engage in personal grassroots leadership.
- Join BankPac or your state association’s federal PAC.
- Donate to the Fund for Economic Growth.
In 2017, the criteria for engaging in grassroots leadership are: calling or writing a lawmaker through ABA’s Grassroots Action Center and hosting or attending an event with a member of Congress, such as a lawmaker meeting during ABA’s Government Relations Summit, an in-bank lawmaker visit, a state association Washington Visit or a Teach Children to Save presentation.
Bankers who complete all three actions will be recognized as Power Players at ABA and state association meetings and receive invitations to Power Player-only events and activities.
“Every one of these steps are aimed at dramatically expanding bankers’ participation in the political process and thereby increasing our political strength,” said ABA President and CEO Rob Nichols.
While grassroots action builds invaluable personal relationship with lawmakers, signing a BankPac authorization form will permit ABA to talk to bankers about BankPac in a meaningful way and engage more employees in fundraising, he added. Meanwhile, corporate and personal contributions to the Fund--a 501(c)(4) organization started in 2012 by ABA leaders--provide an alternative means of educating policymakers and the public and influencing the political environment. Learn more at aba.com/PowerUp.
New Article Outlines Strategies for Dealing with Appraisal Shortage
The latest free article from the ABA Banking Journal highlights strategies rural real estate and agricultural lenders are employing to mitigate a chronic shortage of qualified appraisers in their areas.
With the appraiser workforce declining by 20 percent over the past decade--and more in rural areas--bankers are seeing longer wait times on appraisals, which holds up deals. One South Dakota banker is building an in-house team of qualified appraisers.
“We were very fortunate to find a veteran experienced appraiser who was willing to come work for us,” says Nate Franzen of First Dakota National Bank. “That person has been our mentor, and we are in the process of adding to that team to get younger people certified.”
The article also describes advocacy by ABA with both federal regulators and the Appraisal Qualifications Board for concrete actions to address the shortage. Read the article.
NCUA Issues Alternate Capital Proposal for Credit Unions
The National Credit Union Administration yesterday published an advanced notice of proposed rulemaking to expand the types of investment capital that federally-insured credit unions could use to meet certain regulatory requirements. NCUA is considering whether to allow credit unions to use investment capital (that would be uninsured capital subordinate to all other claims) to satisfy the risk-based net worth ratio requirement.
Under current law, only low-income designated credit unions are allowed to use secondary capital to satisfy two regulatory requirements: the net worth ratio and the risk-based net-worth ratio. While any change to the net worth ratio would require an act of Congress, the NCUA asserted in the proposal that it has broad authority to adjust the risk-based net worth ratio requirement and therefore may choose to allow credit unions that are not low-income designated to use alternative capital to meet this requirement.
ABA expressed dismay at the NCUA proposal, noting that it amounts to a charter enhancement under the guise of regulatory relief, and that once again, the NCUA continues to act as a cheerleader for the industry it has been charged with supervising. ABA is closely reviewing the ANPR and encourages bankers to submit their concerns to the NCUA. Comments are due May 9. Read the ANPR. For more information, contact ABA's Brittany Kleinpaste.
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