SDBA to Hold State Legislative Day Feb. 11 in Pierre
 Registration is now open for the SDBA's 2015 State Legislative Day on Feb. 11 in Pierre. The SDBA’s State Legislative Day is your opportunity to stay up-to-date on both state and federal legislation which could affect the banking industry and to visit with state legislators.
This year's featured speaker is Kenneth T. Walsh, an award-winning political journalist, a Washington insider and an expert on American presidents. He has covered the presidency, presidential campaigns and national politics for U.S. News & World Report since 1986 and will speak about implications of the mid-term elections.
The day will also include a luncheon and banking legislation review, chance to visit with legislators at the state capitol, and an evening reception and dinner with legislators and constitutional officers. The Governor has also been invited to speak.
Learn more and register.
2015 High School Scholarship Application Deadline Dec. 19
The South Dakota Bankers Foundation is currently taking applications for the 2015 High School Scholarship Program. Scholarships in the amount of $500 will be awarded to the first 150 banks/branches who agree to match an equal amount. In total, $150,000 will be awarded to high school students in 2015.
Banks who participated in the Foundation’s Capital Campaign are eligible to compete for funding. Forms have been emailed to all banks and are available on the SDBA website.
The only requirement for matching funds is that applicants must plan to attend an accredited South Dakota college, university, vocational technical school or community college. Additional eligibility requirements are at the sponsoring bank’s discretion.
The application deadline is Dec. 19, 2014. Banks will be notified in January of their funding requests. Learn more.
Free Cyber Threat Analysis Platform Unveiled
The Financial Services Information Sharing and Analysis Center yesterday launched Soltra Edge, a free cyber threat information-sharing platform intended to help community banks and other smaller firms identify the most critical threats. Soltra Edge is intended to help bankers automate the initial analysis of threat information to identify those that pose the most risk to their own banks.
The software from Soltra, a joint venture between FS-ISAC and settlement and clearing firm DTCC, takes only a few minutes to download, install and configure. A basic license to Soltra Edge is available for free. Threat information is converted into an open-standard language known as STIX and transmitted via an open-standard protocol called TAXII. Soltra Edge can be adapted to integrate with existing cybersecurity tools.
“Soltra Edge is a game changer for the security posture of the global financial services sector,” said ABA SVP Doug Johnson. “Information sharing has demonstrated its value in defending against recent cyber attacks. The automated, systemic and collaborative approach offered by Soltra Edge helps underpin that information sharing.” Read more. Download Soltra Edge.
FFIEC Updates BSA/AML Examination Manual
The Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council on Tuesday released an extensively updated version of the Bank Secrecy Act/Anti-Money Laundering Examination Manual.
The manual incorporates the most recent guidance from the agencies and the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network on foreign correspondent accounts, bulk currency shipments, international ACH transactions, prepaid card access, third-party payment processors, foreign diplomats and money services businesses.
The revisions also address new requirements associated with filing Suspicious Activity Reports and Currency Transaction Reports, as well as reports on foreign bank and financial accounts, transportation of currency and Iran sanctions. Read the manual. For more information, contact ABA’s Rob Rowe.
ABA Seeking Community Bank Feedback on .bank
ABA has emailed community bank CEOs inviting them to participate in a brief survey on their interest in purchasing a new .bank domain name. The survey is intended to help ABA -- and fTLD Registry Services, which is managing .bank on behalf of ABA and the industry -- to ensure .bank meets bankers’ needs.
Bank CEOs are encouraged to respond to the survey or forward the survey to an appropriate bank employee. For questions related to the survey or .bank, contact ABA’s Doug Johnson.
Ag Training in December
The South Dakota Grassland Coalition is sponsoring training by Gabe Brown who owns and operates a diversified 5,000 acre farm and ranch near Bismarck. Brown will present “A Producer’s Perspective on Soil Regeneration” in Mission, Yankton and Chamberlain on Dec. 10, 11, and 12, respectively.
Admission is free for SD Grassland Coalition members and $20 for non-members. For more information email Judge Jessop or call 605-280-0127.
“South Dakota’s Soil Health Challenge: Don’t Get Left in the Dust” will be presented in Rapid City on Dec.16 and in Aberdeen on Dec. 18. Contact [email protected] or [email protected] for more information and to register. There is no charge to attend; lunch and a trade show are included.
Internationally-renowned soil health specialist Ray Archuleta will present a two-hour free workshop on Dec. 19 on the campus of SDSU on “Soil Health: Farming for the 21st Century." The workshop will focus on the future of agriculture and agricultural systems with agro-ecology and bio-mimicry. For more information contact [email protected] or call 605-352-1239.
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