Texas Banking

Teaching Common Cents

Various news reports have stated that the average college student has approximately $3,000 to $8,000 in debt when he or she graduates from college, and that does not count student loans. To ensure that young people are prepared to manage cash, credit and debit cards, it is essential that they are taught personal financial literacy skills and life-long habits during childhood. Whether financial education is provided by teachers, parents, an after school program or through a financial industry ...

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Tba Calendar of Events

Saving for an Empire: The Asian Market in Texas

As banks align themselves to address the needs of the communities they serve, niche demographics is a growing trend. Several Texas institutions are riding the crest of this trend by making concerted efforts to gain the highly desirable business of local Asian communities. In terms of cultural assimilation, the language barrier tends to foster an entrepreneurial spirit because running a business translates more easily than the communication required to rise through the ranks of corporate Ameri...

Vote 'Yes' On Proposition 5

The phrase "Texas is business friendly" has almost become an article of faith. While the Texas spirit and Texas law make Texas conducive to business, provisions in the Texas Constitution seem designed to exclude Texas-based banks from the club. That is why Texans for Economic Growth SPAC is urging voters to support Proposition 5 on the Nov 8 statewide ballot and why the group has turned to bankers for help. Proposition 5 will allow the Legislature to create exemptions from the maximum rates o...

Chairman's Forum

Board Unanimously Supports Two Federal Reg Burden Relief Bills

An important step in Texas Bankers Association's (TBA) effort to help bring some relief to the heavily regulated banks of Texas took place during the Volunteer Summit in September, when the board, upon the recommendation of the Community Bankers Council and Government Relations Council, unanimously approved a resolution supporting two federal regulatory burden relief bills -- H.R. 3505 and H.R. 2061. While both bills would provide regulatory relief, H.R. 2061 provides tax relief for community...

News & Trends

Clarke American Supports Disaster Relief Efforts

First Financial Bankshares Announces Plans to Combine Banks

Frost Bank to Contribute $100,000 Toward Katrina Relief Efforts

Initiative Helps Banks Capitalize On Funds Transfers to Mexico

The Federal Reserve Banks and the Banco de Mexico are introducing Directo a Mexico, a joint Spanish-language marketing effort designed to help US financial institutions increase their historically small share of the rapidly growing US to Mexico remittance market. Directo a Mexico provides financial institutions with promotional tools designed to encourage and assists their customers in using the Federal Reserve Banks' FedACH International Mexico Service. The components of the Directo a Mexico...

First State Bank Celebrates 100th Anniversary

First State Bank in Gainesville, the oldest state bank in Texas, kicked off a week-long centennial celebration on Aug 15. Chairman of the Board and CEO Frank Morris received numerous resolutions and proclamations commemorating the event, and customers and guests enjoyed a large birthday cake in the bank lobby. On Aug 18, employees recognized the most senior customers, longest tenured customer and more. In 1996, First State Bank acquired and merged with North Texas Bank and Trust, which was th...

Bankers Roundtable

What Is Your Bank Doing to Help Hurricane Katrina Victims?

Three executives talked about what their bank is doing to help Hurricane Katrina victims. Lee D. Cutrone Jr, president and CEO, Trustmark Bank, said that when the magnitude of the storm's destruction came into full reality, they immediately contacted all of the local offices of the major national relief agencies to determine what the priorities were in helping to assist those in need. Dennis Kutach, president and CEO, First State Bank, said they are encouraging employees to make donations to ...

What's Hot With Tbasco

Regulators Issue Bsa/Aml Examination Manual

In Jun 2005, the federal banking regulators issued an interagency Bank Secrecy Act/Anti-Money-Laundering (BSA/AML) examination manual. The exam manual contains procedures for core versus expanded examinations. It emphasizes that your BSA/AML compliance efforts must start with a risk assessment. With no real explanation, the exam manual replaces the concept of know your customer with something called customer due diligence. As expected, the exam manual reiterates the importance the government ...

Recommended Best Practices for Determining Board Compensation

Today's bank board members face heavier responsibilities than ever before. Based on Clark Consulting's experience with more than 2,100 banking organizations nationwide, here are some best practices that help banks meet the challenge of competitive compensation packages that attract and retain the best directors while reflecting strong corporate governance: 1. Establish an overarching compensation policy. 2. Consider how much ownership in the bank you want directors to have and by when. 3. Res...

Your Advocate

The Consequences of Katrina

The disastrous hurricane that hit the Gulf states also had enormous consequences for Texas. Several hundred thousand citizens from Louisiana relocated to Texas, and many of them are expected to stay. Budgetary implications will affect many school districts. Texas banks also felt the impact of the hurricane when citizens from other states sought to access their accounts through Texas banks. Congress is weighing in with what amounts to a Marshall Plan for the Gulf Coast. Congress is also acting...

Message From The President

Letter-Writing Campaign Can Keep Credit Union Momentum Strong

The National Credit Union Administration, in a settlement of Community Credit Union v. National Credit Union Administration, agreed to drop its objections to the Community Credit Union and OmniAmerican Credit Union charter switches and clear the way for the biggest credit union conversions. This victory means the Texas Bankers Association will be welcoming two new tax-paying, CRA-abiding members to the fold. These conversions are consistent with the TBA's strategy of introducing legislation t...

Legal Hotline

Support Your Industry with Bankpac Fridays

BankPac Fridays is a program that allows a bank's non officer employees to wear jeans the first Friday of each month if they donate $5 per month to the Texas Bankers Association (TBA) BankPac by payroll deduction or by signing an ACH form. TBA BankPac is a political action committee. It bolsters TBA's legislative initiatives with political action funds. TBA monitors legislation because lawmakers' decisions on taxation, home equity, predatory lending, privacy, public deposits and many other ba...