Texas Banking

Caught Red-Handed

It has been an experience that many large fidelity (embezzlement) claims involve "long-term trusted employees." Unfortunately, banks and other financial institutions are hit by employee embezzlements more than any other industry. More than half of the embezzlement cases examined by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners involved an employee over the age of 40; more than one-third were perpetrated by individuals between the ages of 41 and 50. Based on their knowledge of the bank's operat...

History in the Making

For 125 years, bankers from across the state have flocked to one common location for interesting presentations, information on timely topics, invaluable networking and, of course, golf. But there was no golf at the first Convention, in the sweltering summer of 1885 in Lampasas Springs. The bankers were all business, as they gathered to discuss a revolutionary new idea for an association of bankers in Texas, the first statewide organization of its type. And so, Texas Bankers Association (TBA) ...

Meet Commissioner

In an interview, Charles G. Cooper, recently appointed Texas Banking Commissioner, discussed his banking experience. Cooper thinks the role is basically the same -- regulation of Texas banks -- except the economic challenges they face are much greater. One of his primary goals is to make sure the Banking Department is considered by the industry as being the best banking regulatory body in the US. It appears the dual banking system that has served them so well for so long is under attack. They...

Banking Bytes

Chairman's Forum

Be One of the 90 in '09

In the midst of a recession, credit crisis and real estate foreclosure records, change could bring about many new regulations and restrictions for the banking industry -- particularly if bankers stand aside and let it happen. If bankers are going to have a positive influence on the rapid change that is coming their way, they have to do a better job of making their voices heard. The author is issuing a challenge to the bankers of Texas. He would like to see 90 bankers sign up for TBA's Washing...

Your Advocate

Tarp Ii: Congress to Allow Community Bank Access to Funds

Last October, Congress passed the Emergency Economic Stabilization ACT of 2008. Part of that act, the Troubled Assets Relief Program, authorized the spending of $700 billion originally intended for the purchase of mortgage-backed securities. Treasury will be directed to make funds available to community banks. Democratic leaders in both the House and Senate have expressed displeasure that none of the $350 billion already spent was used to help homeowners avoid foreclosure. Because of all the ...

Message From The President

Management Development Program Transforms Lives

The author had heard great things about Texas Bankers Association's Management Development Program (MDP) from CEOs who had experienced first-hand the transformation MDP brought about their young officers and mid-management employees. The participants made personal and professional sacrifices to complete the program, as did their coworkers, who filled in at the bank while they attended the five sessions of MDP. The return on investment for the bank and the individuals, however, is priceless. A...

Banker To Banker

A New Year in a New World

Looking back 35 years into banking, it is easy to say, from present perspective, that things truly were a lot simpler back then. Looking back, people tried to visualize what a new employee in a community bank sees and has to learn in today's crowded "financial services" market. Now, they not only have Community Reinvestment Act to learn about but, just to name a few regulations, the HMDA, FMLA, Reg Z, CRCM, the Patriot Act and the Bank Security Act. With a new administration in Washington, pe...

Legal Hotline

Answers to Your Legal Questions

Questions on virgule, use a power of attorney to name a POD beneficiary, the use of CD as collateral on a loan and POD beneficiary are answered. A virgule is the "/" symbol. The Texas UCC section 3.110 provides that a check payable to "A and/or B" is payable in the alternative and can be indorsed and negotiated by either party. The Section 439 of the Probate Code amendment requires that the written agreement designating POD beneficiaries be "signed by the original payee or payees." A sole pro...

Community Banker: Spotlight

Personal Statement

While in graduate school, Daryl Kirkham, president and CEO of First Private Bank of Texas, got his part time job in the credit department of a bank in Austin. After graduation, it became a purely practical matter: the job offers he got from banks were better than the offers he got from engineering firms. Even more appealing to Kirkham, as the years went on, was the idea of a bank focused entirely on high net worth customers. And so the idea of First Private Bank was born. He said personal ban...

From The Editor

125 Years of Building On Tradition

News &Amp; Trends

Congratulations to Graduates of Mdp Class Ii

The 27 graduates of Class II of TBA's Management Development Program (MDP) met in Dallas on January 11-January 13 for one last session, "The Business of Banking," before taking their new leadership skills back to their banks. That evening, the graduates were joined by 14 of their CEOs and presidents, as well as the TBA Executive Team, at graduation ceremonies. MDP is an intensive 18-month program created to motivate and accelerate the development of Texas banking leaders. TBA developed the pr...

First Community Bank Expands to Katy

Frisco Resident Appointed to Finance Commission

Bank Economists See Recession Deepening

The US economy is in the throes of a severe recession and the Economic Advisory Committee (EAC) of the American Bankers Association believes that significant efforts by policymakers will be required to ensure recovery takes hold later this year. The committee foresees no change in the current federal funds target rate and expects further expansion of the Fed's lending and asset-purchase programs. The committee is wary of downside risks to the outlook in an environment of financial market frag...

Tbf Thanks Banks for Donations

Teach a Million Children to Save

The American Bankers Association Education Foundation has set a goal to reach one million children during this year's Teach Children to Save day activities. This is an ambitious goal, but with 20,000 bankers -- 10% of the national industry -- teaching 50 students each, this challenge can be achieved. Teach Children to Save Day, held in April each year, brings students and bankers together to increase savings education. The Texas Bankers Foundation is encouraging Texas bankers to be part of th...

Partner Focus

Bancvue's Rewardchecking Generates Millions in Core Deposits

REWARDChecking is a free, high interest checking account with no minimum balance requirements, no monthly fees and nationwide ATM refunds. Since its inception, this revolutionary product has provided an amazing opportunity for community banks nationwide. As of November 2008, more than 450 institutions in 47 states have partnered with BancVue to bring in 800,000 accounts and more than $7 billion in deposits with this incredible product. Amazingly, every 47 seconds another customer opens a REWA...

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