| Thursday, February 16, 2012 Regional Meetings a success IBANYS has covered some ground across the state in the last week, hosting a Regional Meeting in Albany last Wednesday, and another in Syracuse today. Both focused on public relations and social media for community bankers. The half-day morning programs were free to all IBANYS Members. Our special guest speaker in Albany and Syracuse was Joe Russo, an IBANYS Member who is the Senior Vice President of Marketing and Investor Relations for Alliance Bank of Syracuse. Mr. Russo has nearly forty years of experience in marketing, advertising, government relations, and public relations. Joining Mr. Russo at the Syracuse Regional Meeting was Aaron Hugo, Executive Vice President of the Pinckney Hugo Group. Pinckney Hugo is a Syracuse-based media and advertising firm. Aaron's experience comes from print, broadcast, outdoor, direct mail, media, PR, and more. Each of these meetings also had a roundtable discussion component, so we could get a better idea of issues affecting our members, and to get your ideas of what direction IBANYS should go in the future. The lively discussions touched on the issues of best practices, marketing people away from credit unions, current legislation, advertising campaigns, and more. We hope you can join us at one of our upcoming Regional Meetings:
Thursday, February 9, 2012 Say NO to H.R. 1418 and S. 509! The credit union industry is primed for a full-scale campaign to expand its business-lending authority. Industry representatives will be on Capitol Hill by the thousands to lobby for enhanced lending powers at the expense of community banks. And the credit unions aren't going to Washington to play nice. Help us OPPOSE the "Small Business Lending Enhancement Act of 2011" (S. 509/ H.R. 1418 ). This initiative for tax-exempt institutions has direct implications on the nation's community banks. The credit unions want to get their hands on community banks' small-business customers without losing their tax-exempt status. This initiative requires strenuous advocacy outreach by our industry. WE NEED YOU TO REACH OUT TO YOUR REPRESENTATIVES IN CONGRESS!!! LET YOUR VOICES BE HEARD!!! We at IBANYS have developed a customizable letter for you to send to your Congressional representatives. All that you have to do is click on the link below and contact your local representative. Cut and paste their address into the appropriate letter (see below), enter your name and institution on the bottom, sign and deliver. NYS Senate and Congressional Representatives Please reach out to your local representative and let them know that you OPPOSE the "Small Business Lending Enhancement Act of 2011" (S. 509/ H.R. 1418 ). Customizable letter - H.R. 1418 Customizable Letter - S. 509 Another way to help is to sign the ICBA petition against these bills. Follow the link to the petition HERE, and help advocate for the future of community banks right now! Thursday, January 26, 2012 After a coffee reception and networking, the forum got started with remarks from Deputy Superintendent of Community and Regional Banks Mr. Lawsky told the bankers in attendance that he wanted to have a "dialog, not a monolog." He added that nothing could be more important than his attitude toward community banking, saying that, "what you all do in your local communities could not be more underestimated." He outlined six different areas where DFS has been concentrating its efforts:
The superintendent then outlined three priorities for the Department of Financial Services: 1. Getting the industries that regulate banking and insurance thrive again 2. Protecting consumers 3. Merge two entities as smoothly as possible (realizing savings of 10% of budget in first year alone according to Lawsky) Mr. Lawsky said that with attitudinal changes, the DFS could thrive and serve community bankers in the best way possible. He acknowledged that regulators did not always have to say "no" first, and that regulators also need to watch for unintended consequences of their actions. He added that when mistakes are made, they need to be recognized and be corrected. Before Mr. Lawsky turned the mic over to the next speaker, he did mention that the DFS would be putting on another forum somewhere upstate when the weather gets better. After a short break, speakers from the Real Estate Finance Division, and NYS Job Development Authority addressed the crowd, as well as speakers who presented on Troubled Debt Restructuring (TDR), and the New York State Legal Lending Limit. While most bankers seemed shy when it came time for the open forum portion of the meeting, others (including IBANYS Board Member Bob Fisher) eventually raised questions about aging upstate exam teams, the examination process, stress testing and portfolios, and updating banking regulations. The issue of hydrofracking also came up during the forum, and Mr. Lawsky remarked that the second forum to be held upstate would have a fracking component to it, because it is such a hot button issue right now. IBANYS will keep you up to date on all the latest from the DFS, and will let you know as soon as we hear about any upcoming meetings or forums in the upstate area. Wednesday, January 11, 2012 IBANYS welcomes new Member Banks! The Independent Bankers Association of New York State continues to grow, with the addition of two new Member Banks this week! We would like you to join us in welcoming Fulton Savings Bank, headquartered in Fulton, New York, and National Bank of Coxsackie, based in Coxsackie, New York. Congratulations on joining the Association, andwe hope to see you soon at one of our many upcoming events! Thursday, January 5, 2012 Governor Cuomo's State of the State Address Governor Andrew M. Cuomo delivered his 2012 State of the State Address in which he outlined a comprehensive agenda aimed at creating new economic development programs which will invest billions of dollars in key public-private sector partnerships to rebuilding infrastructure, create thousands of new jobs, reorganize state government, and strengthen New York's legacy as the progressive capital of the nation. IBANYS looks forward to working with Governor Cuomo and the members of the state legislature to improve the manner in which community banks do business in New York State. The speech was light on banking issues and financial regulation however, it did include a piece on foreclosure prevention assistance through the creation of a Foreclosure Relief Unit. Governor Cuomo announced that the Department of Financial Services will create a Foreclosure Relief Unit to provide counseling and mediation services to help New Yorkers stay in their homes. The following is a brief list of some of the highlights in the State of the State Address:
Tuesday, December 20, 2011 Board Meeting Recap On Thursday, December 1, the IBANYS Board of Directors met at Turning Stone Resort in Verona, NY. While there, many things were discussed, including the future of IBANYS and the Association in 2012. Some of the highlights include:
The next in-person Board of Directors meeting is scheduled for Thursday, March 1, 2012 in Albany. Thursday, December 15, 2011 Deadline Nears for Ending Paper Savings Bond Sales at Financial Institutions Treasury updates financial institution resources With the end of over-the-counter sales of paper savings bonds only two weeks away, financial institutions are encouraged to continue preparing employees and customers for the upcoming transition to electronic savings bonds. Savings bonds are popular gifts so financial institutions may see an increase in inquiries during the holiday season. As a reminder, financial institutions must stop accepting applications for paper bonds after December 31, 2011, but are encouraged to continue redeeming paper bonds for customers. The U.S. Department of the Treasury is offering new resources and materials to help financial institutions address customer inquiries and manage internal processes, including:
Download these resources at http://treasurydirect.gov/instit/savbond/otc/otcendtoolkit.htm. Also, please remind customers that they can go to www.treasurydirect.gov where they can buy, manage and redeem electronic savings bonds and other Treasury securities online, 24/7. Monday, December 12, 2011 IBANYS Staff Grows IBANYS would like to introduce Dan Valente, our new Director of Government Relations. Dan's first day was Monday, December 5th. In his previous position, Dan served as the Legislative and Communications Director with the New York State Law Enforcement Officers Union, Council 82, and as the principle lobbyist representing public employees in the law enforcement community across New York State. Working with elected officials within state and local governments, he was successful in navigating through the legislative process, representing the needs of the members, and lobbying to pass bills and have them signed into law. Other previous work experience includes positions with the New York State Assembly in the office of Communications and Information Services supporting the Democratic Majority and within the office of Assemblyman John J. McEneny of the 104th Assembly District. Dan received his Master's Degree in Public Administration from Sage Graduate School in Albany and his undergraduate degree from The College of Saint Rose. Dan is a lifelong resident of the Capital District and resides in the Town of Colonie with his wife and son. Please join us in welcoming Dan to IBANYS. Wednesday, December 7, 2011 CFO Peer Council Group outlines 2012 plans The CFO Peer Council Group has a busy schedule for 2012. The group is designed to give Community Bank CFOs every opportunity to exchange ideas and resolve problems with peers facing the same issues. It is also a means to develop and share Best Practices. If you are interested in joining the CFO Peer Council Group, e-mail us This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . The 2012 CFO Peer Council Agenda can be seen here: CFO Peer Council 2012 Agenda Monday, November 21, 2011 Media Kit a success with members! In October, IBANYS released a media kit to all member banks. This kit was in response to recent media portrayal that all banks are the same. Community Bankers in New York State refused to take this misinformation lying down, and wanted to highlight all the benefits of banking at their institutions. IBANYS stepped in to create a media kit that contained two customizable press releases, an op-ed piece, talking points to use with members of the media, and seven customizable ad slicks for members to use. Have a look at some samples from the media kit here. This is just one more example of how IBANYS brings membership value to our banks every day! Thursday, November 10, 2011 Fracking Conference a hit in the Southern Tier IBANYS, Tioga State Bank, and the National Association of Royalty Owners- NY hosted an informational hydrofracking conference specifically designed for bankers. The meeting was held in Binghamton, a fitting location considering the city's proximity to many drilling sites in New York and Pennsylvania. Kicking off the event was Nick Schoonover, Chair of the Tioga County Landowners Group. Nick gave insight into how hydrofracking works, and provided hard facts about the ins and outs of the industry. Nick has special perspective on the fracking issue because of his personal involvement with the gas lease of his own land. Following Mr. Schoonover, Thomas Murphy, co-director of the Penn State Marcellus Center for Outreach and Research addressed the crowd of about thirty participants. Thomas brought his economic and environmental impact expertise that will prove invaluable to our members in attendance. Mr. Murphy predicts that the biggest hydrofracking story yet to come will be in the Utica area. He says the area has more trapped gas than in the Marcellus shale region, which is further south and west, towards Binghamton and Elmira. After Thomas, Petroleum Geologist Don Zaengle educated the group about how these deep rock formations were created, and how the geologic maps of New York affect the gas extraction process. Did you know that drilling has occurred in New York state since the 1820s? The first drilling site was in Fredonia, in 1821. Don wowed the crowd with maps and charts outlining the lcoations of the Marcellus shale area, and the Utica shale area. The Utica shale is just recently being developed, and is larger than the Marcellus region. Don also let everyone in on a little secret. Along Route 20 in Cherry Valley (near Cooperstown), the Marcellus Shale has actually come to the surface and can be seen from the road. If you travel this way, keep a lookout for shale formations! To round out the half-day conference, CPA Jim Leonard gave a presentation on the business and real estate aspects of the drilling industry. He outlined how gas leases can be confusing, and could potentially hurt landowners. Jim also spoke about real estate regulations and litigation when working with gas companies. Overall, the conference was an interesting mix of environmental, legal, historical, and business information about hydrofracking in New York State. This issue has been not only a hot topic across the state, but a passionate and sometimes emotional issue affecting many New York homeowners and landowners. With as much education as possible, our community bankers can be able able to best serve their customers. Thursday, October 6, 2011 IBANYS reminder: Not all banks are the same! They’ve dealt with recession, historically low federal interest rates, media commentary pigeonholing them into the notion of being the same as ‘big banks’, and protestors across state and country who believe credit unions are the new way to go. But now it is time for Community Banks to dispel rumors, educate peers, and band together in solidarity as one focused group. This issue is so important, IBANYS will not rest until the differences between independent community banks and others are common knowledge among New York State’s consumers. The basic definition of an independent, community bank is one that is locally owned, operated, and paying taxes in the area they operate in. These banks’ deposits and loans are all local, and management is made up of local citizens who live, work, and play in the communities they serve. One-on-one individual attention, customized service, and understanding the needs of clients and business owners are the drive and the backbone of community banks. Employees of local independent banks are friends, family, and neighbors. As an Association, IBANYS is fully committed to the health and growth of our members. While a lot of what we have done since 1974 is advocacy work on Albany’s “Capitol Hill”, advocating for public awareness of who community banks are, and how they are different has become one of our most important projects. Public finger-pointing with the intent to blame someone or something for the financial crisis continues. We want to make sure the blame game stops, so we can move forward as stronger communities, a stronger state, and a stronger nation. Monday, October 3, 2011 Community banks show strength amid false media portrayal Through anti-banking sentiment in Wall Street protests, and banks “too big to fail” imposing new fees to circumvent changing regulations, Main Street community banks continue to be the backbone of neighborhoods in New York state. Members of the Independent Bankers Association of New York State are different than some of the troubled banks that have made recent headlines. Our banks continue to pay taxes, provide jobs, lend, and serve their communities. Simply stated, New York Independent Community Banks should not be lumped in with all financial institutions and non-bank banks. While others continue to harbor a growing anger toward their institutions, IBANYS is striving to distinguish community banks from the crowd. To not differentiate those independent community banks that lend, and that are safe and sound, misinforms New Yorkers and perpetuates disruption on Main Street. Too many headlines and speeches continue to deter recovery with such statements as banks are “less able or willing to lend than before the recession… have reduced money available in credit lines…and have reduced home equity credit lines.” For New York independent community banks, these statements simply do not tell the entire story. We believe for numerous reasons that community banks are distinguishable from the pack as “Champions of Main Street”. The Independent Bankers Association of New York State speaks with one voice in asking all news sources, government officials and politicians to stop lumping Main Street New York community banks in with all other financial institutions and lenders, Wall Street included. While other financial institutions have their appropriate mission within our financial system, community bankers make decisions locally, accept funds that local depositors have entrusted to them and turn around and lend those funds locally to credit worthy borrowers. Let us not, through generalization, undermine the confidence of the businesses, residents, schools and churches toward these generational stalwarts of our communities, New York Independent Community Banks. We are prepared to give interviews on the latest developments in the banking industry, and how community banks are affected by such events. We have ‘experts’ in the banking field, ready and willing to give a regional and statewide perspective through the eyes of an independent community banker. Please e-mail or call us to schedule statewide interviews. We can provide excellent photo/video and sound opportunities, and a local spin on a key top-story making worldwide headlines. Thursday, September 29, 2011 Contact Your Senator! We told you about the Communities First Act, but now we need your help. IBANYS and ICBA are urging all members to contact U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand and Charles Schumer, and ask them to support and co-sponsor S. 1600, the Communities First Act. The Communities First Act (CFA) will provide much needed relief from overbearing financial regulation by freeing the hands of the community banking industry to do what you do best; serving your customers and communities. Some of the many pro-community bank provisions of CFA include:
Contact Senator Gillibrand: (212) 688-6262 New York City office See the IBANYS letters to Senators Gillibrand and Schumer: Letter to Sen. Gillibrand (S. 1600) CFA Letter to Sen. Schumer (S. 1600) CFA Monday, September 26, 2011 Community Banking on NPR NPR's Diane Rehm program titled The Future of Banking in a Troubled Economy, hosted ICBA Senior Executive Vice President and Chief of Staff Terry Jorde on Tuesday, August 30th. The show showed the nation the differences between Main Street community banks and Wall Street megabanks. Jorde and Rehm discussed a variety of topics, including small business lending, community banks' role in job creation, and how keeping interest rates near zero will hurt banks and consumers. To listen to the whole show, click here. Tuesday, September 20, 2011 NYS Corporate Tax Update REIT deduction was on the agenda Thursday when the IBANYS CFO/GRC joint sub-committee on Corporate Tax met with the State Tax Department by phone. Specific topics included the Department's alternatives to REIT, the Qualified Residential Loan Portfolio Deduction, and the Small Business Loan Adjustment. IBANYS was there to offer alternatives to those the department proposed. These suggestions were derived from joint meetings of the CFO Council and the GRC. While all participants did well yesterday, Legislative Council Bill Crowell's guidance was essential, Brian Flynn's numbers were right on and Larry Heilbronner's examples and articulation of the repercussions were exceptional. Our take on the meeting was that the Department listened, asked good questions and had their eyes opened, and now better understands how this tax issue impacts community bank balance sheets, but could change how you operate in the future as it may well be cheaper for you to sell your loans and buy mortgage backed securities. This would result in further impact on employment of those who service loans and an overall reduction in the annuitized tax collected from loans held in NY. We will have much more on this topic as it develops further. IBANYS is committed to advocating what is best for community banks in New York State.Monday, September 12, 2011 Sign up for one of our fabulous webinars! Education has never been easier, and with NO travel required, what could be better? Click here to sign up today! Thursday, September 1, 2011 We hope everyone was able to weather the storm and stay dry this past weekend. We were glad we rescheduled this year's annual convention because the Capital Region was hit particularly hard. We've decided to move the convention to October 23-25, 2011. It will be in the same location, and the schedule will change a bit, but not much. Most of the same great speakers will be joining us, and beacause it will be the fall season, expect some great autumn surprises along the way. Be on the lookout in your e-mail and on this site for new forms and information about the convention.
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IBANYS: IBANYS wants to know: What is your favorite thing about your community bank??
IBANYS: CFPB's Richard Cordray will address community bankers from NY next Thursday in NYC. IBANYS will be there & will be reporting from the mtg.
IBANYS: A big thank you to Joe Russo from #AllianceBank & Aaron Hugo from @pinckneyhugo for speaking at our Regional Meeting this morning!
IBANYS: CFPB's Richard Cordray will address community bankers from NY next Thursday in NYC. IBANYS will be there & will be reporting from the mtg.
IBANYS: A big thank you to Joe Russo from #AllianceBank & Aaron Hugo from @pinckneyhugo for speaking at our Regional Meeting this morning!
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