Texas Bankers Hall of Fame Announces 2024 Inductees

On January 3, the Texas Bankers Hall of Fame announced its 2024 inductees who will be honored at the 11th Annual Texas Bankers Hall of Fame Gala, April 25 on the campus of Sam Houston State University in Huntsville. Five iconic bankers—James E. Baine, the late Harlan R. Heitkamp, Carmen Jordan, Vidal H. Ramirez and … Read more

The Changing Face of Leadership

By NED PAULEY Simply stated, a leader is someone others follow. Leadership is not a title. It’s not a reward for length of employment. It’s an act of service that inspires people toward a shared vision. If you’ve been in bank leadership for a while, you know the role is changing. Perhaps more accurately, followership … Read more

Conference of State Bank Supervisors Updates Ransomware Self-Assessment Tool

The Conference of State Bank Supervisors (CSBS) has released an update (version 2.0) to the Ransomware Self-Assessment Tool (R-SAT) for financial institutions. The R-SAT, which was developed in collaboration with the Bankers Electronic Crimes Task Force, state bank regulators and the U.S. Secret Service, was originally released in October 2020. According to the Texas Department … Read more

Building Cardholder Loyalty Through Digital Payments

By Anne Uwabor Community financial institutions play a unique role in the spectrum of financial services providers. They are an integral part of the communities they serve, building long-standing relationships with consumers and businesses. While community banks tend to be smaller organizations with limited resources, they can still compete effectively when it comes to offering digital … Read more

Challenging Some Traditional Myths in Community Bank Operations

By Achim Griesel and Dr. Sean Payant, Haberfeld Banking, and specifically community banking, is essential to the overall health of our country. By design, it serves as the backbone for our financial system and communities, while playing a crucial role in helping individuals, businesses and governments thrive. In this highly competitive environment, community banks must … Read more

What Kind of Banks Do We Need?

By Kyle Irwin, Christopher Williston VI The recent failures of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank have raised important questions. The American public is rightly asking, “What happened to these banks?” “Why are we bailing out these banks’ depositors?” and, “Is my money safe?” Hidden in the debate and sensationalist reporting over the past two … Read more

Stacking the Deck: Secrets of High-Performing Banks

By Sean C. Payant, Ph.D. Many bank executives spend considerable time thinking about strategies to improve overall profitability and create sustainable growth. According to what is conveyed in banking industry publications and gleaned at trade shows and conferences, the industry’s best practices generally focus on strategies to cut expenses—using technology, looking at staffing levels, increasing … Read more

Texas Bankers Hall of Fame Announces 2023 Inductees

On January 2, the Texas Bankers Hall of Fame announced its 2023 inductees who will be honored at the 10th Annual Texas Bankers Hall of Fame Gala, April 27 on the campus of Sam Houston State University in Huntsville. Five iconic bankers—Kenneth L. Burgess Jr., Ron Butler, James D. Goudge, J. Pat Parsons and the late … Read more

The Battle for Deposits is Heating Up: Are You Ready?

By ACHIM GRIESEL and DR. SEAN PAYANT Core deposits, especially low-cost core deposits, have long been the key driver for franchise value in the financial services industry. That said, with the start of the pandemic and the ensuing influx of cash from stimulus checks and increased personal saving rates, financial institutions saw so much excess … Read more

Bankers Helping Bankers Announces Launch of Venture Capital Fund

On July 12, Bankers Helping Bankers (BHB) announced the launch of the Bankers Helping Bankers Fund (BHB Fund), a fintech venture capital fund managed by Latitude38 Venture Partners. The fund will support community bankers’ engagement with emerging technology providers to meet the future needs of customers and navigate the rapidly changing landscape of financial technology. It’s … Read more