June 16, 2022

The 2022 BLOK class members met in Kansas City on April 11-13 to continue their training. Ted Garnett of Performance Resources Consulting, LLC, led the class in a session titled Leadership and Self Deception, followed by a session titled Leadership Accountability. Mr. Garnett took the class through several hands-on exercises that helped them stretch their minds and think outside the box.

Sponsored by KBA Insurance, Inc. May 9, 2022 — Sand Creek Station, Newton, KS FIRST FLIGHT 1st PlaceDahx Marrs, Kansas Bankers Tech, SalinaAndrew Manley, Kansas Bankers Tech, SalinaBrad Shields, SalinaRyan Peschka, Berkley Capital Management, Salina 2nd PlaceJoe White, INTRUST, WichitaGrant Paitz, INTRUST, WichitaMatt Hudson, INTRUST, WichitaNick Museousky, INTRUST, Wichita 3rd PlaceEric Porter, (ret) KS State

American workers are quitting their jobs in record numbers – leading economists and pundits to dub the period we’re currently living through “The Great Resignation.”

KBA Education and HR Committee Chair Deanne Engstrom, First Security Bank in Paola, kicked off the 2022 Women in Banking Conference by welcoming the group to KBA’s first in-person Women in Banking Conference. This year’s event was held March 24-25 at the Marriott Hotel in Overland Park, with over 120 women in attendance.

In April, KBA was excited to announce a new opportunity for banks across Kansas that impacts the state’s workforce and teaches students about the banking industry and financial literacy. The new partnership with Jobs for America’s Graduates – Kansas (JAG-K) allowed bankers to participate during “JAG-K with the KBA Week” on April 18 through 22 and visit their local JAG-K classrooms.

Here at the Kansas Bankers Association, it’s our mission to support our member banks and bankers with leadership, advocacy, and education to benefit the communities and customers they serve. One very important aspect of that support is helping our members through our endorsed vendors.

The Kansas Bankers Association (KBA) is pleased to announce the recipients of thirteen scholarships awarded by the Kansas Bankers Educational Foundation (KBEF), a 501(c) 3 corporation created and operated by the KBA. Four scholarships were awarded to children of Kansas bankers, two scholarships were given to students with banker references, and seven scholarships were awarded to students who are currently enrolled in one of two Kansas colleges/universities who offer banking-specific degrees and/or concentrations.

Just five months into Compliance First Banking Solutions’ launch of its outsourced compliance services, CFBS welcomes its newest member of the team and second Compliance Operations Specialist, Nathan Stumme. Joining the KBA from Houston, Texas, Nathan has worked in the financial services industry for six years, serving as a consumer loan processor and vendor management specialist before most recently working as an internal auditor. Prior to working in financial institutions, Nathan studied computer science at Wartburg College in northeast Iowa and worked in technical support for small businesses.

If you or your bank is interested in joining the YBOK Division, please reach out to Alex Orel or Bree Magee at the KBA.

The rising costs of consumer goods and a tight labor market are leading to increased wage pressure for Kansas banks.

The 43rd Annual MOKAN Trust & Financial Services Conference was held May 11-13, 2022, at the Sheraton Overland Park Hotel & Convention Center in Overland Park, Kansas. Over 250 folks attended! A sincere thank you to the attendees, sponsors, and speakers for making this event so successful.

Digital products and online platforms have reconfigured commercial banking in the 21st century. Market penetration for these services and products continues to rise, and it is expected that the users of digital banking will eclipse 80% of the population in the U.S. by 2025. These changes represent a massive, irreversible disruption in the way commercial banking is done, opening up new business models and placing pressure on industry incumbents.

Where has the time gone? Unbelievably, the industry is six short months away from adopting CECL. Thankfully, the six years since CECL was announced have been quiet, relatively straightforward years allowing you and your bank time to prepare.

CSB&T In Ellsworth Announces Promotions of Muchow and Frazier Megan Muchow, who joined Citizens State Bank and Trust Co. in 2007, has been promoted to vice president/cashier. The advancement follows the recent retirement of long- time cashier and vice president, Diane Buchholz. The Board of Directors of CSB&T approved Muchow’s promotion at its March meeting.

The mortgage market is already off to a volatile start in 2022 with Treasury yields soaring, spreads widening, and mortgage rates breaching 4%. The Federal Reserve has made clear that it will focus on a robust monetary tightening campaign to combat high inflation by ending mortgage-backed securities (MBS) purchases and likely shifting the reinvestment of mortgage paydowns from MBS to Treasuries. This comes on the heels of record home price appreciation (HPA) and expectations for prices to continue rising at a modest pace, increasing loan sizes.