Pub. 5 2016 Issue 8

November 2016 11 l e a d i n g a d v o c a t e f o r t h e b a n k i n g i n d u s t r y i n k a n s a s KBA Staff Attorney Dylan Serrault leads attendees through the most recent HMDA requirements. Trent Flemming answers an audience question regarding technology as it relates to cash management. Lindsey Piegza discusses the possibility of the Federal Reserve raising rates. Dr. Bob Beatty provides an analysis of the presidential election. KBA Chairman Jim Hoskins, Baxter State Bank, Baxter Springs, welcomes bankers to the 2016 Lending Conference. Special Agent Christopher Conn shares tips on how to recognize SBA fraud. Panelists Earl McVicker, Central Bank and Trust Co., Hutchinson; John Price, Valley View Bank, Overland Park; & Ed Mohney, Community National Bank, Seneca, shared their past experiences as lenders in community banks. Park, and Ed Mohney, SVP of lending for Community National Bank in Seneca. The panelists touched on a variety of topics, which each of them had experienced in the past, and entertained questions from the audience as well. The panelists agreed overwhelmingly that lenders need to get out and see their customers. If the customer isn’t willing to talk to you, it’s a possible red flag for trouble. Expect the unexpected, focus on proper note structure, and lastly, communicate with your customers. Spend time at their farm or business in order to assess risk. The panel completed their session by regaling the audience with stories of customer workouts from their own past experiences. Terri Thomas presented “Collection Dos and Dont’s,” noting that the collection function for Kansas banks is filled with potential pitfalls. Her presentation covered overly aggressive collection issues, costly litigation due to these issues, and then touched on the opposite issue of being too cautious. She gave attendees the necessary tools to avoid collection dangers. Rounding out the day’s agenda was Trent Fleming as he presented “Packaging and Promoting Bank Services.” His session focused on the fight for profitable small business accounts, looking at trends including “free” business checking and commercial cash management technology. Trent offered insight to ensuring that banks have a plan to attract and retain business accounts, and completed his talk with ideas that will allow community bankers to address overall strategies for the commercial marketplace. Attendees and speakers completed Thursday by attending a networking reception. Friday morning began with a breakfast buffet, followed by a panel discussion. “How to Excel at Your Next Bank Examination” was facilitated by Dr. Bruce Morgan of Professional Bank Consultants, LLC. His panelists included James LaPierre from the FDIC, Jim Hunter from the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, and Rod Werhan from the OCC. Rounding out the day was an analysis of the presidential and senate races by Dr. Bob Beatty, professor of Political Science from Washburn University. Dr. Beatty provided unique insight to the election process by sharing differences between both the Democratic and Republican conventions, of which he attended both. He noted that 2016 is an unprecedented year for many reasons, but first and foremost is the fact that we have the first female party nominee who happens to be the spouse of a former president, and on the opposite side, we have a party nominee who has no political or military experience. The conference concluded with reminders to mark your calendars for September 27 and 28, 2017, when the Lending Conference will again be held in Manhattan!