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July-August 2008
Perspectives
Looking for Clarity
In mid-June Treasury Secretary Henry M. Paulson Jr. fleshed out his “Blueprint for a Modernized Financial Regulatory Structure” as it relates to the Federal Reserve in a speech before Women in Housing and Finance in Washington, D.C. “To act as market stability regulator,” he said, “the Fed would need appropriate authority to respond to and proactively address systemic risks — whether it be a risk posed by a commercial bank, an investment bank, a hedge fund or another type of financial institution.” >>more
BookEnd
Double Duty
Included on a new page on the Western Banking website is a section on CRA compliance, the latest news concerning CRA and financial literacy, examples of what other banks are doing to promote financial literacy and a state-by-state list of links to organizations in your area that support financial literacy. >>more
Bond Portfolio
Got Yield?
Let’s start by stating that at the time of this writing, we are in the midst of the worst financial meltdown since the Great Depression. Please note the specific use of the word “financial,” as there is really only one cause for the chain reaction of negative economic events that have occurred in 2008: greed. >>more
Feature Articles
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Enhancing Profitability by Reaching Out to the Underbanked
All things being equal, most financial institutions like the revenue growth that results from more customers using their services. But all things are not equal. For many financial institutions, accelerating customer growth has meant reaching deeper into the risk pool, accepting lower credit bureau scores and incurring higher bad debt rates. Until now.
Today profitable new customers can be identi... >>more
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How Secure Is Your Data?
Disasters come in all shapes and sizes. Data breaches and natural disasters are frequently making headlines. Despite the increased attention and focus on the inevitable, many financial institutions lack the necessary planning or business continuity tools.
According to the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council, changes in business processes and technology, increased terrorism concern... >>more
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F&M Bank Streamlines Document Management
C.J. Walker and his wife, Carrie, established Farmers & Merchants Bank in Long Beach, Calif., on Nov. 23, 1907. Walker was a prominent Long Beach businessman who had served previously as president of First National Bank. His goal was to create a sound, honest institution that would serve the Long Beach community.
Through the years, F&M has remained honorable, financially strong and dedicated to t... >>more
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Conference
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Bankers Win at the Wynn
Even if the slots and tables at the Wynn Las Vegas weren’t wealth-producing, the more than 500 bankers who gathered there for the Six-State Bankers Convention last month were amply rewarded by an information-packed program put together by the Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico and Wyoming bankers associations.
A “Nuts & Bolts of Banking” panel featured experts on asset/liability managem... >>more
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Challenges Abound, but None Are Insurmountable
While there wasn’t a specific theme to the 105th Arizona Bankers Association Annual Convention and Meeting, held June 22–24 at the Estancia La Jolla, there was a common thread throughout the convention: Bankers face some tough challenges.
For example, Arizona ranks third in the United States in foreclosures and its construction loan exposures are very high, according to Steve Hoffman, senior vic... >>more
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Going the Distance in Oregon
Going the distance” is an essential component of an athlete’s creed, the impetus for an athlete’s motivation and drive.
Bankers may not think in terms of going the distance, but the Oregon Bankers Association gave new relevance to the phrase at its 103rd Anniversary Convention, held June 22–24 in Gleneden Beach. From the opening video featuring OBA Chairman Richard E. Brown “running” to the conv... >>more
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