Pub. 5 2010-2011 Issue 2

July/August 2010 7 Extraordinary Service for Extraordinary Members. 233 South 13th Street, Suite 700 Lincoln, NE 68508 Phone: (402) 474-1555 • Fax: (402) 474-2946 NBA Board of Directors NBA Staff George Beattie NBA President & CEO george.beattie@nebankers.org Joni Sundquist Vice President of Communications joni.sundquist@nebankers.org Larry D. Marik NBA Chairman (2010-2011) (402) 562-5846 First National Bank of Columbus, Columbus Kendell G. Holthus NBA Chairman-Elect (2010-2011) (402) 363-7414 Cornerstone Bank, York Robert A. Balfany (402) 434-1035 U.S. Bank, N.A., Lincoln Cory A. Bergt (402) 434-4122 Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., Lincoln David P. Dannehl (308) 876-2451 First State Bank of Loomis, Loomis Curt Denker (402) 434-3115 Pinnacle Bank, Lincoln Donovan H. Ellis (402) 396-3431 Midwest Bank, N.A., Pilger Alan L. Fosler (402) 323-1272 Union Bank & Trust Co., Lincoln Stephen J. Hatz (402) 918-1567 Bank of the West, Omaha Michael R. Hilderbrand (308) 537-7181 Gothenburg State Bank & Trust Co., Gothenburg Allan D. Jefferson (402) 759-3114 Geneva State Bank, Geneva Philip Jossi (308) 893-2351 State Bank of Riverdale, Riverdale Martin F. Koopman (402) 664-2561 Scribner Bank, Scribner John F. Kotouc (402) 399-5088 American National Bank, Omaha Vicki L. Kraai (402) 773-5541 Astra Bank, Sutton Clarence L. Landen III (402) 449-0919 Security National Bank of Omaha, Omaha Clark D. Lehr (402) 563-3656 First Nebraska Bank, Columbus Mark K. Linville (402) 337-0323 First State Bank, Randolph Michael Mahlendorf (402) 633-3965 First National of Nebraska Inc., Omaha Scott J. Meister (402) 941-8603 American National Bank of Fremont, Fremont Ken H. Niedan (308) 368-5555 Hershey State Bank, Hershey David A. Ochsner (402) 476-1131 Nebraska Bankers’ Bank, Lincoln Carl J. Sjulin (402) 434-3450 West Gate Bank, Lincoln John P. Stinner (308) 436-2300 Valley Bank & Trust Co., Gering Daryl L. Wilton (402) 363-7411 Cornerstone Bank, York Michael B. Jacobson NBA Past Chairman (308) 534-2861 NebraskaLand National Bank, North Platte Jeffrey W. Krejci NBA Past Chairman (402) 438-5858 First State Bank, Lincoln Our Future Remains Bright Matt Williams , NBA Past Chairman & ABA Board Member F INANCIAL REFORM HAS DOMINATED THE MINDS OF bankers for months—and emotions have been run- ning at an all-time high. As our economy and our industry work their way through the financial crisis and subsequent reform, we’ve felt mad, sad, and glad. As community bankers, we aremad because we did not cause the problems surrounding the financial meltdown, yet we will pay the price with new regulation. We’re sad because we see our industry changing in ways that may hurt our ability to deliver products and services to our customers, thereby impairing the growth of our communities. And we’re glad—well that’s a little more complicated to explain. You may not immediately see it but some good will come from financial reform. The good will come in a few things we get, a few things we didn’t get, and a boatload of positive things that I predict will result from our efforts to protect our banks and our customers. What Did We Get? Legislation is now in place that attempts to address the issue of Too Big to Fail. Some say it doesn’t go far enough, but it’s certainly a step in the right direction. The resolution process definitely gives pause for thought to large, compli- cated organizations. The legislation also attempts to regulate many previously unsupervised, unregulated competitors in the financial services arena. This should help us compete by slowing down the quick and often uncontrolled growth of unregulated providers. I also believe our industry will benefit from the permanence of the $250,000 FDIC insur- ance limit. Let’s not ever forget the value of the FDIC brand. The protection provided to our depositors separates us from most of our competition. What Didn’t We Get, or What Didn’t We Lose? Charter choice is preserved, which is extremely important for the long-term viability of banks that want to maintain a certain climate and business model. The grandfather rules Q Our Future Remains Bright — continued on page 26