Ziad Amra, MBA, JD

Join Marcia (Marci) Malzahn for her upcoming Treasury Management Workshop for Community Banks on May 21st from 9:00 am -3:30 pm CT in Eden Prairie, MN with Minnesota Bankers Association. The bankers of today must be “lenders” as well as “deposit gatherers.” Community banks are searching for ways to increase core deposits and non-interest fee income: Treasury Management is the answer. In this workshop, you will learn strategies to offer the right Treasury Management services your business customers need based on the value these services provide to businesses. You will walk away from this workshop with a deeper knowledge of Treasury Management, learn to conduct a TM Needs Assessment on your business account holders, and learn strategies to increase core deposits. You’ll also bring ideas back to your institution on how to market Treasury Management services to your ideal business account holders and ways your team can work better together knowing how critical each area is to the success of the implementation and sale of these services. Topics covered include: ✓ Maximizing the account analysis statement ✓ Treasury management products and benefits ✓ Identifying new products ✓ Treasury management integration with technology, operations, marketing, and sales teams ✓ Marketing and branding your treasury management products ✓ Organizational design for treasury management ✓ Incentivizing the sales teams ✓ Implementing treasury management products ✓ Choosing the right digital payment strategy ✓ Enhancing your products' security See you there! #communitybanking #treasurymanagement #businessbanking

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Bank Iowa's annual report is so much more than just numbers and figures. We bring our purpose, vision and values into everything that we do. Check out the 2023 annual report here: https://lnkd.in/eCmPEc6J

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Sharing this article by our Director of Research in advance of Bank Director's Audit & Risk Conference next week in Chicago.

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The Wisconsin Microfinance mission is deeply rooted in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. While we focus on many of the economic goals, we also recognize and honor the environmental goals. The benefits of a clean, safe, and sustainable world apply to all people, rich and poor. This April we want to recognize and celebrate a focus on the environment through Earth Month. Earth month is an expansion of the Earth Day movement which was created 54 years ago to educate citizens on the impacts of environmental issues around the world. Because we live in an interconnected world, environmental issues all around the globe impact people living in the countries in which we have programs. When celebrating Earth Month, we recognize the importance of addressing issues such as water pollution, climate change, and the accumulation of waste. Just as the world is impacted by these issues, so are our borrowers in Haiti, the Philippines, the Dominican Republic, and Pakistan. By raising the visibility of these issues, we hope to demonstrate that everyone deserves a clean world. Our mission is to make a difference in the lives of our borrowers, and that includes ensuring our borrowers have a clean and sustainable world. Earth Day first started as an event celebrated exclusively in the United States, but over the years, Earth Day has grown to be a truly global celebration. This international growth is paralleled by the growth of microfinance. The roots of the microfinance movements date back to the 1970’s when Muhammad Yunus introduced the idea of very small loans to village women in Bangladesh. Now, microfinance institutions exist in virtually every country in the world. Wisconsin Microfinance supports the activities around Earth Day. Sharing the importance of a clean environment with people of all ages advances an appreciation of the delicate systems we live within. Just as Earth Day has grown overtime, so too has the recognition of the needs of the very poor. We hope that one day, people will come together to recognize the importance of empowering the poor to change the world for the better.

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Native CDFIs (Community Development Financial Institutions) address credit and capital challenges in Indian Country and provide Native communities and residents with an alternative to mainstream banks. Over the past several years, our researchers have conducted a series of studies to provide Native CDFI practitioners and policymakers with actionable research insights. A recent article from Project Director Michou Kokodoko shares four key themes that have emerged from this body of work: https://bit.ly/4bznmoy #NativeCDFIs #EconomicDevelopment #IndianCountry

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Last month’s Missouri Ag Lender Pulse Survey revealed concerns about farm loan repayment capacity, challenges for borrowers and mixed views on farm finance conditions. Participating lenders shared their expectations for farm loan demand and approval rates. Lenders largely reported slightly weaker demand for farm real estate and equipment loans compared to March 2023 and slightly stronger demand for farm operating loans. Approval rates remain largely unchanged based on respondent feedback. When asked to consider farm loans within their own portfolio, lenders project loan repayment capacity to weaken in the next 12 months and three years. Most lenders surveyed felt certain that their borrowers’ repayment capacity would weaken in the next three years, but roughly one-third indicated some uncertainty. Lenders felt that delinquencies have remained unchanged over the past year. The survey also gave lenders the opportunity to describe farm finance conditions in their own words. A wide range of terms were supplied, offering mixed sentiments on the state of farm finance—ranging from concerned to hopeful. The most common phrases used were “volatile” and “tight.” Coupled with varying sentiments on farm finance conditions, lenders who responded to the survey shared their opinions on the greatest barriers to their farm borrowers’ business growth. Lenders cited economical land access and operating cost management as the top hurdles their clients must clear. These barriers are important to note as nearly 80% of survey respondents anticipated the number of Missouri farms to decrease 1-9% between 2022 and 2027. Lenders were also asked to assess the impact of family living expenses on their borrowers’ profitability this year. Lenders assigned an average 60.5 (on a 0-to-100 scale) for the extent to which family living expenses will impact profitability, indicating they view these expenses as a somewhat significant challenge. A large share of respondents cited at least a 40 on this scale. The Missouri Ag Lender Pulse Survey collected input from more than 30 agricultural lenders, including those working for commercial or community banks, the USDA Farm Service Agency, Farm Credit institutions and equipment or supplier credit financers. In total, participating lenders had an estimated $1.5 billion in loans under supervision. The Missouri Ag Lender Pulse Survey is conducted three times annually and is a project of RaFF and University of Missouri Extension. Mallory Rahe, Ryan Milhollin, Joe Parcell, Alice Roach, Scott Brown and TaylorAnn Washburn, MS contributed to administering the survey.

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102 years and counting of banking experience.

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Please let me know if you plan to attend the Atlanta Dealmakers Conference! BMO will be leading a fantastic panel discussion around financing strategies for growth! #dealmakers #growthfinancing #financingstrategies #bmogrowthegood

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First quarter #earnings season is getting started, with the largest banks reporting first. In the wake of last year’s regional banking crisis and the potential new normal of higher-for-longer interest rates, all eyes are on the health of the U.S. financial system. With #commercialrealestate (CRE) still searching for its bottom, losses related to CRE exposures are of particular concern for the banking industry. Read on in our #chartoftheweek by Jessica Noviskis, CFA and Grace Colson at the link.

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Could you use up to $750 for your business? You’ve got it—when you open an Associated Bank business checking account! Follow these simple steps and get growing now! http://spr.ly/6040e8Tso

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Check out this amazing Sealed blog post by David Kolata on how measured savings programs provide the ultimate consumer protection by ensuring accountability for project performance. And he should know after 20+ years at Citizens Utility Board (Illinois)! https://lnkd.in/eQSwPAiD

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The Illinois state legislature has made a bold move with the Interchange Fee Prohibition Act. Have you heard about it? 🔑Here are the 5 key points: 📕Legislation Overview: Illinois passed the Interchange Fee Prohibition Act, barring card networks and issuers from charging fees on excise taxes and tips in card transactions. 🏪Merchant Requirements: The prohibition depends on merchants informing their bank acquirers of the tax and gratuity amounts during payment processing. 🧐Broader Context: Illinois is the first state to pass such legislation, with other states like Texas and Florida considering similar bills. 👯‍♀️Support and Opposition: The bill has support from merchant trade groups and opposition from credit card networks and banks. It aims to address the perceivedke unfairness of businesses paying fees on tax collections. ⚠️Penalties and Enforcement: The law imposes a $1,000 civil penalty per transaction for entities charging such fees and requires them to refund the fees. It also prevents card companies from adjusting fees elsewhere to offset the impact of the law. #interchange #merchants #cards #payments #payometry https://lnkd.in/eCxvHztu?

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Read Achim Griesel and Dr. Sean Payant’s “Unlocking Growth: A Practical Guide to Leveraging Your Bank’s Data” right here free from the Minnesota Bankers Association!

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Stocks ended a difficult April with major U.S. indexes down in the -1.4% to -2.04% range. Treasury yields moved higher across the yield curve as well. Here’s our take.

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Heads up, #CreditUnion #Audit & #Risk Professionals! Our Chief Service Officer, Darron Dunn, and Senior Director of Audit Services, Carrie Dudley Helmle, are headed to ACUARP's Annual Conference this month. You can catch us in Chicago at Booth #18 or join Carrie's breakout session on Internal Fraud Investigations on June 19 at 3:30 p.m. Hope to see you there! ASSOCIATION OF CREDIT UNION AUDIT AND RISK PROFESSIONALS (ACUARP) #InternalAudits #AuditManagement #RiskManagement

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Each summer, First Bank Chicago offers a series of department presentations called EXPLORE. Explore presentations offer an educational perspective on the different areas and processes of the Bank. Last weeks presentation highlighted Treasury Management Solutions. #teamFBC #FirstBankChicago #MemberFDIC #EqualHousingLender 

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Interesting article in The New York Times about NAV financing from the Milken conference last week. If you're exploring NAV opportunities or would like to learn more, please reach out. We love talking about NAV. EverBank https://lnkd.in/edrRhNf4

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