Financial Track 

"Competing Through Capital"
Stormy Greef, Jenkens & Gilchrist

Presentation

Many community-banking organizations are experiencing shortages of capital. Such capital shortfalls have resulted from asset growth and strong loan demand. As a result, community banking organizations’ leverage ratios and total risk-based capital ratios are under stress. Such organizations could always issue common stock, but by doing so, they severely dilute their existing shareholders. In this session, Peter will discuss alternatives, including hybrid debt instruments such as subordinated debentures and trust preferred securities, and alternative equity instruments. He will also discuss the various avenues for finding investors for such securities. Lastly, he will discuss how the Federal Reserve’s capital rules apply to community banks.

"Investment Strategies in a Rising Interest Rate Environment"
Steven P. Eldredge, CFA, Managing Director, Senior Portfolio Manager, Voyageur Asset Management

Presentation

This presentation provides a proven framework for developing comprehensive bank investment management strategies. Once an effective process is established, investors can consider individual securities that perform better during times of rising interest rates. Finally, characteristics of a consolidated portfolio are considered with a focus on both performance and risk, in a rising interest rate environment.

"Balance Sheet Management"
Greg Meadows, Vice President, TIB-The Independent Bankers Bank

Presentation

It’s been almost five years since we’ve been in a rising rate environment. Have you adjusted your asset/liability strategies that were in place for all those years? This session will provide a checklist of issues to consider, ranging from optimizing interest rate risk, to liquidity and funding strategies, and investment strategies. Whether your bank is asset- or liability-sensitive, you’ll want to attend this session to learn tips on balance sheet management.

 Operational Track 

"Anti-Money Laundering and the Bank Secrecy Act - What’s the Big Problem?"
Timothy White, CAMS, Banker’s Toolbox, Inc.

Presentation

This fast-moving presentation is designed to expand the audience's knowledge base of anti-money laundering issues beyond the basics of the Bank Secrecy Act and the standard regulatory rehash. Tim will highlight more than a dozen examples of money laundering schemes, drilling down on several issues of importance to bankers. He will skim over the scope of both the International Anti-Money Laundering Standards and the U.S. laws and regulations, focusing the audience on why this issue impacts their bank, and he will outline real examples from his bank clients, regulators and actual criminals. Tim will focus on best practices for a sound AML\BSA\OFAC compliance program. What should executive management be doing regarding BSA regulatory enforcement? What is a risk-based program? What is reasonable and practical? What can you do to win brownie points with the examiner? What are some of the pitfalls that are easy to make?

"The Evolution of Operational Risk"
Stephan Salvador, Director of Risk Management Consulting, Metavante Corporation

Presentation

As industry risks proliferate and regulatory pressure increases, operational risk management has become a prerequisite for strong performance. Furthermore, as banks deal with FDICIA, Sarbanes-Oxley 404, FFIEC IT risk guidelines, and internal and external risk assessments across departments, the need to organize and report risk data more efficiently becomes imperative. The ultimate goal is to have a unified view of risks and controls across all business units and processes, a common assessment and measurement system, and governance for the risk management program. Ultimately, a coordinated operational risk management program with robust analytics will lead to more efficient use of capital and personnel.

"Check 21 - The Aftermath and the Regulators!"
Ruth Razook, RLR Management Consulting, Inc.

Presentation

On Oct. 28, 2004, Check 21 went into effect. Most people are saying, "See, it was not a big deal!" Although rolling in slower than anticipated, Check 21 is in effect and financial institutions, as well as service providers, are receiving substitute checks. To date, we have seen very few customer claims regarding substitute checks, but the industry is ready and we expect the volume to grow throughout the year. The regulators want financial institutions to be ready, regardless of the slow roll in of Check 21. In the fourth quarter of 2004, they published specific examination guidelines for the financial institutions. Have you seen the guidelines? Are you ready?

 Corporate Track 

"Managing Your Service Provider Relationships"
Brad Putnam, Digital Compliance

Presentation

Banks are being forced to gather an enormous amount of due diligence documentation from all third-party service providers and the cost to financial institutions and vendors alike is soaring. Brad will discuss how to determine which vendors an institution might examine more closely, what due diligence documentation should be acquired and reviewed before a contract is signed with any service provider, and what vendor documentation should be continually monitored throughout the life of the contract. Further, he will provide insight as to what examiners expect banks to have in place in regard to outsourced vendor management.

"SOX Section 404 - Keeping it Under Control"
Jeffrey F. Jones, CPA - Partner, Perry Smith-LLP

Presentation

This is an interactive discussion on Section 404 and its impact on public and non-public institutions...whether small or large. Jeff will discuss where you should be in your implementation process, steps to complete, what the hurdles are and the remediation and reporting process. He will also share ideas for what is working for companies and how non- public companies are being impacted.

"Executive Incentive Compensation Issues"
Donald H. Friedman, President & CEO, M Benefit Solutions
John Hancock, Partner, Chairman-Financial Institutions, Moss Adams Financial Institutions Group

Presentation

More than ever, community banks today are competing for top executive talent from within and outside the banking industry. Banks can enhance their ability to attract and retain key executives with meaningful and tangible benefits that extend beyond basic remuneration. These plans can be tailored to specific objectives and recognize each executive’s unique contributions. This session will focus on the incentive compensation plans and executive benefits that best help banks recognize the key contributors to their success. Specific emphasis will be placed on design considerations, national trends and regulatory developments related to retirement programs for executives and directors, as well as equity-based incentive programs that do not dilute current ownership.

  Hot Forum Sessions

"Case Study - Increasing Your Bank’s Value"
Peter Buck & Joel Comer, Sandler O’Neill & Partners

Whether you are buying, selling or just striving to enhance bottom-line profits, this interactive case study demonstrates tools and methodologies to make good strategic decisions in the future.

"WIB Workers’ Compensation California Self-Insured Group"
Anne Scully, President, WIB Service Corporation

Anne will provide a brief overview of WIB’s new Workers’ Compensation Self-Insured Group (WIBSIG) Program for California banks. The WIBSIG is the only "bank" self-insured group plan that has received federal and state regulatory approval.

"Risky Internet Banking Issues"
Jeffrey A. Anderson, JD, CPCU, St. Paul Travelers - Financial &
Professional Services

Presentation

This high-level discussion will focus on the ever-changing risks associated with Internet banking. Anderson will start by identifying gaps in many traditional banking insurance products. Then he will show how the traditional products have changed to fill the gaps and what you should expect to see in the vast array of insurance products in the marketplace.

"Using Financial Derivatives to Offer Customized Loan Products"
Gerrit van de Wetering, Morgan Keegan & Company, Inc.

Presentation

This session provides a framework for offering customized loan solutions and managing interest rate risk to the loan portfolio in a rising-rate environment. This accounting-friendly strategy allows lenders to generate loans where the borrower pays a fixed rate and the lender nets to a floating rate.

  Peer Idea Exchange Sessions

Peer Idea Exchange Sessions are an important part of all of WIB’s Conferences.  You will have three opportunities for candid discussions with other bankers from your own state and throughout the West.  These sessions are open to BANKERS ONLY.

 Continuing Education Credits 

If Continuing Education Units are important to your position at your bank, this is the Conference for you!

You may accumulate up to 11.5 CEU’s by attending the Conference and the pre- and post-conference workshops.