Strategic
Issues
Strategy 101,
Part IV
By Cass Bettinger, Cass Bettinger & Associates
In Parts I, II, and III of
Strategy 101 we discussed the Shareholder Value Equation and the first two of
six ROA drivers; Interest Income and Interest Expense. In Part IV, our
focus will be on the third driver, non-interest income, and on the basic
strategies for managing this increasingly important driver as market forces
continue to exert greater pressure on the net interest margin. <read more>
Mergers
and Acquisitions Review: Third Quarter 2006
By Curtis
Carpenter, Sheshunoff Management Services
Third
quarter merger and acquisition activity paused after the torrid pace posted
during the second quarter. Transaction
volume in the Western region falling from 17 recorded in the second quarter to
just 5 in the third quarter, but pricing continued to lead the nation. <read more>
Technology
Process
Engineering Improves System Effectiveness
By
F. Gordon Hubbell,
Vitex, Inc.
As a director, your bank may spend significant sums of money on new IT systems
or components, an often overlooked aspect of your implementation which can
degrade and sometimes negate gains in the efficiencies sought from their
implementation. Process engineering is the effort that goes into studying
exactly how the tasks and transactions are processed, how bank employees
accomplish the tasks, and how well the processes fill the business needs of the
bank. <read more>
KEY
COMMITTEES
Board
Committee Chairman Leadership Characteristics
By
Stephen A. Enna, John Parry & Alexander
Have
you ever wondered what it takes to be viewed as a great director or chairman of
a board committee? It takes a variety of skills that are evident in great
leaders. How do you stack up?
<read more>
CORPORATE
GOVERNANCE
Stock
Options: More Trouble for the Audit Committee?
By John Stuart
& Ken Moore, Reitner, Stuart & Moore
In September, the SEC’s Chief Accountant
issued guidance on the newest corporate governance disaster - the back-dating
of stock options. Unfortunately, evil intent is not required. Companies
can easily walk themselves into problems through sloppiness and inattention.
<read more>
Regulatory
& Compliance
The
Regulatory Relief Bill - Something for Everyone
By
Joseph
Lynyak, Buckley Kolar LLP
After more than five years of
effort, Congress passed - and the President signed - the Financial
Services Regulatory Relief Act of 2006. In a manner similar to other
“regulatory relief” bills, the legislation is a potpourri of small
improvements in regulatory structural and procedural matters - there is
something for everybody. This article provides a survey of significant topics
addressed by the Act. <read more>
