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| RECENT NEWS |
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2007 ICBA Community Bank Payments Survey
The payments industry is undergoing a vast transformation and the need to track industry trends among community banks is great. ICBA is conducting the 2007 ICBA Community Bank Payments Survey. This 50-question survey will evaluate community banks' payments management, strategies, products and services. The survey findings will act as a valuable benchmarking tool for tracking community bank payment trends and strategies over time, and help develop a peer comparison tool to assist community banks in measuring current payment activities and reaffirming strategic direction.
For completing the survey, participants will be eligible to win cash prizes totaling $2,500, given away in two separate drawings. All participants will also receive a free copy of the survey results and an invitation to attend several conference calls discussing the survey findings. The deadline to complete the survey is April 10, 2007.
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| LEGAL EASE QUESTION OF THE WEEK |
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Question: We are lending the purchase money for a new manufactured home which will be placed on leased space. What precautions should we take?
To find out the answer, click on the flashing question mark. And you can also check out our searchable database of other frequently asked questions. |
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| IBAT EDUCATION FOUNDATION |
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TEA Financial Literacy Mandate For High Schools
Thank you IBAT members for your overwhelming interest in the Meeting the Mandate booklet. We have received a tremendous number of orders and are in process of fulfilling your requests. The next shipment will go out on Friday, March 2. In addition, thanks to the generosity of our associate members, American National Insurance and Dial Dunkin and Associates who volunteered to underwrite the production of our Mandate booklet, we have reformatted the tables and reproduced the high school lessons for easier readability and reproduction. All of our early subscribers will receive a copy of the redesigned booklet. For more information about the Booklet, click HERE. |
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| SOLUTIONS FROM SERVICES |
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Junction National Bank sings praises of USI’s Advantage Health Plans Trust!
Advantage program for IBAT Members Only reduced its current rate 29%!
Rob Roy Spiller, CEO, and Darla Rooke, EVP, of Junction National Bank have provided USI’s health benefits program for their employees for several years. They’ve always enjoyed working with Rick Berg, FLMI, HIA, RHU, Senior Vice President, because the claims are paid efficiently and USI’s customer support is excellent.
The bank takes pride in paying 100% of their employees’ health benefits premium. You can imagine their disappointment in learning that their rates were increasing 33% at renewal time on April 1st. They were even considering asking the employees to pay a portion of the premium.
Rick Berg was well prepared – without sacrificing benefits, USI proposed a 29% reduction in the bank’s current rates through the Advantage Health Plans Trust! (www.advantagehealthplans.com)
The IBAT endorsement was helpful to the bank, knowing that they had also performed due diligence and negotiated IBAT Member Only advantages.
Spiller and Rooke added, “This saving in premiums enables the bank to continue paying 100% of the premiums. We are delighted that the savings also allowed us to reward deserving employees with raises in their salaries!”
Paid Endorsement |
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| BAKER WEEKLY |
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With the release of the Fed’s January 31 FOMC minutes, the Committee still stands ready to bat away any inflation, although they still expect core inflation to drift downward. Last month’s relief comes as crude oil prices in January hit a nineteen-month low of $50.48/bbl on the 18th.. Read more in this week's Baker Weekly.
Although this information has been obtained from sources, which we believe to be reliable, we do not guarantee its accuracy. This is for information purposes only and is not intended as an offer or solicitation with respect to the purchase or sale of any security. |
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ON THE EDUCATION FRONT |
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2007 Operations Compliance Summit
April 12-13, 2007 - Hotel Cutoff March 22
Omni San Antonio Hotel, San Antonio
More information...
WHAT YOU WILL LEARN:
 Overdraft privilege best practices and pitfalls
 BSA/AML examination issues
Information security issues
Stored value and payroll card issues
Check processing issues, including Check 21 warranties and remote capture opportunities
FACT Act Update |
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COMING SOON |
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For a complete listing of upcoming events, click here. Meanwhile, please mark your calendar for some of our key events for 2007.
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March 8-11, 2007 - Maui, HI |
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IBAT Leadership Conference
June 14-16, 2007 - Hyatt Lost Pines Resort |
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IBAT 33rd Annual Convention
September 30 - October 2, 2007 - Fort Worth |
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TechMecca 2007
November 28-29, 2007 - Las Vegas | | |
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Contact IBAT or if you have comments or questions about this newsletter,
email or call Bonnie Kankel at (800) 749-4228. |
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