Ahead of the Curve: A Banker's Podcast

With interest rates having shifted dramatically, financial institutions find themselves navigating uncharted territory, grappling with how to adapt their ALM strategies to the new normal. Join us as Abrigo Director of Sales and Professional Services Dave Koch, an experienced asset/liability management advisor, delves into the complexities of the current economic landscape and its impact on community banks. 

In this episode, we'...

As the global population of individuals aged 60 and over is projected to increase by 38% between 2019 and 2030, elder abuse and elder financial exploitation (EFE) are becoming increasingly prevalent issues. This demographic shift, particularly in the developing world, brings attention to the unique challenges older persons face, including those related to human rights and financial security. Elder fraud, a severe form of EFE, conti...

Section 1071 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act requires financial institutions to collect and report data on small business lending to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). The details of the CFPB 1071 rule are laid out in an extensive 888-page document, so it's no surprise that many financial institutions aren’t sure where to start when it comes to preparing for compliance.

In this epi...

The OCC, FDIC, and Federal Reserve Board have released the hypothetical scenarios for their annual Dodd-Frank stress tests, which help ensure that large banks can lend to households and businesses even in a severe recession. How do the scenarios impact community financial institutions, and how can you use stress testing to your institution's benefit?

Join Zach Englert and Jacob Lowe as they discuss what the scenarios ...

Human trafficking – a form of modern slavery – is one of the fastest-growing criminal activities in the world, exploiting over 45 million people and generating an estimated $150 billion in profits each year. While global in reach, human trafficking also affects individuals, communities, and economies across the United States.

Join Brad Jeffery, founder of MADE FREE, and Heather Bellino, CEO of Texas Advocacy Project, as we discuss h...

The marijuana-related banking industry took major steps forward on September 27, 2023, when the Senate Committee passed the Secure and Fair Enforcement Regulation (SAFER) Banking Act after weeks of negotiations and revisions to reach a bipartisan agreement. The bill would secure access for marijuana-related businesses (MRBs) to financial institutions. Terri Luttrell and Michael O’Neill, aka “The Cannabis Banker,” join the podcast t...

The OCC issued it's Bank Supervision Operation Plan for 2024 and we take a look on at it on the latest episode of Ahead of the Curve. This plan outlines the OCC's priorities and objectives for the coming year and provides great insights on where to focus your financial institution's time.

In this episode,  Abrigo Advisor Zach Englert discusses his big takeaways specifically around liquidity risk, credit ris...

Financial institutions all have one thing in common right now: an unprecedented rising rate environment that isn't going away anytime soon. Some have action plans in place to ensure capital and margin objectives are still achieved, but for many, this coming period represents a complete unknown, so they are not as prepared. Whether deposits are an issue or not right now, it is prudent to make sure you have the monitoring and st...

Ag lenders have faced a whirlwind of events over the past few years. From government stimulus programs to sky-rocketing land values to record inflation, many financial institutions are struggling to get a handle on it all. However, with an eye on credit risk and an increase in loan demand expected on the horizon, profitability and growth are possible for institutions.

In this episode, Rob Newberry, former dairy farmer and Senior Adv...

For financial institutions across the country, commercial real estate (CRE) remains an area of high emphasis within the loan portfolio as they pursue growth. However,  with rising interest rates and inflation as well as the underlying impacts of the pandemic on office space, it’s important to keep an eye on the market and the inherent risks this type of lending presents.

In this episode, Matt Anderson from Trepp and Rob Newberry fro...

Financial institutions continue to face a rapidly changing geopolitical landscape and volatile economic environment. These top-of-mind concerns underscore the need for banks and credit unions to ensure they have enough capital to withstand a wide range of shocks. How can institutions make sure they have a comprehensive view of their risk? How do they plan for managing those risks should they emerge?

In this podcast we disc...

Learn about Abrigo's upcoming ThinkBIG Conference in this special bonus episode. With specific learning tracks for lending and credit risk, portfolio risk, and FinCrime, there is something for everyone.

The in-person conference happening in San Antonio, Texas, from May 23-26 will be full of opportunities to earn CPE credit, network with peers, and learn best practices!

Register now at https://www.abrigo.com/...

Lending to and banking cannabis-related businesses is currently a hot topic among banking circles. With laws varying by state and the inherent risks associated with providing these services, many banks and credit unions are weighing whether to participate themselves. Ultimately, each institution will vary in its approach. However, there is no denying that this is a 'budding' industry that deserves serious consideration as...

With rampant inflation and expected rate hikes for banks and credit unions, not to mention lingering economic and health effects from the pandemic, financial institutions face real profitability challenges in 2022. Now more than ever, it’s critical to focus on effective loan pricing. The alternatives? Risk losing customers to competition or falling victim to further margin compression.

In this podcast, we discuss: 

• The...

Digitalization sits atop most financial institutions’ strategic plans this year as a result of remote work and ever-changing customer expectations. New software and other technology is often vital to that effort. Whether you’re implementing and rolling out loan origination software (LOS) as discussed in this podcast or another solution, a key consideration is the choice between software customization vs. configuration. In this epis...