Texas Banking Commissioner Re-appointed to FSOC

The Conference of State Bank Supervisors (CSBS) has re-appointed Texas Department of Banking Commissioner Charles G. Cooper to serve as the state banking representative on the Financial Stability Oversight Council (FSOC). This is his third consecutive term as the state banking representative. “In today’s dynamic environment, regulatory coordination is critical for a safe and well-functioning financial system. Commissioner Cooper … Read more

Neeley, Independent Bankers Association of Texas’ General Counsel, Retires

Karen Neeley, general counsel for the Independent Bankers Association of Texas (IBAT) since 1989, retired on August 31. The association paid tribute to Neeley’s many years of service to the community banking industry in a special edition of its ongoing Ask IBAT Anything series. “After 33 years of representing IBAT as its general counsel, it … Read more

Walker, Texas Department of Banking’s Dallas Regional Director, to Retire

Larry W. Walker, director of the Texas Department of Banking’s Dallas regional office, is retiring after 42 years of service. His retirement is effective July 31. Walker joined the Texas Department of Banking in 1980 as an assistant financial examiner in Corpus Christi and was promoted to commissioned examiner in 1983. In 1993, he was … Read more

Conference of State Bank Supervisors Board Names Cooper President and CEO

The Conference of State Bank Supervisors (CSBS) board of directors recently appointed James M. Cooper president and CEO. He was serving as acting president and CEO after the sudden death of CSBS leader John W. Ryan on May 16. Cooper’s appointment follows a nine-year tenure at CSBS, during which he directed policy and supervision as … Read more

Neeley, Independent Bankers Association of Texas’ General Counsel for 33 Years, to Retire in August

Karen Neeley, general counsel for the Independent Bankers Association of Texas (IBAT) since 1989, has announced her planned retirement from IBAT “no later than August 31.” She chose the August 31 deadline to correspond with the due date for comments on the proposed revisions to the Community Reinvestment Act. “A fitting finale,” Neeley notes. “After … Read more

Logan Named President and CEO of Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas

On May 11, the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas announced the appointment of Lorie K. Logan as president and chief executive officer. She will represent the 11th Federal Reserve District on the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) in the formulation of U.S. monetary policy and will lead the 1,200 employees of the Dallas Fed. She … Read more

Community Bankers Head to D.C. in May to Advocate and Broaden Awareness

The Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) will host hundreds of community bank leaders during its 2022 ICBA Capital Summit, May 1–4 in the nation’s capital. Throughout the week, community banks will meet with key policymakers to bring greater awareness to the community banking industry’s legislative and regulatory agenda and share personal accounts of its … Read more

Texas Finance Commission Appoints Retta Commissioner of Department of Savings and Mortgage Lending

On December 16, the Texas Finance Commission appointed Hector Retta the new commissioner of the Texas Department of Savings and Mortgage Lending, effective February 1, 2022. Retta, who lives in El Paso, will serve as the 10th commissioner of the department. He previously served as president, CEO and vice chairman of Capital Bank SSB in … Read more

A Comment on Implementing Section 1071 of the Dodd-Frank Act

BAILEY ALLEN, PhD Student, Rawls College of Business, Texas Tech University MIKE MAULDIN, Director of the Excellence in Banking Program, Texas Tech University DREW WINTERS, Pickering Chair in Finance, Texas Tech University The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (hereafter, Dodd-Frank Act) was created—according to the first paragraph of the act itself: “To … Read more

Will Varo Bank be the Pin that Pops the Fintech Valuation Bubble?

Every banker has read the sensational headlines of massive funding rounds at almost unfathomable valuations for almost any company with a fintech moniker. They also know the narrative; bankers are greedy and dumb, credit unions are slow and can’t innovate, and morally superior (here again) fintechs are here to disrupt the trillion-dollar financial services industry, … Read more