It occurs to me that with a little thought there may be some parallels between our national pastime and community banking. Follow along as we see what lessons we might glean from the grand old game. And don’t buy what Yogi Berra asked: “Who can think and play baseball at the same time?”

Money is moving out of low- and no-interest bank accounts in favor of higher-yielding money markets, CDs and other fixed income products available elsewhere. Deposits that swelled in the wake of unprecedented government stimulus are steadily declining.

The financial landscape is evolving rapidly, and with it, the way banks market themselves. Gone are the days of relying solely on traditional tactics like print ads, branch marketing, and annual surveys. Today, success hinges on embracing a data-driven and education-focused approach.

Your Bank Director Program subscription includes access to 20 online courses on topics ranging from the Bank Secrecy Act to Understanding UDAAP. These courses are a wonderful way to onboard new directors while ensuring your seasoned directors are up to speed.

Cloud security has become increasingly crucial as more community banks are transitioning from on-premises solutions to cloud-based services. The rapid transition to the cloud has greatly expanded the potential areas for cyberattacks, posing a significant challenge for security teams.

Like many of today’s processes in banking, strategic planning is undergoing a dramatic shift. One of the core responsibilities of a bank board is to approve, support, and monitor its strategic plan.

Tell me if you’ve heard this: An inverted yield curve is highly correlated with a subsequent recession. And might I point out that the U. S. treasury curve has been upside down for pushing two years now?

Don’t miss the new Enhancing Organizational Value Conference presented by ICBA Education and experts from Gerrish Smith Tuck, to gain insights into critical corporate governance topics like stock liquidity, capital raising, succession planning, and employee retention.

When margins are narrow, there is only ‘so much’ value you can squeeze out of your assets and liabilities. It is time to rethink balance sheet growth and strategies to achieve results.

A new year, and many things old are new again, including the Dodd-Frank Act (DFA); data privacy; Community Reinvestment Act (CRA); Unfair, Deceptive, or Abusive Acts or Practices Act (UDAAP); and beneficial ownership disclosure. There’s new activity, too, including calculating, disclosing and implementing fees on accounts.