Pub. 7 2017-2018 Issue 2

4 O V E R A C E N T U R Y : B U I L D I N G B E T T E R B A N K S - H E L P I N G C O L O R A D A N S R E A L I Z E D R E A M S CBA is Coming to You Via Interstates and the Internet! Chairman’s Message O ver the next few weeks and months, CBA will be bringing to you a number of new opportunities for engagement and education. While the effort isn’t new, these venues might be. Our state bankers association is consistently working to meet with member banks and banks that aren’t yet members where they are – and serve them where they are. Simul- taneously, it’s working to expand availability of education events – as well as breadth of topic. Earlier this year, CBA implemented new, state-of-the-art interactive webinar technology to make its educational of- ferings readily available to bankers both inside and outside the Metro Area. Our board of directors and CBA staff are excited about the ability to reach more of our members than ever and to allow them to share input and best practices. It’s an affordable way for bankers to educate themselves on the industry’s most pressing issues without lengthy travel times and expense. A new educational series focusing on key Colorado indus- tries, economic sectors and state departments will be kicking off this fall, in hopes of opening bankers’ eyes to the various pressures these groups face and how they affect borrowing and lending. Each program will be available in person and via webinar, so keep your eyes peeled for those dates. Meanwhile, CBA staff will be hitting the road to visit member and prospect banks across the state, focusing on federal and state government relations. They will be dis- cussing the Choice Act and other key bills, while seeking feedback from our banks and bankers as to what their great- est challenges have been this year, and how CBA can help. I know representatives from Alpine bank, Glacier Bank, ANB Bank, First Southwest Bank, FirstBank, Rio Grande Savings & Loan Association, Home Loan State Bank and US Bank have already jumped at the opportunity. If your bank hasn’t, I encourage you to reach out to CBA and schedule an in-person visit so you can ensure your bank is capitalizing on its investment in the organization. If this year doesn’t work for your bank, don’t worry. We’ll be back. Finally, don’t forget to sign up for our annual management conference to be held on the Western Slope on Nov. 16. The half-day event is aimed at arming bankers to efficiently and effectively respond and adapt to the increasingly bumpy reg- ulatory landscape, public policy-related challenges and the changing face of the industry as customers’ needs diversify. We often say that membership in a trade organization is much like a gym membership: you get out of it what you put in. I urge you to take advantage of the slew of programs and resources CBA has for your bank and you as a banker. In the meantime, make sure you’re following CBA on your favorite social media channels and that you’re pouring over your weekly newsletter. Each is chock-full of informa- tion that is readily applicable to you. (Don’t get the news- letter? Contact CBA by e-mail or phone at 303-825-1575.) CBA focuses on creating a stronger economy and helping Coloradans realize their dreams by building better banks. Every employee at your bank has a role to play in that valu- able and vital effort. n Mark Driscoll First National Bank of Fort Collins 2017-2018 CBA Chairman