2025 ISSUE 5 Official Publication of the Community Bankers Association of Kansas 2025 CONVENTION & TRADE SHOW The Rising Threat of Deepfake Scams Credit Stress Contingencies Why Wait Until It Comes?
4 FLOURISH CONVERSATIONS MUST DETERMINE OUR INNOVATION BUDGETS By Rebeca Romero Rainey, President and CEO, ICBA 6 PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT HIGH ANXIETY Yield Curve Shape Reflects Bond Market’s Mood By Jim Reber, CPA, CFA, President and CEO, ICBA Securities 8 2025 CONVENTION & TRADE SHOW 12 CBA EDUCATIONAL CRUISE Where Relaxation, Entertainment and Education Meet 14 KEY CHANGES IN OBBBA ENHANCE SAVING OPTIONS By Lisa Haberman, Ed.D., QKA, ChFC, CLU, Ascensus 16 THE RISING THREAT OF DEEPFAKE SCAMS By Brandie Thacker, President & CEO, EPCOR 18 CREDIT STRESS CONTINGENCIES Why Wait Until It Comes? By David Ruffin, Principal, IntelliCredit® 20 ANNOUNCEMENTS 20 ANNIVERSARIES 23 OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS 23 PRODUCTS AND SERVICES REFERENCE LIST 26 BANK WEBINARS Live & On-Demand CONTENTS ISSUE 5 www.cbak.com ©2025 The Community Bankers Association of Kansas (CBAK) | The newsLINK Group LLC. All rights reserved. In Touch is published six times per year by The newsLINK Group LLC for CBAK and is the official publication for this association. The information contained in this publication is intended to provide general information for review, consideration and education. The contents do not constitute legal advice and should not be relied on as such. If you need legal advice or assistance, it is strongly recommended that you contact an attorney as to your circumstances. The statements and opinions expressed in this publication are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily represent the views of CBAK, its board of directors or the publisher. Likewise, the appearance of advertisements within this publication does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation of any product or service advertised. In Touch is a collective work, and as such, some articles are submitted by authors who are independent of CBAK. While a first-print policy is encouraged, in cases where this is not possible, every effort has been made to comply with any known reprint guidelines or restrictions. Content may not be reproduced or reprinted without prior written permission. For further information, please contact the publisher at (855) 747-4003. 6HIGH ANXIETY 8 2025 CONVENTION & TRADE SHOW 16 THE RISING THREAT OF DEEPFAKE SCAMS 3
FLOURISH CONVERSATIONS MUST DETERMINE OUR INNOVATION BUDGETS Innovation is one of those line items that can be hard to wrap our heads around. There’s no formula or silver bullet to determine how much to spend, so we annually face that Goldilocks conundrum of determining what’s too little, what’s too much and what’s just right. Yet, when faced with that uncertainty, I’ve found that dialogue can be the answer. Conversations with our leadership teams, full staff and customers will spark ideas that can help us focus on our true needs and evaluate our priorities. Those discussions start with determining how we define return on investment (ROI). With innovation, ROI is about looking through the lens of overall impact, not just how it will affect us financially in the year ahead. Ultimately, budgeting for innovation requires us to reverse-engineer our thinking and consider the price of not acting. We can’t just look at the fees for the technology or the integration; we also need to evaluate the cost of maintaining the status quo. That will help make the innovation investment more concrete and guide our decision-making. We need to identify a particular pain point, evaluate what it currently costs us in terms of staff time, customer attrition or other relevant variables, consider what may shift in the future and evaluate BY REBECA ROMERO RAINEY PRESIDENT AND CEO, ICBA Innovation is a journey, not a destination. It’s about enabling a mindset and culture that’s open to considering something different and continuing to shift with the needs of our customers and communities. As the financial services industry continues to evolve, we will increasingly face the challenge of balancing investment in innovation against budgetary constraints. Thoughtful discussions with our teams will shed light on the best approach for our individual banks. In these discussions, we will chart a course that’s right for our organizations, one investment at a time. both the short- and long-term impact. That analysis helps us gain the concrete awareness needed to make informed decisions. And sometimes not acting is the right choice. Not every solution is going to work for everybody, but thoughtful conversations result in a conscious, strategic decision versus one informed by a reaction to a product price tag. This dialogue is critical to creating an innovation-centric culture that is more about the process than the product. Brainstorming with our teams leads to valuable decision-making, and the ROI comes from the time we spend discussing and taking a proactive approach to problem-solving. 4
HIGH ANXIETY PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT Yield Curve Shape Reflects Bond Market’s Mood BY JIM REBER, CPA, CFA PRESIDENT AND CEO, ICBA SECURITIES Let’s start this month’s column with a dose of banality: Be careful what you wish for. For at least four years, all manner of bond market participants — including analysts, consultants, pundits and, last but not least, investors — have been predicting and hoping for a normally sloped yield curve. Though the longest-on-record inversion finally corrected itself last September when the Fed first cut rates, we did not see a positive slope of even 50 basis points (0.5%) until May. (Trivia fans: The average difference between 2s and 10s was a nice, neat 100 basis points for the past 15 years.) Most community bankers I’ve spoken with this year have been hoping for a steeper curve. Even though the interest rate risk of most banks is well insulated against relatively small rate shocks, the feeling is that a more normal curve shape would help loan officers and liquidity managers to price relative risk. Aligned with this is the notion that we’re in a secular falling rate environment, as evidenced by Fed funds futures that have been projecting between one and four rate cuts by the end of 2025. And now? Wholly unrelated to economic factors are trade policy and fiscal issues that drive interest rates. The Fed may stay on the sidelines for a good long while. And the yield curve? It’s gotten some slope all right — compliments of a “bear steepener.” What It Looks Like Bear steepeners are interest rate maneuvers in which rates rise and longer tenors increase more than shorter ones. They are relatively rare, as most of the time the curve steepens, it’s the result of anticipated or actual rate cuts by the Fed. Why is this? First, I should repeat myself (hackneyed, again) that all rates have trended lower since the 1980s, the last three years notwithstanding. Also, think about what the Fed is trying to accomplish when it employs rate hikes: It is trying to slow down the economy and/or stamp out inflation. Both of those are reasons for the curve to flatten. And now? Long-term investors (say five years and more) are highly concerned about inflation reigniting and the projections of escalating national debt. The Fed, for its part, is having to take a wait-and-see approach, so it’s wholly unclear when or if it will make a change to monetary policy. The result is the 2025 bear steepener, in which the longest rates are hitting multiyear highs. 2013 Hissy Fit In the lexicon of veteran portfolio managers and community bankers is the “Taper Tantrum.” This occurred in 2013, when the U.S. economy was still working through the Great Recession. The Fed, then chaired by Ben Bernanke, was in the middle of 6
a quantitative easing (QE) phase of buying a lot of bonds in the open market. The chairman made some comments about slowing down the scale of the purchases, which the market was not expecting, and longer bonds had a hard sell-off. The 10-year note’s yield rose well over 100 basis points in four months, and all the while, the Fed was still into QE. It turned out the Fed didn’t taper its purchases for over a year following the bombshell press conference. In fact, its forward guidance continued to suggest an accommodative monetary policy. Bond market yields eventually retreated to pre-Tantrum levels, as inflation never reared its head. That period of history remains a benchmark example of a bear steepener in the fixed-income market. What Could Work What if short rates remain anchored at or about where they are now, and longer rates remain annoyingly elevated? First, and to stay on the vapid track, I’d like to point out the obvious. Your community bank’s bond portfolio will continue to be underwater, and mortgage lending will remain a challenge. Cash flows from your mortgage securities will be limited, and not many bonds will be called away by the issuers. Finally, for some good news: It’s possible that longer-duration securities are reaching the point of being oversold. The 30-year Treasury has touched levels in 2025 that haven’t been seen in 18 years. If the Fed is forced to delay rate cuts, floating rate securities could offer relative value, even if the yield curve has some slope. The suggestion, therefore, is a tried-and-true strategy: the barbell. Roughly equal amounts of short and long bonds, employed in this uncertain environment, will likely produce some tactical wins. To conclude, here’s one more cliché: “Slow and steady wins the race.” Jim Reber, CPA, CFA (jreber@icbasecurities.com), is president and CEO of ICBA Securities, ICBA’s institutional, fixed-income broker-dealer for community banks. Education on Tap Community Bank Conference in November ICBA and Stifel announce the inaugural Community Bank Symposium on Nov. 12-14, in Hilton Head, South Carolina. This event will feature discussions about industry trends and opportunities and a presentation from ICBA’s Government Relations team. A variety of social activities will also be offered. For more information or to register, contact your Stifel rep or visit icbasecurities.com. 7
2025 CONVENTION & TRADE SHOW The Community Bankers of Kansas had a wonderful time at this year’s Convention & Trade Show on July 7-9 at the Kansas City Marriott Downtown in Kansas City, Missouri. Thank you to our speakers, sponsors and all who attended for making this a successful event. 8
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CBA EDUCATIONAL CRUISE Where Relaxation, Entertainment and Education Meet Feb. 8-15, 2026 Puerto Rico, British Virgin Islands, Antigua, Barbados, St. Lucia, St. Maarten and U.S. Virgin Islands CBA invites community bankers, directors, employees, associate members, family and friends to join us for an unforgettable journey to tropical islands throughout the Caribbean. This “All-Inclusive at Sea” adventure is the perfect opportunity to relax in the sun while also networking with banking professionals. Visit www.cbak.com for more details. For more information, contact Marilyn Boeding at (785) 336-6383 or by email at pm_boeding@yahoo.com. 12
KEY CHANGES IN OBBBA ENHANCE SAVING OPTIONS The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), passed by Congress on July 3, 2025, introduces several significant changes aimed at enhancing retirement savings options and financial security for individuals. Here are the key provisions that retirement savers should be aware of. Introduction of “Trump Accounts” What are Trump Accounts and how do they work? Trump Accounts are Traditional IRAs designed to provide financial support from birth to retirement. Here’s a breakdown of their key features: • Eligibility and Establishment: These accounts can be created by the Treasury Secretary for individuals under age 18 with a Social Security number. Parents or guardians can also establish these accounts with a qualified rollover contribution, which is an amount rolled over directly from one Trump account to another Trump account for the same child. • Contributions: Contributions are limited to $5,000 per child per calendar year until the year before the child turns 18. Contributions are not tax-deductible, and starting in 2028, the limit will be indexed for inflation. Any accrued earnings will remain tax deferred until distributed. • Distributions: Distributions are generally prohibited until the child turns 18, except for specific exceptions (e.g., qualified rollover contributions). After age 18, distributions follow Traditional IRA rules. Extension of ABLE Account Provisions How does the OBBBA affect ABLE accounts? The OBBBA makes permanent several key provisions affecting ABLE accounts (including the following), which were set to expire at the end of 2025: • Additional Contributions: Employed eligible individuals can contribute amounts above the annual limit, capped at the prior year’s federal poverty level or the beneficiary’s yearly compensation, whichever is less. • Nonrefundable Saver’s Credit: Eligible individuals making qualified contributions to their ABLE account can receive a nonrefundable Saver’s Credit, with the annual limit for the credit increasing to $2,100 in 2027. Enhancements to 529 Plans What changes does the OBBBA bring to 529 plans? The OBBBA introduces several enhancements to 529 education savings plans, including the following: • Increased K-12 Expense Limit: The annual limit for using 529 plan assets for K-12 expenses increases from $10,000 to $20,000 starting in 2026. • Expanded Definition of Qualified Expenses: The definition now includes expenses for postsecondary credentialing — such as tuition, fees, books and supplies required for recognized postsecondary credential programs. BY LISA HABERMAN, ED.D., QKA, CHFC, CLU ASCENSUS 14
Expansion of Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) What are the new provisions for HSAs under the OBBBA? The OBBBA includes two significant HSA provisions: • Direct Primary Care Arrangements: Individuals with high deductible health plans (HDHPs) can enroll in direct primary care arrangements while remaining HSA eligible, provided the monthly fee does not exceed $150. • Telehealth Safe Harbor: The special telehealth safe harbor for HSA-compatible HDHPs, which expired in 2024, is permanently extended and made retroactive. Changes to Executive Pay and Tax-Exempt Compensation How does the OBBBA affect executive pay and tax-exempt compensation? The OBBBA introduces new rules for executive pay and tax-exempt compensation: • Aggregation Rule for Executive Pay: The $1 million deduction limit for employee pay now applies to specified covered employees within a controlled group of publicly held corporations. • Expanded Tax on Excess Compensation: The 21% excise tax on compensation over $1 million now includes all current and former employees of applicable tax-exempt organizations. Tax Rate Changes and Other Adjustments What are the key tax rate changes in the OBBBA? The OBBBA includes several tax rate changes and adjustments: • Permanent Reduced Individual Tax Rates: The reduced individual tax rates from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) are made permanent, with additional inflation adjustments. • Enhanced Standard Deduction: The increased standard deduction from the TCJA is made permanent and further enhanced. • Qualified Business Income Deduction: The 20% deduction for qualified business income (QBI) is made permanent, with increased phase-in limits and a new minimum deduction for active QBI. What Are the Next Steps for the OBBBA? The bill was signed into law on July 4, 2025. Stay tuned for the latest developments and how these changes may affect your retirement savings strategy. And for more detailed information on the OBBBA, scan the QR code. https://www.ascensus.com/industry-regulatory-news/ news-articles/washington-pulse-2025-taxbill-provides-key-changes-for-savers/ 15
Deepfake technology, powered by AI, is rapidly evolving, presenting a significant and growing threat to financial institutions and their customers. These sophisticated techniques can create highly realistic fake videos, audio recordings and images, making it increasingly difficult to distinguish between genuine and fraudulent communications. This has led to a surge in deepfake scams targeting financial institutions, businesses and individuals, resulting in substantial financial losses and erosion of trust. The Mechanics of Deepfake Fraud Deepfake scams often involve manipulating existing media or creating entirely new synthetic content to impersonate trusted individuals, such as executives, family members or customer service representatives. Fraudsters use these impersonations to: • Trick Individuals Into Transferring Funds: Criminals may use deepfake audio or video to convince victims to make unauthorized payments. For example, a financial worker in Hong Kong was tricked into paying out $25 million after fraudsters used deepfake technology to impersonate the company's chief financial officer. • Bypass Identity Verification Systems: Deepfakes can be used to create fake IDs or circumvent biometric authentication measures, allowing criminals to open fraudulent accounts or access existing ones. • Spread Misinformation and Manipulate Markets: Deepfakes can be used to create false narratives that can destabilize financial markets. In one instance, deepfake images of a Pentagon explosion caused a drop in the Dow Jones Index within minutes. • Exploit Personal Relationships for Financial Gain: Scammers may use deepfakes to impersonate family members or romantic partners, soliciting money under false pretenses. THE RISING THREAT OF DEEPFAKE SCAMS BY BRANDIE THACKER PRESIDENT & CEO, EPCOR The Impact on Financial Institutions Financial institutions are particularly vulnerable to deepfake fraud due to their reliance on trust and authenticity; however, risk is rising for all businesses. The consequences of successful deepfake attacks can be severe, including: • Financial Losses: Deepfake fraud has resulted in billions of dollars in losses for businesses and their customers. One report indicates that the financial sector experienced an average loss of $600,000 per company due to deepfake fraud. • Reputational Damage: High-profile deepfake scams can erode public trust in financial institutions, leading to customer attrition and decreased market value. • Operational Disruption: Responding to and recovering from deepfake incidents can strain limited cybersecurity budgets and resources. • Increased Regulatory Scrutiny: Financial institutions that fail to adequately protect against deepfake fraud may face fines and increased oversight from regulatory bodies. The Impact on Customers Customers are also at significant risk from deepfake scams, facing potential: • Financial Losses: Individuals can be tricked into transferring large sums of money to scammers impersonating trusted contacts. • Identity Theft: Deepfakes can be used to steal personal information, leading to identity theft and further financial harm. • Emotional Distress: Victims of deepfake scams may experience significant emotional distress and trauma. 16
Key Statistics • Deepfake fraud attempts in the financial sector have increased by 2,137% in the last three years. • The financial sector is one of the most targeted industries, accounting for 40% of all deepfake attacks. • Fraud-related losses tied to deepfakes reached $12 billion in 2023 and are projected to soar to $40 billion by 2027. • The average loss for financial institutions due to deepfake fraud is around $600,000 per company. Protecting Against Deepfake Scams Financial institutions and customers must take proactive steps to protect themselves from deepfake scams. These include: • Implementing Advanced Detection Technologies: Financial institutions should invest in AI-powered tools that can detect deepfakes in real-time. • Strengthening Identity Verification Processes: Multi-factor authentication, liveness detection and other advanced verification methods can help prevent deepfakes from bypassing security measures. • Educating Employees and Customers: Training programs can help individuals recognize the red flags of deepfake scams. • Promoting a Culture of Skepticism: Individuals should be wary of unsolicited requests for money or personal information, especially if they seem unusual or urgent. • Verifying Information Through Multiple Channels: Always confirm the legitimacy of requests through alternative channels, such as contacting the supposed sender directly. Educate With Bite-Sized Videos EPCOR is committed to raising awareness about various fraud schemes and scams, including those involving deepfakes. Their latest “Did You Know?” video provides valuable information on how to spot and avoid these scams. The bite-sized format of the “Did You Know?” series is perfect for sharing education forward with staff and clients to raise awareness and prevention tips for deepfakes and other fraud scams. To watch EPCOR’s latest “Did You Know?” video on deepfakes, scan this QR code. https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=tBzE1ownQv8 To explore the video library on EPCOR’s YouTube channel, scan this QR code. https://www.youtube.com/ user/EPCORPymnts EPCOR is a not-for-profit payments association that provides payments expertise through education, advice and member representation. EPCOR assists banks, credit unions, thrifts and affiliated organizations in maintaining compliance, reducing risk and enhancing the overall operational efficiency of the payments systems. Through our affiliation with industry partners and other associations, EPCOR fosters and promotes improvement of the payments systems which are in the best interest of our members. For more information on EPCOR, visit epcor.org. 17
CREDIT STRESS CONTINGENCIES Why Wait Until It Comes? BY DAVID RUFFIN PRINCIPAL, INTELLICREDIT® Credit cycle shifts tend to be abrupt; thus, banks should assess credit risk degradation now to avoid trouble later. Over the past five years, persistent uncertainty has dominated industry surveys on the outlook for credit quality and loan growth. This is hardly surprising given the aftermath of a global pandemic, the sharp rise in interest rates from historic lows to decade highs and ongoing shifts in political and policy landscapes — all of which have contributed to a widespread sense that, at best, the credit environment remains challenging. While the trailing quarter-to-quarter public call report data remains generally benign, unmistakable signs of stress are emerging. Delinquencies and non-performing loans are on the rise, while reserve coverage ratios are declining, particularly among community financial institutions. At the same time, banks with assets under $10 billion continue to hold a disproportionate slice of commercial real estate (CRE) loans — a segment facing significant challenges related to property use and obsolescence. Since the high-profile, liquidity-induced bank failures of 2023, bank finance chieftains have been under constant investor and regulatory scrutiny regarding contingency funding plans. However, the credit function itself, beyond reliance on the allowance for credit losses (ACL), has not yet faced the same level of inquiry. It has now been nearly a generation since the Great Recession, with its massive loan losses and bank failures. While the industry has subsequently adopted more robust risk management practices, many current bankers have only known periods of benign credit performance. Credit cycle shifts tend to be abrupt and contagious, so why wait until credit stress becomes palpable? Now is the time for banks to take inventory of their credit stress contingency plans. Assuming a bank’s underwriting standards are delivering sound loans on the front-end, best practice credit stress contingencies should focus on several critical areas, including: • Updating Loan Policies: Regulators frequently use banks’ loan policies as tripwires for criticism, whether due to exception levels or relevance to current lending environments. For example, a bank touting a three-year, interest-only inducement for CRE loans would be out of step with today’s CRE risk environment. • Assessing Industry Risk: Technology shifts and changing public policy have elevated industry risk to a level of importance comparable to traditional borrower or entity underwriting. Modern credit assessments must give industry risk equal weight alongside traditional repayment capacity analyses. • Quantifying CRE Market Supply and Demand: A common thread in recent regulatory orders has been criticism of inadequate supply and demand assessments in markets where CRE products are financed. Because real estate characteristics are inherently local, it’s essential to understand marketplace absorption potential — specifically for the CRE subset being financed (e.g., hospitality, multifamily or industrial) — regardless of borrower or project risk profile. • Planning for Workout Capacity: The long period since the last major credit downturn has resulted in a shortage of experienced credit workout specialists. Now is the time to identify where the bank can obtain this expertise — by developing talent internally or by partnering with external specialists. 18
• Ensuring Board Awareness: In a regulatory environment where “if it didn’t appear in board minutes, it didn’t happen,” ensure that boards are kept abreast of both credit risk strategies and contingencies. Specifically, this should be linked to adjustments in risk appetite statements and even potential capital contingency plans. • Discerning Loan Growth Strategies: As many banks over the past few quarters have assuaged fears over robust loan growth, it’s important to ensure that, even in a heightened credit stress environment, the bank remains in the lending business. Fine-tuning the underwriting risk lens will help avoid the damaging perception that loans are not being made. Enhancing the Three Pillars of Post-Booking Credit Risk Management The time-proven axiom that early detection stems losses still holds true. • Loan-Level Stress Testing: Ensure that whatever the theoretical stress levels calculated, the process renders a practical list of loans/borrowers most at risk under greater stress. Conventions like monitoring covenant compliance and ensuring timely annual and independent review strategies should be prioritized to give adequate attention to these heightened suspects. • Quality Loan Review: A bank’s credit team must always see loan review as a risk assessment partner. Under greater stress, the scope of the review must be expanded and performed by reviewers with real credit experience. • Portfolio Analysis: Banks should mine their non-public loan data vigorously to detect emerging trouble spots early. Waiting for public call report data to determine the bank’s credit risk profile will prove even more costly in a credit downturn. There is no clear direction on short- to interim-term credit quality trends, but the bank’s vigilance toward any future credit risk degradation is essential. David Ruffin’s extensive experience in the financial industry includes an emphasis on credit risk in a variety of roles that range from bank lender and senior credit officer to the co-founder of IntelliCredit and its technology that is revolutionizing a decades-old loan review process. David was also a co-founder of the successful Credit Risk Management LLC consultancy and a professor at several banking schools. A prolific publisher of credit-focused articles, he is a frequent speaker at national and state trade association forums, where he shares insights gained by helping lending institutions evaluate credit risk — in both its transactional form as well as the risk associated with portfolios based on a more emergent macro strategy. Over the course of decades, David has led teams providing thousands of loan reviews and performed hundreds of due diligence engagements focused on M&A and capital raising. FMSI www.fmsiconsulting.com 913.955.3355 FMSI is a small business founded and located in Kansas, specializing in assisting community banks to succeed, a mission consistent with core CBA values. We have partnered with community banks for nearly 25-years providing core advisory services including asset/ liability, investment, and liquidity management. FMSI advisors actively assess market conditions and bank balance sheets of different size, mix, and capital levels. Market conditions are constantly changing presenting opportunities and challenges for CBA member banks. Interest rates are increasing for the first time in nearly a decade and now is a perfect time to partner with a trusted, industry leader. Establishing an FMSI relationship provides confidence your bank is optimizing the balance sheet, deploying necessary strategies, maximizing profitability, and managing balance sheet risks. FMSI is a Kansas CBA Endorsed Provider 19
Citizens Bank of Kansas (CBK), Kingman, is pleased to announce Chris Macias as the new market president for Wichita. Chris joined CBK in 2014 and has over 25 years of banking experience. He currently serves as a commercial lender and community bank president for the Winfield and West Wichita locations. Chris is also a real estate investor in the Wellington community and is actively involved in a variety of community efforts. Congratulations to the banks celebrating September and October anniversaries as chartered institutions! September 138 years State Exchange Bank — Mankato 127 years Peoples Bank & Trust Co. — McPherson 125 years First State Bank — Ransom 96 years Farmers State Bank — Fairview October 129 years Elk State Bank — Clyde 122 years Haviland State Bank — Haviland 119 years Stockgrowers State Bank — Maple Hill 119 years Grant County Bank — Ulysses 119 years Bank of Commerce & Trust Co. — Wellington 115 years Union State Bank — Olsburg 37 years Bankers’ Bank of Kansas — Wichita 33 years The Trust Company — Manhattan ANNOUNCEMENTS Stockgrowers State Bank is pleased to announce the promotion of Ken Kirsop to chief lending officer, effective May 1, 2025. Ken brings extensive experience in lending and dedication to the mission of Stockgrowers State Bank. In addition to his role as chief lending officer, Ken also serves as a member on the board of directors for Maple Hill Bancshares. Congratulations to Ken on this well-deserved promotion! ANNIVERSARIES 20
Is your community bank ready for CRA rule changes? Meet Steffani. Steffani brings over 20 years of community reinvestment experience to ICBA CRA Solutions. Steffani ensures banks meet their CRA obligations while serving their customers and communities. She provides guidance on CRA questions, examination preparedness, and maintains strong customer relationships. Steffani is nearly always thinking about enhancing CRA compliance programs for community banks, but she does spend some of her free time playing with her Goldendoodle puppy, Ozzie. By partnering with ICBA CRA Solutions, your bank has Steffani’s expertise and dedication at your service. Learn more at icba.org/cra
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PRODUCTS AND SERVICES REFERENCE LIST 2025‑2026 CBA OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS Tanner Johnson Chairman Swedish-American Bank Steven Suellentrop Chairman‑Elect Legacy Bank Cheri Fahrback Secretary/Treasurer First National Bank of Hutchinson Joe Rottinghaus Immediate Past Chairman Conway Bank DIRECTORS Matt Engle Farmers State Bank Chris Floyd Dream First Bank Blake Jones Lyndon State Bank Brandon Lee Union State Bank Margaret Nightengale Grant County Bank Tom Sheik State Bank of Bern Irv Mitchell Past Chairman Wilson State Bank STATE ICBA DIRECTOR Blake Heid First Option Bank CBA STAFF Shawn Mitchell President and CEO shawn@cbak.com Nikki Dohrman Senior Vice President/ Executive Director nikki@cbak.com Yvonna Hansen Vice President of Member Services yvonna@cbak.com Stuart Little Little Government Relations LLC OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS The following CBA Associate Members are ready to serve you when you need them. Please keep this list handy, and the next time you’re looking for a specific service, you’ll know where to look first! Remember, this is just a sampling of what each company provides. The “*” represents an agreement for a specific endorsed product with that company. Not all products that these companies offer are endorsed by CBA. To see a detailed list and explanation of endorsements, visit CBA at www.cbak.com. Keep in mind that the services listed by each company on this page may only be a sampling of the many services they offer. By their CBA Associate Membership, these companies have shown their commitment to serving community banks. Please look to these companies first, whenever possible, to meet your banking needs. ABSTRACTING Security 1st Title Wichita, KS . . . . . . . . . . ...........(316) 267‑8371 ACCOUNTING/TAX RETURNS Allen, Gibbs & Houlik LC Wichita, KS . . . . . . . . . . ........... (316) 267‑7231 Varney & Associates, CPAs LLC Manhattan, KS . . . . . . . . ......... (785) 537‑2202 ACH *SHAZAM Johnston, IA . . . . . . . . . . .......... (515) 288‑2828 ADVERTISING SPECIALTIES *SJC Marketing Susan: St. Joseph, MO . . . . . ...... (816) 396‑8575 *Works24 Brian: Edmond, OK . . . . . ....... (800) 460‑4653 ALARMS & SECURITY PRODUCTS Federal Protection Springfield, MO . . . . . . . ....... (800) 299‑5400 Oppliger Banking Systems Inc. Lenexa, KS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..(800) 487‑7875 ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE *Agent IQ Drew: Austin, TX . . . . . . . ....... (830) 708‑9370 ASSET LIABILITY MANAGEMENT *Financial Management Services Inc. (FMSI) Chuck: Overland Park, KS (913) 955‑3355 See ad pg. 19 *QwickRate Dan: Marietta, GA . . . . . . .......(800) 285‑8626 ATM EQUIPMENT (NEW/USED) Federal Protection Springfield, MO. . . . . . . . ....... (800) 299‑5400 Oppliger Banking Systems Inc. Lenexa, KS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (800) 487‑7875 AUCTION Purple Wave Manhattan, KS . . . . . . . . ......... (785) 537‑7653 BACK ROOM SERVICE Modern Banking Systems Ralston, NE . . . . . . . . . .......... (800) 592‑7500 BALANCE SHEET CONSULTING *Financial Management Services Inc. (FMSI) Chuck: Overland Park, KS (913) 955‑3355 See ad pg. 19 BANK OPERATIONS The Baker Group Oklahoma City, OK . . . . . . ....... (800) 937‑2257 *QwickRate Dan: Marietta, GA . . . . . . .......(800) 285‑8626 BANK/PEER PERFORMANCE *QwickRate Dan: Marietta, GA . . . . . . .......(800) 285‑8626 BANKRUPTCY Spencer Fane LLP Overland Park, KS . . . . . . .......(800) 526‑6529 BANK STOCK LOANS & LOAN OVERLINES Commerce Bank Kansas City, MO . . . . . . . ........ (800) 821‑2182 *S&P Global Stacy: Charlottesville, VA . . . . ..... (434) 951‑4419 BOND ACCOUNTING First Bankers Banc Securities Overland Park, KS . . . . . . ....... (913) 469‑5400 *ICBA Securities Corporation Jim: Memphis, TN . . . . . . . .......(800) 422‑6442 COMPLIANCE ASSISTANCE/REVIEWS *Advanced Business Solutions (ABS) Sandy: Olathe, KS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(913) 340‑7041 Allen, Gibbs & Houlik LC Wichita, KS . . . . . . . . . . ........... (316) 267‑7231 *BHG Bank Group Tom: Syracuse, NY . . . . . . . ........ (315) 372‑4510 *MPA Systems David: Fort Worth, TX . . . . . .....(888) 233‑1584 23
Purple Wave Manhattan, KS . . . . . . . . ......... (785) 313‑2094 Varney & Associates, CPAs LLC Manhattan, KS . . . . . . . . ......... (785) 537‑2202 Young & Associates Inc. Kent, OH . . . . . . . . . . ........... (800) 525‑9775 CONSULTING *Bank Compensation Consulting (BCC) Rich: Plano, TX | (303) 482‑1844 See ad pg. 15 *CRA Partners | SHCP Foundation Kristine . . . . . . . . . . . ............. (914) 656‑8643 Young & Associates Inc. Kent, OH . . . . . . . . . . ........... (800) 525‑9775 CORRESPONDENT SERVICES Commerce Bank Kansas City, MO . . . . . . . ........ (800) 821‑2182 First National Bank of Hutchinson Hutchinson, KS | (800) 293‑0683 See ad pg. 13 The Bankers Bank Oklahoma City, OK . . . . . . ......(800) 522-9220 CORE SERVICES Data Center Inc. (DCI) Hutchinson, KS | (620) 694‑6800 See ad pg. 27 Modern Banking Systems Ralston, NE . . . . . . . . . .......... (800) 592‑7500 *SHAZAM Bill M. Johnston: IA . . . . . . . .......(515) 306‑8012 CRA/COMPLIANCE *CRA Partners | SHCP Foundation Kristine . . . . . . . . . . . ............. (914) 656‑8643 CREDIT AND PORTFOLIO RISK MANAGEMENT Young & Associates Inc. Kent, OH . . . . . . . . . . ........... (800) 525‑9775 CREDIT CARD PROGRAM *ICBA Payments Heather: Washington, D.C. . . . ...(800) 242‑4770 CREDIT SUPPORT *Advanced Business Solutions (ABS) Sandy: Olathe, KS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(913) 340‑7041 DATA ANALYTICS KlariVis Roanoke, VA . . . . . . . . . .......... (540) 357‑0011 *QwickRate Dan: Marietta, GA . . . . . . .......(800) 285‑8626 DATA PROCESSING Data Center Inc. (DCI) Hutchinson, KS | (620) 694‑6800 See ad pg. 27 Modern Banking Systems Ralston, NE . . . . . . . . . .......... (800) 592‑7500 DEBIT/ATM CARD SERVICES *ICBA Payments Heather: Washington, D.C. . . . ...(800) 242‑4770 *SHAZAM Matt M. Johnston: IA . . . . . . ...... (515) 480‑5767 DIGITAL LENDING *BHG Bank Group Tom: Syracuse, NY . . . . . . . ........ (315) 372‑4510 DIGITAL RELATIONSHIP BANKING *Agent IQ Drew: Austin, TX . . . . . . . ....... (830) 708‑9370 DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS INS. *Travelers Danielle: St. Louis, MO . . . . ..... (800) 255‑5072 *UNICO Group Inc. Diana: Lenexa, KS | (800) 755‑0048 See ad pg. 28 DIRECTORS EXAMS Allen, Gibbs & Houlik LC Wichita, KS . . . . . . . . . . ........... (316) 267‑7231 Varney & Associates, CPAs LLC Manhattan, KS . . . . . . . . ......... (785) 537‑2202 DISASTER RECOVERY FACILITY PROGRAM *MPA Systems David: Fort Worth, TX . . . . . .....(888) 233‑1584 DOCUMENT MANAGEMENT *Trust Exchange Leo: Austin, TX . . . . . . . . ......... (888) 777‑8434 EDUCATION *CRA Partners | SHCP Foundation Kristine . . . . . . . . . . . ............. (914) 656‑8643 EMERGENCY FACILITIES/MODULAR BANK BUILDINGS FOR LEASE *MPA Systems David: Fort Worth, TX . . . . . .....(888) 233‑1584 EMPLOYEE AND EXEC. BENEFITS *Bank Compensation Consulting (BCC) Rich: Plano, TX | (303) 482‑1844 See ad pg. 15 Woner, Reeder & Girard P.A. Topeka, KS . . . . . . . . . . ........... (785) 235‑5330 ESCROWS Security 1st Title Wichita, KS . . . . . . . . . . ...........(316) 267‑8371 FINANCIAL INST. BOND *Travelers Danielle: St. Louis, MO . . . . ..... (800) 255‑5072 *UNICO Group Inc. Diana: Lenexa, KS | (800) 755‑0048 See ad pg. 28 HUMAN RESOURCES *UNICO Group Inc. Diana: Lenexa, KS | (800) 755‑0048 See ad pg. 28 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY Integris Olathe, KS . . . . . . . . . . ........... (325) 947‑5550 Kansas Bankers Technologies Salina, KS . . . . . . . . . . ............ (888) 752‑8435 KlariVis Roanoke, VA . . . . . . . . . .......... (540) 357-0011 *RESULTS Technology Overland Park, KS . . . . . . . .......(877) 435‑8877 Varney & Associates, CPAs LLC Manhattan, KS . . . . . . . . ......... (785) 537‑2202 INSURANCE — BANK *Bank Compensation Consulting (BCC) Rich: Plano, TX | (303) 482‑1844 See ad pg. 15 *Travelers Danielle: St. Louis, MO . . . . ..... (800) 255‑5072 *UNICO Group Inc. Diana: Lenexa, KS | (800) 755‑0048 See ad pg. 28 INTEREST RATE RISK SERVICE *Financial Management Services Inc. (FMSI) Chuck: Overland Park, KS (913) 955‑3355 See ad pg. 19 *ICBA Securities Corporation Jim: Memphis, TN . . . . . . . .......(800) 422‑6442 INTERNAL AUDIT *Advanced Business Solutions (ABS) Sandy: Olathe, KS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(913) 340‑7041 24
INTERNET BANKING Data Center Inc. (DCI) Hutchinson, KS | (620) 694‑6800 See ad pg. 27 *ICBA Payments Heather: Washington, D.C. . . . ...(800) 242‑4770 KlariVis Roanoke, VA . . . . . . . . . .......... (540) 357-0011 INTERNET WORLD WIDE W.E.B. Oppliger Banking Systems Inc. Lenexa, KS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (800) 487‑7875 INVESTMENTS Central States Capital Markets Kansas City, MO . . . . . . . ....... (800) 851‑6459 Commerce Bank Kansas City, MO . . . . . . . ........ (800) 821‑2182 *Financial Management Services Inc. (FMSI) Chuck: Overland Park, KS (913) 955‑3355 See ad pg. 19 First Bankers Banc Securities Overland Park, KS . . . . . . ....... (913) 469‑5400 *ICBA Securities Corporation Jim: Memphis, TN . . . . . . . .......(800) 422‑6442 IT SECURITY Integris Olathe, KS . . . . . . . . . . .......... .(325) 947‑5550 Kansas Bankers Technologies Salina, KS . . . . . . . . . . ............ (888) 752‑8435 *RESULTS Technology Darla: Overland Park, KS . . . . ....(877) 435‑8877 LEGAL SERVICES Spencer Fane LLP Overland Park, KS . . . . . . .......(800) 526‑6529 Woner, Reeder & Girard P.A. Topeka, KS . . . . . . . . . . ...........(785) 235‑5333 LENDING *BHG Bank Group Tom: Syracuse, NY . . . . . . . ........ (315) 372‑4510 LOAN COLLECTIONS AND WORKOUTS Spencer Fane LLP Overland Park, KS . . . . . . .......(800) 526‑6529 Woner, Reeder & Girard P.A. Topeka, KS . . . . . . . . . . ........... (785) 235‑5330 LONG RANGE PLANNING The Capital Corporation LLC Overland Park, KS . . . . . . . ........ (913) 498‑8188 Varney & Associates, CPAs LLC Manhattan, KS . . . . . . . . ......... (785) 537‑2202 MARKETING Harland Clarke Newton, KS . . . . . . . . . .......... (800) 322‑0818 *SHAZAM Johnston, IA . . . . . . . . . . .......... (515) 288‑2828 *SJC Marketing Susan: St. Joseph, MO . . . . . ...... (816) 396‑8575 *Works24 Brian: Edmond, OK . . . . . ....... (800) 460‑4653 MERCHANT PROCESSING *SHAZAM Johnston, IA . . . . . . . . . . .......... (515) 288‑2828 MERGERS/ACQUISITIONS The Capital Corporation LLC Overland Park, KS . . . . . . . ........ (913) 498‑8188 Olsen Palmer Kansas City, MO . . . . . . . ........ (816) 379‑4029 Spencer Fane LLP Overland Park, KS . . . . . . .......(800) 526‑6529 MOBIL CUSTOMER ENGAGEMENT *Agent IQ Drew: Austin, TX . . . . . . . ....... (830) 708‑9370 NETWORK SECURITY Kansas Bankers Technologies Salina, KS . . . . . . . . . . ............ (888) 752‑8435 PAYMENTS *ICBA Payments Heather: Washington, D.C. . . . ...(800) 242‑4770 PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT Central States Capital Markets Kansas City, MO . . . . . . . ....... (800) 851‑6459 *Financial Management Services Inc. (FMSI) Chuck: Overland Park, KS (913) 955‑3355 See ad pg. 19 PROMOTIONAL PRODUCTS Harland Clarke Newton, KS . . . . . . . . . .......... (800) 322‑0818 RETIREMENT PLANNING Central States Capital Markets Kansas City, MO . . . . . . . ....... (800) 851‑6459 First Bankers Banc Securities Overland Park, KS . . . . . . ....... (913) 469‑5400 SECONDARY MORTGAGE MARKET LENDING FHLBank Topeka Topeka, KS . . . . . . . . . . .......... (800) 933‑2988 Mortgage Investment Services Shawnee, KS . . . . . . . . . .......... (913) 390‑1010 SECURITY MONITORING Federal Protection Springfield, MO . . . . . . . ....... (800) 299‑5400 SUPPLEMENTAL HEALTH INSURANCE *UNICO Group Inc. Diana: Lenexa, KS | (800) 755‑0048 See ad pg. 28 TECHNOLOGY SERVICES Integris Olathe, KS . . . . . . . . . . ........... (325) 947‑5530 Kansas Bankers Technologies Salina, KS . . . . . . . . . . ............ (888) 752‑8435 KlariVis Roanoke, VA . . . . . . . . . .......... (540) 357-0011 *QwickRate Dan: Marietta, GA . . . . . . .......(800) 285‑8626 *RESULTS Technology Darla: Overland Park, KS . . . . ....(877) 435‑8877 *S&P Global Stacy: Charlottesville, VA . . . . ..... (434) 951‑4419 TELECOMMUNICATIONS CONSULTING Verge Network Solutions Inc. Oklahoma City, OK . . . . . ....... (405) 782‑8400 TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES Verge Network Solutions Inc. Oklahoma City, OK . . . . . ....... (405) 782‑8400 TELECOMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS Verge Network Solutions Inc. Oklahoma City, OK . . . . . ....... (405) 782‑8400 THIRD PARTY COMPLIANCE MANAGEMENT *Trust Exchange Leo: Austin, TX . . . . . . . . ......... (888) 777‑8434 THIRD PARTY RISK MANAGEMENT & CONSULTING *Trust Exchange Leo: Austin, TX . . . . . . . . ......... (888) 777‑8434 TITLE INSURANCE Security 1st Title Wichita, KS . . . . . . . . . . ...........(316) 267‑8371 WEBSITE DEVELOPMENT *S&P Global Stacy: Charlottesville, VA . . . . ..... (434) 951‑4419 WHOLESALE LENDING FHLBank Topeka Topeka, KS . . . . . . . . . . .......... (800) 933‑2988 Mortgage Investment Services Shawnee, KS . . . . . . . . . .......... (913) 390‑1010 Last Update: June 2025 Visit CBA online at www.cbak.com. 25
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