W EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE Welcome to the 2023 MIB Annual Convention and Tradeshow issue of the Community Banker magazine. I am writing this article on a beautiful March bluebird day in Montana, one day after the Spring equinox in the Northern Hemisphere. March is always one of my favorite months. This is due to the fact that one day it can be snowing, and the next, it can be 50 degrees and sunny. And, to be able to say, “spring has sprung” is a welcomed opportunity after experiencing another very wintery weather season. The winter months were busy ones for the MIB. In January, the 2023 Montana Legislature convened. As always, the association has been up “On the Hill,” representing Montana’s community banking interests. The association has strongly supported the Division of Banking’s budget. I am pleased to write that the Division’s budget has had smooth sailing. Further, the association has been able to successfully fend off the majority of bills that, if enacted, would do harm to Montana’s community banking industry. At the same time, the association provided its full support to House Bill 371, sponsored by former MIB Board Member Kenny Walsh of Twin Bridges. This bill, if signed into law, would address one of our member’s top priorities, which is for state-chartered banks to own employee housing. Turning now to other matters, early in March, the association hosted its annual Montana Reception during the ICBA National Convention, held in beautiful Hawaii. For the first time in recent memory, Montana cohosted its reception with other state associations. The MIB Board made this decision based on high cost/expense considerations resulting from the Hawaii location. In response to those cost considerations, MIB partnered with the states of Texas, Iowa, Pennsylvania, and others to put on the reception event. The joint event proved to be a success and drew an estimated 300 people, all of whom rubbed elbows and talked about banking issues. During the convention, our association was recognized by outgoing ICBA Chairman Brad Bolton for putting on his most memorable state convention in 2022. Brad’s comments followed those made a year earlier by former ICBA Chairman Bob Fisher. Bob also identified the 2021 MIB convention as his most notable state convention. Given these positive comments two years running, we must be doing something right when it comes to hosting state conventions. But, then again, maybe, just maybe, Montana sells itself. Additionally, the Bank of Montana was honored by the ICBA leadership for being named the Best Community Bank to Work for in 2022 in the asset MIB REPRESENTING THE INTERESTS OF MONTANA’S STATE-CHARTERED COMMUNITY BANKS JAMES E. BROWN, ESQ. 8 Community Banker
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