Pub. 3 2015 Issue 4

4 The Community Banker www.mibonline.org UPCOMINGMIB EVENTS March 2, 2015, 7-9 p.m., St. George 108 Room Montana Reception at the ICBA Convention Gaylord Palms Resort, Orlando, FL April 17, 2015 MIB Board of Directors Spring Meeting Grand Union Hotel, Fort Benton, MT April 28-30, 2015 ICBA Washington Policy Summit Washington, D.C. July 16-18, 2015 MIB Annual Convention & Tradeshow MIB Board of Directors Summer Meeting MIB Annual Member Meeting Big Sky Resort, Big Sky, MT President’s Address T he MIB Board of Directors just enjoyed a few days in Helena meeting with the MBA Board of Directors in our biennial joint legislative meeting. We hosted the 2015 legislative leadership, which were Austen Knudsen, Speaker of the House, Debby Barrett, President of the Senate, Chuck Hunter, House Minority Leader, and John Sesso, Senate Minority Leader, for a luncheon with a question and answer period where we discussed legislation that might impact Montana’s banks. That evening we threw a reception and dinner for all House and Senate legislators, which was a great success with nearly 100 attendees, including old friends from Helena’s banks. We also were privileged to have Governor Steve Bullock and several of his aids join us for breakfast the next morning. These legislative events are invaluable, as they serve to educate our legislators on issues important to Montana’s commu- nity banks and increase the vis- ibility of our banks during each legislative session. Thankfully, 2015 does not present much in the way of “banking legislation,” but Jim Brown, MIB’s lobbyist, is on top of anything that might impact us and will let us know when we need to speak up. As always, it was great to visit with our banking commissioner, Melanie Hall, who had plenty of news to share during her visit to our joint meeting. Bank charters in Montana are down to 52, and the trend is toward more consolidation, which isn’t good news but it is expected. But banks are performing better than in the last several years with only a very few under any public enforcement actions. Kenny Martin Hello to all my community banking friends! I trust everyone has had a nice break for the holidays and are happy to be back serving our customers.