Pub. 6 2018 Issue 4

6 The Community Banker www.mibonline.org Executive Director’s Report H appy new year 2018 from all of us here at the Montana Independent Bankers. I write this article on the eve of the turn of the calendar from December 31 to January 1. As we gather with family and friends to ring in this new year, I write to express my gratitude for what this last year gave to me and what 2018 will surely bring to me. That is, I a grateful for being so fortunate to work with and for a great group of Montan- ans – community bankers. Every day I walk through the doors of my law office, I am inspired anew at serving the people who serve Montana’s communities. As you know, 2017 marked the 50th anniversary of the founding of the MIB. As the Associa- tion goes into its 51st year, the association is carried forward by its rich history and by the great care and service provided by our members and associate members to their cus- tomers and communities. And, as such, I am excited to continuing working side-by-side in 2018 with the MIB board of directors and its officers, a team of persons who are as excited and passionate about promoting Montana’s community banks as I am. Although 2017 has wound down, that does not mean things slowed down for the Asso- ciation in the final months of this past year. MIB President, Tom Christnacht, have been immersed in reviewing and promoting the most significant bank regulatory bill to be de- bated by Congress since the Dodd-Frank Act. However, unlike that legislation, the current bill, which is sponsored by Senator Jon Tester (D-MT), is designed to lessen the federal regulatory burden being placed on banks, not heighten it. You will find within the pages of this edition of the Community Banker a breakdown of provisions of the just-refer- enced banking bill, S. 2155 – the community bank regulatory relief bill. In addition, you will find an article from Senator Tester discuss- ing his efforts on the bill. As I write this article, S.2155 has passed out of the Senate Banking Committee. The bill is awaiting action by the full Senate. Should the bill pass the Senate, it would be sent to the House for that Body’s consideration. The MIB applauds and commends Senator Tester for taking the lead on providing Montana’s com- munity banks with much needed regulatory relief and in supporting the nation’s commu- nity banks and the small towns, villages and rural areas served by them. Senator Tester’s support of S.2155 was key in getting this bill through the Senate Banking Committee and MIB is deeply grateful for this effort. 2018 will also see me assume the mantle of Chairman of the council of community bank- ing associations (CCBA). The CCBA is made up of the executive directors of the various state community banking associations. The CCBA meets twice a year, once at the ICBA national convention and then again in the fall in the state of the Chairman – i.e. Montana this year. I have booked a venue in Whitefish for August of this year for the Montana meeting. I feel honored to serve as the president of this outstanding organization this coming year. Having worked with the CCBA for the last six years, I know that the executive direc- HAPPYNEWYEAR FROMMIB