09/09/26

Is It Time to Rethink CECL?

Is CECL making community banks safer—or simply making banking more complicated and expensive?

That’s the question Federal Reserve Vice Chair for Supervision Michelle Bowman raises in a recent Wall Street Journal opinion piece, “How to Make Life Hard for Small Banks.” Bowman argues that the Current Expected Credit Loss standard has created significant costs and complexity for smaller institutions without delivering enough additional benefit.

09/02/26

OBL Launches Banker Advocacy Network

To strengthen the Ohio Bankers League's grassroots advocacy efforts, the Government Relations Team is launching the Banker Advocacy Network. This program will help us quickly connect lawmakers with bankers who are willing to build personal relationships or already have trusted relationships with them.

09/02/26

Suspicious Activity Reporting: Joint Statement on Suspicious Activity Report Confidentiality Considerations Regarding Communications with Customers

On September 2, 2026, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), and the National Credit Union Administration issued a statement to clarify confidentiality requirements related to Suspicious Activity Reports (SAR), particularly when banks communicate with their customers regarding potentially fraudulent transactions.

09/02/26

Update on the California Invasion of Privacy Act and Website Tracking

Ohio banks have recently received demand letters alleging that commonly used website tracking technologies violate the California Invasion of Privacy Act (CIPA). The following timely update from Vorys examines a significant legislative development that could curtail certain website-based claims. Importantly, however, the legislation does not eliminate all CIPA exposure. Banks should continue to evaluate their website technologies and consent practices and promptly involve counsel when receiving a demand letter.  Read the Vorys Client Alert article below.

08/26/26

OBL Helps Lead National Effort to Build an Industry-Owned Tokenized Deposit Network

The Ohio Bankers League is helping lead a major national initiative designed to ensure banks-not outside technology companies-have a central role in building the next generation of financial infrastructure. OBL, together with state bankers associations from 39 other states, is working to develop and ultimately bring to market an industry-owned, bank-governed network that can support tokenized deposits, programmable payments, automated settlement and other emerging banking capabilities.

08/26/26

Ohio Supreme Court Case Could Shape Future Bank-Fee Litigation

The Supreme Court of Ohio is considering a case that could significantly affect how banks and other businesses defend contract claims involving fees that customers paid without objection. 

08/14/26

Division Opens Door for Credit Union Acquisition of Ohio Bank

The Ohio Bankers League is disappointed by the Ohio Division of Financial Institutions’ August 12 decision not to object to The Hicksville Bank’s proposed sale of substantially all of its assets and liabilities to Interra Credit Union.

08/12/26

Ohio Bankers Launch Two New Community Education Programs

Ohio Banks are expanding their ommunity impact this year with the launch of two new educational initiatives: Financial Success Seminars and Fraud Awareness Seminars. Hosted by banks in their local communities in partnership with OBL through the Foundation, the programs are designed to bring practical, accessible education directly to Ohioans where they live and work.

08/12/26

Ohio Bankers Foundation Launches Two New Community Education Programs

The Ohio Bankers Foundation is expanding its community impact this year with the launch of two new educational initiatives: Financial Success Seminars and Fraud Awareness Seminars. Hosted by banks in their local communities in partnership with OBL through the Foundation, the programs are designed to bring practical, accessible education directly to Ohioans where they live and work.

Through these seminars, participating banks will have a turnkey way to strengthen customer relationships, demonstrate leadership in financial wellness and help community members make informed decisions. OBL and the Foundation support banks by developing curriculum, coordinating instructors, assisting with event planning and providing marketing resources, allowing banks to focus on bringing people together and promoting the programs locally.

08/05/26

FDIC and OCC Propose to Refocus CRA Examinations on Lending

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and Office of the Comptroller of the Currency have jointly proposed substantial changes to their Community Reinvestment Act regulations. The proposal would retain much of the examination framework that banks have operated under since 1995 while placing greater emphasis on lending, substantially increasing the asset thresholds used to determine how a bank is examined and creating clearer standards for community development activities.