A new year brings new opportunities

A new presidential administration will take office this month, bringing in a new slate of federal regulators with starkly different ideas about the economy and the banking industry.

When the clock struck midnight on New Year’s Eve, the ball dropped in Times Square and 2020 finally came to an end. The dawn of 2021 provides the opportunity to turn the page and to have fresh perspective. 

But the reality is that significant pandemic-related issues remain. COVID response legislation did not address many of the regulatory and operational challenges for banks brought about by the virus and government response programs such as PPP. 

A new presidential administration will take office this month, bringing in a new slate of federal regulators with starkly different ideas about the economy and the banking industry. We will be prepared to push back on what will surely be a more heavy-handed approach to oversight that may actually be counter-productive to building more resilient and stronger communities. 

2021 also brings a Texas state legislative session that is sure to be like no other in our state’s history. Lawmakers will be working to address a multi-billion-dollar budget shortfall while trying to accommodate the need for public access and transparency. 

This means that your voice matters more than ever! Last year, banker involvement in the political process demonstrated that we can make a difference in politics. Now, we will build on this momentum by impacting policy. In this issue, be sure to read Chairman Chip Jenkins’ column outlining our plans to advocate for Texas banks this year.

Meanwhile, we will continue to meet the needs of our industry that existed long before the pandemic. We will not lose focus on providing exceptional banker training and education programs. TBA is planning a full range of banker events for 2021 to include a return to in-person meetings as soon as safely possible. 

We will strengthen your capabilities for innovation in an increasingly competitive environment for Texas community banks. TBA will bring some exciting developments on that front in 2021 that we will share with you in future issues of Texas Banking! 

So, as you look forward to serving your customers and helping them thrive in the “new normal” in 2021, TBA has much to do on your behalf. That’s one ball we don’t intend to drop.