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| ‘Community Bank Comeback’ |
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| | Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has shared steps the Trump Administration plans to take to drive a “community bank comeback.” Specific priorities include reforms to the rating system, new processes for monitoring examiner compliance with supervisory policy, mechanisms for independent appeals of supervisory criticisms, and coordination to avoid duplicative examinations by different regulators. |
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| | | Source: ncbankers.org | Read time: 2 min |
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 | | Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent |
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| - Capital Raises by Mutual Banks [link]
- General Assembly Prepares to Consider Redistricting [link]
- State Trust Companies and Crypto [link]
- Fed Issues FAQ on SAR Requirements [link]
- Fedwire and National Settlement Service to Expand Operating Days [link]
- FinCEN Severs Cambodian Firm’s Access to U.S. Banking System [link]
- Scams Perpetuated at Crypto ATMs [link]
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| Upcoming Training and Events |
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| 2025 NC BankPAC - Did You Make the Honor Roll? |
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| | For more than 30 years, NC BankPAC has ensured that banking’s voice is heard by supporting candidates who understand our industry and share our policy objectives. The 2025 NC BankPAC Honor Roll recognizes bankers and businesses whose generous contributions keep our industry strong. |
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"After several years of work, a group of 30 representatives from banks and associations met in Washington to make the case for a straightforward path for issuing mutual capital certificates.
The coordinated efforts of bankers, state and national associations, and key regulators have brought us to this important milestone." |
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| David Barksdale
Piedmont Federal Bank |
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| Capital Raises by Mutual Banks |
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| | David Barksdale, President and CEO of Piedmont Federal Bank and NCBA Board Member, has been leading the push nationally to provide mutual banks with options to issue capital instruments qualifying as tier 1 common equity or additional tier 1 equity. Federal Reserve has released an FAQ, a template for a Common Equity Tier 1 Term Sheet, and an Additional Tier 1 Term Sheet for mutual banks considering raising capital, indicating that this is just the start. |
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| | | Source: ncbankers.org | Read time: 5 min |
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| State Legislative & Regulatory Update |
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| General Assembly Prepares to Consider Redistricting |
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| | The North Carolina General Assembly is scheduled to reconvene on Monday, October 20. Republican legislative leaders have indicated that one possible focus of next week’s session would be on redrawing the state’s U.S. House district maps to help maintain or strengthen the Republican majority in the U.S. House. |
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| | | Source: ncbankers.org | Read time: 2 min |
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| Federal Legislative & Regulatory Update |
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| State Trust Companies and Crypto |
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| | The SEC plans to permit registered funds and advisers to use state trust companies to custody crypto assets. The SEC released a letter stating that it “would not recommend enforcement action [...] against a Registered Adviser or Regulated Fund for treating a State Trust Company as a ‘bank’ with respect to the placement and maintenance of Crypto Assets and Related Cash and/or Cash Equivalents.” |
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| | | Source: aba.com | Read time: 1 min |
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| | | Reminder: Register 3 bankers and your 4th registration is FREE! |
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| | From illicit finance to stablecoins, crypto brings both challenges and opportunities. Is your bank prepared? | | Join Brian Laverdure, ICBA SVP of Digital Assets and Innovation Policy, for an in-depth look at recent changes in the crypto landscape and the evolving regulatory outlook in 2025 and beyond. | | In this session, Brian will cover: | | ✅ Emerging trends in crypto-related crime | | ✅ Major developments and the impact of stablecoins | | ✅ What banks need to know to prepare for the future | | Stay ahead of the curve at the 2025 NCBA Management Forum! |
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| | FinCEN and the federal banking agencies have released an FAQ to clarify certain requirements related to suspicious activity reports. The FAQ clarifies regulatory requirements relating to structuring SARs, continuing activity reviews, and a financial institution’s decision not to file a SAR. |
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| | | Source: ncbankers.org | Read time: 1 min |
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| Fedwire and National Settlement Service to Expand Operating Days |
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| | The Fed has announced that Fedwire Funds Service and National Settlement Service operations will ultimately be expanded to include Sundays and weekday holidays. However, the expansion will take place over several years, and “no earlier than 2028.” |
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| | | Source: ncbankers.org | Read time: 2 min |
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| FinCEN Severs Cambodian Firm’s Access to U.S. Banking System |
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| | FinCEN has issued a rule naming a Cambodian firm, the Huione Group, as a financial institution of primary money laundering concern, cutting it off from the U.S. financial system. FinCEN said the firm is a conduit for money obtained through romance scams and other cybercrimes. |
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| | | Source: ncbankers.org | Read time: 1 min |
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| | Reminder: Register 3 bankers and your 4th registration is FREE! |
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| | Let's be frank—check fraud is on the rise and front-line bankers are the first line of defense. | | Join Beth Machado, FBI, for a hands-on training session that takes you undercover to see how check washing schemes really work. | | In this session, this FBI insider will cover: | | ✅ How check washing is carried out—and how to spot it | | ✅ Current fraud trends targeting banks and their customers | | ✅ Practical strategies and questions to help protect customer assets | | Sharpen your fraud detection skills and strengthen your defenses at the 2025 NC Emerging Leaders Conference! |
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| Scams Perpetuated at Crypto ATMs |
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| | Brian Schwalb, the Attorney General of the District of Columbia, sued Athena Bitcoin, Inc. (Athena), one of the country’s largest operators of Bitcoin automated teller machines (BTMs), for allegedly charging undisclosed fees on deposits that the operator knows are often the result of scams, and for failing to implement adequate anti-fraud measures. |
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| | | Source: ncbankers.org | Read time: 1 min |
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| TBJ: "NC Lenders Brace for Impact After Trump Administration Guts CDFI Program" |
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| | Amid the government shutdown, nearly all CDFI Fund staff have reportedly been laid off. The CDFI Fund, an initiative of the U.S. Department of Treasury, funds programs intended to promote economic revitalization in distressed communities. |
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| The initiative includes partnerships with firms such as M&F Bank, a historically Black community bank based in Durham. | | Peter Gwaltney, NCBA President & CEO, called the CDFI Fund "a beautiful example of how government can partner with the private sector to deploy capital where it's needed most." | | The small businesses borrowing through its programs often find traditional lending prohibitive. | | "Because of their size, banks either can't work with them or are challenged to work with them," Gwaltney said of smaller businesses. "But they're right in the wheelhouse of the CDFIs, and banks partner with CDFIs ... we provide low cost funding for their loans and investments. |
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| | | Source: bizjournals.org | Read time: 5 min |
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| Last Call! Don't Miss the 2025 Professional Women's Conference |
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| | | Time is running out to be part of this empowering event! Join a powerful community of women in banking and accounting as we #RISE — Realize, Inspire, Succeed, Empower — together. | | This one-day conference is designed for women, by women, and offers: | - ✨ High-impact sessions on leadership, technology, personal finance, and wellness.
- 🧠 Insights on the psychology of money, AI-driven career confidence, and ethical decision-making
- 💬 Honest conversations about mental .health and neurodiversity in the workplace.
| | Seats are filling fast—don’t miss your chance to connect, grow, and recharge. |
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| Bankers in Schools Program is Now Seeking Volunteers! |
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| | | Block off your calendars for the 2025 Fall Bankers in High Schools initiative! This year's program will be held during the week of November 17-21, 2025, and we will once again welcome all North Carolina bankers to serve as volunteers. | | Volunteers will teach a 45-minute lesson on budgeting using a specially tailored curriculum created by the NC Emerging Leaders. The purpose of the program is not only to teach students basic components of financial education, but also to initiate and foster relationships between bankers and their communities. | | To sign up and learn more, visit the Bankers in Schools webpage. |
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| Need Credits? Earn CRCM, CPE, SHRM and More! |
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| | Looking to skill up? For a limited time, North Carolina Bankers Association is making it easier than ever to invest in your professional growth. Sign up for one of the upcoming webinars from our partnered providers: |
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| Investing In Your People: A Guide to Enhancing the Employee Experience |
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| Attracting and retaining top talent has never been more critical. With a workforce spanning five generations and diverse work arrangements, a one-size-fits-all approach no longer works. | | CBIZ’s Employee Experience Guide offers a comprehensive resource to help attract, retain, and engage a diverse workforce. | | Key insights include | - Attracting Top Talent: Create competitive total rewards packages and use advanced recruitment strategies.
- Leveraging Technology: Streamline processes with tools like CBIZ’s Centrally HR.
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| | - Optimizing the Employee Journey: Deliver seamless onboarding and a positive workplace experience.
- Holistic Strategies: Integrate benefits, insurance, and workforce development to meet diverse needs.
| | Focus on what employees value most to enhance loyalty, connection, and your competitive edge. |
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| Atlantic Union Bank Completes Integration of Sandy Spring Bank |
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| Atlantic Union Bank announced it has successfully completed the integration of Sandy Spring Bank branches and operations into Atlantic Union Bank, unifying the bank across its footprint. |
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| | “Following our detailed merger integration playbook used to seek to ensure a smooth transition, our teammates have worked diligently on the data conversion and systems integration of Sandy Spring since the merger announcement last fall,” said Maria Tedesco, President and Chief Operating Officer of Atlantic Union Bank. “Not only does this successful integration result in a unified bank presence across Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina and Washington D.C., but also helps us build on our commitment to provide the conveniences, services and products that are most important to our customers.” |
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 | | Maria Tedesco, Atlantic Union Bank |
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| | | Source: atlanticunionbank.com | Read time: 2 min |
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| FB Financial Launches ‘Blue Ridge Rising’ to Rebuild Asheville’s Business Community One Year After Hurricane Helene |
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| FB Financial, a division of FirstBank, announced the launch of “Blue Ridge Rising,” a loan recovery program to support Western North Carolina businesses impacted by last year’s Hurricane Helene. Focused on stabilizing and rebuilding owner-occupied commercial real estate, the $75 million capital commitment is FB Financial’s way of helping to build back Asheville one business at a time. |
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| | Blue Ridge Rising is the first initiative of its kind focused on revitalizing Asheville’s business community and giving local business owners much-needed access to capital. The program provides flexible, accessible financing to support new construction, property acquisition, and refinancing for affected businesses. |
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| | “As a community bank, FB Financial is deeply committed to helping local businesses succeed and we are invested in rebuilding Asheville, one business at a time,” said Andy Nadeau, Asheville Market President. “Our team has been working hand-in-hand with business owners in the devastating aftermath of Hurricane Helene. As we look back on this past year and all it has entailed, Blue Ridge Rising is a direct way for us to continue supporting businesses and remind them that we’re still all in this together.” |
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 | | Andy Nadeau, FB Financial |
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| | | Source: wncbusiness.com | Read time: 6 min |
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| | I have discovered in life that there are ways of getting almost anywhere you want to go, if you really want to go. |
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| NC Bankers Association | 3601 Haworth Drive | Raleigh | NC | 27609 | US |
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| | If you no longer want to receive emails regarding the NCBankers Bulletin, please profile. |
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