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| | Recount in Berger-Page Race |
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| | North Carolina Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger has filed for a recount in the closely watched Republican primary for NC Senate District 26 (Guilford and Rockingham Counties). |
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| | Senator Berger initially trailed Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page by two votes at the end of the primary election day, but the lead expanded to 23 votes after provisional ballots and military and overseas voters’ absentee ballots were counted. According to the state elections board, Senator Berger also filed at least four election protests. Senator Berger is currently the Republican leader of the NC Senate, with the 2026 “short” session of the North Carolina General Assembly set to convene on April 21. |
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 | | Left: Sen. Phil Berger | Right: Sheriff Sam Page |
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| | The winner of the Republican primary in NC Senate District 26 will face Democrat Steve Luking in the general election on November 3, 2026. Given its demographics, NC Senate District 26 is generally considered a safe seat for Republicans. |
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| | Court Sides with Fed Chairman Powell |
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| | A federal judge has quashed two Justice Department subpoenas against Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell. The judge determined that both subpoenas were issued to pressure the Fed into lowering interest rates. |
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| | Fed to Propose Bank Capital Reforms |
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| | In a speech, Federal Reserve Vice Chair for Supervision Michelle Bowman identified a series of proposed bank capital reforms she said will reduce capital requirements for large banks and result in slightly larger reductions for smaller banks. Governor Bowman said the Fed board will vote next week on whether to put the proposals out for public comment. |
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| | | Advocacy Opportunity: ICBA Capital Summit (May 4-7) |
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| The ICBA Capital Summit empowers you to make your voice heard on Capitol Hill, ensuring policymakers understand the vital role of community banks in driving growth and opportunity. Set for May 4-7, 2026, at the Westin Washington, D.C. Downtown, this important event gives bankers the opportunity to engage directly with lawmakers and advocate for policies that support the future of community banking. |
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| Members of Congress want to hear directly from their constituents about how federal policy affects your bank and your community. A strong turnout from our industry reinforces the importance of our priority issues. |
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| NCBA Celebrates Bank Grand Openings |
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| | NCBA recently joined two bank celebrations marking continued growth and investment in North Carolina. | | On Friday, we celebrated the grand opening of Huntington National Bank’s beautiful new South End branch. Huntington is making an extraordinary investment in the Carolinas, with plans to build a 55-branch network anchored in Charlotte, Raleigh, Winston-Salem, Columbia, Charleston, and Greenville, along with more than 350 employees across the region. |
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| | | On Tuesday, we also celebrated the grand opening of a major new office facility for Citigroup, Inc. in Charlotte. Citi has committed to creating 510 additional jobs and investing $16.1 million in its Mecklenburg County office. The bank’s expanded physical presence in Charlotte will support growth in areas such as personal banking, finance, and marketing. |
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| | | This expansion is expected to bring an annual payroll impact of more than $65 million to the community, and the project is estimated to grow North Carolina’s economy by more than $2.7 billion over the next 10 years. |
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| | Executive Order to Reform Housing Finance |
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| | President Trump has issued an executive order to promote access to mortgage credit. | | Commenting on the issuance of the order, NCBA president & CEO Peter Gwaltney stated, |
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| | “Following the passage and implementation of the Dodd-Frank Act, banks of all sizes in North Carolina and across the nation exited the mortgage business, citing increased financial and regulatory risk, as well as higher compliance costs. As a result, banks now originate only about 25% of all mortgage loans. My hope is that President Trump's Executive Order will help reverse this trend by creating an economic and regulatory environment in which banks can profitably offer affordable mortgage products and services in their communities.” |
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 | Peter Gwaltney
President & CEO, NC Bankers Association |
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| | Executive Order on Housing Construction |
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| | In a second executive order, President Trump directed HUD and the FHFA to consider “eliminating unduly burdensome rules and reforming programs that constrain residential development and impede housing affordability.” |
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| | Congressional Activity on Housing Matters |
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| | The Senate has passed a bipartisan bill – S. 2651, the ROAD to Housing Act – that seeks to increase the housing supply by removing regulatory barriers and creating incentives for communities that build more homes. The bill has gone to the House, where the House Financial Services Committee has its own housing bill, H.R. 6644, the Housing for the 21st Century Act. |
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| Federal Legislative & Regulatory Update⚖️ |
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| Greater Coordination Among SEC and CFTC |
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| | The SEC and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission have agreed to coordinate oversight and promote regulatory clarity in areas of common regulatory interest. Among other things, their memorandum of understanding means that they will seek to align their policy efforts on the regulatory framework for cryptocurrencies. |
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| 2026 Market Outlook: Strategic Insights for the Evolving Landscape |
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| The 2026 CBS Benefits Day & HR Workshop brought HR and benefits professionals to the Sheraton Imperial on March 18-19 for two days of timely updates, practical strategies, and peer discussion. |
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| | | We kicked off with CBS Benefits Day, covering key topics shaping employee benefits, from health plan solutions and pharmacy trends to retirement, income protection, dental coverage, and advocacy resources, while also giving attendees time to connect with endorsed vendors and industry partners. |
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| | | The HR Workshop shifted the focus to today’s workplace challenges, with sessions on legal developments, leadership preparedness, talent engagement and retention, workplace culture, compensation and benefits alignment, professional development, and hiring strategies. The event also featured NCBA training resources and a peer roundtable discussion, creating space for attendees to exchange ideas and insights with colleagues from across the industry. |
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Thank you to our 2026 CBS Benefits Day & HR Workshop sponsors: |
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| Need Credits? Earn SHRM, AAP, APRP, CRCM, CPE 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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| First Bancorp Declares Quarterly Cash Dividend |
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| | First Bancorp (FBNC) announced a cash dividend of $0.24 per share on its common stock, according to a press release statement. The dividend will be paid on April 27, 2026 to shareholders of record as of March 31, 2026. The payment continues the company’s remarkable track record of 39 consecutive years of dividend payments, with shares currently yielding 1.71%. |
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| | "It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it." |
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| NC Bankers Association | 3601 Haworth Drive | Raleigh | NC | 27609 | US |
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