A publication for members of the North Dakota Bankers Association - December 17, 2020 Volume 20 Issue 12

 
CONTINUE READING
A publication for members of the North Dakota Bankers Association - December 17, 2020 Volume 20 Issue 12
A publication for members of the North Dakota Bankers Association.

1     Volume 20 • Issue 12                                                                                             December 17, 2020

           Jolene German                                          Dorothy Lick                          Lisa Dolajak
           Administrative Assistant                               SVP of Education                      Communications & Marketing Coordinator

           Rick Clayburgh                                             Jackie Bauer                      Angi Day
           President & CEO                                            Business & Database Coordinator   Benefits Coordinator

                                      Ann Reich
                                      SVP of Strategic Partnerships

    NDBA • PO Box 1438, Bismarck, ND 58502-1438 • Ph: 701.223.5303 • Fax: 701.258.0218 • Email: ndba@ndba.com • www.ndba.com
A publication for members of the North Dakota Bankers Association - December 17, 2020 Volume 20 Issue 12
CHaiRMaN’S CORNER
                                     Happy Holidays Everyone!
                                     I always think of this season as a time of hope and a time to look forward to the
                                     next year. There is the promise that with vaccines, we may get back to life as we
 Jolene Muscha                       knew it before the pandemic. And while that may be a few months away, we
 NDBA Chairman                       can still plan and anticipate things... like the chance to spend time with family
 President
 The Union Bank                      and friends again without a sense of fear.
 of Glen Ullin
                                     As bankers, we always strive for a better future, even if it is only the next year we
                                     are thinking about. So I say, get out the ice skates and the hot chocolate (with or
                                     without schnapps) and make that plan for 2021 – it can happen!
                                     I wish you a season of health and happiness and a new year of hope and
                                     positivity!

Upcoming NDBA Events
JANUARY 2021                           FEBRUARY 2021                       MARCH 2021                          February 2021
 S   M       T   W    T    F    S      S    M     T    W    T    F    S    S    M      T   W    T    F    S    16 & 23   UCC Article 9 Virtual Seminar
                           1    2           1     2    3    4    5    6         1      2   3    4    5    6
                                                                                                               March 2021
3    4       5   6    7    8    9      7    8     9    10   11   12   13   7    8      9   10   11   12   13   15-17     ABA Washington Summit -
                                                                                                                         Washington Marriott Marquis
10   11     12   13   14   15 16       14 15     16    17   18   19   20   14 15     16    17   18   19   20
                                                                                                                         Washington, D.C.
17   18     19   20 21 22 23           21 22 23 24 25 26              27   21 22 23 24 25 26              27
                                                                                                               April 2021
24 25       26   27 28 29 30           28                                  28 29 30 31                         6-9       Dakota School of Lending Principles -
31                                                                                                                       Radisson Hotel, Bismarck
                                                                                                               12        Human Resource Management School
APRIL 2021                             MAY 2021                            JUNE 2021                                     Graduate School of Banking - Wisconsin
 S   M      T    W    T    F    S      S    M     T    W    T    F    S    S    M      T   W    T    F    S              Virtual starting April 12
                      1    2    3                                     1                1   2    3    4    5    27        Bank Technology Management School
                                                                                                                         Graduate School of Banking - Wisconsin
4    5      6    7    8    9    10     2    3     4    5    6    7    8    6    7      8   9    10   11   12             Virtual starting April 27
11   12     13   14   15   16   17     9    10    11   12   13   14   15   13   14   15    16   17   18   19   June 2021
18   19 20 21 22 23 24                 16   17    18   19 20 21 22         20 21 22 23 24 25 26                6-11      Dakota School of Banking -
                                                                                                                         University of Jamestown
25 26 27 28 29 30                      23 24 25 26 27 28 29                27 28 29 30
                                                                                                               14-15     Quad States Convention -
                                       30 31                                                                             Rushmore Plaza Civic Center
                                                                                                                         Rapid City, SD
JULY 2021                              August 2021                         SEPTEMBER 2021
                                                                                                               21        SDBA National School for Experienced
 S   M      T    W    T    F    S      S    M     T    W     T    F   S    S    M      T   W    T    F    S
                                                                                                                         Ag Bankers - Black Hills State University,
                      1    2    3      1    2     3    4    5    6    7                    1    2    3    4              Spearfish, SD
4    5      6    7    8    9    10     8    9     10   11   12   13 14     5    6      7   8    9    10   11   July2021
11   12     13   14   15   16   17     15   16    17   18   19 20 21       12   13   14    15   16   17   18   18-30     Graduate School of Banking at Colorado-
                                                                                                                         Boulder, CO
18   19 20 21 22 23 24                 22   23    24 25 26 27 28           19 20 21 22 23 24 25
                                                                                                               August 2021
25 26 27 28 29 30 31                   29   30    31                       26 27 28 29 30 31
                                                                                                               1-13      GSB 2021 Graduate School of Banking-
                                                                                                                         University of Wisconsin - Madison

                                                                                 2
A publication for members of the North Dakota Bankers Association - December 17, 2020 Volume 20 Issue 12
CoNTeNTS
                                                              EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

                     30                            16         CHAIRMAN
                                                              Jolene Muscha
                                                                                        CHAIRMAN-ELECT
                                                                                        Christie Obenauer
                                                                                                                    TREASURER
                                                                                                                    Kathy Torske
                                                              The Union Bank of         Union State Bank            American Trust Center
                                                              Glen Ullin                Hazen                       Bismarck

                                                              NDBA BOARD OF DIRECTORS
                                                              Deneen Axtman             Brian L. Johnson            Kelly Rachel
                                                              Cornerstone Bank          Choice Bank                 Unison Bank
                                                              Fargo                     Grand Forks                 Jamestown

                                                              Judd Graham               Craig Johnson               Kim Settel
                                                              Bremer Bank               Merchants Bank              Gate City Bank

                                                   22
                                                              Fargo                     Rugby                       Fargo

                                                              Todd Heilman              Jay Lies                    Todd Steinwand
                                                              Western State Bank        Choice Bank                 Bank of North Dakota
                                                              Devils Lake               Fargo                       Bismarck
FEATURES
                                                              Ryan Hertz                Pat Lorenson                Lee Weisbeck
11   SBA PPP: Myth vs. Fact                                   Dacotah Bank              Ramsey National Bank        Starion Bank
                                                              Minot                     Fargo                       Mandan
16   2021: An Odyssey Away from LIBOR
                                                              Pete Jahner               Brad Miller
20   Municipal Credit Update: Revisiting the Pandemic’s       Kirkwood Bank and Trust
                                                              Bismarck
                                                                                        First State Bank of Cando
                                                                                        Cando
     Effect on Municipal Credit Risk
22   Live Well Work Well: Celebrating Holidays Safely
                                                              NDBA SERVICES, INC. BOARD OF DIRECTORS
     During the COVID-19 Pandemic                             CHAIR
                                                              Jeremy Skoglund           Darren Haugen               Bernie Sinner
28   COVID-19's Impact on 2021: Why Bankers Need to           Bank of North Dakota      Starion Bank                BankNorth
     Be Prepared                                              Bismarck                  Mandan                      Casselton

30   Social Happenings                                        Lois Bednar               Kelly Hoeven                Jeff Weiler
                                                              Bank Forward              Bank of Glen Ullin          Bank of North Dakota
                                                              Fargo                     Glen Ullin                  Bismarck

IN EVERY ISSUE                                                Duane Bowman              Jamie Nelson
                                                                                        Farmers Security Bank
2     Calendar of Events                                      Dakota Western Bank
                                                              Bowman                    Washburn

3     NDBA Directors & Staff
4     Articles
12    NDBA Education Events & Webinars
                                                              NDBA STAFF
34    Happenings                                              Rick Clayburgh            Lisa Dolajak                Ann Reich
                                                              President and CEO         Communications and          SVP of Strategic Partnerships
38    Banker Classifieds                                      rick@ndba.com             Marketing Coordinator       ann@ndba.com
                                                                                        lisa@ndba.com
                                                              Jackie Bauer
                                                              Business and Database     Jolene German               NDBA GENERAL
                                                              Coordinator               Administrative Assistant    COUNSEL
                                                              jackie@ndba.com           jolene@ndba.com
                                                                                                                    Tracy Kennedy

Mission Statement                                             Angi Day                  Dorothy Lick                tracy@ndba.com
                                                              Benefits Coordinator      SVP of Education
                                                              angi@ndba.com             dorothy@ndba.com
Extraordinary Leadership for North Dakota Banks

                                                          3
A publication for members of the North Dakota Bankers Association - December 17, 2020 Volume 20 Issue 12
aRTiCLeS

Security Vendor Reports Major                                            NDBA, ABA and State Banking
Supply Chain Cyberattack                                                 Trade Associations ask Congress
Affecting Government, Private                                            to Extend CARES Act TDR Relief
Clients                                                                  NDBA joined the ABA and
                                                                         the and 50 other state banking
A major cyber-attack on SolarWinds – a security vendor that
                                                                         trade associations on a letter to
serves a wide range of military, private companies, government
                                                                         Congress asking them to extend
agencies, and academic institutions – may have allowed hackers
                                                                         the troubled debt restructuring
to gain access to the emails, systems and data of several of its
                                                                         (TDR) relief provisions in the CARES Act. The provisions,
clients, including the Treasury and Commerce Departments,
                                                                         which are scheduled to expire this month, allow banks to suspend
among others. Suspected Russian hackers targeted SolarWinds’
                                                                         generally accepted accounting principles for COVID-19 related
Orion business software with a “supply chain attack,” through
                                                                         loan modifications.
which malicious code was embedded within a routine software
update that was distributed to SolarWinds’ clients.                      The letter notes that when a loan is classified as a TDR, a bank
                                                                         is often required to hold twice the regulatory capital of current
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency issued
                                                                         loans and is ineligible for consideration as collateral at the Federal
an emergency directive noting that the breach “poses an
                                                                         Reserve. Many times, the TDR classification also forces the bank
unacceptable risk” and directing federal agencies to take steps
                                                                         to take remedial steps against a loan, including foreclosure.
to disconnect or shut down use of affected SolarWinds Orion
products. SolarWinds also issued a security advisory to its users        In related news, a group of Republican members of Congress
with more detailed instructions.                                         also recently wrote to the House leadership asking for the
                                                                         TDR provisions to be extended, stating that allowing them to
To read the CISA directive, visit: https://cyber.dhs.gov/ed/21-01/
                                                                         expire "would have a drastic and adverse impact on the ability
To read the SolarWinds security advisory, visit: https://                of consumers and businesses to access credit now and a TDR
www.solarwinds.com/securityadvisory                                      classification would further hurt their ability to access credit in
                                                                         the future."
Community Banks Took on                                                  To read the letter, visit: https://www.aba.com/advocacy/policy-
Significant Share of PPP Lending                                         analysis/joint-aba-and-sba-letter-to-hfsc-and-sbc-tdr-relief-extension

Community banks took on an
immense share of PPP lending,                                            NDBA, ABA and State
according to a blog post by                                              Associations Call for Keeping
the Conference of State Bank
Supervisors. Nationwide, community
                                                                         GLBA Exemption in New Privacy
banks’ outstanding balance of PPP loans to total assets was              Law
6.04%, compared to 1.81% for non-community banks.                        NDBA joined the ABA and the and 50 other state banking
Through the PPP, allocated 4.89 million forgivable loans were            trade associations on a letter to the Uniform Law Commission –
made, totaling more than $521 billion, and community banks               which has been tasked with drafting a uniform law on consumer
made 28% of the loans, or $148 billion. The total share of PPP           privacy – urging it to retain in the draft the current exemption for
loans by community banks was much higher than their 12%                  information subject to the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act. The letter
share of total industry assets and 15% share of total industry           was sent ahead of a December meeting that took place to discuss
loans, CSBS said.                                                        the draft law.
"Community banks’ relationship approach to lending allows                The associations responded to arguments made in a comment
them to make decisions and provide solutions to small                    letter by another advocacy group, which argued that GLBA
businesses,” CSBS said. “For many small businesses, community            fails to offer adequate consumer protections and urged the
banks are often the only way to access loans and other financial         committee to exclude the compromise exemption. In rebutting
services, which may help explain why the PPP participation rate          the arguments, the associations noted that banking is the only
for community banks is so high."                                         industry that is regularly examined by federal regulators on
                                                                         compliance with federal privacy laws, which provides significant
To read more, visit: https://www.csbs.org/newsroom/community-
                                                                         consumer protections.
banks-play-outsized-role-ppp-lending

                                                                     4
A publication for members of the North Dakota Bankers Association - December 17, 2020 Volume 20 Issue 12
aRTiCLeS

“The GLBA not only mandates disclosure of privacy practices                   Among other things, the final rule addresses the application of the
and information sharing restrictions, but it further requires                 “prudence and exclusive purpose” duties under ERISA to proxy
financial institutions to establish an information security program           voting; the use of written proxy voting policies and guidelines;
that protects customer information,” the associations wrote.                  and the selection and monitoring of proxy advisory firms. ERISA
“Each program must be designed to ensure the security and                     fiduciaries may further adopt one or more of the rule’s optional
confidentiality of customer information, protect against any                  safe harbors to assist them in complying with the decision on
foreseeable risks, protect against its unauthorized access or use,            whether to vote proxies.
and ensure its proper disposal.” They also emphasized that banks
                                                                              To read the letter, visit: https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/
regularly undergo full-scope, on-site examinations by the federal
                                                                              EBSA/temporary-postings/fiduciary-duties-regarding-proxy-voting-
banking agencies to ensure compliance.                                        and-shareholder-rights-final-rule.pdf
To read the letter, visit: https://www.aba.com/advocacy/policy-
analysis/joint-aba-and-state-association-alliance-letter-to-ulc-privacy       CFPB Issues Final QM Standard Rule
                                                                              The CFPB has issued a final rule
Banking Agencies Provide Relief                                               making several changes to the
to Community Banks with                                                       Qualified Mortgage (QM) standard.
Pandemic-Inflated Assets                                                      The rule defines both the general QM
                                                                              category and a new “seasoned” QM
The federal banking agencies have issued an interim final rule                standard for certain portfolio loans.
to ease the regulatory burden of community banks that have
experienced sudden asset growth as a result of participation                  Under the rule, to receive the QM safe harbor the annual
in COVID-19 relief programs like the Paycheck Protection                      percentage rate on a covered transaction must not exceed the
Program. The Fed noted that many community banks have                         annual prime offer rate for a comparable transaction by 1.5
experienced an unexpected and sharp increase in assets, swelling              percentage points. Loans with an APR that exceeds the APOR
their balance sheets in some cases by more than 25%, but that                 by 1.5 to 2.25 percentage points will receive a QM rebuttable
growth is expected to be temporary.                                           presumption of ability to repay, with higher pricing thresholds set
                                                                              for smaller loan amounts, manufactured home loans and certain
The rule gives community banks with less than $10 billion in                  other transactions.
assets as of Dec. 31, 2019, more time to either reduce their
balance sheets by shedding temporary growth or to prepare for                 For the general QM requirements, the rule also eliminates the 43
higher regulatory and reporting standards. According to the rule,             percent debt-to-income threshold and the underwriting definition
asset growth in 2020 or 2021 will not trigger new regulatory                  contained in Appendix Q while retaining the product feature and
requirements for those community banking organizations until                  underwriting requirements and points-and-fees limits. The rule
Jan. 1, 2022, at the earliest. The rule does not provide relief from          also mandates that lenders consider the consumer’s income or
CFPB regulatory and supervisory thresholds, nor does it affect                assets, debt obligations and DTI ratio or residual income.
compliance with the Volcker Rule.                                             The seasoned QM standard applies to mortgages held in
To read more, visit: https://www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/               portfolio that have met certain performance requirements over a
pressreleases/files/bcreg20201120a1.pdf                                       36-month seasoning period, including having no more than two
                                                                              delinquencies of 30 or more days and no delinquencies of 60 or
                                                                              more days. To receive seasoned QM status, loans must be secured
DOL Finalizes Rule on Proxy Voting                                            by a first lien; have a fixed rate with fully amortizing payments
The Department of Labor has issued                                            and no balloon payments; must not exceed 30 years in term; and
a final rule formalizing requirements                                         have total points and fees under specified limits.
regarding a fiduciary’s proxy voting                                          To read more, visit: https://www.consumerfinance.gov/about-us/
activity under the Employee Retirement                                        newsroom/consumer-financial-protection-bureau-issues-two-final-
Income Security Act. The final rule                                           rules-promote-access-responsible-affordable-mortgage-credit/
requires that fiduciaries carry out their
duties related to proxy voting solely in
accordance with the economic interest of
retirement investors. The rule becomes part of DOL’s investment
duties regulation, which includes the recently finalized DOL rule
on ESG investments.

                                                                          5
A publication for members of the North Dakota Bankers Association - December 17, 2020 Volume 20 Issue 12
aRTiCLeS

SBA Guidance Indicates that                                                 ineligible to receive the loan amount or loan forgiveness amount
                                                                            claimed by the borrower (or the loan forgiveness amount in the
Banks Must File 1099/1098 for                                               lender’s forgiveness decision).”
CARES Act Loan Subsidies                                                    Lenders may contact PPPForgivenessRequests@sba.gov with
The SBA has issued a Q&A document                                           questions.
regarding several tax issues related to
payments made on behalf of borrowers                                        FDIC Analysis Examines
to lenders for existing SBA 7(a), 504 and
microloans. The CARES Act required the
                                                                            Community Bank Economies of
SBA to make payments covering six-months                                    Scale
of principal, interest and any associated fees small businesses may         The FDIC has released a staff study highlighting how economies
owe on these loans.                                                         of scale developed at community banks (those with $10 billion or
The guidance notes that lenders must file a Form 1099-MISC                  less in assets) between 2000 and 2019. Between that period, the
indicating the amount of principal, interest and any fees paid by           FDIC estimated that “the cost-minimizing size of a bank’s loan
SBA to the lender on behalf of the borrower. In situations where            portfolio rose from approximately $350 million to $3.3 billion,”
lenders received payment subsidies for loans for which a Form               suggesting that “efficiency gains accrue early as a bank grows from
1098, Mortgage Interest Statement is due, SBA also said that                $10 million in loans to $3.3 billion, with 90% of the potential
form should be filed by the lender.                                         efficiency gains occurring by $300 million.”
To view the Q&A, visit: https://www.sba.gov/sites/default/files/            At that size, the report noted that banks have estimated costs of
articles/5000-20067.pdf                                                     about 4.76%. Banks with a loan portfolio of double that size –
                                                                            around $600 million – have estimated costs of 4.33% and have
SBA Outlines Procedures for PPP                                             accrued 95% of the potential cost savings as a result of their
                                                                            increased size, the FDIC said.
‘Loan Necessity’ Questionnaires                                             The report also found that the financial crisis “temporarily
The SBA has released procedures for                                         interrupted this trend and costs increased industrywide, but a
lenders in handling the loan necessity                                      generally more cost-efficient industry reemerged, returning in
questionnaires that SBA is requesting                                       recent years to pre-crisis trends.”
for PPP loans totaling $2 million or
                                                                            To read more, visit: https://www.fdic.gov/analysis/cfr/staff-
more. The procedures were detailed in a
                                                                            studies/2020-06.pdf
user guide and introductory letter sent
using SBA’s PPP forgiveness platform.
According to the documents, lenders will receive notice of
                                                                            FTC Consumer Alert Warns
requests from SBA for questionnaires via the SBA forgiveness                of Potential Fraud Related to
platform at forgiveness.sba.gov. The questionnaires – SBA Form              COVID-19 Vaccines
3509 for for-profit borrowers and Form 3510 for nonprofit
borrowers – are available there, and the platform now accepts               With multiple promising COVID-19
online submission of the completed questionnaires. Lenders                  vaccines on the horizon, a new consumer
must notify the borrower of the request within five business days           alert from the Federal Trade Commission
and should advise the borrower to complete the form within 10               is warning consumers of potential fraud
business days, SBA said. Lenders must upload the completed                  scams associated with the vaccines. The
questionnaire, manually enter borrower responses and upload                 FTC outlined several facts that can help
supporting documentation within five business days of receiving             consumers steer clear of potential scams.
it.                                                                         For example, the FTC said that consumers will likely not have
While reiterating that lenders are not required to verify or validate       to pay out of pocket to receive the vaccine; will not be able to
the borrower’s responses or supporting documentation submitted              pay to put their name on a list to receive the vaccine or receive
with the questionnaires, SBA emphasized in its letter that “failure         early access; and will not be contacted by a representative from
to timely respond to any SBA request may result in a delay in               a vaccine distribution site or health care payer asking for their
SBA’s remittance of the loan forgiveness amount, if any, or in a            Social Security number or bank account information in order to
determination that the borrower was ineligible for the loan or              sign up to receive the vaccine. The FTC also urged consumers to
                                                                            be wary of providers offering products, treatments, or medicines

                                                                        6
A publication for members of the North Dakota Bankers Association - December 17, 2020 Volume 20 Issue 12
aRTiCLeS

to prevent the virus, and to consult their healthcare provider             bank level and one at the assessment area level for the top three
before paying for or receiving any kind of COVID-19 treatment.             CRA ratings. The CD minimum involves two values, one at the
                                                                           bank level and one at the assessment area level.
If a scam is suspected, the FTC directed consumers to report it by
visiting ReportFraud.ftc.gov or filing a complaint with their state        The proposal also makes clarifying and technical changes to the
attorney general through consumerresources.org.                            CRA final rule. Comments are due 60 days after publication in
                                                                           the Federal Register.
OCC Proposes Fair Access to                                                To read more, visit: https://www.occ.gov/news-issuances/news-
Banking Services Rule                                                      releases/2020/nr-occ-2020-160.html

The OCC has issued a proposed rule
requiring banks to provide access to
                                                                           SBA Releases Data on PPP/EIDL
services, capital, and credit based on their                               Loans
risk assessment of individual customers                                    In response to a federal judge’s order, the SBA has released
and not make decisions that affect entire                                  borrower information on both the PPP and EIDL programs.
categories of customers. The proposed                                      SBA declined to appeal a judge's order in a case brought by
rule, which covers national banks and                                      multiple news organizations seeking data more granular than what
federal savings associations with more than $100 billion in                SBA has already disclosed.
assets, prohibits institutions from denying services in an effort to
disadvantage or otherwise hinder the customer from competing               While it is not unexpected that details of a government loan
in a market or business segment or benefiting another person or            program would eventually be made public, banks can expect
business activity.                                                         media attention on the PPP and EIDL data. Banks should
                                                                           consider reviewing the data reported for their borrowers to ensure
In issuing the rule, the OCC cited a provision in the Dodd-                accuracy.
Frank Act that charges the agency with “assuring the safety and
soundness of, and compliance with laws and regulations, fair               To view the SBA data, visit: https://sba.app.box.com/s/5myd1nxu
access to financial services, and fair treatment of customers by,          toq8wxecx2562baruz774si6
the institutions and other persons subject to its jurisdiction.”           For concerns about publicly released EIDL data, please
The agency noted that the proposal is in response to some                  email: disastercustomerservice@sba.gov
banks no longer financing specific kinds of businesses, such as
                                                                           To request an update (correction) to PPP loan
gun manufacturers, fossil fuel companies, and private prisons.
                                                                           information, visit: https://www.sba.gov/ppp-data-feedback
Comments on the proposal are due by January 4, 2021.
To read more, visit: https://www.occ.gov/news-issuances/news-
releases/2020/nr-occ-2020-156.html
                                                                           Senate Approves Waller to Serve
                                                                           on Fed Board of Governors
OCC Releases Proposal on CRA                                               The U.S. Senate has approved the nomination of Christopher
Performance Standards                                                      Waller to serve on the Federal Reserve Board of Governors on a
                                                                           party-line vote of 48 to 47. Waller, who currently serves as the
The OCC has released a proposal detailing the agency’s approach            director of research at the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, will
to determining Community Reinvestment Act evaluation                       serve a term on the Fed Board that expires in January 2030.
measure benchmarks, retail lending distribution test thresholds
and community development minimums. The proposal further
implements the new general performance standards outlined in
                                                                           IRS Clarifies Deductibility of
the CRA final rule issued earlier this year.                               Qualified PPP Expenses
The proposal states that the OCC plans to survey the industry to           The IRS has issued a ruling that borrowers
gather bank-specific information from institutions subject to the          submitting Paycheck Protection Program
general performance standards. This information will be used               loan forgiveness applications for approval are
to help calculate CRA evaluation measures and CD minimum                   required to disallow a deduction for qualified
calculations for each bank’s assessment areas, as well as a bank-          2020 expenses in 2020 tax returns, even
level CRA evaluation measure and CD minimum calculations.                  when the forgiveness application has not been
The evaluation measure includes six benchmark values: one at the           approved or filed by the end of the year. The ruling was issued
                                                                           in response to questions raised about non-deductible expenses in

                                                                       7
A publication for members of the North Dakota Bankers Association - December 17, 2020 Volume 20 Issue 12
aRTiCLeS
situations where the expenses are paid in 2020 and the forgiveness           •   Includes a requirement for the insurer to give a written 45-
of the loan may not occur until 2021.                                            day notice before nonrenewal or cancellation
The agency also issued a revenue procedure that provides                     •   Includes information about coverage available under the NFIP
guidance for PPP borrowers that either do not apply for
                                                                             •   Includes a mortgage interest clause
forgiveness or have all or part of the forgiveness application
denied.                                                                      •   Includes a provision requiring an insured to file suit not
                                                                                 later than one year after a date of a written denial for all or
To read the IRS ruling, visit: https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/
                                                                                 part of a claim
rr-20-27.pdf
                                                                             •   Contains cancellation provisions that are as restrictive as the
To read the revenue procedure, visit: https://www.irs.gov/
                                                                                 provisions contained in an NFIP policy.
pub/irs-drop/rp-20-51.pdf
                                                                            “In the event of a lapse in the NFIP, the option of private flood
Fed to Extend Some Lending                                                  insurance may reduce the likelihood of delays in the processing
                                                                            of new originations,” HUD said. “Acceptance of private flood
Facilities Through March                                                    insurance policies would additionally benefit borrowers who want
The Federal Reserve has announced that it                                   FHA-insured mortgages, by providing them consumer choice,
would extend several lending facilities that                                including the opportunity to obtain private flood insurance
were set to expire on or around Dec. 31 to                                  policies that may be more affordable than NFIP policies.”
March 31, 2021. The extensions apply to                                     To read the proposal, visit: https://www.federalregister.gov/
the Commercial Paper Funding Facility,                                      documents/2020/11/23/2020-25105/acceptance-of-private-flood-
the Money Market Mutual Fund Liquidity                                      insurance-for-fha-insured-mortgages
Facility, the Primary Dealer Credit Facility
and the Paycheck Protection Program Liquidity Facility.
                                                                            FDIC Finalizes Changes to
The Fed said the extension is intended to aid planning by
potential participants and provide certainty that the facilities will
                                                                            Brokered Deposit Rules
be available through the first quarter of 2021 to help the economy          The FDIC has finalized changes to modernize its existing
recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.                                         brokered deposit rules and foster greater innovation by financial
                                                                            institutions. The final rule establishes a new framework for
To read more, visit: https://www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/
                                                                            designating an entity as a “deposit broker” and amends the
pressreleases/monetary20201130a.htm
                                                                            methodology for calculating the national rate and national rate
                                                                            cap for specific deposit products.
HUD Proposes to Allow Private                                               The final rule narrows the definition of “deposit broker.” It also
Flood Insurance for FHA-Insured                                             designates certain business relationships and services that meet
Mortgages                                                                   the rule’s “primary purpose exemption,” and do not require an
                                                                            application to the FDIC. These designated exemptions include:
The Department of Housing and Urban                                         deposits where the agent has less than 25% of the total “assets
Development has proposed a rule to allow                                    under administration” for its customers; health savings accounts;
mortgagors the option to purchase private                                   deposits related to certain real estate and mortgage servicing
flood insurance on Federal Housing                                          transactions; certain retirement funds; and customer funds held
Administration-insured mortgages for                                        for various regulatory, tax and other government purposes.
properties located in Special Flood Hazard
Areas. Comments on the proposal are due                                     To better accommodate fintech partnerships, the rule also
60 days after publication in the Federal                                    provides that entities with exclusive deposit placement
Register.                                                                   arrangements with one bank are not deposit brokers. With respect
                                                                            to the national rate cap, the FDIC would include credit unions
The proposed rule defines private flood insurance as an insurance           in the data that backs the national rate and incorporate Fed funds
policy that, among other things:                                            and Treasury rates into the national rate cap.
 •   Is issued by a licensed or approved insurer in the state or            To view the final rule, visit: https://www.fdic.gov/news/
     jurisdiction where the property is located                             board/2020/2020-12-15-notice-dis-a-fr.pdf
 •   Provides coverage that is at least as broad as that provided
     under a standard National Flood Insurance Program policy

                                                                        8
A publication for members of the North Dakota Bankers Association - December 17, 2020 Volume 20 Issue 12
aRTiCLeS

                                                                             Labor Department Finalizes
Agencies Propose Rule Regarding                                              Fiduciary Investment Advice
Timely Notification of Cyber                                                 Exemption
Attacks                                                                      The Department of Labor has finalized
Federal regulators have approved                                             its proposed class exemption on fiduciary
a new proposed rule that would                                               investment advice. Available to banks
require banks to notify their                                                and other investment advice fiduciaries,
primary regulator within 36                                                  the exemption would permit receiving
hours of becoming aware that                                                 compensation as a result of providing
a “computer-security incident”                                               fiduciary investment advice, including
or “notification incident” has                                               advice to roll over a participant’s account
occurred. The rule would also                                                in an employee benefit plan to an individual retirement account
require bank service providers to notify “at least two individuals           and other similar types of rollover recommendations.
at affected banking organization customers immediately after the
                                                                             The exemption requires fiduciary investment advice to be
bank service provider experiences a computer-security incident
                                                                             provided in accordance with the following “impartial conduct
that it believes in good faith could disrupt, degrade, or impair
                                                                             standards” to advance retirement customer protections: a best
services provided for four or more hours.”
                                                                             interest standard; a reasonable compensation standard; and a
The rule defines a computer-security incident as an occurrence               requirement to make no materially misleading statements about
that results in actual or potential harm to the confidentiality,             recommended investment transactions. The exemption includes
integrity or availability of an information system or the                    other protections that would require disclosures to retirement
information the system processes, stores or transmits; or                    investors, conflict mitigation and a retrospective compliance
constitutes a violation or imminent threat of violation of security          review. DOL said this approach further will preserve wide
policies, security procedures or acceptable use policies. It defines a       availability of investment advice arrangements and products for
notification incident as one that could materially disrupt, degrade          retirement investors.
or impair bank operations or the delivery of bank products and
                                                                             The exemption takes effect 60 days after publication in the
services, among other things. This notice requirement is intended
                                                                             Federal Register.
to signal the occurrence of a significant material event; based on
a review of FinCEN reports, the banking agencies anticipate that             To read more, visit: https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/EBSA/
incidences of this type (such as ransomware, Trojan malware, zero            temporary-postings/final-exemption-improving-investment-advice-
day attack, etc.) occur approximately 150 times annually across              for-workers-and-retirees.pdf
the aggregate financial services industry.
Under the proposed rule, banks would be required to notify their             Ask Kennedy: NDBA Monthly FAQs
regulator “as soon as possible and no later than 36 hours after              Coming in 2021! North Dakota Bankers
the banking organization believes in good faith that the incident            Association announces "Ask Kennedy", a
occurred.” The agencies added that the requirement “is intended              new monthly series in which Tracy Kennedy,
to serve as an early alert to a banking organization’s primary               NDBA General Counsel, reviews the
federal regulator and is not intended to provide an assessment of            questions she has received from member
the incident.” Comments will be due 90 days after publication in             banks over the past month. Hear the
the Federal Register.                                                        issues other banks are facing and find out
To view the proposed rule, visit: https://www.fdic.gov/news/                 the anwers as well! Tracy will discuss the          Tracy Kennedy
board/2020/2020-12-15-notice-sum-c-fr.pdf                                    questions and answers via 45 minute live
                                                                             broadcast and written bulletin, both released through NDBA
                                                                             each month. First virtual event will be held Wednesday, January
                                                                             6. Visit ndba.com for more information.

                                                                         9
A publication for members of the North Dakota Bankers Association - December 17, 2020 Volume 20 Issue 12
BEYOND THE FUNDAMENTALS

National School
for Experienced Ag Bankers

                                                    Photos by South Dakota Tourism

                   JUNE 21-24, 2021
     BLACK HILLS STATE UNIVERSITY...”Where Anything Is Possible”
                   SPEARFISH, SOUTH DAKOTA

                                 10
Myth vs. Fact                                                              unemployment far lower than expected at the peak of the
                                                                           pandemic. In addition, the unemployment rate is currently
MYTH #1: PPP is wrought with waste,                                        6.7%, a rate not expected to be achieved by many outside
fraud, and abuse.                                                          experts until the fourth quarter of 2021.

FACT: The vast majority of PPP funds supported American MYTH #4: PPP funds did not reach
small businesses and their hardworking employees in dire                   historically underserved communities.
need of economic relief. To ensure all program rules were
followed, all loans are undergoing an automated review, and                FACT: Since enactment of the CARES Act, SBA and Treasury
all loans of $2 million or more will undergo a manual review.              worked closely with Congress, borrowers, and lenders of all
In addition, any loan may be selected for a manual eligibility             sizes – including regional and community banks, Community
review or forgiveness review. SBA has a robust process for                 Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs), and Minority
ensuring PPP funds were used as intended. SBA is committed                 Depository Institutions (MDIs) – to make certain the broadest
to rooting out fraudulent activity; any abuser of this important           possible segment of small businesses could access the
program will be held appropriately accountable. A business                 PPP. To ensure funds began flowing as rapidly as possible
listed in the data release doesn’t mean that SBA has made an               to all small businesses, particularly those in underserved
affirmative declaration that a borrower is eligible or that it will        communities, SBA and Treasury worked closely with lenders
receive loan forgiveness. SBA has a process for review and                 that were positioned to reach borrowers who had had less
                                                                           well-established traditional banking relationships. Through
that is ongoing.
                                                                           our actions, we increased the number of participating lenders
MYTH #2: PPP only supported large                                          from the 1,700 that participated in SBA 7(a) lending in 2019 to
                                                                           nearly 5,500 lenders participating in the PPP.
corporations, not small businesses.
                                                                           SBA and Treasury executed an aggressive outreach campaign to
FACT: The PPP was deployed to help keep small businesses
                                                                           ensure PPP participation by CDFIs, MDIs, and minority, women,
afloat and employees on payroll through the coronavirus
                                                                           veteran, or military-owned lenders due to their unmatched
pandemic. Of those businesses that received PPP loans, 75
                                                                           ability to reach underserved communities. The data shows that
percent have nine or fewer employees. In addition, 87% of
                                                                           SBA and Treasury’s outreach campaign worked.
all loans, or nine out of ten, were $150,000 or less. Every
eligible independent contractor, sole proprietor or small                  As of August 8, 2020, when the PPP closed to new loan
business that applied for a PPP loan – whether it employed                 applications, 432 MDIs and CDFIs had participated from
hundreds of workers or a single individual – received one. The             across the country, providing over 221,000 loans for more
PPP closed in August with more than $130 billion in available              than $16.4 billion. PPP delivered $133 billion of loans to
funding that went unclaimed.                                               businesses in Historically Underutilized Business Zones,
                                                                           accounting for more than 25 percent of all PPP funding.
MYTH #3: PPP did not support workers.                                      Additionally, a review of census tracts indicates 28 percent of
                                                                           the U.S. population lives in low and moderate income census
FACT: Every facet of PPP was designed to keep Americans
                                                                           tracts, and when matched against the distribution of PPP
employed. The PPP has succeeded. To date, PPP has
                                                                           loans, 27 percent of the PPP funds went to low and moderate
supported more than 51 million American jobs, and account
                                                                           income communities, which is in line with their representation
for more than 80% of small business payroll in the United
States. By requiring at least 60% of PPP funds to cover payroll            in the population. n
costs, the Administration ensured Americans’ paychecks
were protected. The PPP directly contributed to the historic
economic recovery we are currently experiencing, keeping

                                                                      11
North Dakota Bankers Association

Education Events
                                                             For more information regarding these educational opportunities,
                                                             visit www.ndba.com or contact Dorothy Lick, SVP of Education,
                                                             North Dakota Bankers Association, 701.223.5303.

EVENT                  DATE              LOCATION                          WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
UCC Article 9 Virtual February 16, 23    Virtual                           Both entry-level and experienced lenders will
                      & March 2                                            gain valuable information.
Seminar
Dakota School of       April 6-9         Radisson Hotel, Bismarck          Loan officer trainees, loan support personnel and
                                                                           personal bankers.
Lending Principles

Tri-State Trust        April 27-29       Delta by Marriott                 Trust officers, trist attorneys, CTFAs and CFPS.
Conference                               Fargo, ND

Dakota School of       June 6-11         University of Jamestown,          Attendees are generally first-or mid-level managers
                                         Jamestown, ND                     seeking advancement in their banks and careers.
Banking                                                                    However, others who would benefit from exposure
                                                                           to the banking industry and increased familiarity
                                                                           with the individual components that make up a
                                                                           bank are also encouraged to attend.

Quad States            June 14-15        Rushmore Plaza Civic Center       Presidents, CEOs, senior management staff,
                                         Rapid City, SD                    lenders, marketing team members and sales
Convention                                                                 managers.

National School        June 21           Black Hills State University      Experienced ag bankers who want to further
                                         Spearfish, SD                     develop their ag lending skills, learn new skills,
for Experienced Ag                                                         confirm existing methodology and meet fellow
Bankers                                                                    bankers who share the same career path.

Group Meetings         September 13-16   Grand Forks, Fargo, Bismarck      All NDBA members!
                                         and Minot

                                                       12
Upcoming
Bank Webinars                                    NDBA offers convenient bank training and access
                                                 to timely topics through a variety of webinars.

EVENT                          DATE              EVENT                                DATE
Online Account Opening         January 5          Working Remotely - Prepare          January 14
                                                  for the New Normal
Employment Law Overview:       January 5
Keeping Up With the Times                         The Transition Away from            January 15
and Avoiding Pitfalls                             LIBOR
Let’s Face It! The Constant    January 6          BSA Officer Annual Training         January 19
Threat of Social Engineering                      Ratio Analysis to Determine         January 19
Best-Ever Compliance           January 6          Financial Strength
Checklists for Consumer                           IRA Update - Information and January 20
Loans                                             Clarification
Writing an Effective Credit    January 7          Compliance Management               January 21
Memorandum
                                                  Bank Accounting for                 January 21
Basics of Banking: An          January 7
                                                  Beginners - 4 Part Series
Overview
                                                  Bank Accounting for                 January 21
Basic Business Entities &  January 11
                                                  Beginners - Part 1
Other Commercial Borrowers
                                                  Basic Real Estate Loan              January 22
Have You Updated Your          January 12
                                                  Documentation
Business Continuity
Management To Meet                                Bank Accounting for                 January 25
Regulatory Expectations                           Beginners - Part 2
Writing Teller Training and    January 12         Creating the Right ERM              January 26
Procedures                                        Program for YOUR
                                                  Community Bank
Dealing with Subpoenas,        January 13
Summonses, Garnishments,                          Opening Business Accounts           January 26
Tax Levies, Etc.
                                                 For more information, visit www.ndba.com and
Regulation Z Rules for Home    January 13
Equity Lines of Credit                           click on “Education” and then “Web Seminars.”

                                            13
Our EXPERTISE, Your Piece of Mind

                                        Save time       spent on Mortgage compliance & regulations
                                                        while still earning revenue!
                                        Our streamlined process is effective and
                                        efficient, making your customer’s journey
                                        smooth and painless.

                                        let's work together!
                                        Call or e-mail Dan to learn why over 100+
                                        partners rely on our mortgage expertise
                                        everyday and how we can help you!

Dan Van Winkle
Mortgage Consultant, NMLS 8495
701-356-9898 | Dan@firstclasscorp.com
www.firstclasscorp.com                                     NMLS 2520 • 2300 13th Avenue South, Fargo ND

                                                   14
Together, let ’s
                make it happen.
         Callie Schlieman
                Call me at 701.433.7430
    Based in Fargo, N.D., specializing in bank stock and Regulation O lending

           Why choose Bell as your bank’s lending partner?
           We’re providing loans to banks across the country for capitalization, acquisitions,
           refinancing and restructuring. We’ll tailor terms and conditions to your bank and its owners.
Bank stock & ownership loans          Bank building financing           Business & personal loans for bankers   Commercial & ag participation loans
                                                                                                                                                 24873

                                                                                                                                Member FDIC

                                                                            15
BUSINESS PARTNERfeature article
2021: An Odyssey Away from LIBOR
                                                                     benchmark rate would be discontinued beginning December
                                                                     31, 2021. This discontinuation meant that many businesses,
                                                                     banks included, would have to take the arduous transition
                                                                     away from using LIBOR in the future as well as address
                  Tim Dominguez,                                     existing products that already use it.
             Associate General Counsel
                  Compliance Alliance                                Under normal circumstances, 2020 was supposed to be a
                                                                     significant year in the transition away from LIBOR. However,
The 1980s were a much different time than today to say the           the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic may have
least. Many of us remember or are too young to remember              caused a shift in priorities for many banks. While regulators
an age where the typical computer only had sixty four                have provided temporary reprieve in several areas of banking
kilobytes of memory or where cell phones weighed as much             for this year, it still stands today that LIBOR will no longer
as twenty pounds with no one anticipating we would ever call         be here after 2021. To underscore the crucial need to address
them smart any time soon. The 1980s were also a period of            this issue by that deadline, the Financial Security Board (FSB)
change for global economics and banks. In 1986 the London            published a 2020 Progress report on the year of transition
Interbank Offering Rate (LIBOR) was officially introduced            away from LIBOR. As the transition remains a global priority,
and published as an interest rate benchmark for widespread           the FSB also included a roadmap of milestones that banks
usage by both financial and non-financial firms in response          should follow as a guidance in navigating this process in a
to banks trading in new interest markets. However, over three        timely manner.
decades later after determining that LIBOR was vulnerable            The FSB report addresses how the COVID-19 pandemic
to interest rate manipulation, it was announced that the             has been a “defining feature of the past year with widespread

                                                                16
implications.” Understandably so, the pandemic has impacted               before the end of the year and consummate those changes
many firms in their transition away from LIBOR, but                       where parties can agree. New contracts should contain robust
according to a survey of FSB members, it has not created                  alternative reference rates wherever possible by this time.
pressing substantive roadblocks to the transition. In fact, the
                                                                          By the end of 2021, banks should be fully prepared for LIBOR’s
report states that the direct correlation between LIBOR and
                                                                          discontinuation. At this point, all new business should involve
banks’ overall borrowing costs weakened during the pandemic
                                                                          alternative rates or at the very least be capable of switching in
with volatility leading banks to scarcely rely on LIBOR
                                                                          a short amount of time. In cases where it was impossible to
markets for funding. Those that did use LIBOR rates faced
                                                                          amend legacy contracts linked to LIBOR, the implications of
challenges because of the pandemic. While central bank rates
                                                                          the benchmark rate no longer being published should have
were decreasing throughout the world, LIBOR rates were
                                                                          already been discussed with necessary steps being taken to
increasing which were passed on to borrowers in a time when
                                                                          prepare for this kind of outcome. The goal by December 31,
financial systems were supposed to play a role in providing
                                                                          2021 is for all market participants, financial and non-financial
much needed liquidity.
                                                                          firms alike to operate without relying on LIBOR. To meet
Despite pandemic induced market disruptions, the FSB states               this, the importance of a market-led transition will remain
that progress has been made throughout the past year in the               significant all throughout this year.
transition. Many national working groups have produced their
                                                                          At the outset of LIBOR in 1986, it would be difficult to say
own timely roadmaps as guides that have been widely adopted
                                                                          many could have predicted that over thirty years later the
while also considering the economic impact of COVID-19.
                                                                          rate would be discontinued and that the transition would be
Over the past year, the FSB continued to work with the
                                                                          impacted by a global pandemic. Just as 2020 was a significant
International Swaps and Derivatives Association (ISDA)
                                                                          year for the transition away from LIBOR, 2021 is equally, if
to address the transition away from LIBOR in derivative
                                                                          not, even more critical. If banks have not taken the necessary
contracts. In October 2020, ISDA released amendments to
                                                                          steps to address their potential LIBOR exposure for new and
its definitions and protocols with these contracts and included
                                                                          existing products, they must immediately put plans in place.
new fallback language that can be used by firms. This past year,
                                                                          The 1980s were indeed a different time compared to today.
more have adopted the Secured Overnight Financing Rate
                                                                          Just like computers with negligible storage space and phones
(SOFR) as the preferred alternative in U.S. dollar markets.
                                                                          as heavy as a sledgehammer, LIBOR is about to be an element
Significant process has indeed been made and while regulators
                                                                          left behind in the past. As we have adapted to changes in
have launched a number of initiatives, what remains is for both
                                                                          technology, banks must also adapt to this change by properly
financial and non-financial firms to globally lead the effort to a
                                                                          preparing themselves and their customers. n
timely market transition by no longer issuing products linked
to LIBOR and by modifying their legacy contracts linked to                Tim Dominguez joins Compliance Alliance after graduating
LIBOR wherever possible.                                                  from the University of Houston Law Center. During law school,
                                                                          he worked as an intern within the legal department of Frost
At this moment in time, the FSB Global Transition Roadmap
                                                                          Bank in San Antonio, TX. He also holds a Bachelor of Science in
states that firms should already at a minimum have identified
                                                                          Communication Studies from The University of Texas at Austin.
all existing LIBOR exposures including what will happen after
                                                                          Before law school, Tim worked various jobs within the Texas state
2021 and if those contracts have any fallback measures in place.
                                                                          government, including the Texas Senate and the Texas Legislative
Further, those who provide customers with products that
                                                                          Council. As one of our hotline advisors, Tim provides guidance
reference LIBOR must have a plan in place to communicate
                                                                          to C/A members on a wide variety of regulatory and compliance
to them of the transition and the steps being taken by the bank
                                                                          issues, in addition to writing articles for some of our publications.
to move to alternative rates. Banks should by now understand
industry and regulatory best practices with the transition
away from LIBOR including necessary steps taken with the
assistance of legal counsel. By mid-2021, banks should have
already determined which legacy contracts can be amended

                                                                     17
Your Charitable Giving Experts in North Dakota.

     Kevin Dvorak, CFP® Amy Stromsodt, CFRE   Kara Geiger, CFRE   John Heinen, CFRE
          Bismarck          Grand Forks            Bismarck            Dickinson
        701-222-8349       701-741-3193         701-222-8349         701-590-4614
      Kevin@NDCF.net      Amy@NDCF.net         Kara@NDCF.net       John@NDCF.net

        Call us anytime for free, no obligation, confidential
     consultations about these or other charitable giving topics:
       The 40% state tax credit for gifts to qualified ND
         endowment funds
       Charitable gift annuities and charitable remainder trusts
       The IRA charitable rollover
       Donor-advised funds
       How to discuss charitable giving with your client
       How to start an endowment fund for your community

                  www.NDCF.net/GivingExperts

18
by

                              Stay lean and grow your bank’s compliance
                              program using Compliance Alliance.

                              Your resources are stretched thin – Why not put us to work for you?
                              We’re here to help you manage the load, while keeping your budget light
                              and your options open.

                              More about C/A Membership by calling (888) 353-3933 or emailing
     compliancealliance.com   at: info@compliancealliance.com

                                       19
BUSINESS PARTNERfeature article

Municipal
Credit
Update:
Revisiting the Pandemic’s Effect
on Municipal Credit Risk
“The potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the City                   states did not cut funding to school districts in the 2020 fiscal year,
cannot be quantified at this time, but the continued outbreak of             but instead used one-time budgetary maneuvers to make ends meet.
COVID-19 could have an adverse effect on the City’s operations               If state revenues continue to be depressed, they may be forced to
and financial condition.” This disclosure, or something like it,             make cuts across the board, including education. Vulnerability to
is now regularly included in documentation by municipal issuers.             state funding changes can be measured by analyzing the district’s
While we would love to have more details than that, the exact                dependence on state funds relative to total revenues. Of course,
magnitude of the pandemic’s repercussions on state and local                 further federal aid would mitigate this risk. Congress is working
finances still cannot be accurately determined.                              on ideas for more aid, but none have fully passed at this time. The
                                                                             HEROES Act, passed by the House on October 1, 2020 but not
However, we do have some clarity on the results of the 2020 fiscal           yet by the Senate, contains $676 billion in funds for state and local
year, given that most local government fiscal years close in June.           governments with $208 billion specifically allocated for education
The U.S. Census Bureau reports that total state tax revenue declined         spending. The HEROES Act comes with an important restriction:
29% in the second quarter of 2020 compared to the same quarter               states may not cut their budgets for education spending, which will
in 2019. The chart below exposes the states with the largest declines        help to further protect school districts from state funding cuts if
in total tax revenue when comparing Q2 2019 to Q2 2020. Most                 enacted.

                                                                        20
Also, the National League of Cities reveals that all major local tax          while smaller cities like Jacksonville and Salt Lake City experienced
revenue sources slowed with severe declines in sales and income tax           net gains in new residents.
receipts. Sales tax revenue dropped by 11% on average in the 2020
fiscal year. Property tax revenue continued to grow, but the growth           Looking forward to the 2021 fiscal year, many questions linger.
rate slowed compared to 2019 and may continue to slow and even                Cities and states are anticipating an even larger decline in general
decline in 2021 and 2022 depending on economic conditions.                    fund revenues than they experienced during 2020, reserve levels
Property tax trends are slow to follow economic fluctuations                  have lessened from pre-pandemic levels, and it is not clear when or if
because assessed valuations are typically set well in advance of the          events and gatherings may resume regular schedules. Investors must
actual bills being due, and changes in assessed valuations are often          continue to diligently monitor their holdings for potential credit
more muted than changes in market value due to caps on assessed               deterioration as outlined in our earlier Municipal Credit Update
valuation increases and other calculation considerations. However,            concerning the COVID-19 pandemic. (https://www.gobaker.com/
the longer the economy remains depressed, the more likely it is               municipal-credit-update-managing-credit-risk-amid-the-covid-19-
that home prices will deteriorate and cause declines in property tax          pandemic/) n
revenue absent rate increases.                                                                    Dana Sparkman
                                                                                                  Senior Vice President/Municipal Analyst
Certain downtown areas and other once busy areas that are now                                     The Baker Group LP
much emptier because of people working from home may be                                           Contact: 405-415-7223
particularly susceptible to property tax revenue declines as demand                               dana@GoBaker.com
for those expensive commercial spaces lessens, especially if the work-                            Dana Sparkman, CFA, is Senior Vice President/
from-home trend remains after the pandemic ends. Some large cities                                Municipal Analyst in The Baker Group’s
                                                                                                  Financial Strategies Group. She manages a
may even experience de-urbanization if people choose to relocate to
                                                                                                  municipal credit database that covers more
smaller cities in favor of more space and, in some cases, less taxes.                             than 150,000 municipal bonds, providing
According to LinkedIn, New York City and the San Francisco Bay                                    clients with specific credit metrics essential
                                                                                                  in assessing municipal credit. Dana earned
Area both recently experienced steep declines in their inflow-to-                                 a bachelor’s degree in finance from the
outflow ratios with both cities losing more people than they gained                               University of Central Oklahoma as well as the
                                                                                                  Chartered Financial Analyst designation.

                                                                         21
The Baker Group
   Is Here to Help

As American financial institutions—along with

the rest of the world—face unprecedented times,                               Baker’s Software Solutions Service
The Baker Group is ready with tools and services
                                                                              Package Includes:
to help    maximize the performance of                                        Asset/Liability Analysis – Interest Rate Risk Monitor (IRRM®)
                                                                              Your management team will find that The Baker Group’s
your institution.
                                                                              quarterly review of the loan and deposit information
                                                                              outlined in the Interest Rate Risk Monitor and Asset
That’s why we’re offering new clients our
                                                                              Liability Analysis is an effective tool in managing your
Software Solutions* service             package for a                         risk and performance.

six-month free trial. Not only will you have                                  Baker Bond Accounting® (BBA)
access to our latest market research and insight                              The Baker Group will provide you with accurate, easy-to-
                                                                              read reports delivered electronically to you each month.
from our Financial Strategies Group, you’ll be

included in all of our webinars. There you’ll hear                            Investment Analysis – Advanced Portfolio Monitor (APM®)
                                                                              The Advanced Portfolio Monitor is a key monthly report
the latest on how COVID-19 could impact your
                                                                              that we utilize to help you measure, monitor, and manage
institution and its investment portfolio.                                     the overall risk and performance of your investments.

To obtain the resources you need to maximize the performance of your
                                                                                                          Member: FINRA and SIPC
bank, contact Ryan Hayhurst with our Financial Strategies Group
                                                                                                Oklahoma City, OK | Atlanta, GA
at 800.937.2257, or via email at Ryan@GoBaker.com.                                     Austin, TX | Indianapolis, IN | Long Island, NY
                                                                                               Salt Lake City, UT | Springfield, IL

                                                                                                                Ryan@GoBaker.com

                                                                                                                  www.GoBaker.com

*The Baker Group LP is the sole authorized distributor for the products and
services developed and provided by The Baker Group Software Solutions, Inc.                                             800.937.2257

                                                                        22
The Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis is hosting its fourth annual
                  Regional Economic Conditions Conference
The conference will focus on the economic impact of COVID-19 across the Ninth District, with special
attention paid to the pandemic’s impact on workers. The event will be keynoted by North Dakota
Governor Doug Burgum, who will talk about the challenges and opportunities for the Peace Garden
State. The conference will also feature presentations and panel discussions with prominent economists.

Wednesday, January 13, 2021 | 8:30 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. CT
Free and open to the public
Register now

Save the Date

April 6-9, 2021
Radisson Hotel
Bismarck, ND

                                                                Dakota School of
                                                               Lending Principles

                                                   23
122 East Main Ave., Suite 201 | Bismarck, ND 58501 |    p 701.223.5303   |   e angi@ndba.com

                                                           Celebrating Holidays
                                                 BENEFIT TRUST

                                                            Safely During the
                                                           COVID-19 Pandemic

  Live Well, Work Well                    Health and Wellness tips for your work, home and life
                                                    brought to you by ND BANKS Benefit Trust.

'Tis the season for holiday planning. Yet, gatherings                   •   Avoid contact with people outside of your
of families and friends, crowded parties and travel                         household for 14 days before the gathering.
may put Americans at an increased risk for COVID-19.
                                                                      Also, it’s important to stay home if you do not feel well
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
                                                                      or are at a higher risk for serious complications from
recommends that you carefully consider the spread risk
                                                                      COVID-19.
of in-person holiday celebrations.
                                                                      During a Gathering
                                                                      Consider the following tips from the CDC to reduce
                                                                      your risk of being exposed to, contracting or spreading
                                                                      COVID-19 during an in-person event:
                                                                        •   Maintain a distance of at least 6 feet from people
                                                                            you don’t live with – and be mindful in areas where
Several factors contribute to COVID-19 spreading in                         it may be harder to do so, such as restrooms and
group settings. Those include community spread of the                       eating areas.
coronavirus, event location, event duration, quantity                   •   Wear a mask at all times when around people who
of attendees and the locations where attendees are                          don’t live in your household.
coming from. It’s also important to consider attendees’
                                                                        •   Limit contact with commonly touched surfaces or
behavior both prior to the gathering and during the
                                                                            shared items.
celebration.
                                                                        •   Wash your hands often with soap and water. If
Before a Gathering
                                                                            soap and water are not readily available, use a
If you choose to attend an in-person event, consider the                    hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
following tips prior to the gathering:
                                                                      If you want to celebrate the holidays as safely as possible
  •   Check whether the host has steps in place to                    this year, consider celebrating virtually or with members
      prevent the spread of the coronavirus.                          of your own household. n
  •   Bring along supplies likeMain
                      122 East  extra  masks,
                                    Ave.,         tissues
                                          Suite 201        and ND 58501
                                                      | Bismarck,           |   p 701.223.5303   |   e angi@ndba.com
      alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

                                                                 24
You can also read