By CSBS Chief Economist Thomas F. Siems, Ph.D. Community bankers indicated both greater optimism and more uncertainty in the CSBS first quarter 2025 survey. While optimism and uncertainty generally move in opposite directions, future expectations for three of the index’s components seem to create a thought-provoking narrative in these uncertain times. Community bankers’ optimism stems primarily from hopes that the

By CSBS Chief Economist Thomas F. Siems, Ph.D. Last week, CSBS announced the results of the CSBS fourth quarter 2024 Community Bank Sentiment Index (CBSI). Driven mainly by expectations for a more-balanced regulatory environment and better future business conditions, the CBSI surged to its most optimistic reading since the survey’s debut in 2019. What caused this sudden positive outlook? Chart

State regulators support the Federal Reserve Board of Governors’ efforts to improve the discount window’s accessibility and reduce its stigma so that it can serve as an effective and efficient source of liquidity, CSBS said in a comment letter today in response to a request for information. The discount window is a critical source of liquidity for the banking system

The CSBS Networked Supervision Champions program recognizes state agency staff who are going above and beyond to empower the multistate network for better financial supervision and industry compliance. Congratulations Mark Hastie! State financial regulators are focused on implementing consistent standards and practices across the state system to streamline the regulation of nonbank financial companies operating in multiple states. Minnesota is

The FDIC should rescind its brokered deposits proposal, CSBS said in a comment letter today. The proposal would needlessly disrupt an important source of bank funding and cause other complications with no clear justification. “The brokered deposits proposal fails to meet the rigorous, fact-based, and data-driven rulemaking standard stakeholders deserve,” said CSBS President and CEO Brandon Milhorn. “This proposal takes

CSBS Vice President Mortgage Testing & Education Programs Rich Madison Completing continuing education (CE) each year is an important step state-licensed mortgage loan originators (MLOs) must take before they can renew their license to conduct mortgage business for the coming year. However, a CSBS investigation in October revealed 14 MLOs associated with one mortgage company did not provide adequate identification