On November 12, 2009, the Federal Reserve issued a final rule under the Electronic Fund Transfer Act (Regulation E) addressing a financial institution’s ability to assess an overdraft fee for paying ATM and one-time debit card transactions. This ruling adopts the opt-in approach for all consumers and requires affirmative consent before any assessment of overdraft fees can be made. What does this mean for your organization as you work your way through the labyrinth of details outlined in the 92-page ruling? How will you communicate effectively to your account holders, existing and new, to ensure they understand the benefits of the overdraft service and their options regarding the service? What about your staff – front-line, technical, operations? Are they prepared to implement the necessary modifications to technically handle the opt in requirement, as well as properly explain your overdraft service to your account holders to facilitate the opt-in requirement? We'll examine those questions, along with the following points so you are properly prepared for the mandatory compliance effective date of July 1, 2010 (August 15, 2010 for accounts opened prior to July 1, 2010).

The recent financial and market troubles have caused many community banks to become involuntary owners of non-performing real estate assets and delinquent loans. As a result, community banks are confronted with mounting pressure to proactively work out of the problems and maximize loss recovery.

Meeting fair lending requirements is no small feat. Regulators are scrutinizing financial institutions' fair lending compliance programs to make sure there is no discrimination. Sometimes, however, one misstep or oversight can lead to costly consequences – in fines, judgments, manpower, reputation, …the list goes on. Make sure your fair lending practices stand up to current regulatory expectations. Our expert analysis of fair lending enforcement actions can provide you with the information you need to avoid becoming a target.

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On October 21, 2009, the Federal Reserve Board published proposed regulations implementing the Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility and Disclosure (CARD) Act of 2009 to regulate several aspects of the credit card industry. This is one of the most sweeping changes in the history of the credit card industry. The proposed rule amends the “Truth in Lending Act” and places extensive restrictions on the credit card industry. Card issuers may have to speed up implementation as many of the provisions of the proposed rule will become effective on February 22, 2010. To learn how you can prepare your organization for the final rule, please join us for this informative teleseminar with our expert Ms. Obrea Poindexter, who will provide an analysis of what to expect and what you need to be doing now to prepare.

Are you prepared for your examiners to review your Remote Deposit Capture program? When the FFIEC issued "Risk Management of Remote Deposit Capture", your institution became subject to a review of this area by your regulators. Have you developed and implemented appropriate policies and procedures to mitigate risk and taken steps to document this process and demonstrate to your regulators that your institution has taken all appropriate measures? This audio conference is an overview of the procedures and documentation recommended to ensure your institution demonstrates compliance with the FFIEC's guidance on Remote Deposit Capture.

Regulation GG Compliance is Mandatory December 1, 2009

The regulators are increasing their focus on internet gambling and related deposit transactions as evidenced by these new requirements. In order to protect your institution from liability issues you need to establish policies and procedures for each area to prevent your bank's ACH debit and credit transactions, wire systems, check collection and card services from unlawful transactions.

Flood enforcement actions are on the rise. Examiners are scrutinizing your flood insurance compliance. Most violations involve errors on forms and lack of knowledge of the rules and requirements. Join SCS Risk Management experts, Lauren Sparks and Cathy Ellis, as they guide you through the Flood Act requirements and share their insight on common violations so you can avoid problems in your flood insurance exam.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development recently approved a final rule that completely overhauls Regulation X, the implementing regulation for RESPA. Most revisions take effect on January 1, 2010. The changes are substantial and it is critical for financial institutions to be prepared for RESPA compliance and implementation of the new rule. Join this event to understand the changes to the GFE and HUD 1 format along with the changes in the way costs and fees can be estimated and stated on these forms. SCS Risk Management experts, Lauren Sparks & Stephen O'Sullivan will provide an overview of the new rules and what it takes to correctly implement these changes. Get answers to these tough questions, and more with the integrated Q&A.

The Fed estimates 719 banks need $21 billion in capital to offset their losses! Stress-testing is not just for big banks. Every institution needs to know if they have the capital to cover any losses. The Fed’s recent bank “stress tests” focused on the country’s 19 largest banks, revealing that several need to raise billions of dollars to ultimately survive. What if the economy worsens and unemployment rises? Will your institution stay solvent, keep lending or even survive? Use the lessons learned from the "Big 19" and know exactly what it takes to implement and perform an effective stress test for your institution. John Hurlock, SCS Director of Consulting Services, walks you through “what if” scenarios and case studies of effective stress tests and shows you how to implement your own stress test that protects against mounting losses. Now is the time to arm yourself with real-world information and be ready for the regulators, ready for any economic shifts and ready to minimize future losses.

On October 1, 2009 significant changes to the Truth in Lending Act (TILA) go into effect, impacting the way financial institutions make early disclosures on loans secured by homes. These historic changes to mortgage lending requirements are complex and challenging. It’s important that your institution be on top of the latest news and implementation updates. Are you prepared to implement these new rules, and if you’ve done so already, is it done correctly? SCS National Director of Risk Management, Lyn Farrell will guide you through the new disclosure changes and share some common issues financial institutions have faced while implementing these new rules.

In response to the mortgage crisis, the Fed has implemented new restrictions on all higher-priced mortgage loans. These rules are applicable to a wide range of loans and can be complex and difficult to implement. Are you prepared? Almost all lenders are covered. If you make loans secured by a consumer's residence, you can be covered by the rule. Our compliance experts will provide a detailed explanation of the new HPML rules and tell you what you need to do now to comply. They will answer the top 25 questions asked by our clients on these new requirements. Join SCS National Director of Risk Management, Lyn Farrell for this 90 minute webinar, as she answers these questions and more to help you understand the new HPML rules.

The infamous FDIC assessment, rising unemployment and deteriorating loan quality (to name a few) have put a squeeze on earnings. Financial institutions struggling with profit pressures and non-performing assets need new and better ways to enhance revenue, despite today’s current economic challenges. While your peers are frozen in a wait-and-see fear, it’s time to seek new opportunities to enhance revenue, non-interest income, operational efficiencies, customer service and core deposits. Don't get left behind! Understand the once-in-a-lifetime opportunities. Join banking industry experts Larry Hutt and Dave Koto for strategies, tactics and action plans that will help your institution survive in 2009.

Since 2001, there has been a tremendous upsurge in the number of SAR filings by financial institutions detecting criminal activity, in addition to money laundering and terrorist financing. Fraud detection and prevention responsibilities go beyond regulatory compliance. It's a critical component of risk management that can greatly effect your safety and soundness rating. Your institution has a legal and fiduciary responsibility to your customers to protect their personal information. At the same time, you need to detect and report other types of fraud in a multitude of banking channels. How do you put all the required elements of fraud detection, monitoring and reporting together in one solid, cohesive system- and do it right? Get the tips you need to create a successful fraud reporting strategy at your institution. Join Lauren Sparks, SCS Director of Risk Management, as she guides you through the complexities of fraud monitoring and reporting to preventing fraudulent activity. Lauren will share her expertise and industry best practices to help you accurately file a SAR report and learn what it takes to create a cohesive system to monitor and detect fraud. Don't be left behind. Know how to spot potential criminal activity before it's too late.

Sun Trust, Fannie Mae, Heartland, Countrywide—and the list goes on of major financial institutions that have fallen victim to IT sabotage, insider threats, or a serious security breach. From thieves hacking into your systems to disgruntled employees placing a logic time-bomb on computer systems to unintentional breaches—the threats are real, the stories are horrific and the outcome is devastating to any institution exposed to a breach. Join Daniel Chew, SCS Senior Technology Consultant and Deanna Wachsmuth, SCS Director of Risk Management for this information-packed webinar as they give you the straight facts on effective information security management, share real-life horror stories, and guide you through a process so you can proactively protect your institution from breaches, hackers and malicious viruses.

The Federal Reserve's Senior Loan Officer Opinion Survey has just been published - giving insight on current economic issues impacting your institution. Even though fewer institutions say they are tightening lending standards, the report shows that loan demand overall is weak. What do the survey's results predict about the growth path of our economy? What steps should your institution take while waiting to see when, and in what form, the recovery will take place? Don't be left behind. Understand how this critical survey impacts your institution’s business objectives. Join industry veteran Richard (Dick) Yowell as he examines the survey results and explains what the information reveals for the future of banking. Dick will explore what your institution can do to further prepare for weakening loan demand and tight credit standards with practical guidance and next steps. Dick Yowell, as a banker and as a consultant, has helped many institutions through difficult times. Providing real-world examples, his experience and insight will help you keep a closer eye on your processes and standards so you’ll be ready to act when credit markets thaw and consumer confidence returns.

The regulators, the FBI, and other law enforcement agencies are looking for - and finding - loan fraud. You need to find and deal with it first. When the economy was going well and the real estate market booming, the opportunities for loan fraud grew as well. As long as the loans were performing, even if that performance was driven by rapidly increasing real estate prices, fraudulent loans often went undiscovered. But that landscape has changed, and so has the discovery of loan fraud. Don't think it can't happen in your financial institution. It's what you don't know about potential fraudulent loans that can significantly damage your financial institution. John Hurlock, SCS Director of Consulting Services, walks you through the loan process, revealing potential areas of exposure and identifying red flags you should look for so that you can proactively mitigate this emerging risk. John will help you answer these questions ... and a lot more! You'll get the information you need to be ready with the best possible response to this difficult issue. Ready for the regulators, ready for the investigators, and ready to minimize your costs and maximize your profitability.

The recent financial and market troubles have caused many community banks to become involuntary owners of non-performing real estate assets and delinquent loans. As a result, financial institutions are confronted with mounting pressure to proactively workout problems and maximize loss recovery. Join Sheshunoff Consulting + Solutions and banking veteran Richard K.Yowell for this informative, 60-minute recorded webinar.

Bank regulators are responding to political pressure, becoming more aggressive than ever - resulting in more regulatory orders already issued this year than in all of 2008. And there have been more than 300 Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) issued in 2009. Not Meeting Regulatory Expectations is an expensive and disruptive experience. Real lessons can be learned from what the regulators have done in these institutions and we'll show you the practical application in your bank. Join risk management expert John Hurlock as he explores the public orders that have been issued. Using real life examples, John will show you what this meant for the banks involved and what practical guidance can be gained for your institution.

Whether you want to minimize your potential for increased regulatory scrutiny, or learn how to best handle regulatory issues when they occur, this practical webinar will provide you with the analysis and guidance you need.

Complying with FFIEC Examination Guidance - Managing the Risk. Approximately 40% of all U.S. financial institutions have adopted RDC. It gives their customers the ability to scan checks and transmit the scanned images or ACH-data to their financial institution for posting and clearing. The Check 21 legislation passed a few years ago allows institutions to clear checks based upon images of the originals instead of having to send paper checks to the paying institution for clearing.

So much is changing in the banking world today. How are bankers to keep up with all the changes and determine what these changes mean for their organizations? With so much information and data available, how do you make sense of the data and use it to develop an effective plan? Join us as we provide an objective perspective on current developments. Be more confident in your decisions as you take advantage of the unique opportunities available in the current market and position your bank for better performance.

Today nearly everyone scours reviews online before making a purchase or choosing a bank. In reality, word-of-mouth is the oldest form of commerce. That word-of-mouth has moved online to become "Social Commerce," where actual customers can talk about your products and their experience with your bank. Presented by Marc Ostryniec , from Bazaarvoice, the premier provider of product ratings and reviews online.

On July 30, 2009, the new Regulation Z/TILA set of rules goes into effect and will significantly change the way financial institutions make early disclosures on loans secured by homes. This 60-minute prerecorded webinar provides a detailed explanation of the new requirements and how you can get prepared for the changes ahead.

LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook... find out what they mean for the banking industry. Technology Planning Consultant Daniel Chew and Social Media Strategist Craig Saper guide you through the Social Media maze.

If there is anything that can easily differentiate your financial institution from another, it's excellent service. In today's turbulent economy, customers are seeking better value-for-money and premium service. This presents organizations with a golden opportunity to build closer relationships, help their customers find ways to cope with economic hardships and ultimately retain and gain loyal customers. Service excellence goes beyond smiling employees and responsiveness. It's a careful orchestration of the entire customer experience. Those that get it right will weather the economic storm and win more business in the end. Join Sheshunoff Consulting + Solutions and Dennis Snow for this 60 minute, recorded webinar. Based on his 20 years with the Walt Disney World Company and consulting with organizations around the world, Dennis will provide a "how-to" program for creating a service-driven culture.

The credit crunch and mortgage meltdown that helped drive the country into the grimmest recession in decades (and in our careers), should remind us how crucial it is to implement and consistently maintain a safe and sound lending program. Whether or not your institution has been directly impacted by the fallout of the credit crisis, today presents the opportunity to truly get back to the basic principles of lending, maintain solid customer relationships and ensure your institution sticks to the critical elements of a sound credit culture.

Community banks won a major concession in their effort to get relief from the restrictive Mark-to-Market accounting rules- allowing more flexibility when valuing assets at current market values. In light of the revised Mark-to-Market FASB ruling released on April 15th, many institutions need further guidance to determine the fair value of their assets and how to even begin the process.

The Identity Theft Red Flags rule took effect on November 1, 2008. Now that it's exam time, get a straightforward explanation of the examiner requirements to ensure your current program meets the procedures to detect, prevent and mitigate identity theft.

The pending RESPA revisions will go into effect on January 1, 2010. The changes are substantial and it will be critical for financial institutions to be prepared for RESPA compliance and implementation. What are the revisions and timing requirements? What are the mandatory forms and what will the examiners expect? Join us for this 60-minute recorded webinar to get answers to these tough questions and learn how the changes will affect your RESPA disclosures.

In 2001 the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act raised the bar on vendor management requirements for IT-related vendors, yet many financial institutions struggle to get the details right.