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Preserving Minority Depository Institutions

2015 Interagency MDI Conference

Every two years, the federal banking regulatory agencies (FDIC, OCC, and Federal Reserve) host an interagency conference for FDIC-insured MDIs and CDFI banks to help preserve and promote their mission. The 2015 conference was held July 13-15 at the OCC headquarters in Washington, D.C. Senior federal officials and MDI and CDFI bank executives were invited to "celebrate 150 years of minority depository institutions" and to explore "changes, challenges, and opportunities." More than 200 people attended the conference, including 106 bankers representing 72 institutions.

The 2015 conference fostered interactive discussion among those who believe MDIs and CDFI banks are uniquely positioned to create positive change in their communities.

  • Senior officials from federal agencies provided updates on programs and policies that could help MDIs and CDFI banks achieve their goals.
  • Bank CEOs "told their story," communicated their strategies and successes, and provided policy recommendations to the industry, federal policy makers, and others.

  • Interactive workshops invited CEOs and other key partners to explore opportunities in three tracks:

    • Federal Programs
    • Mission and MDIs
    • Safe, Sound, and Strategic

The conference opened with a panel interview of FDIC Chairman Martin J. Gruenberg, Federal Reserve Board Governor Lael Brainard, and Comptroller of the Currency Thomas J. Curry. Sarah Bloom Raskin, deputy secretary of the U.S. Department of Treasury, delivered remarks following the opening session. The remaining sessions for the 2015 Interagency MDI conference included cybersecurity issues, capitalization strategies, new SBA initiatives, CDFI certification and programs, and compliance updates for MDIs and CDFIs.

At the end of the conference, attendees were asked to complete an evaluation. Overall, the conference attendees were satisfied with the conference and rated it very highly. Conference participants also provided feedback that the conference topics were relevant to their work.


Partnership for Progress Website

As previously mentioned, one of the primary vehicles for distributing educational materials relevant to MDIs continues to be the System's PFP website. This website promotes the creation of MDIs by

  • providing information about new regulations and their impact on community banking organizations;
  • advertising regulatory and agency events relevant to MDIs; and
  • writing articles focused on market conditions and economic data related to areas typically served by MDIs.

To ensure continued relevance of posted material, PFP representatives regularly update the website.

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Workshops

Throughout 2015, district coordinators invited officials from MDIs to participate in FRB conference calls and seminars focused on a wide variety of banking topics. Most of these topics related to newly issued regulations, asset quality management, and capital planning and capital maintenance.

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Publications

The System continues to support enhanced communications with community banks, including MDIs. To this end, the System disseminates important information about regulatory matters through a variety of publications, most of which are accessible through links on the PFP website.

Of particular use to state-member MDIs is the System's Community Banking Connections® publication.9 This publication serves to

  • clarify key supervisory guidance;
  • highlight new regulations;
  • provide perspectives from bank examiners and System staff; and
  • address challenges and concerns facing community banks and provide resources to assist them.

During 2015, Community Banking Connections offered articles on a range of timely topics, including evolution of community bank supervision, deposit migration and interest rate risk, low net interest income at community banks, virtual currencies, asset concentrations, and developing and maintaining an effective loan policy.

The System's FedLinks™ publication 10 is another resource that offers information and guidance useful to MDIs. This publication serves to

  • discuss supervisory topics that are important to community banks;
  • highlight the purpose of related supervisory policy and guidance, if applicable;
  • provide examples and illustrations to demonstrate the practical application of covered topics; and
  • provide integrated summaries that describe how examiners typically will address the covered topic.

During 2015, FedLinks offered articles on several topics applicable to MDIs, including Bank Secrecy Act and anti-money lauding compliance and interest rate management.

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References

9. Community Banking Connections is a registered trademark of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, www.communitybankingconnections.org/ Leaving the Board. Return to text

10. FedLinks, a part of Community Banking Connections, highlights key elements of supervisory topics to improve clarity and understanding, www.communitybankingconnections.org/fedlinks.cfm Leaving the Board. Return to text

Last update: July 26, 2016

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