Community banker sentiment remains negative for a ninth straight quarter, but things are looking up; in the first quarter of 2024, the Community Bank Sentiment Index (CBSI) reached its highest level recorded since 2021. CSBS Chief Economist Tom

Ransomware Self-Assessment Tool, Version 2.0

Nov 27th, 2023 23m

What Goes Into Getting a Mortgage Broker License?

Nov 1st, 2023 10m 50s

GuestRich Madison, Vice President, Credentialing and Accreditation ProgramsIn today's episode, we discuss:What a mortgage broker's license isWhat it means for your mortgage broker to be licensedWhere you can search for a licensed or registered

The Making of NMLS: Epilogue - Lessons Learned and Wisdom from the Regulators

Aug 2nd, 2023 17m 45s

In the epilogue, we ask regulators to share their insights on the importance of NMLS, what we gain from a state-federal regulatory partnership and lessons learned from the NMLS development process.About "The Making of NMLS" SeriesThe Housing an

The Making of NMLS: 4 - A Mortgage Crisis, Congress, and 50 State Legislatures

Aug 2nd, 2023 18m 24s

When we left off from the last episode in September 2005, the CSBS Board of Directors had just approved the development of NMLS. In episode four, we discuss the significant trouble brewing in the mortgage market in 2006. As the mortgage crisis

The Making of NMLS: 3 - Betting it All to Build NMLS

Aug 2nd, 2023 16m 28s

In episode three, we discuss the work that went into building NMLS and the opposition faced along the way. Staff worked to harmonize legislative and regulatory requirements across state agencies, develop uniform documents, gather feedback from

The Making of NMLS: 2 - Building the Supervision Coalition

Aug 2nd, 2023 21m 27s

In episode two, we start with an interview with then-CSBS President and CEO John Ryan. John shares the story behind when state regulators decided it was time to develop a nationwide licensing system. We determine exactly who had the idea first,

The Making of NMLS: 1 - A Rapidly Changing Mortgage Market

Aug 2nd, 2023 22m 7s

In episode one, we discuss the financial conditions in the early 2000s. Allegations of predatory lending, an increased number of applications of unqualified individuals to issue mortgages, and increasingly risky behavior in the mortgage market

The Making of NMLS: Prologue - 15 Years of NMLS

Aug 2nd, 2023 19m 20s

In the prologue, we speak with Vickie Peck, Executive Vice President of Products & Solutions, to reflect on how licensing through NMLS has advanced over the past 15 years.About "The Making of NMLS" SeriesThe Housing and Economic Recovery Act, o

The Money Transmission Modernization Act

May 10th, 2023 24m 6s

The Model Money Transmission Modernization Act, also known as the Money Transmitter Model Law, is a single set of nationwide standards and requirements created by industry and state experts. We speak with two CSBS experts on money transmission

Community Banker Sentiment Dips to Lowest Level Since Tracking Began in 2019

Apr 12th, 2023 13m 44s

CSBS Chief Economist Tom Siems shares findings from the most recent CSBS Community Bank Sentiment Index, an index derived from quarterly polling of community bankers across the nation. We discuss community bankers' lowest sentiment reading sinc

State Regulator Priorities in 2023

Feb 1st, 2023 16m 18s

State regulators have an important mandate that requires them to protect consumers, ensure the safety and soundness of their institutions and promote economic growth. Today we talk about the priorities of state regulators in 2023, focusing on l

Community Bankers Say the Recession is Already Here

Jan 11th, 2023 11m 1s

CSBS Chief Economist Tom Siems shares the findings from the most recent CSBS Community Bank Sentiment Index, an index derived from quarterly polling of community bankers across the nation. We discuss community bankers' negative sentiment for th

Common Cybersecurity Threats for Financial Institutions & Tools to Help

Oct 18th, 2022 8m 46s

This week, we talk with CSBS Information Security Manager Richard Mensah about common cybersecurity threats to financial institutions, organizations designed to help combat cyber-threats, and tools state regulators have created for executive le

States of the Economy - June 2022

Jun 15th, 2022 15m 12s

"States of the Economy" is a monthly look at the economic picture across the country. In this episode CSBS Chief Economist Tom Siems and host Matt Longacre discuss what the latest inflation and jobs numbers, business confidence measures and mor

Community Banks Adapting to the Digital Age

May 5th, 2022 29m 8s

Community Banks Adapting to the Digital AgeGuests:CSBS Chief Economist Thomas F. SiemsFederal Reserve Bank of St. Louis Supervision Policy, Research and Analysis Manager Meredith A. Covington Temple University Professor of Finance and CSBS Adju

How Difficult Is It to Curb Inflation? What Tools Do We Have?

Apr 14th, 2022 16m 49s

Today, we explore the challenges behind curbing inflation, the tools available to the Federal Reserve to do so, and the consequences of the Fed acting too aggressively or too gently."States of the Economy" is a monthly look at the economic pict

What's Causing Inflation? What's the Impact?

Mar 9th, 2022 16m 43s

"States of the Economy" is a monthly look at the economic picture across the country. In this episode CSBS Senior Economist Tom Siems and host Matt Longacre discuss what the latest inflation and jobs numbers, business confidence measures and mo

The Jobs Market is in the Driver's Seat

Feb 9th, 2022 11m

Why Licenses Exist in Financial Services

Jan 19th, 2022 13m 14s

CSBS Senior Vice President Tim Doyle sits down with me to explain what exactly makes a license a license. We discuss the difference between a license and charter, why licenses exist, what a license does and does not mean for a consumer, how lic

Community Bankers See Expanded Operations, Lower Profitability in 2022

Jan 12th, 2022 13m 34s

Community bankers are slightly more optimistic about future business conditions and the economic outlook than they were at the end of last year but are more concerned about future profitability than at any point since the pandemic began, accord

Will Inflation Eat Your Turkey Dinner?

Nov 10th, 2021 12m 50s

"The Bullwhip Recovery"

Oct 12th, 2021 13m 20s

"States of the Economy" is a monthly look at the economic picture across the country. In this episode CSBS Senior Economist Tom Siems explains how supply chain issues and fluctuating demand complicate the nation's economic recovery.From the Sho

States of the Economy - September 2021

Sep 17th, 2021 11m 10s

States of the Economy - August 2021

Aug 13th, 2021 12m 44s

"States of the Economy" is a monthly look at the economic picture across the country. In our discussion, CSBS Senior Economist Tom Siems focuses on how the national economic picture impacts local communities and what state regulators are lookin