It is a pleasure to welcome our 3 newest field reps, Dixie Cristea, Lionel Kraft and Mike Reinhard.
Dixie:
With almost 20 years of experience in regulatory compliance within the affordable housing sector, Dixie has dedicated her career to ensuring decent, safe, and sanitary housing for vulnerable populations. Her passion for this cause is matched by her commitment to the broader community, as she embarks on a new chapter with the SHCP Foundation.
A proud mother of four grown daughters, one grown son, and grandmother of five, Dixie shares her life with her partner Randy, as well as a rescue beagle and a cat, reflecting her love for both family and animals. Balancing a rich personal life with a distinguished professional career, she holds a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from North Carolina State University and a law degree from the University of North Carolina School of Law. Her unique blend of experience and education underscores her dedication to making a positive impact in her field.
Lionel:
Lionel is a native of Montana. He currently resides in Salt Lake City, UT, where he has lived for the past 28 years. Lionel brings 35 years of experience to SHCPF. For the past 15 years, Lionel has been a business owner as real estate developer and finance consultant focused on senior living and education. Prior to 2009, Lionel worked as a wealth advisor and private banker. He has a passion for seniors and has experienced first-hand the importance of care and protection having been a care giver for his mother with Dementia and been involved with placement of his mother and two grandmothers into the loving care of senior communities.
Lionel graduated from Montana State University in Business Administration. He has also continued his education in financial planning, lending, banking, insurance, and real estate. Lionel is excited to partner with an organization that protects seniors and elders from fraud and believes his personal experience and profession in senior living, education, and finance will be beneficial to the mission of the organization.
Mike:
Mike has worked over thirty years on the road in sales, performance management, and as an auctioneer. His most recent position was with Auction.com where he worked starting in 2000. Before that he worked for Cox Automotive for thirteen years. He has a BS in Marketing from Radford University. Mike’s niche is building deep and wide relationships with clients so this skill should serve him well in this new position as a Field Representative at SHCP.
Mike lives in Annapolis, MD where he spends a lot of free time on his boat fishing. His biggest joy, however, is spending time as a spectator at his sixteen-year old daughter’s escapades in her high school band, orchestra, and sporting events.
Welcome Dixie, Lionel and Mike! We are very excited to have you all as a part of our team!
Please join me in welcoming our newest field rep, Brittny Shay. She will be covering the facilities in the Georgia, Alabama and mid-Mississippi territories.
Brittny received her Bachelor of Science in Management degree from California Coast University. She has worked in the senior care industry for nearly 20 years. Her career path included management positions in skilled nursing facilities, home health care, assisted living, and home care services. Brittny has built a solid reputation as a compassionate, dedicated Administrator, as well as a results driven Marketing & Admissions Director. Being a true advocate for our vulnerable senior population, Brittny is a Certified Dementia Practitioner, as well as a State Trained Professional Guardian.
In addition to working with the elderly, Brittny is a motivational speaker; facilitator for dialogues on race; and, trained in crisis management. Her passion for caring for others also extends to animals. For more than 30 years she has been involved in animal rescue, specializing in Rottweiler rehabilitation.
Memphis, TN – CRA Partners, a subsidiary of the Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA), has unveiled a new name and logo as part of a rebranding initiative. They will now be called ICBA CRA Solutions. The update better reflects the relationship with parent company ICBA, which recently underwent a brand refresh.
As CRA modernization is underway, the company’s expansion into new areas, including CRA training and education, CRA support services, and a peer group for CRA professionals (The CRA Collaborative) is well-described by the Solutions part of the name, as well as the tagline “Powering Community Reinvestment”. The organization will continue to offer programs that earn community banks CRA credit through support of their Senior Housing Crime Prevention Foundation, as it has done for over twenty years. Staff and ownership remain unchanged, and they will continue to serve the needs of community bankers with the dedication and quality those bankers have come to expect.
“As community banks are adjusting to new CRA rules, these services are designed to respond to the changing needs of community banks. Our successful Senior CrimeStoppers program has served our communities well, and we will continue to protect America’s senior citizens against elder financial abuse and provide a secure experience in local retirement facilities.
CRA professionals will continue to need guidance, and we are poised and ready with expanded services in order to meet those needs. Our president, David Lenoir, is here to lead community banks to strong exam ratings, not just because CRA is a requirement, but because it benefits the members of your communities, nationwide.”
Scott McComb
Chairman, ICBA CRA Solutions
Chairman & CEO, Heartland Bank
The ICBA CRA Solutions new web presence can be found at icbacrasolutions.org, and inquiries regarding products and services can be directed to [email protected], or in person Mar. 14 – 17 at the ICBA LIVE Convention in Orlando, FL.
ICBA CRA Solutions provides CRA Education & Training, CRA Support Services, the CRA Collaborative Peer Group, and CRA qualified loans, investments, and grants. Since our inception in 2000, we have helped banks across the country earn meaningful CRA credit through elder financial abuse prevention programs—all with flexible funding options to make it simple for banks to get involved.
Website: icbacrasolutions.org
Linked In: @cra-solutions
Twitter/X: @CRA_Solutions
Facebook: @CRA.Solutions
Please join us in welcoming our newest field rep, Ayana Bass-Myers. Ayana will be serving Maryland, Delaware, Washington DC, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia.
Ayana is a versatile professional with a background in hospitality and real estate. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Palm Beach Atlantic College, where she studied communication and interpersonal skills. Building on her passion for hospitality, Ayana pursued a Master of Science in Hospitality Management, which equipped her with the knowledge and expertise to thrive at our Foundation and serve seniors in her region.
Could the final rule cause thoughts of early retirement?
By Steffani Jenkins
Have you read the new best-seller co-authored by the FDIC, the Federal Reserve and the OCC? It’s been as slow as molasses but it’s finally here, so put on your bifocals.
The publication is making us wonder if early retirement might be a better option than reading and implementing those 1,466 pages of the final rule on CRA modernization. I’m here to help you make that determination based on some of the main components discussed in the quite lengthy time.
WHO SHOULD CONSIDER RETIRING?
First, decide which set of requirements fits your bank’s asset size. The rule states that small banks are defined as those with assets of less than $600 million and they can either choose to be examined under the existing Lending Test or opt-in to the new Retail Lending Test.
If you decide to remain under the existing test, then it’s business as usual for you, and there’s no need to think about the tax implications of an early retirement. If you opt-in to the Retail Lending Test, then you should prepare to have your home mortgage, small business and small farm lending evaluated under a rigorous new quantitative framework where bank performance is compared to localized benchmarks to establish presumptive ratings.
For those banks whose assets are $600 million but less than $2 billion, you will be examined under the new Retail Lending Test and the existing Community Development Test, or you can opt-in to the Community Development Financing Test. Each test will carry equal weight and is designed to assess whether your bank is making sufficient home mortgage, small business and small farm loans in your assessment area(s). Early retirement could be a possible option for those CRA officers in this category, but please continue reading so that you can make a more informed decision.
Banks that have assets of $2 billion or more will be examined under all tests and the kitchen sink! This includes the Retail Lending Test, the Retail Services and Products Test, the Community Development Financing Test and the Community Development Services test.
The Retail Lending test will be weighted at 40%, the Retail Services and Products Test will be 10%, the Community Development Financing Test will be 40% and the Community Development Services Test will be weighted at 10%. Those banks with assets over $10 billion will also be evaluated on their digital delivery systems, as well as their deposit and grant products under the Retail Services and Products Test. Additionally, these banks will be required to report their Community Development Investments at the institution level.
Large banks that originate or purchase more than 20% of their retail loans outside of their facility-based assessment areas will also be required to delineate new Retail Lending Assessment Areas (RLAAs) when they have reported at least 150 closed-end home mortgage loans in each year of the prior two calendar years or at least 400 small business loans in each year of the prior two calendar years outside of their facility-based assessment areas.
For those CRA Officers in the large bank category under $10 billion, you should continue reading. For those $10 billion and over, please begin making a list of things you could sell to build up your retirement savings.
THE RETAIL LENDING TEST
As previously mentioned, the Retail Lending Test will apply to both intermediate and large banks and will assess the bank’s level of home mortgage, small business and small farm lending within its assessment area(s).
In addition, banks whose lending includes more than 50% automobile lending will be evaluated under that category, or a bank may opt-in to have their auto loans evaluated. Optionally, a bank may elect to report originated and purchased credit card loans and other secured and unsecured consumer loans. If your bank elects to report these consumer loans, please continue the list of sellable items, as well as make a list of to-do items to ensure you stay busy during retirement.
THERE ARE SOME POSITIVES
Though the book has its scary moments, there are also some good things. Large banks with 80% or more retail lending within their facility-based assessment areas are exempt from the Retail Lending Assessment Area requirement. All others must make 150 closed-end home mortgage loans and 400 small business loans to fall under the Retail Lending Assessment Area requirement.
Another positive aspect is there are certain small business loans that, if they meet a size and purpose test, can now be counted under both the Retail Lending Test and the Community Development Financing Test in the Economic Development category.
Banks will also be able to receive consideration for all community development activities conducted nationwide. The activity does not have to be conducted inside an assessment area.
Additionally, the regulatory agencies will publish and update periodically a list of community development activities that will be eligible for CRA consideration. Banks can submit activities to the agency to receive preapproval of CRA qualification and the agency’s response will include a written response.
Though the highlights of the book are few, they can have an impact, so CRA officers, please consider these factors when making your career decision.
WHEN TO CONSIDER RETIRING
The effective date of the Final Rule is expected to be April 1, 2024, or the first day of the first calendar quarter at least 60 days after publication in the Federal Register. Most definitions, assessment area requirements and other general provisions will become applicable on Jan. 1, 2026. Reporting requirements will become applicable on Jan. 1, 2027, with data being reported by April 1, along with data collection and maintenance for operations subsidiaries, affiliates and third-party community development loans and investments.
THE BOTTOM LINE IS TO SERVE
If you decide that you want to read the Cliffs Notes® of the final rule and not the entire beast, I recommend starting on page 1,039. You can skip over the proposed rules, recommendations, etc., though these do provide context and rationale for the final rules.
Though this summary does not encompass all the requirements of the final rule, it should help you determine your future as a CRA officer. Keep in mind the mission of the CRA — ensuring we are serving all segments of the community. The rule may be cumbersome, but your efforts will have an impact on your communities and ultimately, that’s who we serve.
Memphis, TN – CRA Partners, a subsidiary of the Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA), announced the addition of CRA support services under an agreement with Michael P. Wallace of Wallace Consulting Co. LLC to help community banks meet new Community Reinvestment Act requirements.
“Michael’s deep understanding of the complexities of CRA allows us to assist in the optimization of bank policies and practices in order to achieve the best outcomes in the markets where they operate,” said David Lenoir, president and CEO, CRA Partners. “As a former supervisory examiner with the Federal Reserve System, he’s provided oversight on more than 100 compliance and CRA examinations during his nearly 20-year regulatory career and regularly provided CRA and fair lending training to examiners, bankers, and the public, making him ideally suited for this work.”
Customizable CRA support services — including options for self-evaluations for banks of all sizes, community development activity evaluations, CRA rating appeals, strategic plan development, and more — will help banks determine the best path forward to fulfill community reinvestment goals and obligations, track them, and clearly communicate value to examiners.
“I’m delighted to be working with an established leader in the CRA space to help banks bridge any gaps they may be facing as they adjust to the new regulatory environment,” said Wallace.
Learn more at shcpfoundation.org/cra-partners.
***
About CRA Partners
CRA Partners offers CRA support services, the CRA Collaborative Peer Group, and compliance solutions powered by the Senior Housing Crime Prevention Foundation. Since its inception in 2000, it has helped banks across the country earn meaningful CRA credit for ensuring safe senior living environments through turnkey crime prevention programs. Funded exclusively by the banking industry and endorsed by bank associations in 30+ states, CRA Partners works with banks to protect low- and moderate-income seniors living in senior housing facilities, HUD communities, and state veterans homes from theft, abuse, and neglect—all with flexible funding options to make it simple for banks to get involved.
About Wallace Consulting Co., LLC
Wallace Consulting Co., LLC provides CRA, fair lending, and HMDA services to banks of all sizes. Since its inception in 2015, it has served banks with total assets ranging from as little as $65 million to over $200 billion. Between his regulatory and consulting background, President Michael P. Wallace has almost 28 years of CRA and compliance experience.
Holiday scams can happen at any time — from Black Friday and Cyber Monday to the weeks and months leading up to the end of the year.
Republished from:
https://www.aura.com/learn/holiday-scams
Please join us in welcoming our newest field rep, Jean Taddonio. Jean will be serving Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine, New York and New Jersey.
Jean brings extensive years of bookkeeping and banking experience to SHCPF. She began her banking career as an Analyst on Wall Street, and has also lived and worked in France and London. More recently, Jean provided bookkeeping and client management services, and general office management responsibilities for small to medium-sized businesses.
The Community Bankers Association of Kansas recently endorsed CRA Partners as a means to help reduce incidents of crime in area nursing homes, while offering banks the opportunity to earn CRA credit. CRA Partners is a subsidiary of the Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA).
The Senior Housing Crime Prevention Foundation is a 501(c)(3), established in 2000 as a way for banks to earn Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) credit through CRA-qualified loans and investments. The structure of the SHCPF opens a segment of society to service by banks – the residents, family members and staff of nursing homes and senior HUD housing properties. Supporting low-to-moderate income Senior housing residents is an approved CRA activity designated by the federal regulatory agencies, allowing banks to receive CRA credit for supporting Foundation programs in nursing homes, HUD senior housing projects and the nation’s Veterans Nursing Homes. The focus of the SHCPF is to reduce all aspects of crime and provide ongoing, effective crime prevention programs that ensure a safe and secure environment for the residents of senior housing. In part, this is accomplished through the installation of the Senior Crimestoppers program.
“It’s a win-win proposition for everyone,” says CEO David Lenoir. “The banks receive a return on their investment while helping nursing home, HUD housing residents and elderly veterans live in safe, crime free environments. “
For more information about the Senior Housing Crime Prevention Foundation or to enroll in the program, visit www.SHCPFoundation.org, contact Kristine LaVigna at the Senior Housing Crime Prevention Foundation at (901)529-4781 or email her at [email protected] .
Kim Phillips earned her bachelor’s degree in Education and master’s in Administration and Supervision from Tennessee Technological University. She has dedicated thirty years to teaching in Tennessee public schools, with the last seventeen years specializing as an ESL teacher. Additionally, she gained experience through part-time roles as a home study writer for DCS and in selling Medicare insurance.
Residing in middle Tennessee throughout her life, Kim is married to Chris Phillips. Together, they have raised two adult children, Riley Phillips and Carly Phillips. Kim finds joy in spending time with her family and friends, whether its traveling, exploring the outdoors, or enjoying social outings.
Kim possesses a deep-rooted love and passion for assisting others. Her enthusiasm is palpable as she embarks on this new chapter of her journey as a field representative for the SHCP Foundation.