January 16, 2026

The Top Line

Here’s this week’s Top Line:

We officially launched the newly revamped Education Advisory Council this week, bringing all WBA Workgroups together in a single monthly meeting on the third Thursday of each month. The first meeting, held yesterday, was a rousing success, combining WBA updates with focused breakout discussions for each Workgroup. Make sure we have folks from your team signed up to participate – you can reach out to Sherry on our team for more info.

WBA is actively working with the American Bankers Association on advocacy related to the cyprocurrency market structure bill, aimed at addressing loopholes created by the GENIUS Act. This is a critical issue to ensure a level regulatory playing field, and we will continue engaging as the conversation develops. Please see ABA’s call-to-action here.

The spring Credit Analyst Development Program is set to kick off on March 12. This program remains a cornerstone of our professional development offerings and continues to support strong, consistent credit training across the industry. Details and registration info here.

I will begin scheduling member visits around the state starting in March, and I look forward to spending time with bankers in their communities. These in-person visits are an essential opportunity to listen, learn, and strengthen relationships, and nothing gives me more joy than spending time with you. Please reach out if you have an upcoming event or celebration and would like me to join you.

We celebrated Glen’s retirement last night, marking the close of an extraordinary chapter for WBA. It was a well-deserved and heartfelt send-off for a leader, mentor, and friend who has left a lasting impact on your Association and our industry.