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RLR Newsletter Quarterly 2010 |
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As of July 31, 2010, there have been 108 banks that have failed. Last year we saw 140 banks fail and in 2008 we saw 25 banks fail. We have only seen 3 new charters issued, versus 31 in 2009 and 98 in 2008. There have been 37 mergers to date, versus 179 last year and 293 in 2008. There are 775 banks on the "problem" list, versus 702 in 2009 and 252 in 2008.
So, what will the future bring? Who knows! No one can predict where we will be at the end of the year. Some predictions floating around are:
What can you do? First and foremost, listen to the regulators. Not only listen to the regulators, but act on what they tell you. Don't ignore what they say. Secondly, don't make the regulators mad at you. You are guaranteed this will only lead to heartache and may even lead to pursuing a new career outside of banking.
Ruth Razook, CEO
What the Regulators are saying-An Update for Clients
We recently had the opportunity to spend some time with the Regulators, across agencies, and thought we could share some of the conversations and top-of-mind topics with our clients. We are planning to have a conference call for all that want to attend as follows:
Friday, August 13th
10:00am-11:00am Pacific Time
Please email Alicia Palu at alicia.palu@rlrmgmt.com to let us know if you would like to attend, and we will send you the call-in information.
There is no charge for joining us!
Did You Know? RLR has successfully managed roughly a half dozen mergers and/or acquisitions over the past year, as well as headed several due diligence activities.
We have successfully focused on the following for our clients:
Due Diligence
Mergers & Acquisitions
If your Institution requires assistance with the Due Diligence Process or with supporting a Merger or Acquisition, we can help. Please contact John Neely, Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing at , or send your inquiry to .
We recently had the opportunity to present an overview of the state of Mobile Banking to the OCC IT Examiners at the Central District IT Conference in Chicago. Below is an excerpt from the overview of what we presented. Hope you find it interesting!
State of the Industry:
Worldwide Stats
United States Stats
Other Statistics
Study from IDC Financial Insights (2009)
Study from IDC Financial Insights (July 12, 2010)
This section of our newsletter is typically utilized for highlighting our consultants, their backgrounds, and accomplishments. We reserve the spotlight this time to acknowledge and provide best wishes to Cathi Wickham, who after 14 years with RLR, has chosen a new path.
With a sad heart, RLR says"Goodbye and Good Luck" to Cathi Wickham. Cathi took a leap of faith leaving the security of working for a bank in 1996 (when it was secure) to come and work with me. She has been a steady and unwavering employee and influential in the success of RLR.
The time has come for Cathi to join forces with her husband, Joe, in his business venture. She has juggled both jobs for a long period of time and now it is time for her to give it her all. We wish Cathi and Joe only the best and say "Thank You" for all the years she gave to RLR.
Ruth
"RLR was instrumental in assisting us with successfully managing the integration and system conversion for a large acquisition. RLR delivered seasoned consulting resources who provided subject matter expertise and exceptional project management. We recomment their services to Financial Insititutions who, in particular, are looking for an outstanding business partner to assist with their merger/acquisition."
Karen Fukumura
EVP, Head of Retail Banking & Technology
East West Bank
RULES OF PROJECT MANAGEMENT
Here are some fun tidbits to remember when planning and executing a project. …ANY project. We hope you enjoy!
1. Project Planning:
• A badly planned project will take three times longer than expected – a well planned project only twice as long as expected.
• The more you plan the luckier you get.
• There is such a thing as an unrealistic timescale.
• It takes one woman nine months to have a baby. It cannot be done in one month with nine women.
• At the heart of every large project is a small project trying to get out.
• If you don’t plan, it doesn’t work. If you do plan, it doesn’t work either. Why plan!
• The nice thing about not planning is that failure comes as a complete surprise rather than being preceded by a period of worry and depression.
2. Project Team:
• Everyone asks for a strong project manager – when they get them they don’t want them.
• If you’re 6 months late on a milestone due next week but really believe you can make it, you’re a project manager.
• The person who says it will take the longest and cost the most is the only one with a clue how to do the job
3. Project Communication:
• I know that you believe that you understand what you think I said, but I am not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant.
• What you don’t know hurts you.
• A problem shared is a buck passed.
4. Project Monitoring and Execution:
• Good control reveals problems early – which only means you’ll have longer to worry about them.
• No project has ever finished on time, within budget, to requirement – yours won’t be the first to.
• Warning: dates in a calendar are closer than they appear to be.
• A two year project will take three years, a three year project will never finish.
• The sooner you get behind schedule, the more time you have to make it up.
• A project gets a year late one day at a time.
• Some projects finish on time in spite of project management best practices.
Education Summit & Expo
Building Value for Community Banks: Ideas, Innovation & Inspiration
The HR & Training Forum, CFO Conference and Technology & Security Summit is now part of the Annual Education Summit & Expo
November 11-15, 2010
Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino
Las Vegas
The Summit is a 5-day Conference featuring tracks for CFOs, Investments, Risk, Tech, Security, Operations, Compliance and HR & Training. This event gives you the flexibility to tailor a program that meets your professional development needs, while also supporting the goals of the bank. Our program will give you an edge in the current, tough environment so that you and your bank may emerge stronger.
Tracks are 2-3 days. Attendees can register for just one or several days and multiple people from the bank are encouraged to attend. Like past annual conferences, this event showcases outstanding speakers and peer group sessions for great interaction. An expanded trade show offers the opportunity to visit with more vendors and for various departments within your bank to learn about products and services.
Ruth Razook will be speaking and participating as follows:
Information Security Risk Assessments – Lessons Learned – November 11, 11:30 – 12:30
Moderating a regulatory panel – November 12, 3:45 – 5:00
Implementing an Operational Risk Management Program – November 14, 1:15 - 2:15
Come and join us!
Sign up now at www.wib.org
RLR Associate Consultant, Richard Aubrey has written an article for the Sept/Oct WIB Magazine: A Brief History of Liquidity Crises...on Community Banks. We hope you have the opportunity to view this article.
RLR is attending:
11/11-11/15 Education Summit & Expo-Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino, Las Vegas, NV
Corporate Office:
78-010 Main St., Suite 200
La Quinta, CA 92253
1-888-757-7330 toll-free
(760) 771-5036
(760) 564-1839 fax
Ruth Razook, CEO:
Mitch Razook, President & COO:
John Neely, EVP, Sales & Marketing:
Cathi Wickham, SVP:
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