Colorado State University’s College of Business Joins Federalreserve in Hosting Banker’s Forum Sept. 19 in Denver

The advent of electronic banking and more flexible federal banking regulations have made the industry more competitive for market share and customers than ever before.

How do banks in the Rocky Mountain region survive in such a cut-throat financial market? What will these changes do to the types of services and loans available for small business owners– and how will the changes affect personal checking and savings account holders?

Colorado State University’s College of Business and the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City will host a banker’s forum Sept. 19 to discuss shifts taking place in today’s financial industry. The day-long forum, held at Stapleton Plaza Inn in Denver, also will outline ways the industry can respond to these challenges and how customers will be affected by such issues as electronic banking and other technology. The forum’s keynote speaker is Thomas M. Hoenig, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City.

The conference, the first of its kind in Colorado, is timely because so many changes are taking place that will allow banks to provide new services and expand into new territories, said Rick Johnson, a finance and real estate professor at Colorado State and forum coordinator.

Johnson said one of the most dramatic changes for the banking industry occurred in 1994, when Congress passed the Riegle-Neal Interstate Banking and Efficiency Act. The bill allows banks to operate branches outside of the state in which they are based, ushering in a new era of widespread branch banking and significant changes in the structure of the nation’s banking industry.

"The speakers we have lined up for this event bring experience that will help bankers be more effective competitors in the regional financial services arena," Johnson said. "Bankers who participate will have a rare opportunity to interact with the key individuals responsible for making changes that affect everything from lending to banking technology."

The forum features presentations from the state and nation’s banking leaders, including Hoenig, who has led the Fed’s Kansas City District since 1991. Hoenig will outline how interstate branching regulations are changing the face of the financial market and the issues banks face as a result. Hoenig oversees the 10th district of the Fed, which covers Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Wyoming as well as 43 counties in western Missouri and 14 counties in northern New Mexico. Hoenig joined the Fed in Kansas City in 1973 as an economist in the banking supervision area. He was named a vice president in 1981 and senior vice president in 1986.

Other guest speakers include Gary Mammel, president and chief executive officer of the Bank of Cherry Creek in Denver; John Coss, president of Coss Technology Group; and luncheon speaker Denny Dumler, president and CEO of TransAlliance in Bellevue, Wash., and formerly with the Plus System in Denver. Additional speakers James R. Barth, Lowder Eminent Scholar of Finance at Auburn University and former chief economist for the Federal Home Loan Bank Board; and Janice Campbell, vice president of Norwest Bank and recipient of the 1997 Small Business Lender of the Year award by the U.S. Small Business Administration. Sen. Wayne Allard, R-Colo., who is a member of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, is scheduled to attend a cocktail reception that evening as a featured guest.

"Industries that are mainly transaction driven, such as banking, have both challenges and opportunities as a result of the changes in information technology," said Dan Costello, dean of Colorado State’s College of Business. "The College of Business is pleased to offer this forum as a marketplace of ideas. As you can see from the program schedule, there are many opportunities to share ideas and expand your professional network."

A schedule of events follows.

• 8:30-9 a.m., Welcome by Colorado State University President Albert C. Yates. Opening address by Thomas Hoenig, president, Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City.
• 9-9:45 a.m., Session 1: "Competing in the Rocky Mountain banking market." Speaker: Gary Mammel, president and CEO, Bank of Cherry Creek, Denver.
• 9:45-10 a.m., Break.
• 10-11 a.m., Session 2: "Technology and bank services: implementing an EFT system from the customer’s perspective." Speaker: John Clark, president, Coss Technology Group.
• 11-Noon, Session 3: "The interconnection between successful banking and economic development." Moderator: Patrick Boyle, vice president, Colorado Association of Commerce and Technology. Panelists: Dave Reetz, vice president, First National Bank, Powell, Wyo.; and Greg McCann, vice president, BancOne.
• Noon-12:45 p.m., Lunch.
• 12:45-1:30 p.m., Introduction of speaker: Dan Costello, dean, College of Business, Colorado State. Luncheon speaker: Denny Dummler, president and CEO, TransAlliance, Bellevue, Wash.
• 1:45-2:40 p.m., Breakout Sessions Breakout Session A: "Strategies for success in small business lending." Panelists: Mark Driscoll, president, First National Bank of Fort Collins; Deborah Kelly, vice president, Colorado National Bank; and Susan Mathews, president, Camp Kazoo Ltd., Golden.
• Breakout Session B: "Avoiding pitfalls and controlling risks in electronic banking." Panelists: Benton Gup, chair of banking, University of Alabama; Deborah Thoren-Peden, attorney, Pillsbury, Madison & Sutro, Los Angeles.
• Breakout Session C: "How a bank can prosper by promoting economic development." Panelists: Colleen Schwarz, head of business programs, Colorado Housing and Finance Authority; and Janice Campbell, vice president, Norwest Bank.
• Breakout Session D: "Using technology to improve bank performance." Panelists: JoAnn Mortensen, marketing manager for business banking, Norwest Bank; and Dave Baker, president, First Bank Data Corp.
• 3:45-4 p.m., Break.
• 4-4:45 p.m., Wrap-Up Session: "Options for reform of the financial market." Moderator: Maryann Hunter, vice president, Denver branch, Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City. Panelists: Michael Bennett, administrative assistant for Sen. Wayne Allard, R-Colo.; and James L. Pierce, professor of economics, University of California at Berkeley.
• 4:45-6 p.m., Cocktail Reception. Special guest: Sen. Wayne Allard.

To register, call (970) 491-7501. For more information about the event, call Carrie Schafer at the Office of Public and Media Relations, (970) 491-6432. For information about guest speakers or issues facing the banking industry, call Colorado State economics professor Ronnie Phillips, (970) 491-6079 or finance and real estate Professor Rick Johnson, (970) 491-5564.