After Ron Lindhardt, a former National Bank Examiner and Assistant Deputy Comptroller of the Currency, retired, he started a very informative blog on banking issues (www.nationalbankexaminer.com). Here's what he had to say about AABD.

At the American Bankers Association National Conference for Community Bankers earlier this year, David Baris, AABD Executive Director, told his audience that more is needed than just adopting "Best Practices.”

It wasn't so long ago that all a bank director needed to do was to exercise good faith business judgment to meet expectations and avoid personal liability. While that is still the legal standard of care in most states, the FDIC suits against directors of failed banks implicitly are assuming that directors have a skill set that many currently lack.

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency today announced its schedule of workshops for bank directors of national community banks and federal savings associations.

No one likes to be evaluated. But there are some very good reasons to conduct a bank board evaluation from time to time. Third party evaluations are often better than self-evaluations.

As proxy season approaches, bank Boards of Directors will decide who to nominate as directors at their upcoming shareholder meetings. For many banks, the incumbents will be renominated, unless they are retiring or not standing for reelection on their own volition, and they will almost certainly be reelected by shareholders. Is there more to it than that?

November 8-10, 2012 Grand Hyatt San Francisco

San Francisco > November 8-10, 2012

Symposium “Take Aways” noted by Charles Thayer, Chairman of AABD, a presenter at the American Banker M&A Symposium in New York May 21-22.

Presentations by George Parkerson (FDIC) and Susan O'Donnell (Pearl Meyer) at the April 2012 AABD Bank Director Workshop

Bank Director Workshop Presentations - April 12, 2012

Thursday April 12, 2012 - Fort Lauderdale, Florida

The AABD (the only national association exclusively serving bank directors) cooperates with other professional organizations to present quality bank director educational programs.

Selected presentations from the Annual Bank Directors Conference are now available online.

November 10-12, 2011 Omni Hotel San Diego, CA Hosted By: American Association of Bank Directors Western Independent Bankers Association

The American Banker (published by SourceMedia) also offers educational programs:

WIB Educational Programs

WIB Conferences & Educational Calendar

WIB Bank Directors Resources

Institute for Bank Director Education (IBDE) The IBDE is a clearinghouse for director education. The IBDE reviews courses offered by various institutions, government regulatory agencies, and businesses for their applicability to financial institution directors, and evaluates both the course material and the qualifications of instructors. If a course is approved for inclusion in the program, the IBDE assigns the credit available for the course and lists the course in its Course Guide -- at no charge to the course provider.

Bank Director Education Certification Requirements for Certificate of Completion The educational program leading to a Certificate of Completion is designed to provide individuals with the basic information they will need to serve as directors of a bank or savings institution, and may facilitate discounts on premiums paid for D&O Insurance. To fulfill the requirements for a Certificate of Completion, an individual must, during the first calendar year in the program, complete: a process that includes participation in a six-hour Core Course presented by AABD Executive Director, David Baris, at a time and place of your choice. participation in a six-hour Supplemental Course selected from the Course Guide or pre-approved by IBDE. (NOTE: IBDE certification is only open to members in good standing of the American Association of Bank Directors.) Requirements for Certificate of Maintenance To fulfill the requirements for an annual Certificate of Maintenance, an individual...

To fulfill the requirements for an annual Certificate of Maintenance, an individual must participate, on an annual basis, in Supplemental Courses which, in the aggregate, represent at least 6 hours of credit. The supplemental course(s) must be selected from the Course Guide or pre-approved by IBDE.

IBDE Core Courses IBDE Programs may be conducted at your bank or another location designated by the bank board. AABD-IBDE Core Courses cover the following topics: Corporate governance/fiduciary duties - What are a bank director's responsibilities, how should the Board of Directors govern itself to help it do the job it is required to do, how to avoid or address conflicts of interest, how to manage communications between senior management and the Board of Directors, and what are the keys to Board independence? Essential Board reports, financial statements, bank performance reports, and reports of examination - what are they and how to read and understand them? Red flags - what are they, how to become aware of them, and what to do about them? Understanding external audit, internal audit, internal controls, and the role of the Audit Committee Lending and the role of the Board and loan committees Asset/liability management and bank investments Risk management principles -...

AABD Core & Supplemental Course Programs

The American Bankers Association provides frequent telephone and webcast briefings for bank directors.

Click to Review Upcoming ABA Programs

Learn how you and your board how bank directors can mitigate their risks of personal liability from FDIC suits. Presentations by leading financial services firm BuckleySandler LLP partners David Baris, Samuel J. Buffone, and David S. Krakoff.

Given the continued tough economic environment, traditional bank M&A activity has been relatively slow. The bank M&A transaction du jour has been the FDIC assisted deal, and these types of transactions are getting more competitive. The FDIC has been making structural changes to the bidding process, but potential buyers have adjusted their bidding methodology accordingly. Presented by Michael Perdue of Pacific Western Bank, an experienced acquirer who has completed several FDIC assisted transactions; Susan Cordonnier, an accountant from Perry-Smith LLP who can provide advice on the complicated fair market value accounting treatment; Jeffrey Wishner, an investment banker from Keefe, Bruyette & Woods who has successfully advised clients on the bidding process; and Gary Miller, an FDIC representative from the Division of Resolutions and Receiverships.

Regulatory examinations focused on commercial real estate loans are causing significant adverse migration in loan risk ratings. This has a profoundly negative impact on the bank's loan loss reserve and future provisioning. Community bank directors should not be blind-sided by this result at the exam exit interview. This webinar will show you how you can play an active role in anticipating the exam results and guiding bank management and loan personnel as they prepare for the examination. Presented by Fred Finke, Jon Salmon, Susanna Tisa and Mark Olson of Treliant Risk Advisors.