Simply Stated - All Things Finance

For more information on updates to NMLS Modernization and how to get involved, visit the NMLS Modernization page on the CSBS website . Since the NMLS Annual Conference & Training in February, there’s been a lot of excitement around “NMLS Modernization.” Today, CSBS launched several new features and changes in NMLS as a part of this modernization effort. I sit down with Dave Dwyer, Senior Vice...

Community banker sentiment remains near-neutral for a second quarter but is still rising; in the second quarter of 2024, the Community Bank Sentiment Index (CBSI) reached its highest level recorded since 2021.  CSBS Chief Economist Tom Siems joins us today to explore what is driving a near-neutral sentiment from community bankers, how uncertainty impacts a community bank's outlook, and what r...

Are we finally starting to see the long-awaited cooldown in economic activity?  CSBS Chief Economist Tom Siems takes us along for a deep dive into interest rate data, market fluctuations, and the current state of commercial real estate and office lending. And, as always, we ask: what should regulators an the industries be looking out for in the current economic climate?

Regulators take confidentiality seriously. So, when regulators from different states, agencies, or industries need to communicate, how do they do it? As it turns out, regulators spend months (and sometimes years) carefully setting up the infrastructure and processes so that, when the need arises to communicate with one another, they know exactly what can be shared with whom and when. This week, Ma...

Community banker sentiment remains negative for a ninth straight quarter, but things are looking up; in the first quarter of 2024, the Community Bank Sentiment Index (CBSI) reached its highest level recorded since 2021.  CSBS Chief Economist Tom Siems joins us today to look deeper into the driving forces behind community banker negativity, why their negative sentiment is trending toward positivity...

Guest Rich Madison, Vice President, Credentialing and Accreditation Programs In today's episode, we discuss: What a mortgage broker's license is What it means for your mortgage broker to be licensed Where you can search for a licensed or registered mortgage broker Who to contact if you have concerns

In the epilogue, we ask regulators to share their insights on the importance of NMLS, what we gain from a state-federal regulatory partnership and lessons learned from the NMLS development process. About "The Making of NMLS" Series The Housing and Economic Recovery Act, or HERA, was signed into law fifteen years ago on July 30, 2008. HERA included the SAFE Act, which required mortgage lo...

When we left off from the last episode in September 2005, the CSBS Board of Directors had just approved the development of NMLS. In episode four, we discuss the significant trouble brewing in the mortgage market in 2006. As the mortgage crisis unfolded, state regulators pushed forward with the development of NMLS. As Congress investigated the crisis, state regulators shared NMLS as a possible solu...

In episode three, we discuss the work that went into building NMLS and the opposition faced along the way. Staff worked to harmonize legislative and regulatory requirements across state agencies, develop uniform documents, gather feedback from the mortgage industry and work out the funding and maintenance structure of the system. The episode culminates with a look at the debate between states on w...

In episode two, we start with an interview with then-CSBS President and CEO John Ryan. John shares the story behind when state regulators decided it was time to develop a nationwide licensing system. We determine exactly who had the idea first, the initial reaction of commissioners in 2003 and what ultimately led to embarking on the creation of NMLS. About "The Making of NMLS" Series The...

In episode one, we discuss the financial conditions in the early 2000s. Allegations of predatory lending, an increased number of applications of unqualified individuals to issue mortgages, and increasingly risky behavior in the mortgage market all caught the attention of state financial regulators. Seeing this growing trend, some regulators gathered at CSBS meetings in search of solutions. About &...

In the prologue, we speak with Vickie Peck, Executive Vice President of Products & Solutions, to reflect on how licensing through NMLS has advanced over the past 15 years. About "The Making of NMLS" Series The Housing and Economic Recovery Act, or HERA, was signed into law fifteen years ago on July 30, 2008. HERA included the SAFE Act, which required mortgage loan originators to regi...

The Model Money Transmission Modernization Act , also known as the Money Transmitter Model Law, is a single set of nationwide standards and requirements created by industry and state experts. We speak with two CSBS experts on money transmission to learn how this model law came to be, what it accomplishes and how it's being implemented nationwide. Guests Matt Lambert - Deputy General Counsel,...

CSBS Chief Economist Tom Siems shares findings from the most recent CSBS Community Bank Sentiment Index , an index derived from quarterly polling of community bankers across the nation.  We discuss community bankers' lowest sentiment reading since the start of measurement and what is driving it. Plus, we explore what makes the Community Bank Sentiment Index unique compared to other indicators...

State regulators have an important mandate that requires them to protect consumers, ensure the safety and soundness of their institutions and promote economic growth. Today we talk about the priorities of state regulators in 2023, focusing on legislation, state-federal partnerships and Networked Supervision. Guests: Jim Cooper - President and CEO, CSBS Karen Lawson - Executive Vice President of Po...

CSBS Chief Economist Tom Siems shares the findings from the most recent CSBS Community Bank Sentiment Index , an index derived from quarterly polling of community bankers across the nation. We discuss community bankers' negative sentiment for the end of 2022 and their top concerns looking into the new year. Plus, we explore where community bankers think we are in the business cycle compared t...

This week, we talk with CSBS Information Security Manager Richard Mensah about common cybersecurity threats to financial institutions, organizations designed to help combat cyber-threats, and tools state regulators have created for executive leaders to approach cybersecurity at their companies.

"States of the Economy" is a monthly look at the economic picture across the country. In this episode CSBS Chief Economist Tom Siems and host Matt Longacre discuss what the latest inflation and jobs numbers, business confidence measures and more are telling us about the current trajectory of the U.S. economy.

Community Banks Adapting to the Digital Age Guests: CSBS Chief Economist Thomas F. Siems Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis Supervision Policy, Research and Analysis Manager Meredith A. Covington   Temple University Professor of Finance and CSBS Adjunct Research Scholar Jonathan A. Scott   In this episode, we explore how community banks are adapting to a changing digital landscape by analyzing bank...

Today, we explore the challenges behind curbing inflation, the tools available to the Federal Reserve to do so, and the consequences of the Fed acting too aggressively or too gently. "States of the Economy" is a monthly look at the economic picture across the country. In this episode CSBS Senior Economist Tom Siems and host Matt Longacre discuss what the latest inflation and jobs numbers...

"States of the Economy" is a monthly look at the economic picture across the country. In this episode CSBS Senior Economist Tom Siems and host Matt Longacre discuss what the latest inflation and jobs numbers, business confidence measures and more are telling us about the current trajectory of the U.S. economy.

"States of the Economy" is a monthly look at the economic picture across the country. In this episode CSBS Senior Economist Tom Siems and host Matt Longacre discuss what the latest inflation and jobs numbers, business confidence measures and more are telling us about the current trajectory of the U.S. economy.

CSBS Senior Vice President Tim Doyle sits down with me to explain what exactly makes a license a license. We discuss the difference between a license and charter, why licenses exist, what a license does and does not mean for a consumer, how licensing has changed and how NMLS helps consumers make good choices when shopping for financial services.

Community bankers are slightly more optimistic about future business conditions and the economic outlook than they were at the end of last year but are more concerned about future profitability than at any point since the pandemic began, according to the most recent Community Bank Sentiment Index (CBSI) .  "States of the Economy" is a monthly look at the economic picture across the count...