The VBA has formed partnerships with a group of reputable online training providers to bring our members a wide variety of self-paced, instructor-led and video training that address topics important to bankers. Partners include: American Bankers Association (ABA), BankWebinars.com, GSB Online Classroom and Thomas Compliance Associates. Online training allows you to have access to training delivered on your schedule. 

Walt Lyons from the VBA Education & Training team will host a webinar on Thursday, May 30 at 2:00 pm outlining the VBA Virtual program to include: 

• a review of all VBA Virtual course offerings and providers;
• how to register and access materials;
• subscription opportunities;
• professional certificates and CE opportunities; and
• webinar options for industry certification exam prep.

When registering, you will be asked to complete a brief survey on bank training trends to include: your bank's current online training partners, your LMS provider and coursework required by your bank. Aggregate survey data will be shared with all participants following the webinar. Learn more and register for the webinar here. 

You can learn more about webinars and online training opportunities here. Be sure to sign up for VBA Virtual, the VBA’s weekly webinar and online training update that comes straight to your inbox. This weekly update highlights upcoming webinars and is organized by function area. Questions about online training? Contact Walt Lyons for more information.

American National Bank & Trust Co.
Mark Smith – Senior Vice President, Regional Credit Officer

First Bank & Trust Co.
Brent Dyson – Senior Vice President
William “Hugh” Ferguson, III – Senior Vice President, Regional Manager
Vicky Holbrook – Branch Operations Officer
Carrie Kiser – Senior Vice President, Credit Analyst Manager
Leonard Pittman – Senior Vice President, Commercial Lender
John Rock – Senior Vice President, Government Lending Division
Chad Taylor – Vice President, Branch Manager

National Capital Bank
Randal Rabe – Chief Financial Officer

The Bank of Charlotte County
Christopher Metts – Vice President, Manager

United Bank
Drew Brown – Market President

A rapidly changing workforce and the proliferation of public and shareholder activists have fundamentally reshaped the job of running a bank. (American Banker)

In this era, no financial institution competes against a class of competitors, a peer group or even the fintech sector. Rather, each financial institution competes against a single, identical force. And this common competitor is time. (BAI)

Lately, more and more people are asking if there is a role for the bank branch. This question consists of several components: In this increasingly digital world, why do customers still go to bank branches? How do digital technologies affect in-person experiences? How do digital technologies change the setting where those experiences happen? (Finovate)

Iowa Bankers Trust Co.'s content marketing site gets promotion from employee influencers, which helps the influencers promote themselves as 'go-to' bankers. Effort begins with internal training in what you do and don't do on LinkedIn, the bank's platform of choice. (The Financial Brand)

The top BSA question today is about how to deal with marijuana banking. In this article, Silvia Garcia Maggio from VBA Endorsed Provider Compliance Alliance discusses both the definitions that do exist and strategies for banks to make their own interpretations when it comes to marijuana related businesses.

While mobile banking startups might be perceived as a threat to larger banks, they still have yet to show they can make a profit, according to VBA Endorsed Provider TSYS.