Simply Stated - A Podcast On All Things State 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 President of Business Services at CSBS, to learn about the changes available to NMLS users today and what's to come as NMLS Modernization continues.

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 regulators and compliance experts should take from this quarter's CBSI reading. 

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, Matt Lambert sits down with me to talk through these "information sharing agreements," why they matter, the work that goes into making them, and what the industry should know about how their regulators communicate. Guest: Matt Lambert, CSBS Deputy General Counsel - Policy 

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, and what regulators and compliance experts should take from this quarter's CBSI reading. 

GuestRich Madison, Vice President, Credentialing and Accreditation ProgramsIn today's episode, we discuss:What a mortgage broker's license isWhat it means for your mortgage broker to be licensedWhere you can search for a licensed or registered mortgage brokerWho 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" SeriesThe 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 register or be licensed in the Nationwide Multi-State Licensing System (NMLS).In celebration of 15 years of NMLS, CSBS is releasing a podcast series about the creation of NMLS. Join us each week through August as we interview the regulators and leaders responsible for one of history's most ambitious 50-state projects.GuestsVickie Peck - Executive Vice President, Products & SolutionsBuz Gorman - Executive Vice President, General CounselJohn Ryan - Former CSBS President and CEONeil Milner - Former CSBS President and CEOBill Matthews - Former President and CEO of State Regulatory Registry LLCSte

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 solution for reigning in the market.About "The Making of NMLS" SeriesThe 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 register or be licensed in the Nationwide Multi-State Licensing System (NMLS).In celebration of 15 years of NMLS, CSBS is releasing a podcast series about the creation of NMLS. Join us each week through August as we interview the regulators and leaders responsible for one of history's most ambitious 50-state projects.GuestsVickie Peck - Executive Vice President, Pro

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 whether to launch and adopt the system.Producer's Note:  In this episode, the host refers to the SAFE Act passing in July 2007. HERA and the SAFE Act passed July 30, 2008. In addition, the host mentions the states being given one year to adopt NMLS. While every state held a legislative session within one year, the SAFE Act provided two years for states to adopt NMLS.About "The Making of NMLS" SeriesThe 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 register or be licensed in the N

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" SeriesThe 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 register or be licensed in the Nationwide Multi-State Licensing System (NMLS).In celebration of 15 years of NMLS, CSBS is releasing a podcast series about the creation of NMLS. Join us each week through August as we interview the regulators and leaders responsible for one of history's most ambitious 50-state projects.GuestsVickie Peck - Executive Vice President, Products & SolutionsBuz Gorman - Executive Vice President, General CounselJohn

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 "The Making of NMLS" SeriesThe 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 register or be licensed in the Nationwide Multi-State Licensing System (NMLS).In celebration of 15 years of NMLS, CSBS is releasing a podcast series about the creation of NMLS. Join us each week through August as we interview the regulators and leaders responsible for one of history's most ambitious 50-state projects.GuestsVickie Peck - Executive Vice President, Products & SolutionsBuz Gorman - Execut

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" SeriesThe 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 register or be licensed in the Nationwide Multi-State Licensing System (NMLS). In celebration of 15 years of NMLS, CSBS is releasing a podcast series about the creation of NMLS. Join us each week through August as we interview the regulators and leaders responsible for one of history's most ambitious 50-state projects.GuestsVickie Peck - Executive Vice President, Products & SolutionsBuz Gorman - Executive Vice President, General CounselJohn Ryan - Former CSBS President and CEONeil Milner - Former CSBS President and CEOBill Matthews - Former President and CEO of State Regulatory Registry LLCSteve Antonakes - Former

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.GuestsMatt Lambert - Deputy General Counsel, Policy, CSBSCamille Polson - Manager, Policy Development, CSBS

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 used by economists.

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, CSBSKaren Lawson - Executive Vice President of Policy and Supervision, CSBS 

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 to the consensus of economists. 

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 AgeGuests:CSBS Chief Economist Thomas F. SiemsFederal 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 banking and technology questions from the 2021 CSBS National Survey of Community Banks.