All employees of NBA-member banks are encouraged to apply to serve the banking industry as a member of an NBA committee. Serving on these committees will keep you attuned to important issues that may affect your bank's bottom line. At the same time, you will be expanding your professional knowledge while ensuring your Association remains banker-driven.

We need your participation to help bring a wide range of perspectives and experiences to NBA committees. Submit the volunteer form by Jan. 12 to be considered. The NBA is seeking banker volunteers to serve on our Government Relations, BankPAC, Education Advisory, NBA Foundation and Young Bankers of Nebraska (YBON) Committees beginning in May 2024. For more information, contact the NBA office.

The NBA is now taking applications for the 15th class of the NBA Leadership Program. Interested candidates should submit the completed application, along with a letter of recommendation, to the NBA by Dec. 31, 2023. Take advantage of this opportunity to help yourself or someone you know to grow personally and professionally.

The NBA created the Leadership Program to enhance the leadership, organizational and performance skills of highly motivated mid- to upper-level bankers. The two-year program provides a practical, timely look at the real world of banking and politics. Through the program, class members develop a solid understanding of the banking industry and attain the essential skills to provide immediate, effective leadership within their banking organizations. Now in its 27th year, the NBA Leadership Program is one of the NBA’s greatest success stories.

​For details about the program, contact Ron Arrigo at the NBA at [email protected] or 402-474-1555.

This week the NBA expressed objections to a U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) proposal that would significantly increase the number of employees covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act's overtime and minimum wage requirements.

Under the proposal, employees earning up to $1,059 per week, equivalent to $55,068 annually, would automatically be subject to those requirements. This represents a significant increase from the 2019 regulations, which set the salary threshold at $684 per week or $35,568 annually.

In a letter to the DOL, the NBA noted, "A bank or small business in rural Nebraska should not be subject to the same wage threshold as a business in Washington, D.C."

The NBA Foundation will award up to 10 scholarships, each worth $2,000, to eligible students. To qualify for this scholarship, candidates must be enrolled in a business or other banking-related program at one of Nebraska's three state colleges or at a privately funded college or university in Nebraska.

The deadline for scholarship applications is Jan. 31. This is a fantastic opportunity for students with an interest in banking to receive financial support for their education.

Please share this opportunity with college students who are interested in a career in banking. By spreading the word, you can play a role in helping students on their journey toward a career in banking. Together, we can help shape the future of the next generation of Nebraska bankers.

The NBA and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) Department of Agricultural Economics celebrated scholarship recipients at a dinner on Nov. 1.

The honored students are part of the Ag Banking and Finance program at UNL. Students in the program are studying agribusiness with an emphasis in banking and finance and receive a scholarship from the NBA. Since the program's inception in 2006, the Nebraska banking industry has provided over $1.1 million in scholarships, and more than 175 students have completed internships through the program.