First Take: The Least Boring Banking Podcast Blake Guinn and Allison McDaniel

Blake Guinn and Allison McDaniel delve into the Housing Disparity Gap in the United States with Jonesboro realtor Sonya Sanders.

A recent study published by the Hope Policy Institute breaks down Arkansas housing disparity gap numbers from 2009 to 2019, as well as explains the history and background of housing disparity in the US.

Hope Policy Institute Study: 
http://hopepolicy.org/manage/wp-content/uploads/Arkansas-Housing-Report-v4.pdf

In this episode of First Take: The Least Boring Banking Podcast, Blake and Allison bring in First National Bank Assistant Vice President of Digital Banking - Mandy Brodell.

They discuss what banks have to offer businesses to help them streamline their operations. From ACH to Remote Deposit Capture, they discuss what businesses should look for in a digital banking relationship. 

Blake and Allison sit down with First National Bank CIO Megan Hall to discuss all things cybersecurity.

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month and Megan explains some easy tips and tricks to ensure you're staying safe while in the cyber-world, as well as what small businesses can do to limit the risk of cyberattacks. 

Resources for Consumers and Businesses: 
CISA (Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency): Homepage | CISA
STOP. THINK. CONNECT Campaign: STOP. THINK. CONNECT. Toolkit | CISA
US-CERT (for businesses) - Homepage | CISA
FDIC's Customer Assistance Page:  FDIC: Consumer Assistance Topics - Cybersecurity

Blake and Allison speak with Arkansas State Bank Commissioner Susannah Marshall regarding the SAFER AR Act, which became law earlier this year.

Susannah explains what the law means for banks and customers when it comes to ensuring vulnerable populations aren't exploited. 

Blake and Allison break down the US Department of Treasury's IRS Reporting Plan proposal. We explain what the proposal currently says, provide quotes and input from both those for and against, and explain what else would have to happen for the proposal to go into effect.

With the upcoming acquisition of Citizens Bank, Blake and Allison discuss what the merger means for Citizens Bank customers.

They detail the stages of the conversion, including what to expect on September 1st when Citizens Bank officially becomes First National Bank, as well as when a full system conversion will take place.

You'll also hear from Citizens Bank President and CEO Todd Austin regarding the acquisition.