Page 4
The Banker’s Advocate
State Bank Department
DAY WITH THE COMMISSIONER
VIEW
Continued from Page 1
Washington, D.C. The
Ross joins list of speakers
Workshop has created a
new Web site, Bank-
Tracker, to provide infor-
at annual event on May 1
mation on the financial Congressman Mike
health of every bank and Ross has accepted an invi-
thrift in the country. tation to speak at Day
The “troubled asset” With The Commissioner
ratio measures non- in Hot Springs on Friday,
current loans and OREO May 1.
as a percentage of Tier 1 Ross will conclude a
capital and loan-loss re- morning program that
serves. The ratio has includes an internationally
been used in the past by a known economist and
former business reporter two executive officers
who now is senior editor from the Federal Reserve
at the Workshop. and FDIC.
Public and news media Day With The Commis-
James Bullard
Chris Low
interest in such rankings, sioner will conclude the
and the media’s publica-
Bank of St. Louis. The
services to the investment
Arkansas Bankers Asso-
tion of its own analysis,
topic of Bullard’s presen-
community.
ciation’s 119
th
annual
are to be expected. This
tation will be “U.S. Finan-
 Sandra L. Thompson,
Convention and Trade
has been a period of ele-
cial System and Macro-
director of the Federal
Show. The convention is
vated stress in the finan-
economic Performance.”
Deposit Insurance Corpo-
scheduled for April 29
cial system and of in-
Bullard directs the activi-
ration’s Division of Super-
through May 1 at the Em-
tensely reported failures
ties of the Bank’s main
vision and Consumer Pro-
bassy Suites Hotel & Spa
of commercial banks,
office in St. Louis and
tection. She will discuss
and adjoining Hot Springs
thrifts and large financial
three branches, including
“Recent Guidance from
Convention Center.
services companies.
one in Little Rock. In
the Federal Banking Regu-
The theme of this year’s
Bank and thrift rank-
addition, he is a member
lators” after a refreshment
convention is “Navigating
ings, regardless of the
of the Federal Open Mar-
break. Thompson over-
the Financial Waters,”
provider, are the product
ket Committee, the pri-
sees risk management and
reflecting the continuing
of a common objective:
mary monetary policy arm
consumer protection ex-
economic downturn that
To use detailed perform-
of the Federal Reserve.
amination activities in the
is affecting financial insti- supervision of about 5,200
ance measurement data – tutions in the United
 Chris Low, chief
financial institutions.
for example, ratios – and States and overseas.
economist for FTN Fi-
 U.S. Representative
varying methodologies to Day With The Commis-
nancial. Low’s topic will
Ross, a fifth-term con-
quantify the relative finan- sioner is scheduled to be-
be “Economic Update.”
gressman who represents
cial strength of a financial gin at 8:30 a.m. May 1
Low is widely quoted in
a district that includes 29
institution, and then to with opening comments
the business press and
report these findings in a by Bank Commissioner
regularly appears on
counties in south and west
format that is simplified Candace A. Franks.
CNBC and Bloomberg
central Arkansas. In the
for the general public. The featured presenta-
Television. Low can be
House of Representatives,
In other words, rank- tions will then get under-
heard on National Public
Ross serves on the Com-
ings and ratings are easier way. The speakers in-
Radio’s Marketplace and
mittee on Energy and
for the public to compre- clude:
he delivers U.S. business
Commerce and Commit-
hend and easier for the
news on BBC Radio.
tee on Foreign Affairs.
 James Bullard, presi-
news media to report.
FTN Financial is a com-
Ross was selected by
dent and chief executive
prehensive provider of
House leadership to serve
See VIEW, Page 5 officer, Federal Reserve financial products and
See DAY, Page 5
March 31, 2009
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