Bankers Compliance Task Force
The Bankers Compliance Task Force (BCTF) is an organization of over forty financial institutions formed in 1993 to jointly address regulatory compliance matters. BCTF membership provides a forum for members to exchange information and share experiences and ideas concerning many issues facing bankers. Watkins Ludlam Winter & Stennis, P.A. (WLW&S) coordinates the activities of the organization and provides advice and counsel to member banks on legal, compliance and regulatory matter. Bankers are bombarded with new laws and regulations that are complex and constantly changing and the penalties for non-compliance can be severe. BCTF is the source for up to date information and analysis of the law and regulations to help ensure compliance. The experienced and professional staff of WLW&S keep abreast of all the new laws and regulations and monitor changes to keep the membership informed. The following are some of the major benefits of membership in BCTF: Compliance Updates – Periodic compliance updates (newsletters or e-lerts) are provided to members as changes in laws and regulations occur or when there are important matters that should be brought to the attention of the group. For example, BCTF members were among the first to see the new Mortgage Disclosure Improvement Act (MDIA) rules/regs and to be advised of changes in amendments to the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA). Quarterly Meetings Training Policies and Procedures – Upon request of the BCTF Steering Committee, WLW&S prepares policies and procedures which can be customized and tailored by member banks or by WLW&S. Included in the over 30 policies which have already been prepared for the group’s members are the following: Loan Policy & Procedures, Bank Secrecy Act Policy, General Compliance Management Policy, Reg. O Policy, Fair Lending Policy, Customer Identification Policy, Dispute Resolution Policy, Employee Handbook and Policy. Consultation and Advice Services Please contact Carroll Ann Blackmon for more information on membership in the Bankers Compliance Task Force. She can be reached at (601) 949-4815 or email at: (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
– As a member of the BCTF, your organization will have access to compliance audits, BSA/AML audits, fair lending reviews, loan file reviews, risk assessments and a number of other services. Call us for a list of the currently services that are available. – As a member of the BCTF, your organization has a straight line to the experts. WLW&S offers BCTF members over a century of cumulative banking and banking law experience to answer questions related to all areas of banking law. Your questions will be directed to an attorney or other staff member that will provide you with a timely and accurate response. As part of your membership benefits, your organization is entitled to 1 ½ hours of consultation per month. – Customized training on compliance issues and a variety of other topics is available to members at a special discounted rate. These training sessions are conducted in our offices or on-site at your bank. Some of the most requested in-house training includes the following: Bank Secrecy Act, Customer Identification Procedures, Fair Lending, Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act, Truth in Lending Act, IRAs and New Accounts Documentation. Group training dates and registration information can be found on the BCTF web site. – BCTF holds quarterly meetings at which WLW&S attorneys, staff and quest speakers provide timely information and insight into current hot topics. Regulators and other government agencies freely discuss the examination process and compliance issues. WLW&S staff work with the BCTF Steering Committee to select and prioritize the topics most meaningful to the group. The quarterly meetings also provide the opportunity for the members to network and share ideas.