SW Graduate School of Banking National Certified Community Bank Director’s Program Set for October 21–23, 2024, on SMU Campus

Program Focuses on Essential Best Practices for Community Banking

The SW Graduate School of Banking (SWGSB) at SMU Cox, a nationally renowned source for bank director education, is registering participants for its National Certified Community Bank Director’s Program, October 21–23, 2024, on the Southern Methodist University campus. Regulatory expectations and wise management often demand a skill set that many bank directors are eager to enhance. The SW Graduate School of Banking at SMU Cox Certified National Community Bank Director’s Program (NCCBD) is a comprehensive curriculum that addresses the foundations of bank directorship—from duties and responsibilities to board structures and processes.

With regulators now requiring a full range of banking knowledge, SWGSB delivers programs of national interest, tailored to director duties and responsibilities. The program qualifies as one of two requirements needed to attain the community bank director’s certification.

NCCBD certification focuses on what makes boards and directors effective, as well as what is expected by regulators, examiners, and shareholders. Upon completion of the requirements, participants are awarded a certificate and can use the NCCBD designation.

Requirements for the NCCBD certification:

Attend a three-day Level 1 NCCBD program presented by SWGSB at SMU Cox.
Attend a three-day Level 2 NCCBD program presented by SWGSB at SMU Cox
or an SWGSB Assembly for Bank Directors program.
To maintain the NCCBD designation, directors must attend at least one Assembly for Bank Directors every three years.

“As banks respond to recent failures, it underscores the critical need for ongoing training for bankers and community bank directors,” said T. Gary Hudson, former president and CEO and current board member of The Farmers & Merchants Bank of Stuttgart, Arkansas and a SWGSB trustee. “Our bank has turned to SWGSB’s Certified Community Bank Director’s Program and Assemblies for Bank Directors as a way to retain and grow the skills necessary to operate today’s community banks.”

Merrill J. Reynolds Jr., managing director of SWGSB’s NCCBD Program and curriculum coordinator for the SWGSB Assemblies for Bank Directors, is a national authority on banking. A 40+ year banking veteran, he has worked for both community and multibank holding companies in various lending and managerial capacities. Reynolds is currently participating on a national task force on bank director mitigation of personal liability and reputational risk. In addition to Reynolds and SWGSB President and CEO William T. Chittenden, Ph.D., the upcoming NCCBD Program includes the following nationally respected speakers:

Sanford M. Brown, Partner, Alston & Bird

Matthew Earl, Principal, Reynolds Williams Group

Leah Hamilton, Director, FORVIS

J. Keith Hughey, Founder, J. Keith Hughey Company

Josh McNulty, Partner, Hunton Andrews Kurth

Tanya Miller, President and Chief Risk Officer, PrimeBank of Texas

Mikella Newsom, Senior Vice President and Chief Risk Officer, City Bank

Jimmy Sawyers, Chairman, Sawyers & Jacobs, LLC

Dale S. Sheller, Senior Vice President, The Baker Group LP

Philip K. Smith, Chairman and CEO, Gerrish Smith Tuck, PC

Jamie Sumner, Chief Analyst, Seifried & Brew LLC

Bank directors can learn more and register at swgsb.org/nccbd or call 214.768.2991 for more information.