Looking Back at 2021 - Looking Forward with Strategic Plan

I hope this message finds you recovering from the Thanksgiving holiday. It’s truly my favorite holiday involving good food, family, friends, and football. My favorite part was spending time with my two grandsons as we enjoyed the mild temperatures and sunshine that still prevail in this early winter.

As I look back on 2021, I’m thankful to have had the opportunity to represent you all and the interests of community banking in North Dakota and nationally. And I’m proud of our accomplishments this past year with the 67^th Assembly of the North Dakota Legislature which convened on January 5 and adjourned on April 29. In addition to the Regular Session, Governor Burgum called a Special Session of the Legislature that was conducted the week of November 8 adjourning on Friday, November 12.

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The primary issues that were dealt with during the Special Session were redistricting and distribution of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. Not surprising, several policy bills were also introduced and heard by the Delayed Bills Committee. We were successful in helping make the bad ideas go away while supporting passage of a bill that provides some structure for the in-state investment application process of the Legacy Funds that resulted from HB 1425 earlier in the year. In addition to passage of HB 1425 during the Regular Session which mandates a portion of the Legacy Fund be invested in or though entities with a presence in North Dakota, ICBND also advocated heavily for liability protections for businesses relative to Covid-related claims. Passage of this bill was very important especially as you all continue to deal with the pandemic which seems as if it is never going away.

Moving forward, I’m thankful for the direction that your ICBND and ICB Services Boards of Directors provide us as we advocate for the best interests of community banking. Over the next several months, we will be addressing our ongoing strategic plan to ensure that we are pursuing initiatives that serve the best interests of community banking in North Dakota. I appreciate the time and effort that these dedicated individuals provide in the process to develop and implement a roadmap for continued success.

Finally, I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Until next time,

Barry