January 24, 2023

Gary Don Forrest, 59, of Carlsbad, passed away on Oct. 12, 2022, at his home. He was born to Robert Forrest, Sr. and Barbara Perini Forrest on May 22, 1963, in Carlsbad, NM. In time, we would realize that his birth would be the catalyst that changed the trajectory of Carlsbad forever, because, without Gary, […]

Western Commerce Announces Acquisition Western Commerce Bancshares of Carlsbad, New Mexico, has agreed to buy Western Bancshares of Clovis, New Mexico. Western Commerce, the holding company for the $617 million-asset Western Commerce Bank, said in a statement that it expects to complete the purchase of the $64.4 million-asset parent of Western Bank of Clovis in

The holiday season is a time when many people enjoy tuning out the news, relaxing with friends and family, and forgetting their worries. However, in 2022, one of the staples of the holidays, plane travel, turned into a news story that proved impossible to ignore. Southwest Airlines, often ranked as the top American economy and

“CFPB seeks to do away with the potential loophole that furnishers may try to take advantage of to evade their obligation to investigate disputes and merely write them off as frivolous at their own discretion.” On September 13, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) filed an amicus brief in regard to a district court case

How Bankers United to Play Defense Against Durbin Expansion There’s a saying that “everything old is new again,” and that’s certainly an adage you can bank on in Washington, D.C. – especially when it comes to poor public policy proposals. A textbook example of this unfolded during the 117th Congress, when our industry found itself

As the Federal Reserve aggressively hikes interest rates to tamp down inflation, depositors are starting to demand more for their money. Results from IntraFi’s most recent quarterly survey of bank executives indicate the trend is likely to continue. Ninety-five percent of respondents expect funding costs to go up, and 71% said deposit competition will increase.

Between the pandemic and rising inflation and interest rates, the last two years have taken community banks on a wild ride. Rising inflation and the higher interest rates designed to bring inflation back to earth have influenced cash flow and the cost of goods, which can create financial stress for borrowers. Financial stress can then

Thank goodness the midterm elections have finally concluded. No more mudslinging for at least the next two years. As you may know, all state Legislative House seats were up for grabs in 2022. After all was said and done, the Republicans and Democrats each picked up two seats, leaving the House exactly as it was

Before I was sworn in as NMBA President, a number of past presidents told me that one of the highlights of my year would be the President’s annual statewide “road trip” to meet with bankers and legislators in their hometowns. My predecessors were right and the purpose of the meetings was quite simple. We wanted