NHBA Peer Groups & Committees 

NHBA member banks have the opportunity to appoint representatives from their institution to our standing peer groups of discipline. Peer Group meetings provide a forum for participants to learn from their peers on current "hot" topics, as well as offer valuable input to NHBA on issues impacting New Hampshire's banking industry.

One of the key benefits to serving on a peer group is the peer connections made and the opportunities to learn from one another through the sharing of knowledge and information. In addition, peer group members may request the NHBA to poll a group on a particular issue, then share the results. Requests for sharing of policies and procedures may also be submitted to the NHBA for distribution to a peer group. No bank information is shared when conducting surveys or released when information is disseminated.

These opportunities for requesting and sharing information are one of the primary benefits to joining an NHBA Peer Group. For more information on our peer groups and to learn how you can become involved, contact Sandy Tracy, SVP/COO, at (603) 224-5373 or stracy@nhbankers.com.

Commercial Lending

This group provides a forum for commercial bankers to gather for discussion on trends and practices affecting commercial credit in New Hampshire; suggesting changes in laws and regulations for commercial lending at both the state and federal level; and identifying education and training opportunities that NHBA may provide to help enhance lending skills and techniques throughout the state for its members.

Fraud Peer Group

This group provides a forum for bankers to discuss debit card fraud and other electronic banking fraud; prevention of such fraud and deterrence of fraud practices. The group will also identify education and training opportunities that NHBA may provide to help enhance skills in this area.

Human Resources

This group among the human resources (HR) professionals within the NHBA maintains the highest level of awareness and professionalism when addressing current HR management issues and concerns. It provides a forum for members to discuss timely and relevant topics affecting HR practices in the State of New Hampshire, including state and federal regulations and industry trends. The group will identify training and educational opportunities that NHBA may provide to help enhance HR skills and employee relations at its members’ institutions.

Information Technology

The Information Technology Peer Group is responsible for identifying current and emerging issues pertaining to technology in an effort to assist member banks in their technology planning processes. In addition, the group provides a forum for the sharing of ideas and experiences designed to improve a bank’s use of technology. Members of the group also identify training and educational opportunities that NHBA may provide to help enhance IT professionals’ skills in this area.

Legislative Peer Group

This group reviews legislation being considered by the New Hampshire Legislature, and identifies those bills impacting the industry. Members of the group offer insight and feedback to the NHBA staff throughout the legislative session on bills and amendments. The group makes recommendations to the NHBA Board of Directors on the Association’s legislative priorities and positions. This group is comprised of CEOs or members of senior management. Membership is permitted at the discretion of the NHBA chairman and approval of the President/CEO

Mortgage Peer Group

This peer group provides a forum for bankers to discuss timely and relevant topics affecting mortgage lending in the State of New Hampshire, including state and federal regulations as well as legislation and industry trends. In addition, the group provides suggestions on changes in laws and regulations at both the state and federal level; and assists the NHBA with identifying educational and training opportunities to help enhance lending skills and techniques throughout the state to its membership.

 

Retail

Some topics covered by the Retail Peer Group are teller/CSR staffing models; the account opening process as it relates to OFAC and BSA; cross-selling challenges; launch of new technologies and subsequent training/adoption; branch transformation to cash recyclers and self-serve kiosks; and Safe Deposit.  The committee serves as a resource for legislative matters, and advises on education and training needs.

 

Risk Management

The primary objective of this peer group is to establish an ongoing forum where senior-level risk managers can meet periodically to network, share best practices, ask questions, and be supportive of each other on a full-range of risk considerations and ERM topics impacting the banking industry. It is also a forum where members will serve as a resource for the NHBA on legislative matters at the state and federal level, as well as identify educational and training opportunities for the association to provide to enhance the skills for its members with oversight of enterprise risk management at their institution.


Security Peer Group

This peer group is responsible for developing awareness for physical bank security, and should be a forum for continued strengthening of security functions and compliance. Members will assist the NHBA with identifying educational and training opportunities to help enhance skills and expertise for bank security professionals.

Trust and Wealth Management

This peer group provides a forum for bank trust officers and wealth management professionals to discuss trends and practices specific to their business. They also advise NHBA on the annual trust conference. Meetings include both discussions and informal presentations by guest speakers. This group is also responsible for suggesting changes in laws and regulations affecting trust services and operations, both federal and state, and identifying important trends and issues affecting trust services in NH and communicating these to leadership at NHBA.