It’s hard to believe we’re already halfway through the year. Even harder to believe I’ll be helping my oldest move into his college dorm in August! Just as our family gets ready to help him transition into this new phase of his life and education, the Association is getting ready to create a new way to develop the next generation of Indiana’s banking workforce with our Financial Services Academy. Learn more about FSA President & CEO Chris Fisher and Curriculum & Pathway Manager Sara Holmes, along with other new IBA hires in this issue. If you would like to host apprentices in the inaugural class starting next fall for the 2026-27 school year, be sure to reach out to Chris or Sara by the end of this year. They are also happy to walk you and your bank’s leadership through any questions you have about the program.

We had another enviably successful legislative session this year amid some end-of-session turmoil triggered by a lower-than-expected budget forecast. Dax Denton and Ross Teare offer a summary of the legislative session in this issue. There is still time to get involved in grassroots advocacy opportunities this year. Keep an eye out for details on this year’s regional meetings, slated for this November. And registration is already open through the IBA website for our annual IBA Washington Trip on Oct. 5-7.

Last year’s trip included 51 bankers representing 32 IBA-member banks. With a new presidential administration, plus a new Indiana representative on the House Financial Services Committee and a new Indiana senator on the Senate Banking Committee, we would love to see that increase to at least 55 bankers representing 35 banks, so be sure to tell your colleagues at other banks to consider joining us if they haven’t before. The more institutions represented, the stronger our voice when we have our meetings with lawmakers and regulators.

We’ll induct our seventh class of Leaders in Banking Excellence this year. We’re changing things a bit and will host the induction ceremony at Annual Convention in French Lick on Sept. 7-9. We encourage you to come to Convention and celebrate this year’s class.