2021 CSBS Community Bank Case Study Competition Journal

Letter from John W. Ryan President & CEO Conference of State Bank Supervisors

One of my favorite responsibilities as President and CEO of the Conference of State Bank Supervisors is showcasing the excellent research produced by participants in our yearly Community Bank Case Study Competition. Now in its seventh year, the case study competition provides students an opportunity to produce original research while making connections with bankers, academics and federal and state regulators. These case studies in turn provide policymakers with invaluable insight into operating conditions in communities across the country, informing future regulatory responses to the obstacles and opportunities facing the community banking industry. The Journal of Community Bank Case Studies, Volume VI features the work of our top three student teams in the 2021 competition, representing the University of Tennessee at Martin, the University of Arkansas and Southeastern Louisiana University. Our winning case study students are a diverse group – they not only reflect the racial, ethnic and gender diversity of the future banking workforce, but also study a diverse range of majors in addition to finance and banking. Despite the challenges of studying and collaborating remotely, 35 student teams representing 29 colleges and universities entered this year’s competition. Each team examined how a partner community bank responded to two major forces that impacted the nation over the past year: the Covid-19 pandemic and renewed calls for financial institutions to promote diversity and inclusion. Each and every year I am impressed with the depth of insight our participating teams produce in their case studies, and this year is no exception. I hope you will get as much enjoyment out of reading the Journal of Community Bank Case Studies as I did.

Sincerely,

John W. Ryan President and CEO Conference of State Bank Supervisors

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