AICPA and CIMA Banking and Credit Union Conferences, Day 3

The 50th annual American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) Conference on Banks and Savings Institutions and the AICPA and CIMA Conference on Credit Unions are underway, co-located in National Harbor, Maryland. As in prior years, these conferences highlight the current accounting and financial reporting landscape for financial institutions. Panelists from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB), the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB), and prudential regulators provide thoughts on current policy matters, and industry experts deliver keynote presentations on a wide range of topics, from current economic analyses to the growing adoption of AI at organizations. This special edition of Take Into Account highlights quick takeaways from day three’s sessions.

• Jamelle Lindo, CEO of Paradigm People Development, noted the importance of emotional intelligence within the ever-changing financial services industry. Lindo discussed the EQ-i 2.0 framework for measuring emotional intelligence (EQ), highlighting components of an individual’s EQ that can be developed into skills through awareness and practice.
• Jeffrey J. Geer, associate chief accountant of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and former chief accountant of the Office of Thrift Supervision, moderated a panel focused on issues affecting community banks, such as emerging credit risk trends, fintech partnerships, and FASB standard-setting updates. Based on feedback from the audience, bankers remain cautious about exploring fintech and similar partnerships, with roughly one in five indicating that they are currently exploring opportunities. The session marked his 22nd and final conference appearance in an official capacity and ended with his perspective on the state of the banking industry.
• Panelists from large financial institutions shared their candid views on the FASB’s agenda, reporting, and technology adoption. They presented diverse views on the subsequent accounting for goodwill, with some advocating for amortization and others opposing it. They also discussed the usefulness of cash flow statements, with some suggesting liquidity disclosures might be a better alternative. Interim reporting also drew debate – investors want timely updates, but panelists disagreed on the best format.
• A panel of credit union CFOs discussed resource allocation, regulatory thresholds, growth, and risk management. Panelists emphasized the need for disciplined project management and cross-functional teams, the operational and compliance challenges of surpassing key asset milestones, and strategies for balancing organic expansion with mergers and acquisitions. They also highlighted the importance of diversifying revenue streams beyond interest income, adopting technology and artificial intelligence tools to improve efficiency, and maintaining liquidity and capital flexibility in uncertain economic conditions. The panel discussed credit quality trends, citing proactive member support as a key factor in managing delinquencies.

As in prior years, Crowe will publish more fulsome takeaways from each conference in the coming weeks. Please visit Crowe financial services for current industry insights.  

Portions of AICPA materials reprinted with permission. Copyright 2025 by AICPA.
FASB materials reprinted with permission. Copyright 2025 by Financial Accounting Foundation, Norwalk, Connecticut. Copyright 1974-1980 by American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.