Rita Lowman Joins Exec Team

Rita Lowman Named to

FOTB Executive Committee

Rita Lowman, a 45-year banker who has blazed trails for the industry throughout her career, has been elected to the Executive Committee of Friends of Traditional Banking. She had previously represented Florida on FOTB's Nationwide Banker Board.

Her career highlights include serving as President of Pilot Bank, Chief Operating Officer of C1 Bank and managing 23 acquisitions including the NationsBank/Barnett acquisition in 1997 where she was awarded the Crystal Grenade. Rita currently serves on the Board of Directors of Caldwell Trust Company and Encore Bank.

Elected Chair of the 2017/2018 Florida Bankers Association, Rita was the third woman in 130 years to serve in this position. She serves on several other boards including 2020/21 Chair of the ReliaQuest Bowl, Past Chair of the Board of Directors of the Florida School of Banking at UF and Southeastern US

Cabinet of American Cancer Society.

She has had numerous published articles on banking and been a featured speaker for the US Embassy in Mozambique, Caribbean Association of Bankers and more. Rita’s book From the Farm to the Boardroom: Leadership Lessons was named the #1 Business Book of 2017 by Richter Publishing.

Rita was named Business Woman of the Year by Tampa Bay Business Journal, a Power 100, Guy King Mental Health Champion, Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce Woman of Influence and most recently Florida Trend named her a 2023 Florida Legend. Her top priority is her family and her faith. Rita and her husband Gary Sr also enjoy HooperWill Farm named after their sons where the family grows Black Angus cattle.

New Iowa Bankers Exec Joins FOTB Advisory Council

Adam Gregg, the new President and CEO of the Iowa Bankers Association, has accepted an appointment to the Friends of Traditional Banking Advisory Council. Prior to joining the Iowa Bankers Association, he served as the Lieutenant Governor of Iowa from May of 2017 through September of 2024.

Adam previously served as the Iowa State Public Defender, served in the Governor’s Office as the legislative liaison and policy advisor, and practiced at the BrownWinick law firm. He was the Republican nominee for Attorney General in 2014. He is a graduate of Drake Law School and Central College in Pella. He is married to his wife Cari, and they have two children.

FOTB Vice Chair Hayes Appointed to Fed Advisory Council

The Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia has appointed three new members to its Community Depository Institutions Advisory Council, including Greg Hayes, FOTB Vice Chair and CEO of Kish Bank.

The 12-member advisory council is composed of representatives from commercial banks, thrift institutions, and credit unions. The group meets twice a year with officials from the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia to share insights about economic and business trends facing community depository institutions. After each local meeting, a representative from the council joins counterparts from other Federal Reserve Banks at a meeting hosted by the Federal Reserve Board of Governors in Washington, D.C. Read more HERE.

FOTB Director Varela Instructs on How Banks Can Navigate Change

Virginia Varela, Friends of Traditional Banking Executive Committee Member and Head of Community Banking for SoFi Bank, was feature on the latest episode of the ABA Banking Journal Podcast alongside veteran bank board members and executives Jenn Docherty.

They addressed the topic of how bank boards can position their banks for success in a challenging environment. For example, they discuss the importance of sourcing diverse expertise and how board members can start and lead difficult conversations about where their banks need to go. Hear the full podcast HERE.

BANKER NEWS BITS:

Earlier this month, the US Senate Banking Committee passed the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for US Stablecoins Act of 2025 or “GENIUS Act,” out of committee by a vote of 18-6. Mayer Brown answers key questions about this legislation HERE.

Banks are narcing on you because Congress forces them to, explains the Cato Institute. The Bank Secrecy Act regime forces banks to report customers to the government for an ever-growing list of “red flags.”

Head of Fed-watchdog task force in Congress plans broad US central bank review, reports Reuters in an interview with Rep. Frank Lucas (R-OK), chair of of the Monetary Policy, Treasury Market Resilience, and Economic Prosperity Task Force.

Senate Banking Chair proposes bill to remove reputational risk in bank assessments, reports Banking Exchange. Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) argued that regulators have misused this concept to target businesses due to political bias.

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