Owen outlines priorities as ABA chair

Cathy Owen, the new chair of the American Bankers Association, formally introduced herself at the ABA’s annual convention in Salt Lake City, Utah, Tuesday. Owen is the executive chair of Eagle Bank & Trust Company and the chair, president, and CEO of State Holding Company in Little Rock, Ark..Citing “big challenges as an industry,” including the rise of digital assets, the evolution of payments and the expansion of AI and other technologies that will reshape banking, Owen said: “it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by how rapidly things are changing.” But, she also noted that in her 50 years in the industry, change has been a constant. “I know we’re going to figure out how to embrace these novel capabilities.”To that end, Owen outlined her priorities as chair, including:A tailored regulatory environment – “so that we can grow thoughtfully and modernize” while protecting “our marketplace and customers.” Tools to fight fraud and keep customers safe. Succession planning and talent development – to keep “a pipeline for talent into the banking industry to sustain us for years to come.”Industry advocacy is another priority for Owen, who called bankers “a people of action [who] have a powerful story to tell,” even if it doesn’t come naturally to bankers to tell it. Lauded for her own “quiet power,” Owen likened herself to the USS Hoga, a legendary military tug whose crew rescued sailors and put out fires during the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor. The Hoga “answered the call, did her part and made a difference,” Owen said. She and her husband were instrumental in having the vessel restored and relocated to the riverfront in North Little Rock.Known as a trailblazer in banking, Owen was the first woman to serve as chair of the Arkansas Bankers Association. During her tenure, the association hired Lorrie Trogden as president and CEO, the first woman to serve in that role. Returning to the tugboat analogy, Owen closed her overview of priorities saying: “As I take the helm of this organization, let me simply say – ‘full steam ahead.’”