Many banking and financial services conferences have been canceled in the wake of last weeks tragedies, but at least one, the American Bankers Associations annual convention, will go on as planned.
Michael tar Maat, the ABAs director of information products and programs, said that the convention would begin as scheduled in Palm Springs, Calif., on Sept. 30, and that all the speakers and workshop leaders listed on the program guide were expected to be there. The conference is scheduled to end Oct. 3.
We, and the bankers we talk to, feel that it is more important than ever to go ahead with the convention, he said. Bankers have an interest in demonstrating to the world that the industry is operating effectively, and that the system and bankers are up and running.
Mr. tar Maat said that he and other ABA officials talked to many members who said it would be best to have the conference, because they believed now is a good time to be surrounded by friends and colleagues in the industry.
I think a lot of the bankers will appreciate being together and talking through challenges that really only another banker could appreciate, he said.
However, Mr. tar Maat acknowledged that attendance was likely to be lower than usual, especially with air travel becoming more difficult.
Because of the devastating events last week, the ABA canceled its Community and Economic Development Conferences slate for Sept. 16 in Baltimore, and the investment banking firm Tucker Anthony Sutro Capital Markets canceled its Bank and Thrift Conference, which was supposed to take place Sept. 19-21 in Marthas Vineyard.
Also, the Florida Bankers Association and the New York Community Bankers Association called off their annual conferences, which were supposed to start the day after the attacks in Washington and New York.
