On Tuesday, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) shared its recommendation to reschedule cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). More

Just like Dorothy’s adventures as she followed the yellow brick road to seek help from the great and powerful Oz, bankers serving the cannabis industry are confronted by a myriad of challenges as market conditions change and new obstacles appear before them. More

Cannabis banking offers financial benefits such as new low-cost deposit growth, non-interest income, and the potential for earning assets. While the federal government's lack of progress in passing cannabis reform legislation has become predictable, rapid change at the state level means bankers must adapt to meet demand and capture new opportunities. More

As we reflect on the bank failures this past week, we understand from our conversations with bankers and cannabis operators there has been some concern and uncertainty. Fortunately, few, if any of our financial institution customers have balance sheets or a concentration of uninsured depositors that looks anything like that of Silicon Valley Bank. More

As we prepare to gather around the Thanksgiving table with friends and family, we are reminded of the importance of community. Mission-driven financial institutions are keenly aware of their role in the community and the importance of building strong local connections. More

It is essential for business bankers to provide holistic financial solutions to their clientele. Simply providing basic depository services to cannabis-related businesses (CRBs) is somewhat a niche now, but banks and credit unions can future-proof their relationships and scale their programs by providing additional services. More

A chief concern we hear from banks and credit unions is that cannabis banking is much more intrusive than what a typical business banking relationship requires. They’re also uncertain about how they can manage compliance without sacrificing customer service. More

As more states implement legal cannabis programs and the federal government continues to introduce legislation related to cannabis banking and legalization, a growing number of financial institutions are taking steps to better understand this line of business. More

Over the past year, state legislators enacted over 50 laws liberalizing marijuana policies in more than 25 states. This includes the passage of new laws in Connecticut, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, and Virginia legalizing adult-use cannabis possession and regulating retail cannabis markets. More

Bankers across the country who are considering launching cannabis banking programs want to know if they will still need to implement and maintain specialized compliance programs if the federal government legalizes marijuana, or at a minimum, recognizes state legalization programs. More

There’s a lot of ground to cover in a cannabis banking regulatory exam, so teaming up with an audit specialist can help financial institutions be prepared and avoid “blind spots.” More

While most bankers initially entered the cannabis market to generate new sources of low-cost deposits and non-interest fee income, many have since discovered that the compliance and due diligence processes implemented on the deposit side can be leveraged to mitigate credit risk. More