May 07, 2009

For the next few days, Lincoln will be the hub of the state's bankers.About 600 people are expected to attend the Nebraska Bankers Association's annual convention Thursday and Friday.Today, the association's soon-to-be new chairman, Mike Jacobson, talked about the health Nebraska's banks.Little has changed in the state's lending climate, according to Jacobson, who in addition to his role with the NBA, is president, CEO and chairman of the board of NebraskaLand National Bank in North Platte.

Jacobson said the term "bank" is being used loosely causing confusion for many consumers between the failing sub-prime market and it's investment and mortgage brokers versus commercial bankers."Bankers are the people who live here in Nebraska and serve the community every day. Those bankers weren't a part of the sub-prime mess, those bankers aren't the people the Obama administration is talking about," said Jacobson.Nebraska's mortgage market is also holding steady and even improving with more mortgages this year than last, specifically for two reasons, according to Jacobson.