My wishes for this year:

The General Court will wake up and dump the state's EFT consumer protections.

The Division of Banks will stop doing exams duplicating what the FDIC does. Instead, the state will focus on CRA and safety and soundness issues, while the FDIC takes care of all the other federal rules.

"18/65" rules will be updated to reflect some reality, keeping the free account, but eliminating free checks, free treasurer's checks, free stop payments, and all the rest.

Most of all, Happy Holidays and a Wonderful 2004 to all of my Bay State colleagues!

John:
Amen my friend. Same to you! Those are the ultimate wishes of a Bay State Compliance Officer.

John and Pam....Happy Holidays to you both!!!! Maybe next year will be a little quieter...my bank has new owners so it's hard to tell what the new year will bring!!

My bank is being sold to Banknorth. We'll see for whom I am working next year at this time!

John...good luck with that. The last bank I worked for was sold to Banknorth...Get a good speakerphone and get ready to spend hours and hours on conference calls...two or three a day...hours at a time!!!

Cheers & Happy Holidays to you all! This is my first year in MASS, the wonderful Bay State. Not only is living in Mass like living in another universe...with these 18/65 rules, and the silly EFT gifts to customers…and the “tag sales” but it is challenging and exciting from time to time-- Thanks to all of you who have assisted me in this transitional time to Mass! Here's looking to the new year for some sanity and semblance of normality!