Directors: Charles M. Kahn and George Pennacchi

The Office for Banking Research was established within the College of Business to provide a forum in which bankers, regulators, and academics can discuss and analyze issues and problems facing banks in today's rapidly changing competitive environment. The OBR is intended to fill a niche as a research center that joins the needs and resources of bankers with the interests and expertise of academic researchers in the field of banking. OBR programs are designed to help bankers meet the new challenges in the industry, and, at the same time, afford researchers the opportunity to study real-world banking problems using critical data not generally available.

• Research. Projects focus on topics of current interest to members of the banking community, such as CRA compliance, loan pricing, bank consolidations, strategies for raising capital, and interest rate risk management.
• Consulting. Faculty Associates are available for consulting projects. OBR matches individual faculty expertise with the specific needs of banks.
• Executive Education. OBR sponsors workshops and seminars that provide information about the implications of both economic and regulatory changes and the training necessary to deal with them.

The success of OBR and its programs depends on the involvement and support of the banking community. The OBR Affiliates Program enables banking professionals to become involved both personally and financially in OBR and its activities. OBR Affiliates contribute toward:

• Graduate student fellowships
• Faculty research
• Data and materials
• Conferences, seminars, and workshops
• Publications

For more information about OBR, please contact the Office for Banking Research at the address and telephone number listed below.

Charles M. Kahn and George Pennacchi, Directors
College of Business
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
430 Wohlers Hall
1206 S. Sixth Street
Champaign, Illinois 61820
Phone: 217/333-2813 or 217/244-0952
Fax: 217/244-9867
E-mail: c-kahn@uiuc.edu or gpennacc@uiuc.edu