Blog

Acquisition Strategy – Buying a Bank

By Terry Stroud | Apr 2025 | Comments Off on Acquisition Strategy – Buying a Bank

Over the years, I have been asked to advise numerous domestic and international clients regarding acquiring a commercial bank or other type of financial institution. Generally, the discussions involve one of the following scenarios: Purchase of an existing healthy bank from the current owners; Purchase of a failed institution from FDIC or the Government Agency…

My Ukraine Story – Part 5

By Terry Stroud | Apr 2025 | Comments Off on My Ukraine Story – Part 5

What is the End Game? Over the past several weeks, I have gone back and forth on whether to write another article on the war in Ukraine. It seems that the world has moved on from the atrocities being committed in this war. The focus in America seems to be more on what is going…

International Economic Aid Programs

By Terry Stroud | Mar 2025 | Comments Off on International Economic Aid Programs

To say that International Development Programs have come under intense scrutiny over the past few weeks would be quite an understatement. As someone who has worked on these programs, I can certainly understand the skepticism and questions concerning the value of many programs. Before reviewing my involvement in these programs, let’s examine the different economic…

My Ukraine Story – Part 4

By Terry Stroud | Mar 2025 | Comments Off on My Ukraine Story – Part 4

Peace and Security – At What Price? Let me say this right up front: The civilized world needs a Russian defeat. A year ago, it seemed that Putin would lead a weakened and battered country. The United States (US) and Europe (EU) had a window of opportunity to send the Russians home with their tail…

My Ukraine Story – Part 2

By Terry Stroud | Mar 2025 | Comments Off on My Ukraine Story – Part 2

This message is a continuation of my journey and story about the current happenings in Ukraine. Part I was a story and reflection involving my travels and personal observations of the journey. As I previously noted, there is still a lot of misinformation and propaganda regarding the Russian invasion of Ukraine. There are many stories…

I object! The witness made a legal conclusion!

By Terry Stroud | Mar 2025 | Comments Off on I object! The witness made a legal conclusion!

Interpretations of the law, conclusions of law, expert opinions on the application of law to facts or use of a term that has both an everyday meaning as well as a legal one:  What is an expert witness allowed to say when matters of law and matters of fact are intermingled? The boundaries on what…

Understanding the Basics of Financial Fraud Investigations

By Terry Stroud | Mar 2025 | Comments Off on Understanding the Basics of Financial Fraud Investigations

Financial institution fraud is a growing threat in today’s complex financial landscape. As transactions become more sophisticated, so do fraudsters’ methods. There is no single reason behind the occurrence of fraud. During my forty-year career, I have often found that fraud is committed due to weaknesses in a company’s operations. I have also seen that…

Financial Literacy – Can This Help Save America from Bankruptcy

By Terry Stroud | Mar 2025 | Comments Off on Financial Literacy – Can This Help Save America from Bankruptcy

Last week, I was reading an article on Yahoo Finance and was shocked to learn this statistic. According to the Milken Institute, less than 40% of Americans are financially literate; however, a much higher percentage think they are. While this may seem to be an individual problem, the truth is that it causes significant issues…

How Does A Bank Fraud Investigation Work

By Terry Stroud | Feb 2025 | Comments Off on How Does A Bank Fraud Investigation Work

Fraud in banks is a big problem that affects customers, businesses, and the economy. From identity theft to fake transactions, fraud can cause huge money losses and damage trust. Banks must quickly find and stop fraud to protect people’s money. The Opportunity Group is an expert in fraud investigations and legal support. We help banks…

What is Fraud Investigation in Banking?

By Terry Stroud | Feb 2025 | Comments Off on What is Fraud Investigation in Banking?

Fraud is a big problem in the banking industry, costing banks billions of dollars each year. Criminals use tricks like identity theft, cyber fraud, and money laundering to steal money. As these crimes get more advanced, banks need better ways to catch and stop fraud. That’s where bank forensic investigators come in. Opportunity Group helps…

Separating the Roles for the Chairman of the Board and the Chief Executive Officer

Chief Executive Officer Prepared by Terry L. Stroud - April 2016   The relationship between a company's board of directors ...
Read More

Directors Responsibilities – Ten Commandments

    Prepared by Terry L. Stroud - June 2014   Over the past 35 years, I have had the ...
Read More

A Part Time Job with Full Time Responsibility

  Prepared by Terry L. Stroud – February 2020               A Part Time Job with Full Time Responsibility – Board of ...
Read More

Effective Corporate Governance – The First Step in Risk Mitigation

Corporate governance identifies the authorities and responsibilities of the board and senior management in their respective roles to govern the ...
Read More

Categories

Subscribe!