General Counsel Strategies for Community Banks

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Having general counsel is critical for community banks, but what’s the right balance between in-house and external counsel? Community bankers and legal experts weigh in on how to create the right strategy for your bank.

General counsel is a must-have for any business, and community banks are no exception. But some community banks downplay the need, which can be a tactical and costly mistake.”

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“…relying on a single in-house attorney could put the lawyer and the bank in a precarious position, says Asnardo Garro, a partner in the corporate and financial services practice at Avila Rodriguez Hernandez Mena & Garro LLP, a Coral Gables, Fla., law firm that works with financial institutions. 

“They’ll get swamped,” he says. “At most community banks, there’s so much legal need that it’s too much for one person to handle.” Garro also adds that if a bank has only one attorney in-house, it’s important to provide them with internal and external resources for support.”

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