Administered by BOYDEN, COOLURIS, LIVINGSTON & SAXE, PC, the Bank Legal Services Group has been providing Northern and Central California financial institutions with a wide array of legal services and compliance advice on a group and, therefore, cost effective basis since 1978. Through three BLSG subgroups, the Commercial Lenders Advisory Group, the Retail Lenders Advisory Group and the Bank Operations Advisory Group, members of the BLSG receive instructional manuals covering legal, regulatory and compliance matters relevant to bank operations and to the commercial lending and retail lending divisions of community and regional banks. On an ongoing basis, members also receive advisory letters on hot issues, such as new legislation or regulations, which might impact them, as well as regular training seminars dealing with a variety of compliance and legal issues.

There usually is no limit on the number of personnel that a member may send to a seminar with no extra fees (except for the cost of lunch, which is usually optional), and many banks send their compliance personnel, line personnel and auditors. Who a bank might send to a particular seminar or meeting may depend upon the topic and whether the session is structured as a training meeting or a workshop geared for supervisory personnel.

Exclusive online links enable members to download BLSG advisory letters, manuals and other materials, and the BLSG homepage also contains links to other important sites relevant to community banks.

Members are entitled to up to three brief telephone consultations per month, to receive assistance with regard to routine compliance and other matters. BLSG meetings are generally held in Vallejo, in Sacramento and occasionally in Stockton.