Community banks are locally based and relationship-focused institutions serving the unique needs of their customers. With a time-tested business model of sound lending and conservative risk management, they are a force for stability and prosperity in their communities

With your ICBA Bank Director Program subscription you have access to attorneys from Jackson Lewis and Gerrish Smith Tuck for help with your employment law and corporate governance questions.

It occurs to me that with a little thought there may be some parallels between our national pastime and community banking. Follow along as we see what lessons we might glean from the grand old game. And don’t buy what Yogi Berra asked: “Who can think and play baseball at the same time?”

Money is moving out of low- and no-interest bank accounts in favor of higher-yielding money markets, CDs and other fixed income products available elsewhere. Deposits that swelled in the wake of unprecedented government stimulus are steadily declining.

The financial landscape is evolving rapidly, and with it, the way banks market themselves. Gone are the days of relying solely on traditional tactics like print ads, branch marketing, and annual surveys. Today, success hinges on embracing a data-driven and education-focused approach.

Check fraud isn’t new, but it has re-emerged as an appealing way for fraudsters to target community banks and their customers. That’s why ICBA has brought check fraud to the forefront of its conversation with its members, to discuss the ways they can band together to solve this issue.

On June 26, we launched five new Community Reinvestment Act courses. These new courses cover the new Community Reinvestment Act Modernization Final Rules published in October 2024 that have an effective date of January 1, 2026.

In the April edition of the Online Course Newsletter, we mentioned that a report is available to see how many attempts learners took to pass a course. Recognizing this can be overwhelming we have written easy-to-follow instructions on how to use Excel formulas to narrow down the spreadsheet and find specific information.

In today’s environment, the proverb, “Hope for the best, prepare for the worst,” serves as a standard mantra for community banks. The regulatory landscape hurls new challenges, and community banks pivot, adjust, and act to ensure that, no matter the outcome, the best interests of their communities and customers remain the top priority.

Former ICBA chairman Brad Bolton and Lindsay LaNore, ICBA’s senior executive vice president, chief learning and experience officer, join Charles Potts to talk about their experiences at ICBA LIVE and some advice for new and returning attendees.