Own the Future
The ICBA LEAD FWD Summit is the only national leadership conference for the community banking industry and delivers powerful learning for leaders at every level.
By focusing on the principles of leadership, the latest technical banking innovations, and the role of advocacy, we prepare community bankers like you to own the future.
Leadership
Gain the tools, training, and peer network to achieve your goals.
LEAD FWD teaches you how to embrace a leadership mindset and lean into your power skills through team building, problem solving, and critical thinking exercises.
Technical Banking
Learn about game-changing trends and technologies that are reshaping the financial services landscape.
LEAD FWD goes to the forefront of the fintech revolution and explores industry transformations from enterprise risk management to banking in the metaverse.
Advocacy
Strengthen the community bank industry and the vitality of Main Street America.
LEAD FWD explains the critical issues our industry faces, shows you how to amplify your voice in Washington, and bring positive change in your local community.
Who Attends
Ambitious community bank professionals from all areas of the bank — operations, credit, retail, wealth management, information technology, marketing, administration, finance, and more — who are ready to lead forward in their careers and own the future.
Make the Case
Need help persuading your supervisor to send you to the LEAD FWD Summit? We’ve got you covered! Use our customizable professional development request letter and budget planner to help make your case.
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Budget planner (xlsx)
Message to C-Suite
Give your high performers a LEADership experience like no other.
For 10 years, community bank executives from across the U.S. have sent their rising stars to the ICBA LEAD FWD Summit to learn, grow, share ideas, network, and reenergize.
This event blends the tactical, the practical, and the strategic with cutting-edge content and expert insights. Attendees learn what it takes to become agile thinkers, so they can make tough calls and transform into the strong innovators and problem solvers that your bank needs.
What they'll learn about
Cryptocurrency
Cultivating Culture
Customer Engagement
Cybersecurity & Data
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion
Employee Engagement
Enterprise Risk Management (ERM)
Environment, Social, Governance (ESG)
Grassroots Advocacy
Instant Payments
Personal Growth & Leadership
The Future of Banking