ICBA Newsroom
The ICBA Newsroom collects and centralizes all the NewsWatch Today articles, press releases, blog posts, advocacy letters and other news that impacts community bankers.
USDA budget would fund $5.6B guaranteed farm loans, $2B for B&I guarantees
The USDA’s portion of the Biden administration’s proposed fiscal 2024 budget would provide $5.6 billion in guaranteed farm operating and ownership loans, the same amount USDA recommended for the 2023 budget cycle.
March 10, 2023 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
House members raise concerns with CFPB’s 1071 rule
Several members of Congress expressed concerns with the community bank impact of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s pending rule implementing Section 1071 small-business reporting requirements.
March 10, 2023 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Compliance
ICBA Calls for Research on Digital Asset Impact on Community Banks
The Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) called on the federal government to support and prioritize research on the specific effects of digital assets on community banks and their customers.
March 08, 2023 |
Press Release
Digital Assets
Fintech Application Period Kicks Off for ICBA ThinkTECH Accelerator
The Independent Community Bankers of America officially kicked off its application period for initial 2023 ICBA ThinkTECH Accelerator program, with a focus on deposit gathering and retention, and real-time/instant payment solutions.
March 08, 2023 |
Press Release
ICBA Selects the Plateau Group as a Preferred Service Provider for Payment Protection Insurance
The Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) today announced the continuation of its long-standing affiliation with the Plateau Group, first established through its partnership with ICBA Reinsurance, as ICBA’s newest Preferred Service Provider.
March 07, 2023 |
Press Release
ICBA Bancard Names Executive Vice President of Client Engagement and Business Development
ICBA Bancard, the payments services subsidiary of the Independent Community Bankers of America, today announced Alicia Marrone as executive vice president of client engagement and business development.
March 06, 2023 |
Press Release
Why community banks should urge updates to TRID mortgage disclosures: blog
ICBA encourages community bankers to submit comments urging the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to test and ultimately adopt an ICBA proposal to update mortgage disclosures, ICBA’s Ron Haynie writes in a new blog post.
March 06, 2023 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Mortgage Rules
ICBA backs bill to strengthen CFPB cost-benefit analysis
ICBA expressed support for newly reintroduced House legislation that would require a thorough cost-benefit analysis for proposed Consumer Financial Protection Bureau rules.
March 06, 2023 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Compliance
ICBA calls for research on community bank impact of digital assets
ICBA called on the federal government to support and prioritize research on the specific effects of digital assets on community banks and their customers.
March 06, 2023 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Digital Assets Technology Fintech Regulation
ICBA accepting service award nominations
ICBA is accepting nominations for its National Community Bank Service Award program recognizing community banks that provide outstanding volunteer services to local communities.
March 06, 2023 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
ICBA Statement on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac 2022 Earnings Release
Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) President and CEO Rebeca Romero Rainey issued the following statement on the 2022 earnings releases from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
March 03, 2023 |
Press Release
Secondary Mortgage Market Secondary Mortgage Market Housing Finance/GSEs
ICBA urging comments supporting updated TRID disclosures
ICBA is encouraging community bankers to call on the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to adopt an ICBA proposal to improve mortgage disclosures required under TILA-RESPA Integrated Disclosure rules.
March 03, 2023 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Compliance
Treasury lays out objectives of CBDC working group
A Treasury-led interagency working group charged with advancing work on a possible U.S. central bank digital currency has narrowed its objectives into three key policy areas, Treasury's Nellie Liang said.
March 02, 2023 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Payments
Unity Bank’s fields of gold
Unity Bank volunteers help people facing food insecurity in their community.
March 01, 2023 |
Independent Banker
Brad Bolton: Keep advocating
I am grateful to have had the opportunity to serve as chairman. I will continue to advocate for community banking, and for the rest of my career, stand side by side with you to fight our future battles.
March 01, 2023 |
Independent Banker
ICBA's Marketing Communications Toolkit
Using ICBA’s Marketing Communications Toolkit, your community bank can tell its story with intention and precision.
March 01, 2023 |
Independent Banker
Growing the Community
Jim Reber: Collateral advantage
A variety of MBS pools can spread your risk.
March 01, 2023 |
Independent Banker
Lending
Out of Office: Natalie Bartholomew
The Northwest Arkansas community president of $2.4 billion-asset First Community Bank in Batesville, Ark., is part of the fifth generation to live on her family farm. She recently bought a new greenhouse and runs an Instagram account that highlights her farm and home.
March 01, 2023 |
Independent Banker
Listen Up: Partners in fraud prevention
Interested in learning about the many ways you can protect your financial institution from fraud? Episode 4 of the Independent Banker podcast features Pioneer Trust Bank’s Betsy Steinberg and ICBA Bancard’s Rebecca Kruse to inform listeners of the types of fraud cases to protect your customers and services from.
March 01, 2023 |
Independent Banker
Compliance Payments
Valley Bank helps lead women home
Valley Bank is working side by side with Walter Hoving Home, a place of refuge for women struggling with addiction and other personal challenges, to offer residents financial empowerment.
March 01, 2023 |
Independent Banker
BankOnBuffalo redefines mobile banking
BankOnBuffalo has hit the road with its new mobile bank, BankOnWheels, to meet the needs of underserved communities.
March 01, 2023 |
Independent Banker
Lindsay LaNore: 7 ideas for cultivating inspiration
The theme for ICBA LIVE 2023 is “Light the Fire. Light the Way.” As leaders, that’s a huge part of what we do: spark enthusiasm, encourage creativity and guide our teams on the paths to success.
March 01, 2023 |
Independent Banker
Charles Potts: How to use data to drive bank growth
Working hand in hand with digital transformation, data provides a powerful tool for community banks. Its accessibility, readability and applicability in today’s digital-first environment has enhanced community banks’ ability to serve their customers, creating a heightened experience.
March 01, 2023 |
Independent Banker
Growing the Community
Phishing solutions for community banks
Phishing has been around almost as long as email itself, which means hackers have had plenty of time to perfect their practices. It’s more likely than not that community bank staff will fall for a scam, but how can the bank best respond?
March 01, 2023 |
Independent Banker
Compliance Payments
Aaron Stetter: Setting a course for the new Congress
ICBA is getting the community banking message out, from sending a letter detailing ICBA’s policy priorities to every member of the new Congress to reinforcing that messaging with advertisements in Politico, Capitol Hill’s must-read publication.
March 01, 2023 |
Independent Banker
Advocacy
Updates to the beneficial ownership rules
Starting in 2024, banks will be required to collect beneficial ownership information on accounts they maintain. Here’s what’s changing and what it means for community banks.
March 01, 2023 |
Independent Banker
Compliance
The benefits of offering virtual advisor services
Spurred by social distancing and shutdowns during the pandemic, many community banks turned to virtual financial advisory services, and these new practices are expected to stick around.
March 01, 2023 |
Independent Banker
Payments
Community banks’ guide to FedNow resources
The time has come for the long-awaited FedNow launch. As community banks navigate this process, there are plenty of resources available to answer questions and provide guidance.
March 01, 2023 |
Independent Banker
Excel Disasters: 5 spreadsheet mistakes that cost billions
SPONSORED | Learn how your team can fight the hidden danger lurking between the columns: human error.
March 01, 2023 |
Independent Banker
Market your community bank with first-party data
Customer data fuels efficient and effective marketing these days. Community banks own an enviable amount of data, but not all are leveraging it to its fullest extent.
March 01, 2023 |
Independent Banker
Growing the Community
ICBA's Terry Jorde has eyes to the horizon
Terry Jorde didn’t originally plan on entering the community banking industry. But with a fortuitous move to North Dakota, she worked up from teller and bookkeeper to an industry leader. As Jorde, ICBA chief of staff, prepares to retire, she and her colleagues reflect on her journey.
March 01, 2023 |
Independent Banker
Crafting a marketing plan when a community bank merges
There are so many factors that community bank marketing teams need to consider following a merger or acquisition. How can they ease customers’ anxiety? How does employee satisfaction affect customer retention? We spoke to experts and community bankers on how to market during a merger.
March 01, 2023 |
Independent Banker
Growing the Community
New ICBA chairman Derek Williams’ commitment to community
Derek Williams, president and CEO of Century Bank & Trust in Georgia, is bringing his passion for community banking to his term as ICBA chairman for 2023/24.
March 01, 2023 |
Independent Banker
Getting Started with Faster Payments and FedNow
Your customers are demanding faster payments and the ability to provide it to them creates a big win for your bank. PCBB's insights paper, Getting Started with Faster Payments and FedNowSM, helps you prepare for faster payments and explores FedNow as an option.
March 01, 2023 |
Independent Banker
Payments
New Guide Helps Banks Make Informed Cannabis Lending Decisions
SPONSORED | Cannabis-related businesses are actively seeking bank lending, while bankers are increasingly viewing these customers as a source of new earning assets. By understanding the risks of lending to this industry, bankers can make informed decisions and gain financial rewards.
March 01, 2023 |
Independent Banker
Cannabis banking Lending
Rebeca Romero Rainey: Authentic connection
Community banks stand out in today’s financial services space because our business model depends on an ecosystem where the bank only benefits when customers do.
February 25, 2023 |
Independent Banker
Special-purpose nonbank Custodia continues push for Fed master account
Custodia Bank is reportedly continuing its effort to procure a master account with the Federal Reserve after the special-purpose depository institution was denied last month.
February 21, 2023 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Federal Reserve
Report on cross-border settlements could influence CBDC debate
The Bank for International Settlements issued a report to help central banks extend operating hours for real-time gross settlement systems to reduce delays in cross-border payments settlement.
February 21, 2023 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Digital Assets
OCC updates change-in-control booklet
The OCC issued a revised version of the “Change In Bank Control” booklet of the Comptroller’s Licensing Manual.
February 21, 2023 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Compliance
Independent Banker Podcast: Fighting the Good Fight — with Anne Balcer
Independent Banker
Independent Banker is the award-winning monthly member publication of ICBA. Continually rated the best news source by community bankers, IB provides timely, relevant information and insights to help community banks continue to flourish.
Marketing Resource Center
Visit this page regularly for new customizable press releases, opeds, tutorials, sharable videos, tip sheets, and sample social media posts which are available exclusively for ICBA members.
Access the toolkit
Example Text
ICBA NewsWatch Today
ICBA offers numerous specialty newsletters related to the community banking industry. Sign up for ICBA's daily email news bulletin for current and breaking industry news
Read Articles
Example Text
Subscribe to Independent Banker Magazine
Independent Banker® is the monthly publication of the Independent Community Bankers of America, recognized as the number one source ICBA members rely on for community banking news.
Subscribe Now
Example Text
Manage Your Email Notifications and Subscriptions
Sign up to receive or manage your email messages from ICBA. Questions? Contact ICBA.
Subscribe Now
Example Text