Newsroom Graphic

ICBA Newsroom

The ICBA Newsroom collects and centralizes all the NewsWatch Today articles, press releases, Main Street Matters blogs, advocacy letters and other news that impacts community bankers.

Jul. 10, 2025

ICBA Letter to OCC on Chartering General Principles

Following recent charter applications from entities in the digital asset space to establish full-service national banks or limited-purpose national banks, such as trust banks, ICBA told the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency that these kinds of applications pose unique challenges to bank-chartering policy as well as the safety and soundness of the financial system.

Given these heightened risks, ICBA urged the OCC to keep in mind the following key principles:

  • Nonbank digital asset entrants to banking pose unique risks to the financial systems with regard to illicit activities, financial stability, and resolution issues.
  • The OCC must ensure sufficient supervisory and regulatory safeguards are in place for all national banks and maintain longstanding legal limits on permissible activities for national trust banks.
  • Applications should be thoroughly reviewed with adequate information and time made available for the public to meaningfully comment, and applications must be denied if statutory requirements cannot be satisfied.
  • Customers must be safeguarded from potential conflicts of interest that are likely to arise when digital asset market participants operate banks.
  • Companies engaged in commercial activities should not be allowed to own full-service or limited purpose banks in violation of the longstanding U.S. policy of maintaining the separation of banking and commerce.

Read More

Jul. 10, 2025

Letter to OCC Regarding Charter Applications from Nonbank Digital Asset Entities

In a letter to the OCC, ICBA noted the recent charter applications from entities in the digital asset space, with applicants seeking to establish full-service national banks or limited purpose national banks. ICBA said applications of this sort pose unique challenges to not only bank chartering policy but also possibly to the safety and soundness of the financial system.

Read More

Jul. 10, 2025

ICBA Payments Appoints Two New Members to Board of Directors
ICBA Payments, the payments-services subsidiary of the Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA), today announced the election to its board of directors Corey Neil, president and CEO of The Bank of Tampa, and Josh Hogue, president and CEO of Reliabank in Watertown, S.D.

Read More

Jul. 10, 2025

ICBA Congratulates Jonathan Gould on Comptroller of the Currency Confirmation
Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) President and CEO Rebeca Romero Rainey issued the following statement on the Senate confirmation of President Donald Trump’s nomination of Jonathan Gould to serve as comptroller of the currency.

Read More

Jul. 10, 2025

Senate confirms Bill Briggs as SBA deputy administrator
The Senate voted to confirm William Briggs as deputy administrator of the Small Business Administration.

Read More

Jul. 10, 2025

USDA announces expedited disaster assistance for farmers
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced that farmers who suffered eligible crop losses due to natural disasters in 2023 and 2024 can apply for $16 billion in assistance through the Supplemental Disaster Relief Program.

Read More

Find and Filter

Current Independent Banker Cover

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.

Continue to Independent Banker

Gift Icon

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

NewsWatch Icon

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 NewsWatch Today

Subscribe List Icon

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

Email Icon

Manage Your Email Notifications and Subscriptions

Sign up to receive or manage your email messages from ICBA. Questions? Contact ICBA.

Subscribe Now

Talk with a Community Bank Expert


The Independent Community Bankers of America has several experts on staff who can discuss vital issues pertaining to our nation's community banks and the communities they serve. For more information about community banks, and to speak with one of ICBA’s staff experts, please contact:

Nicole Swann

Vice President, Communications

ICBA

202-821-4458

Email X

New code