Main Street Matters Blog

As a well-known speaker and educator in the community banking industry, Barret Graduate School of Banking President and Director Chris Kelley knows all too well the importance of continuous learning. As we prepare for an energetic LEAD FWD Summit, filled with education and workshops that will challenge our industry’s next generation of leaders, I talked with Chris about the necessity of growing and thinking outside of the traditional boundaries of community banking.

The push for regulatory relief continues. We have a host of issues ahead of us, and community banker participation is essential in bringing them to the forefront of Congress members’ and regulators’ attention.

Investing in education and leadership training is vital to preparing the next generation of community bankers and key to any community bank’s succession planning strategy. I recently spoke with Bank of Missouri Community Bank President Aaron M. Panton to find out why he thinks ICBA’s LEAD FWD Summit is a must-attend annual event.

ICBA recently advanced the debate on modernizing the Bank Secrecy Act in a new white paper.

The nation’s tax-exempt credit unions have big plans for their multi-billion-dollar tax subsidy—a nationwide marketing campaign funded by the rest of us.

Reimagining traditional leadership concepts and pushing the community banking industry forward is imperative to carrying on the incredible legacy of the community banking industry.

We are in an era of innovative collaborations—where the marriage between technology and service holds the promise of helping community banks deliver more personalized customer experiences faster than ever before.

Aaron Stetter: ICBA recently supported legislation that would protect the traditional banking system when banking cannabis-related businesses in states where cannabis is legal for medical or recreational use.

Rebeca Romero Rainey: We need a regulatory environment that supports and encourages community banks like Abacus Federal Savings Bank and we need community bankers like the Sung family to stand up for what they believe in and fight for what’s right.

Kevin Tweddle: Regardless of your size, ICBA has resources to help your community bank develop a strategy for incorporating fintech into your business plan.