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Main Street Matters Blog

Find out what's happening in communities across America, from grassroots advocacy efforts, to fintech innovations and everyday successes of Main Street banks.

Main Street Matters

Innovating on Customer Behaviors: The Case for Credit and Debit Rewards Programs

Aug 9, 2022
While the effects of COVID slowed consumer credit card spending, the first half of 2022 has pointed to a return to pre-pandemic behaviors. In fact, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York reported that in the first quarter of 2022 credit card balances have risen $71 billion higher than the same period in 2021.

Community Bankers Prepare for Cyber Risks with CISA/ICBA Tabletop Exercises

Jul 22, 2022
It comes as no surprise that cybersecurity tops community bankers’ list of risk concerns. In fact, cybersecurity ranks higher than government regulation, the cost and availability of labor, and inflation, as a chief threat for 2022, according to a Conference of State Bank Supervisors survey.

The Rise of the Super App… and What Community Banks Can Do About It

Jul 15, 2022
Everyone, including big tech and social media players, want a super app. That’s according to a 2022 Accenture Banking report, which underscores that the threat is real.

BNPL and the Illogical Argument for Credit Card Interchange Fee Regulation

Jul 11, 2022
When a shiny new object comes along like “buy now, pay later,” or BNPL, merchants will gladly pay significantly higher transaction fees than they do for credit cards. But this recent surge in BNPL adoption by merchants deflates their arguments that interchange—the fees for accepting card payments—harms them.

Where the Rubber Meets the Road: Creating Mutually Beneficial Relationships with Community Banks and Fintechs

Jul 6, 2022
Engaging community bankers to think about innovation in new ways continues to be my driving force, but I’m not doing it alone. This year I’m bringing along ICBA ThinkTECH Accelerator alumni.

Three Ways Community Banks Can Respond to Generational Digital Payments Needs

Jun 22, 2022
When it comes to payments, the generational divide has been shrinking. While Gen Z and Millennials still lead the way in digital payments adoption, Baby Boomers and Seniors (over 76) are increasing their digital payments prowess.

How Four Community Banks Recognize and Celebrate Juneteenth

Jun 16, 2022
While Juneteenth is the youngest U.S. federal holiday after it became formally recognized in a law enacted last year, it has decades of significance—with June 19, 1865, recognized as the end of slavery in the United States.

How the TerraUSD Collapse Affects Stablecoin Regulation and Community Banks

Jun 7, 2022
The collapse of the TerraUSD stablecoin has significantly affected the crypto sector and broader financial markets. But perhaps even more important for community banks, the market instability is fueling the policymaker push for a regulatory structure to address crypto’s risks.

How the TerraUSD Collapse Is Affecting Financial Markets

Jun 7, 2022
While the collapse of the TerraUSD stablecoin has captured the most attention and headlines, it was not the only stablecoin to fail during the market downturn. Here’s a look at the impact of the Terra decline on the stablecoin sector and what’s next for the crypto markets.

A Community Bank Primer on the TerraUSD Collapse

Jun 7, 2022
ICBA has closely watched the growth of stablecoins over the past year and repeatedly raised concerns about the risks these systems may pose to consumers and the wider financial system. Earlier this month, those concerns manifested with the collapse of TerraUSD, once the third-largest stablecoin.