With Deposit Insurance Fund Growth Ahead of Schedule, ICBA Supports Cutting Community Bank Assessments

Press Release: Washington, D.C. (April 25, 2024)—Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) President and CEO Rebeca Romero Rainey issued the following statement on community bank deposit insurance assessments.

“With the Deposit Insurance Fund reserve ratio on track to reach the statutory minimum two years ahead of schedule, ICBA strongly supports proposals to decrease deposit insurance assessments for the nation’s community banks.

“As noted by Acting Comptroller of the Currency Michael Hsu and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Director Rohit Chopra at today’s FDIC board meeting, reducing community bank assessments amid faster-than-expected increases in the reserve ratio would support a more diverse banking system and recognize that community banks pose less risk to the DIF than larger institutions. We encourage the full FDIC board to support this approach and take action to ensure community banks do not bear the cost of the risk posed by too-big-to-fail institutions.

“The FDIC’s special assessment exemption for the vast majority of community banks recognizes the importance of distinguishing large banks that pose systemic risk to the financial system from the thousands of community banks dedicated to serving local communities. Continuing to recognize these important differences via deposit insurance policy will help support our nation’s consumers, small businesses, and local economies.”

About ICBA
The Independent Community Bankers of America® has one mission: to create and promote an environment where community banks flourish. We power the potential of the nation’s community banks through effective advocacy, education, and innovation.

As local and trusted sources of credit, America’s community banks leverage their relationship-based business model and innovative offerings to channel deposits into the neighborhoods they serve, creating jobs, fostering economic prosperity, and fueling their customers’ financial goals and dreams. For more information, visit ICBA’s website at icba.org.

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