Skip to Main Content
ICBA
ICBA
  • Member Login
  • Member Login

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.

Subscribe to Our Newsletter Example Text Press Resources Example Text

Credit union acquisition pressure grows

Congress is under increasing pressure to investigate credit union acquisitions of community banks, ICBA President and CEO Rebeca Romero Rainey wrote in a recent article on LinkedIn.
July 06, 2021 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Credit Unions 

CFPB releases Spanish-language mortgage disclosures

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau released a Spanish-language translation of certain model clauses available for use in early-intervention written notices issued under its mortgage-servicing rules.
July 06, 2021 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Compliance Compliance Mortgage Rules 

Treasury again extends MDI, CDFI program

The Treasury Department will again extend the deadline to submit applications under its program to invest $9 billion in Minority Depository Institutions (MDIs) and Community Development Financial Institutions.
July 06, 2021 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   MDI 

FHFA issues fair lending policy statement

The Federal Housing Finance Agency issued a policy statement on its commitment to comprehensive fair lending oversight of Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the Federal Home Loan Banks.
July 02, 2021 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Compliance FHLB 

Nominations open for Best Community Banks to Work For awards

ICBA’s Independent Banker magazine opened nominations for its 2021 Best Community Banks to Work For awards.
July 02, 2021 | ICBA NewsWatch Today  

Fed to launch CECL tool for community banks

The Federal Reserve said it will release a new tool this month to help community banks implement the Current Expected Credit Losses accounting standard.
July 02, 2021 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   CECL Audit 

FinCEN issues AML/CFT priorities

The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network issued the first government-wide priorities for anti-money-laundering and counter-financing-terrorism policy.
July 01, 2021 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Compliance 

IRS enables direct deposit updates for Child Tax Credit payments

The IRS upgraded an online tool to enable families to update their bank account information so they can receive their monthly Child Tax Credit payment.
July 01, 2021 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Taxes & Budget 

CFPB reports on 2020 consumer reporting, servicing violations

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau issued a report highlighting legal violations identified by bureau examinations in 2020.
June 30, 2021 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Compliance 

HUD proposes restoring ‘disparate impact’ rule

The Department of Housing and Urban Development recently proposed rescinding its 2020 rule interpreting the Fair Housing Act’s "disparate impact" standard and restoring its 2013 rule on discriminatory effects.
June 30, 2021 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Compliance 

Ransomware renewing agency crypto response: blog

Escalating attacks against critical infrastructure are bringing renewed focus to the role of cryptocurrencies in facilitating criminal activity, which has implications for community banks, ICBA’s Brian Laverdure writes in a new Main Street Matters post.
June 18, 2021 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Cybersecurity Digital Assets 

Blog: Faster payments have arrived — now what?

The pandemic has accelerated the implementation of instant payments and the need for community banks to have a strategy in place, according to the latest Main Street Matters post.
June 18, 2021 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Payments 

HMDA relief reflected in 2020 reporting data

The Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council released 2020 Home Mortgage Disclosure Act data showing the impact of regulatory relief on HMDA reporting.
June 18, 2021 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Compliance Mortgage Rules Housing Finance/GSEs 

Farm Credit System loan volume jumps 10%

The Farm Credit Administration released its quarterly report on the ag economy and the performance of the Farm Credit System, whose growth is largely generated by tax free ag real estate lending.
June 11, 2021 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Agriculture FCS 

Basel regulators begin vetting crypto capital rules

The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision published a public consultation document with preliminary proposals for the prudential treatment of banks' cryptoasset exposures.
June 11, 2021 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Digital Assets 

Fed outlines instant payments fraud considerations

The Federal Reserve released an article on fraud management considerations to evaluate when preparing for instant payments
June 10, 2021 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Data Security/Fraud Payments 

IRS issues another 2.3M EIPs

The IRS said it disbursed more than 2.3 million additional Economic Impact Payments over the past two weeks. The latest batch includes those with official payment dates through June 9.
June 10, 2021 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Advocacy Crisis Preparedness Lending 

ICBA to Congress: Postal banking not the answer

ICBA told Congress that postal banking is not the solution to reaching more unbanked Americans and lawmakers should reject such proposals.
June 10, 2021 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Government Banks Postal Service Banking 

Crapo challenges new bank IRS reporting proposal

Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) pushed back against a Biden administration proposal that would require financial institutions to report information on account flows to the IRS.
June 09, 2021 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Lending 

ICBA continues push against House ‘true lender’ repeal

ICBA and other groups again urged in a joint letter to House members their opposition to a Senate-passed resolution to repeal the OCC’s “true lender” rule.
June 09, 2021 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Lending 

Swap guidance continues LIBOR transition

A Commodity Futures Trading Commission panel recommended best practices for switching interdealer trading conventions from LIBOR to the Secured Overnight Financing Rate in U.S. dollar interest rate swaps.
June 09, 2021 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Lending LIBOR 

CFPB issues FAQ on EFT and Reg E

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau issued frequently asked questions on unauthorized transfer and error resolution provisions under the Electronic Fund Transfer Act and Regulation E.
June 08, 2021 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Compliance Compliance 

IRS begins contacting families on Child Tax Credit

The IRS said it started sending letters to more than 36 million American families who may be eligible to receive monthly Child Tax Credit payments starting in July.
June 08, 2021 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Taxes & Budget 

ICBA releases new elder abuse awareness resources

ICBA released customizable resources to help community banks recognize World Elder Abuse Awareness Day next week.
June 08, 2021 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Advocacy 

ICBA requests more time for interchange feedback

ICBA and other groups called on the Federal Reserve Board of Governors to grant a 30-day extension for its Notice of Proposed Rule Making on Debit Card Interchange Fees and Routing.
June 03, 2021 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Interchange 

ICBA updates data privacy guide

ICBA recently released an updated guide for community banks on data privacy laws and regulations. The guide walks community bankers through some of the more prominent state, federal, and international data privacy laws.
June 03, 2021 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Risk Cybersecurity 

ICBA to OCC: Rescind charter policy shift

ICBA and other groups wrote to request the OCC rescind its interpretive letter expanding eligibility to apply for a national trust charter as well as the conditional charter approvals for Anchorage Digital Bank, Paxos National Trust and Protego Trust Bank.
June 02, 2021 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Regulatory Relief 

GAO urges agency collaboration re: alternative data use

The Government Accountability Office reissued its recommendation to the FDIC for enhanced collaboration with other financial regulators concerning the use of alternative data in credit underwriting.
June 02, 2021 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Regulatory Relief 

PPP funding exhausted as loan application deadline passes

The Paycheck Protection Program closed to new loan applications more than a year and several iterations after the emergency program was enacted.
June 01, 2021 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Crisis Preparedness Lending 

Fed proposes changes to intraday credit policy

The Federal Reserve Board requested public comment on proposed changes to its policy governing the provision of intraday credit, or daylight overdrafts, to healthy institutions with accounts at the Federal Reserve Banks.
June 01, 2021 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Federal Reserve 

Event on LIBOR transition next week

The Alternative Reference Rates Committee said it is holding an event next week on the impact of the transition from LIBOR to the Secured Overnight Financing Rate on the derivatives market.
June 01, 2021 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Lending 

ICBA updates data privacy guide

ICBA this week released an updated guide for community banks on data privacy laws and regulations. The guide is available here and in the Cyber and Data Security Mitigation section of ICBA’s Operational Risk resource center.
May 28, 2021 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Cybersecurity 

CFPB: Manufactured housing borrowers have higher interest rates

Roughly 42 percent of loans for manufactured homes are secured by “chattel” loans secured by the home but not the land, according to a report from CFPB.
May 28, 2021 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Compliance 

Remove GSE product restrictions: ICBA, minority bank council

ICBA and its Minority Bank Advisory Council this week urged the Treasury Department and Federal Housing Finance Agency to reopen negotiations over the Preferred Stock Purchase Agreements for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
May 28, 2021 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   MDI Housing Finance/GSEs 

ICBA urges House to oppose ‘true lender’ repeal

ICBA and other groups today are urging House members to oppose a Senate-passed resolution to repeal the OCC’s “true lender” rule.
May 25, 2021 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Lending 

ICBA releases new banklocally.org video

ICBA released its latest video in a series on how community banks have partnered with small businesses during the pandemic to help them navigate the Paycheck Protection Program.
May 25, 2021 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Advocacy 

USDA to begin paying off direct loans to minority farmers

The USDA announced the initial phase of plans to pay off USDA direct loans to socially disadvantaged (SDA) farmers and ranchers. It will subsequently announce its process for paying off guaranteed loans.
May 24, 2021 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Agriculture 

Voting open for People's Choice Award videos

Community bankers can now vote on ICBA’s National Community Bank Service Awards People's Choice Award videos.
May 24, 2021 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Advocacy 

OCC finalizes rule on collective investment funds

The OCC finalized a rule applicable to national banks and federal savings associations administering a collective investment fund invested primarily in real estate or other assets that are not readily marketable.
May 24, 2021 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Compliance 

Treasury proposes crypto tax reporting requirements

The Treasury Department proposed tax reporting requirements on cryptocurrencies in a new report on the administration’s American Families Plan.
May 21, 2021 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Digital Assets Technology 

Fed releasing CBDC paper this summer: Powell

Federal Reserve Board Chair Jerome Powell said the Fed is planning a discussion paper for this summer on the possibility of issuing a U.S. central bank digital currency.
May 21, 2021 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Digital Assets 

OCC reconsidering CRA final rule

ICBA expressed support for an OCC announcement that it will reconsider its Community Reinvestment Act rulemakings and information collection.
May 19, 2021 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Compliance 

NCUA chairman seeks CUSO oversight authority

The head of the National Credit Union Administration is scheduled to testify today on behalf of ICBA-supported legislation to expand oversight of third-party vendors, including credit union service organizations (CUSOs).
May 19, 2021 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Credit Unions 

$5B left in PPP funds for certain institutions

The Small Business Administration said there is approximately $5 billion remaining in Paycheck Protection Program funds set aside for certain community financial institutions.
May 19, 2021 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Advocacy 

FDIC requests comments on digital assets

The FDIC requested comments within 60 days about insured depository institutions’ current and potential digital asset activities.
May 18, 2021 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Digital Assets Payments 

Custom op-ed counters credit union-bank acquisitions

ICBA continues to offer a customizable op-ed and updated talking points that community bankers can use to raise awareness of credit union acquisitions of community banks.
May 18, 2021 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Credit Unions 

CFPB updates TRID rule FAQs

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau issued additional frequently asked questions on its TILA-RESPA integrated disclosure rule.
May 17, 2021 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Compliance 

Fed again extends rule allowing PPP loans to directors

The Federal Reserve Board for the third time extended its rule allowing certain bank directors and shareholders to apply to their banks for Paycheck Protection Program loans for their small businesses.
May 17, 2021 | ICBA NewsWatch Today  

ICBA issues custom op-ed opposing public banking

ICBA released a customizable op-ed that community bankers can use to spread the word about the risks posed by proposals to establish taxpayer-funded public banks.
May 17, 2021 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   State-Owned/Public Banks 

ICBA urges OCC to block sale of mutual bank’s assets to credit union

ICBA's Mutual Council and America’s Mutual Banks urged the OCC to suspend the sale of Brainerd Savings and Loan Association assets to Wings Financial Credit Union until all freedom of information requests have been considered.
May 12, 2021 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Credit Unions 

Fed proposes changes to interchange regs

The Federal Reserve Board invited public comment on proposed changes to Regulation II (Debit Card Interchange Fees and Routing).
May 10, 2021 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Payments 

ARRC issues market indicators supporting LIBOR alternative

The Alternative Reference Rates Committee last week published market indicators it will consider in recommending a forward-looking Secured Overnight Financing Rate term rate to support the transition away from LIBOR.
May 10, 2021 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Compliance 

ICBA to FinCEN: exempt banks from beneficial owner mandates

ICBA called on the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network to amend its customer due diligence rules and withdraw its requirement that banks collect beneficial ownership information.
May 10, 2021 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Regulatory Relief 

ICBA continues support for ‘true lender’ rule

ICBA and other groups told Congress they oppose legislative efforts to repeal the OCC’s “true lender” rule. The OCC rule, which ICBA supported in a comment letter last year, creates a standard to determine when a bank is the “true lender” when partnering with a third party.
May 07, 2021 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Lending Technology Regulatory Relief 

ICBA, groups urge OCC to withdraw CRA rule

ICBA and other groups this week called on the OCC to formally withdraw its Community Reinvestment Act rule or delay its January 2023 compliance date for at least two years.
May 07, 2021 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   CRA 

Treasury extends MDI, CDFI program

The Treasury Department extended its program to invest in Minority Depository Institutions and Community Development Financial Institutions, as requested by ICBA.
May 06, 2021 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   MDI 

Fed proposes standards for accessing Fed accounts, payments system

The Federal Reserve Board proposed guidelines for evaluating requests for accounts with the Fed and access to the payments system, as advocated by ICBA.
May 06, 2021 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Payments 

IRS issues another 1.1M EIPs

The IRS said it is disbursing another 1.1 million Economic Impact Payments in the eighth batch under the American Rescue Plan.
May 06, 2021 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Crisis Preparedness Lending 

Postal banking won’t deliver: letter

While increasing financial inclusion and improving U.S. Postal Service financial stability are worthy goals, postal banking would accomplish neither, Pennsylvania Association of Community Bankers President and CEO Kevin L. Shivers wrote.
May 05, 2021 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Postal Service Banking 

PPP general fund exhausted

The Paycheck Protection Program’s general fund was reportedly exhausted Tuesday ahead of the program’s May 31 authorization, though some PPP funds remain for certain loans and lenders.
May 05, 2021 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Crisis Preparedness Lending 

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

Subscribe to Independent Banker Magazine