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.
House committee hearing today on ICBA priorities
ICBA thanked the House Financial Services Committee for scheduling a hearing on the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau that will feature ICBA-advocated legislation.
March 26, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Federal Housing Finance Agency
ICBA: Durbin-Marshall bill would harm consumers, reduce choice
ICBA and other groups warned Congress that any legislative initiatives to expand the power of the federal government to intervene in the U.S. credit card market would harm consumers, small businesses, and financial institutions.
March 25, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Credit Cards
FinCEN publishes FAQs on border Geographic Targeting Order
The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network published responses to frequently asked questions about its March 11 Geographic Targeting Order to combat the illicit activities and money laundering of Mexico-based cartels and other criminal actors along the southwest border of the United States.
March 25, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Compliance Financial Crimes Enforcement Network
ICBA provides marketing resources for Community Banking Month
In preparation for Community Banking Month in April, ICBA offers a variety of ready-to-use resources on its Marketing Resource Center.
March 25, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Community Bank Awareness
Independent Banker: How to fight AI spear phishing fraud
Artificial intelligence has turbocharged the problem of spear phishing, but the latest Independent Banker magazine shares how community banks can fight back.
March 24, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Artificial Intellegence
FinCEN removes beneficial ownership reporting requirements for U.S. companies
The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network announced an interim final rule that removes the requirement for U.S. companies and persons to report beneficial ownership information under the Corporate Transparency Act. FinCEN said that foreign entities must still report their BOI under the new deadlines.
March 24, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Financial Crimes Enforcement Network
ICBA, other groups urge Congress to reauthorize cybersecurity law
ICBA and other groups urged Congress to reauthorize the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act (CISA 2015) before it expires on Sept. 30, warning that failure to act could eliminate a valuable tool used to protect U.S. critical infrastructure sectors.
March 24, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Congressional Matters Cybersecurity
Senators signal bipartisan support for the CDFI Fund
A bipartisan group of 23 senators led by CDFI Caucus Co-chairs Mark Warner (D-Va.) and Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) reaffirmed their support for the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund following a recent executive order from the White House.
March 21, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
CDFI
OCC to cease examinations for reputation risk
The OCC announced that it will no longer examine its regulated institutions for reputation risk and is removing references to reputation risk from its Comptroller’s Handbook booklets and guides.
March 21, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
OCC
ICBA: FHFA credit score modernization effort missing key elements
The Federal Housing Finance Agency's Credit Score Models and Reports Initiative is overly complex, costly to consumers, and missing key requirements for a successful transition, ICBA and other groups said in a letter outlining recommendations.
March 21, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Federal Housing Finance Agency
OCC creates webpage with digitalization info for community banks
Saying that new technologies are important tools for community banks to meet customer demand, increase revenue, improve efficiencies, and remain competitive, the OCC announced a new webpage with dedicated resources to help community banks meet their digitalization objectives.
March 20, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
OCC
ICBA, groups express support for CDFI Fund in letter to Congress
ICBA and other groups expressed strong support for the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund in a letter to the bipartisan Senate Community Development Finance Caucus.
March 20, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
CDFI Department of Treasury
Fed maintains rates
The Federal Open Market Committee voted to maintain target interest rates at a range of 4.25% to 4.5%.
March 20, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
ICBA urging ACRE Act, overdraft grassroots
With Congress working to advance ICBA-advocated legislation to support rural lending and to overturn the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s overdraft rule, ICBA is urging community bankers to contact their members of Congress on these measures.
March 19, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Agriculture
What community banks need to know about the Fedwire ISO 20022 switch
The latest Independent Banker magazine spotlights what community bankers need to know about the Fedwire Funds Service’s conversion to the ISO 20022 message format.
March 19, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
ICBA shares CDFI track record with Treasury following executive order
Following President Donald Trump’s executive order directing the Treasury Department to eliminate the non-statutory components of the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund, ICBA highlighted the critical role that CDFI community banks play in local economies.
March 19, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
CDFI Department of Treasury
ICBA strongly supports nomination of Michelle Bowman for Fed vice chair for supervision
ICBA expressed its strong support for President Donald Trump’s nomination of Federal Reserve Governor Michelle Bowman for vice chair for supervision at the Fed—as advocated by ICBA.
March 18, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Federal Reserve
Executive order restricts CDFI Fund to statutory functions
President Donald Trump issued an executive order restricting the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund and some other federal programs to their statutory components and functions.
March 18, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
ICBA congratulates Pulte, details housing finance priorities
ICBA congratulated new Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte on his confirmation and laid out its key concerns related to housing finance policies.
March 18, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Federal Housing Finance Agency
ICBA opposes Stellantis application for ILC charter
ICBA said the application for FDIC insurance from the automaker Stellantis threatens the Deposit Insurance Fund and doesn’t serve the convenience and needs of the community.
March 17, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
Independent Banker named best monthly trade association magazine
ICBA’s Independent Banker magazine took home top honors in its category for the Association Trends 2025 TRENDY Awards.
March 17, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Pulte sworn in as FHFA director
William Pulte was sworn in to a five-year term as director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency. Pulte was appointed to head the agency by President Donald Trump, and the Senate last week voted to confirm the nomination.
March 17, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Federal Housing Finance Agency
ICBA announces new chairman, Executive Committee
ICBA announced the election of its 2025-2026 Executive Committee at ICBA LIVE 2025 in Nashville, Tenn.
March 14, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Executive Leadership/C-Suite
Olympian Kerri Walsh Jennings commends spirit of community banking
Community bankers embody the American spirit, Olympic gold medalist Kerri Walsh Jennings said at ICBA LIVE 2025.
March 14, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Hopkins calls on community bankers to amplify their voices
New ICBA Chairman Jack E. Hopkins applauded community bankers for weathering the pandemic, a challenging interest rate environment, and mounting regulations—and urged them to build on their successes by attending the ICBA Capital Summit.
March 14, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
ICBA chairman: Now is the time for change in Washington
Outgoing ICBA Chairman Lucas White said momentum for policy change is on the side of community bankers and now is the time to make a difference in Washington.
March 13, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
ICBA urges Congress to end tax subsidies for credit unions over $1b in assets
With Congress considering legislation to reform the nation’s tax policy, ICBA called on policymakers to end unwarranted federal tax subsidies for the nation’s largest credit unions.
March 13, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Congressional Matters Credit Unions
Keynote speaker encourages community bankers to rethink marketing
Bestselling author and trends expert Rohit Bhargava encouraged community bankers at ICBA LIVE in Nashville to “think non-obviously" and see what others miss.
March 13, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
ICBA LIVE continues in Nashville
The ICBA LIVE 2025 national convention continued at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville, Tenn.
March 12, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
ICBA urges regulatory relief under latest EGRPRA review
In its latest comments under the current Economic Growth and Regulatory Paperwork Reduction Act review, ICBA called on federal regulators to fast-track repeals of harmful and burdensome rules and reissue tiered and rightsized regulations.
March 12, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
EGRPRA s.2155
ICBA opposes House bill to set credit card rate cap
ICBA and other groups expressed opposition to House legislation that would establish a 10% annual percentage rate cap for credit cards.
March 12, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Credit Cards
ICBA LIVE kicks off in Nashville
ICBA kicked off its ICBA LIVE 2025 national convention at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville, Tenn.
March 11, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Deadline today for EGRPRA grassroots letters
ICBA is urging community bankers to use its Be Heard Grassroots Action Center to submit comments on the latest round of the current Economic Growth and Regulatory Paperwork Reduction Act review before today’s deadline.
March 11, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
EGRPRA s.2155
Article: ILCs could harm consumers, threaten economy
Allowing large corporations to form industrial loan companies would magnify risks in the financial system and could ultimately give big tech firms access to information about every aspect of a consumer’s life, according to a new Washington Post article (subscription required).
March 11, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
ICBA-supported anti-CBDC bill reintroduced
House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) reintroduced ICBA-advocated legislation restricting the ability of the federal government to introduce a central bank digital currency. A similar bill passed the House during the last Congress.
March 10, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Digital Assets
Independent Banker: New ICBA chair brings small-town work ethic to big stage
Incoming ICBA Chairman Jack Hopkins plans to advocate for the industry to Congress and the public and bring a small‑town sensibility to Washington, according to the latest Independent Banker magazine.
March 10, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Bank Director/Board Member
Deadline tomorrow for EGRPRA grassroots letters
ICBA is urging community bankers to use its Be Heard Grassroots Action Center to submit comments on the latest round of the current Economic Growth and Regulatory Paperwork Reduction Act review before tomorrow’s deadline.
March 10, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Agriculture
As deadline nears, ICBA urging EGRPRA grassroots action
ICBA is urging community bankers to use its Be Heard Grassroots Action Center to submit comments on the latest round of the current Economic Growth and Regulatory Paperwork Reduction Act review.
March 07, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Agriculture Grassroots/Be Heard
ICBA applauds Secretary Bessent for supporting community banks, prudential agency independence
ICBA applauded Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent for his remarks supporting community banks and committing to the continued independence of the nation’s prudential banking regulators and dual banking system.
March 07, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
ICBA supports House, Senate versions of ACRE Act
ICBA thanked the sponsors of the Senate and House versions of the Access to Credit for our Rural Economy (ACRE) Act, expressing strong support for the bipartisan legislation.
March 07, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Congressional Matters Agriculture
Resolution to nullify CFPB overdraft rule passes House committee
The House Financial Services Committee voted 30-19 to pass H.J. Res 59, a Congressional Review Act resolution that would overturn a Consumer Financial Protection Bureau rule that regulates overdraft fees.
March 06, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
ICBA Foundation donates $68K to assist wildfire victims
The ICBA Foundation, in coordination with the California Community Banking Network, raised a total of $68,000 to be donated to the United Way of Greater Los Angeles Wildfire Response Fund. The total includes a $10,000 contribution from ICBA.
March 06, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
ICBA, state associations push for support of ACRE Act
ICBA and 44 state banking associations sent letters to senators and representatives asking them to sponsor the bipartisan Access to Credit for our Rural Economy (ACRE) Act (S. 838 and H.R. 1822).
March 06, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Agriculture
Markup today: ICBA urging grassroots action on CFPB overdraft rule
ICBA is calling on community bankers to urge their members of Congress to support resolutions to stop the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s overdraft rule ahead of a markup today.
March 05, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
ICBA-advocated ACRE Act introduced
ICBA expressed strong support for the newly introduced Access to Credit for our Rural Economy (ACRE) Act to support farmers, ranchers, and rural homeowners.
March 05, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Agriculture
ICBA backs bill to raise CTR, SAR reporting thresholds
ICBA expressed strong support for legislation to raise reporting thresholds for currency transaction reports and suspicious activity reports.
March 05, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
ICBA commends FDIC for rescinding ICBA-opposed proposals
ICBA commended the FDIC board of directors for withdrawing three ICBA-opposed proposed rules that would harm community banks and the communities they serve.
March 04, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
FDIC rescinds 2024 bank merger policy statement
The FDIC board of directors voted to rescind its 2024 Statement of Policy on Bank Merger Transactions and will reinstate, on an interim basis, the Merger Policy Statement that was in effect prior to 2024 as the agency conducts a broader reevaluation of its bank merger review process.
March 04, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
FDIC delays compliance date for certain provisions of sign and advertising rule
The FDIC delayed the compliance date of certain provisions under its Sign and Advertising Rule
March 04, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
ICBA opposes GM’s ILC application
ICBA said General Motors Financial Bank’s application for FDIC insurance threatens the Deposit Insurance Fund and doesn’t serve the convenience and needs of the community.
March 03, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
FinCEN not issuing penalties for BOI reporting deadlines
The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network said it will not issue any fines or penalties or take any other enforcement actions against any companies based on failure to file or update beneficial ownership information reports by the current deadlines.
March 03, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Financial Crimes Enforcement Network
With CFPB in spotlight, ICBA urging grassroots outreach on overdraft rule
With Washington focused on reforming the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, ICBA is calling on community bankers to tell their members of Congress to support legislative efforts to stop the bureau's overdraft rule.
February 28, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
McKernan, Pulte vow to streamline CFPB, FHFA activities
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau will center its regulation on real risks to consumers and focus its enforcement on bad actors, CFPB director nominee Jonathan McKernan told Congress.
February 28, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
Bowman: Rightsized regulations key to bright community banking future
The future of community banking is bright as long as regulators focus on appropriate regulations and guidance and recognize that investment in innovation and growth is a necessity, not a roadblock, according to Federal Reserve Governor Michelle Bowman.
February 28, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
ICBA opposes consolidation of banking regulators
ICBA said it opposes calls from Wall Street bank executives and others to consolidate the nation’s banking regulators.
February 27, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Agencies/Regulators
ICBA: Stablecoin legislation must protect role of community banks
ICBA told Congress that any legislation establishing a regulatory framework for stablecoins must address stablecoin risks without disintermediating community banks.
February 27, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Digital Assets
ICBA continuing grassroots push on CFPB overdraft rule
ICBA continues calling on community bankers to tell their members of Congress to support legislative efforts to stop the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's overdraft rule.
February 27, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
Independent Banker: How community banks are fighting AI-powered elder fraud
Community banks are working to combat fraudsters using artificial intelligence to target seniors, according to the latest Independent Banker magazine.
February 26, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Fraud
Romero Rainey: ICBA letter to Trump administration key to reform push
ICBA’s recent letter urging the Trump administration to advance several needed reforms is essential to supporting community banks while avoiding unintended consequences, ICBA President and CEO Rebeca Romero Rainey said this week.
February 26, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Government Banks
Community bank net income declines in Q4
Community bank net income fell 6.5% in the fourth quarter and was down 2.4% in 2024 from the previous year, according to the FDIC’s latest Quarterly Banking Profile.
February 26, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
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.
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