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.
Child Tax Credit payments start today
The IRS today begins distributing Advance Child Tax Credit payments authorized by the American Rescue Plan.
July 15, 2021 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Taxes & Budget
FDIC, CFPB update financial education curriculum
The FDIC and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau released an enhanced version of the Money Smart for Older Adults financial education curriculum.
July 15, 2021 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
CISA warns of Microsoft Print Spooler vulnerability
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency issued Emergency Directive 21-04 on mitigating a vulnerability in the Microsoft Windows Print Spooler service.
July 15, 2021 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Risk Cybersecurity
Independent Banker Ranks Top Loan Performers
This month’s issue of Independent Banker, the award-winning magazine of the Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) and the number-one source for community banking news, spotlights Main Street’s top-producing lenders.
July 14, 2021 |
Press Release
Agencies propose guidance on third-party relationships
Federal banking regulators proposed interagency guidance designed to help banks manage risks associated with third-party relationships, including those with fintech entities.
July 14, 2021 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Compliance
Terri Howard Joins TCM Bank as Senior Vice President, People & Culture
TCM Bank, N.A., the credit card bank of ICBA Bancard®, which is the payments services subsidiary of the Independent Community Bankers of America, announced the hire of Terri Howard as senior vice president of people and culture.
July 12, 2021 |
Press Release
ICBA Minority Bank Advisory Council Opposes IRS Reporting Proposal
The Independent Community Bankers of America’s (ICBA) Minority Bank Advisory Council today expressed strong opposition to the Biden administration’s proposal that would require banks to report customer account information to the IRS.
July 12, 2021 |
Press Release
MDI Taxes & Budget
ICBA, BPI Urge Federal Reserve to Clarify, Strengthen Guidelines for Fed Account Access
The Independent Community Bankers of America and Bank Policy Institute today called on the Federal Reserve to strengthen proposed guidelines for evaluating account and services requests.
July 12, 2021 |
Press Release
Federal Reserve Audit
ICBA minority bank council opposes IRS reporting plan
ICBA’s Minority Bank Advisory Council today is expressing strong opposition to the Biden administration’s proposal to require banks to report customer account information to the IRS.
July 12, 2021 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Taxes & Budget
White House directs tougher scrutiny of bank mergers
President Joe Biden directed the Justice Department and federal banking regulators to more closely scrutinize bank mergers and make it easier for customers to switch banks.
July 12, 2021 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Commerce & Banking
ICBA Bancard and Finzly Partner to Offer Instant Payments
ICBA Bancard, the payments services subsidiary of the Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA), today announced a new partnership with Finzly to facilitate instant payments via Finzly’s Payment Galaxy.
July 09, 2021 |
Press Release
Former NCUA official criticizes credit union bank purchases
A former National Credit Union Administration official this week raised concerns over credit union acquisitions of community banks.
July 09, 2021 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Congress pushes back on IRS reporting plan
House Ways and Means Committee Republicans issued a fact sheet pushing back on the Biden administration’s proposal to require banks to report customer account information to the IRS.
July 09, 2021 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Taxes & Budget
CFPB launches housing insecurity media toolkit
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau launched a digital media toolkit with resources for renters and mortgage borrowers who continue to struggle financially from the coronavirus pandemic.
July 09, 2021 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Compliance
ICBA Proposes Exit Fee on Credit Union Acquisitions of Taxpaying Banks
The Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) today urged the Treasury Department to examine abuses of the tax code causing increased acquisitions of community banks by tax-exempt credit unions.
July 07, 2021 |
Press Release
Credit Unions
A Note from the Chairman
This past year has been an intensely trying time, but if we look beyond the COVID-19 storm, we come face to face with a silver lining of opportunity. Community banks have been able to thrive during the pandemic because of who we are.
July 06, 2021 |
Payments Quarterly
Do you have the right card products to meet the pent-up card spend?
Strong consumer and business card programs are well positioned to meet bank, consumer, and business challenges fueled by excess deposits, changing payment channels, and post-COVID-19 pent-up demand.
July 06, 2021 |
Payments Quarterly
Faster Payments – Meeting Market Demand
The year 2020 drove many community banks to experiment and embark on faster payments. Concerns of payment disruption combined with the pressure to remain competitive are driving community banks to include faster payments in their strategic plans for the near future.
July 06, 2021 |
Payments Quarterly
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
Protecting Against Digital Payments Fraud
The pandemic has certainly played a role in escalating fraud on a global scale and throughout many payment pathways. The sudden cross-sectioning of these payment and transaction vectors has created increases in traditional fraud schemes.
July 06, 2021 |
Payments Quarterly
Take your card portfolio to the next level with affluent cards
As community banks review their card offerings and examine ways to attract more cardholders, one segment meriting a closer look are affluent or higher net worth customers.
July 06, 2021 |
Payments Quarterly
Supporting Economic Recovery with Credit Card Rewards Programs
To everything there is a season, or so the market shows via today’s rebounding economic environment. Anxieties around the pandemic have dipped, leading to changing consumer behaviors.
July 06, 2021 |
Payments Quarterly
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
ICBA Supports Senate Bill Offering Tax Relief for Rural Lending
The Independent Community Bankers of America today expressed its strong support for the Senate introduction of the Enhancing Credit Opportunities in Rural America (ECORA) Act to support farmers, ranchers and rural homeowners.
July 01, 2021 |
Press Release
Agriculture
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
Vanessa Hanson Joins ICBA Marketing and Communications Department as Director of Digital and Social Engagement
The Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA), announced today the hire of Vanessa Hanson as director of digital and social engagement.
July 01, 2021 |
Press Release
Banking on minority-owned businesses
Four community banks came together to launch a $1 million interest-free loan program to help local business owners who have faced barriers to the traditional banking system.
July 01, 2021 |
Independent Banker
Advocacy
How cryptocurrency may be going mainstream
Beyond all the hype, cryptocurrency has unequivocally gained a loyal following, and mainstream financial players are taking notice. Is it time community banks got involved in crypto? One community bank has found its entry to the market.
July 01, 2021 |
Independent Banker
Payments
Your 2021 physical security assessment checklist
While social distancing measures may be eased in many areas, they’ve had a large effect on branch security over the past year. Here’s what to look for when doing a physical security assessment to account for the latest trends in customer—and criminal—behavior.
July 01, 2021 |
Independent Banker
Compliance
What’s a special-purpose credit program?
In an effort to help financial institutions expand access to credit, the CFPB recently addressed regulatory uncertainty around special-purpose credit programs, or SPCPs. These programs are intended to help those who would not otherwise have access to credit.
July 01, 2021 |
Independent Banker
Compliance Lending
Why community banks are acquiring nonbanks
Acquiring a wealth management firm, fintech, title business or other nonbank organization can unlock new opportunities for community banks. These acquisitions can add new revenue generators, specialized employees and other assets to a community bank in place of organic growth. But experts say that finding the right business to acquire can be tricky.
July 01, 2021 |
Independent Banker
Growing the Community
Rebeca Romero Rainey: Starting a new chapter
As we enter a new chapter and start a new financial statement cycle, know that ICBA will be there to support you with tools, resources and advocacy efforts.
July 01, 2021 |
Independent Banker
First Home Bank’s PPP pivot
First Home Bank doubled down on Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) lending, dedicating its entire SBA lending division and dozens of other employees to delivering much-needed funds to businesses. The result? More than $1.2 billion in PPP loans.
July 01, 2021 |
Independent Banker
Lending
Is CRE lending bouncing back?
Commercial real estate lenders had a stellar year in 2019, but the pandemic hurt that momentum. According to experts and the latest data, however, some sectors of the CRE lending market are beginning to move full steam ahead, and deposit-laden community banks, like Cadence Bank, are primed to fulfill that demand.
July 01, 2021 |
Independent Banker
Lending
Robert Fisher: Accelerating ahead
In today’s marketplace, we can’t be afraid to experiment and fail. Let’s embrace some out-of-the-box, entrepreneurial thinking to attack our problem areas.
July 01, 2021 |
Independent Banker
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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