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.
Why going public is still an option
In recent years, some community banks have made the decision to go public as part of their strategy for growth. In 2020, however, COVID-19 cast uncertainty over the market. But experts, including community bankers who recently made the decision to go public, say community banks should chart their own path for growth.
January 01, 2021 |
Independent Banker
Growing the Community
Community Bank CEO Outlook 2021: What's the path ahead?
No Magic 8 Ball could have predicted the year community banks had in 2020. What will 2021 bring? Independent Banker’s annual Community Bank CEO Outlook survey asked bank executives how they plan to move their institutions forward this year, from growing revenue to boosting marketing. The results of this year’s survey show a very different set of challenges—and opportunities—for industry leaders.
January 01, 2021 |
Independent Banker
Lending
Noah Wilcox: Stay positive
To succeed in this environment, we must focus on the things we can control and remain positive, and that’s become my daily mantra.
January 01, 2021 |
Independent Banker
2021’s lending outlook: cautious optimism
Many community bankers are cautiously optimistic that this year will bring the same, if not more, demand for loans. They also describe a year that may bring opportunities to gain market share from big banks amid continued uncertainty.
January 01, 2021 |
Independent Banker
Lending
How Systematic Savings Bank turned around
When Derek Fraley joined Systematic Savings Bank as president and CEO in 2017, it was in trouble. To save it, he changed the community bank’s charter, launched an IPO and executed sweeping culture changes. The result: the bank has had four back-to-back positive quarters for the first time in more than a decade.
January 01, 2021 |
Independent Banker
How community banks can use influencer marketing
Influencer marketing has become far more than just a way to sell overpriced products on social media. Now it’s a well-established tool for building brand awareness, boosting sales and more. Here’s what community banks and marketing experts say about this growing industry.
January 01, 2021 |
Independent Banker
Fraudsters’ latest target? UI benefits
Criminals have stolen more than half a billion dollars by taking advantage of the surge in unemployment claims during the pandemic. Luckily, most of this money has been recovered. Here’s what you should know about this scheme.
January 01, 2021 |
Independent Banker
Compliance
Charles Potts: 6 innovation trends for 2021
As we start the new year, much remains uncertain. In general, “uncertainty” implies a state of limited knowledge that makes it impossible or impracticable to describe a future outcome.
January 01, 2021 |
Independent Banker
Payments
Out of Office: Dan Carey
Dan Carey, president and CEO of $239 million-asset VISIONBank in Fargo, N.D., has always had dogs in his life. He takes special care in training his two black Labradors, Piper and Scout, who play a special role at his bank and in his family.
January 01, 2021 |
Independent Banker
CEO Alert: Treasury issues Economic Impact Payment Details
Following this week's signing of the economic stimulus package into law, the federal government released information on the distribution of Economic Impact Payments to individuals and families. Here's what we know now.
December 29, 2020 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Advocacy Crisis Preparedness Lending
ICBA ThinkTECH Accelerator 2021 Finalists Revealed
The Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) and The Venture Center, in partnership with the State of Arkansas, will kick-off the ICBA ThinkTECH Accelerator 2021 with the unveiling of the 10 selected participants during a virtual kick-off event in Little Rock, Ark on Jan. 6th.
December 23, 2020 |
Press Release
ICBA Announces End of Year Staff Promotions
The Independent Community Bankers of America announced several staff announcements, effective Jan. 1, 2021. The new titles and responsibilities reflect ICBA’s three-pronged focus on advocacy, innovation and education on behalf of the nation’s community banks.
December 23, 2020 |
Press Release
Advocacy
CSBS files complaint against OCC regarding a special purpose national charter application
The Conference of State Bank Supervisors filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia opposing the OCC’s creation of a new national bank charter for nonbank companies and its impending approval of a charter application from Figure Technologies Inc.
December 23, 2020 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
OCC
Romero Rainey recaps extraordinary year, thanks bankers for “selfless response”
ICBA President and CEO Rebeca Romero Rainey recaps the year’s challenges and accomplishments in a message to community bankers.
December 23, 2020 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
ICBA updates FAQs on stimulus payments
As Americans await news about the stimulus bill and the prospect of receiving direct Economic Impact Payments, ICBA has compiled answers to the top issues impacting community banks.
December 23, 2020 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Advocacy Crisis Preparedness
Romero Rainey: Stimulus bill contains community bank-advocated provisions
Months of relentless advocacy by ICBA and community bankers, with the support of their small business customers, helped secure ICBA-advocated provisions.
December 22, 2020 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Advocacy Crisis Preparedness
CFPB issues advisory opinion on SPCPs
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau issued an advisory opinion to address regulatory uncertainty regarding Regulation B related to special purpose credit programs to meet special social needs.
December 22, 2020 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Compliance Compliance
Supplemental guidance issued on SolarWinds attack
The Department of Homeland Security and Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency issued supplemental guidance to its alert for affected organizations to help mitigate exposure related to the supply chain attack on the SolarWinds Orion Platform.
December 22, 2020 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Cybersecurity
Congress passes stimulus deal with community bank-advocated provisions
Through tens of thousands of phone calls and direct messages to your members of Congress, you made your voices heard, community bankers, and once again Washington paid attention.
December 22, 2020 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Advocacy Crisis Preparedness Lending
ICBA Secures Relief in New Stimulus Measure
The Independent Community Bankers of America thanked Congress for passing compromise economic stimulus legislation with ICBA-advocated provisions supporting local communities.
December 22, 2020 |
Press Release
Advocacy Crisis Preparedness Lending
Congress announces stimulus deal outline
Congressional leaders announced the outline of a deal for an economic stimulus package and year-end spending bill, with passage expected as soon as today.
December 21, 2020 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Advocacy Crisis Preparedness
Community Bank Provisions of Bipartisan Bicameral Stimulus Package
Congress is expected to vote this week on legislation designed to provide economic relief for communities, small businesses, families, and individuals affected by the COVID-19 pandemic as well as public health measures.
December 21, 2020 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Advocacy Crisis Preparedness
Agencies propose standards for computer security incident notifications
Federal banking agencies issued a proposal that would require banks to promptly notify their primary federal regulator after a computer security incident.
December 21, 2020 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Cybersecurity
FinCEN proposes virtual currency recordkeeping rules
The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network issued a proposed rule to increase transparency of certain transactions involving convertible virtual currency or digital assets with legal tender status.
December 21, 2020 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Compliance Cybersecurity Payments Financial Crimes Enforcement Network
SolarWinds criminals narrow follow-up attacks: Microsoft
The cyber criminals who targeted the SolarWinds Orion Platform appear to have limited their follow-up attacks to a relatively small number of IT and government enterprises, according to a blog post from Microsoft President Brad Smith.
December 21, 2020 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Cybersecurity
CFPB issues follow-up debt-collection rule
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau issued a final rule to implement Fair Debt Collection Practices Act requirements for certain consumer disclosures. The rule requires debt collectors to provide detailed disclosures at the outset of collection communications.
December 21, 2020 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Compliance
Banking and Consumer Groups Urge Congress to Close Statutory Loophole in Response to FDIC Final Rule on ILCs
Today, the Bank Policy Institute, Center for Responsible Lending and the Independent Community Bankers of America issued the following joint statement in response to a vote by the FDIC to approve a final rule on Industrial Loan Companies.
December 18, 2020 |
Press Release
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Lending
CISA follow-up call today on SolarWinds
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency today is hosting a follow-up call on the supply chain attack on the SolarWinds Orion Platform and subsequent customer breaches.
December 18, 2020 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Cybersecurity
NCUA approves subordinated debt rule
The National Credit Union Administration board approved an ICBA-opposed final rule that will allow the largest and most complex credit unions to issue subordinated debt to institutional investors.
December 18, 2020 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Credit Unions
Agencies adjust CRA asset thresholds
Federal regulators announced the annual adjustment to Community Reinvestment Act thresholds. Effective Jan. 1, the “small bank” or “small savings association” designation applies to institutions that as of Dec. 31 of either of the prior two calendar years had assets of less than $1.322 billion.
December 18, 2020 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Compliance CRA
ICBA Statement on Credit Union Debt Rule
ICBA and the nation's community banks strongly oppose today’s National Credit Union Administration approval of a final rule that will allow the largest and most complex tax-exempt credit unions to issue subordinated debt to institutional investors.
December 17, 2020 |
Press Release
Credit Unions
FDIC study: Community banks critical to key economic areas
The FDIC issued a new study that found community banks serve a critical role in providing access to credit in several key areas of the U.S. economy, particularly commercial real estate, small businesses, and agriculture.
December 17, 2020 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
NCUA board meeting today on subordinated debt
The National Credit Union Administration board is scheduled to meet at 10 a.m. (Eastern time) today to vote on an ICBA-opposed final rule allowing credit unions to issue subordinated debt as an alternative form of capital.
December 17, 2020 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Credit Unions
SolarWinds: What community banks need to know
The supply chain attack on the SolarWinds Orion Platform and subsequent customer breaches is affecting every corner of the economy, including community banking, ICBA President and CEO Rebeca Romero Rainey wrote.
December 17, 2020 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Cybersecurity
SolarWinds-related breaches: What community banks need to know
The supply chain attack on the SolarWinds Orion Platform, and the subsequent breaches to its customers, is a significant cybersecurity event that is affecting every corner of the public and private sectors, including community banking.
December 16, 2020 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Cybersecurity
FDIC proposes amendments to SAR regs
The FDIC proposed a rule to amend the agency’s Suspicious Activity Report regulation. The proposal would permit the FDIC to issue additional, case-by-case exemptions from SAR filing requirements to FDIC-supervised institutions.
December 16, 2020 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Compliance
Community Banks Participating in ICBA/Travelers Program Receive Year End Dividend
The Independent Community Bankers of America today announced that a dividend of $4.3 million will be shared by more than 1,200 community banks based on their participation in the 2019 ICBA/Travelers insurance program.
December 16, 2020 |
Press Release
ICBA Statement on ILC, Brokered Deposit Rules
Independent Community Bankers of America President and CEO Rebeca Romero Rainey issued a statement on today's Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. final rule on industrial loan companies.
December 15, 2020 |
Press Release
Commerce & Banking Deposit Insurance Lending
ICBA: CFPB should narrow 1071 reporting plan
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's outline of proposals for implementing small-business data collection and reporting rules is too broad and should be narrowed, ICBA said.
December 15, 2020 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
Bipartisan stimulus proposal includes ICBA priorities
Draft proposed legislation released by a bipartisan group of lawmakers includes ICBA-advocated stimulus priorities.
December 15, 2020 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Advocacy 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.
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