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.
ICBA: OCC should pave the way for successful bank-fintech partnerships
ICBA told the OCC that as banks and fintechs increasingly collaborate, it is essential that regulators adopt policies that recognize the benefits of these partnerships and address emerging risks in a thoughtful, proportionate manner.
May 05, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
OCC
ICBA Welcomes Mastercard as Sponsor of Innovation Programming to Advance Community Bank Solutions
The Independent Community Bankers of America® (ICBA) today announced that Mastercard has joined as a sponsor of ICBA’s innovation programming, marking a significant expansion of the relationship between the two organizations.
May 02, 2025 |
Press Release
CFPB to deprioritize 1071 enforcement for entities not protected by court order
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau announced that it will deprioritize enforcement of its 1071 small-business lending rule for entities not currently protected by a 5th Circuit Court order.
May 02, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Compliance
Following Latest Credit Union Acquisition of a Community Bank, ICBA Continues Call for Taxing Largest Credit Unions
Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) President and CEO Rebeca Romero Rainey issued the following statement following the latest acquisition of a tax-paying community bank by a tax-exempt credit union.
May 02, 2025 |
Press Release
Credit Unions
FinCEN proposes rule to combat cyber scams and heists
The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network proposed prohibiting U.S. financial institutions from opening or maintaining accounts for or on behalf of a Cambodian group that deals in crypto scams and designating the organization as a money-laundering concern.
May 02, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Financial Crimes Enforcement Network
Former NCUA Chair: Challenges ahead for credit union industry
Credit union tax and regulatory exemptions have become increasingly vulnerable on Capitol Hill as lawmakers consider new tax legislation, former National Credit Union Administration chair Todd Harper said.
May 02, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Credit Unions
ICBA Honors Community Banks’ Role in Powering Small Business Success During Small Business Month
In recognition of National Small Business Month this May, the Independent Community Bankers of America® (ICBA) is celebrating the critical role community banks play in supporting the nation’s small businesses—the backbone of the American economy.
May 01, 2025 |
Press Release
Community Bank Awareness
Tax Foundation: States lose when credit unions acquire banks
A new blog post from the nonpartisan Tax Foundation notes that when a credit union acquires a bank, state and local governments can lose much of the tax revenue that the bank was paying.
May 01, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Credit Unions
Still time to register for this month’s ICBA Capital Summit
There is still time for community bankers to register for ICBA Capital Summit, scheduled for May 12-15 in Washington, D.C.
May 01, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
ICBA urges grassroots action on trigger leads, ACRE Act
With Congress back to work this week, ICBA is encouraging community bankers to contact lawmakers in support of the Homebuyers Privacy Protection Act and the ACRE Act.
May 01, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Grassroots/Be Heard
Taking the Proper Steps to Unmask Deepfake Fraud
Community banks face the threat of deepfake fraud as developments in AI continue to refine it. While addressing such a challenge, banks must remain cognizant of reporting practices.
May 01, 2025 |
Independent Banker
Compliance
How Can Legal Expertise Smooth Succession Transitions?
Succession planning is complicated in all sorts of ways. An attorney or legal team can help iron out the issues and lay out documents that ensure long-term continuity for community banks.
May 01, 2025 |
Independent Banker
Building Stronger Futures Through the Heartland Bank Community Foundation
Focused on youth development and family enrichment, Heartland Bank’s charitable foundation delivers meaningful results through strategic giving and community partnerships.
May 01, 2025 |
Independent Banker
Out of Office: Robin McDougald
The chief retail and product officer at $2.3 billion-asset Texas First Bank in Texas City, Texas, is an amateur actress at the Baytown Little Theater in Baytown, Texas.
May 01, 2025 |
Independent Banker
How Fraudsters Prey on Good Nature Following Disaster
Even as people suffer and others help their neighbors after devastation from fires, tornadoes or floods, fraudsters are looking to capitalize on both vulnerability and generosity.
May 01, 2025 |
Independent Banker
Compliance
Maximizing Profitability with Today's Point-of-Sale Tech
The goal of community banks in a digital age: Be top of wallet. Learn how to take advantage of growing POS innovations like digital wallets.
May 01, 2025 |
Independent Banker
Payments
What's Attracting Small Businesses to Small-Dollar SBA Loans?
Lenders are seeing an increase in small-dollar loans as demand from small business customers surges due to new SBA 7(a) program reforms and higher interest rates.
May 01, 2025 |
Independent Banker
Lending
Michael Benedict: The Resilience of Agency MBS in a Shifting Financial Landscape
Agency mortgage-backed securities rise above the rest in this relative value update.
May 01, 2025 |
Independent Banker
Growing the Community
Alan Keller: What's at Stake for Community Banks in Current Tax Legislation
Facing its expiration date at the end of 2025, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act is at a crossroads.
May 01, 2025 |
Independent Banker
Advocacy
CFG Bank Uplifts Baltimore's Resilience Following Local Tragedy
From donations to innovative money market accounts, CFG Bank is supporting Baltimore as it rebuilds and recovers from the 2024 Key Bridge collapse.
May 01, 2025 |
Independent Banker
Powering Potential: ICBA Welcomes Peter Nelson
In February 2025, ICBA welcomed Peter Nelson as senior EVP of member engagement. As a long-time community banker, Nelson brings with him a history of robust involvement with ICBA. Here’s a look at what he brings to the table in his new position and a peek at his goals for 2025 and beyond.
May 01, 2025 |
Independent Banker
What Every Community Bank Needs to Fight Fraud
When it comes to fraud, everything old is new again—and then some. Fraudsters not only stick with the tried and true but also find ever-more-dubious ways to trick people into giving up their hard-earned dollars. Keeping a keen eye for the warning signs of fraud, community banks can take back power.
May 01, 2025 |
Independent Banker
Compliance
Charles Potts: Turning Strategy Into Success With the Right Tech
Unlocking Strategic Advantages with ECM Technology
SPONSORED | Enterprise content management (ECM) technology is often thought of as a back-office system for avoiding information loss and supporting document retention. While those goals are important, selecting the right ECM solution for your financial institution can unlock strategic advantages, too.
May 01, 2025 |
Independent Banker
Payments
Community State Bank Brings Joy to Breast Cancer Patients and Survivors
A breast cancer awareness fundraiser at Community State Bank in Union Grove, Wis., culminated in a $1,000 donation for the Heavenly Locks Foundation.
May 01, 2025 |
Independent Banker
Rebeca Romero Rainey: Coming Together to Address Fraud
“Some of the most effective approaches to fraud prevention emerge through conversations about what has worked within your banks.”
May 01, 2025 |
Independent Banker
Jack E. Hopkins: How Education and Technology Drive Down Fraud Risks
“To protect both our banks and our customers, we need to go that extra mile to verify every transaction is legitimate.”
May 01, 2025 |
Independent Banker
Workplace Culture: A Make or Break for Community Bank Employees?
Culture keeps a workplace and its employees running—whether they know it or not. From values and practices to the way colleagues interact, culture drives a community bank from the inside out. Learn what it means to these community banks, and discover the practices they established to maintain a positive culture at each branch.
May 01, 2025 |
Independent Banker
Lindsay LaNore: Strategic Success Starts with a Thoughtful Plan
Drive Efficiency With These 9 Back Office Upgrades
Much of a community bank’s technical success starts behind the curtain: in the back office. By optimizing this area of operations, a bank can run like a well-oiled machine. See how those in the industry are doing just that.
May 01, 2025 |
Independent Banker
Future Commercial Lending Success Through Consumer Loans
SPONSORED | Community banks often prioritize commercial lending for its strong returns, but long-term success depends on engaging consumer borrowers (tomorrow’s commercial clients). Read Teslar’s white paper to explore why community banks need to engage consumer borrowers to grow and sustain their commercial lending pipeline—and how to do it successfully.
May 01, 2025 |
Independent Banker
Lending
Protect Your Bank From Card Fraud Losses
SPONSORED | ICBA Payments helps banks recuperate losses from card fraud with its Fraud Loss Protection Plan, a unique-to-the-industry product designed for and available exclusively to community banks.
May 01, 2025 |
Independent Banker
Compliance
Community banker urges tailored regulation at House hearing
J. Michael Radcliffe—chairman and CEO of Community Financial Services Bank in Benton, Ky.—testified before the House Financial Services Committee’s Subcommittee on Financial Institutions hearing on regulatory overreach.
April 30, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Congressional Matters
ICBA advocacy briefing next week on deregulation, digital assets, and more
ICBA next week is hosting a complimentary community bank briefing on key congressional and regulatory developments.
April 30, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Advocacy
Acting comptroller says AI can expand reach of banks
Acting Comptroller of the Currency Rodney Hood said artificial intelligence has tremendous potential to help banks optimize processes and promote access to banking services, but it must be used in a safe, secure, and trustworthy manner.
April 30, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Artificial Intellegence
Navigate Evolving Fraud With Jack Henry Financial Crimes Defender™
SPONSORED | Effectively protect your bank from pervasive fraud threats while putting your customers first with Jack Henry Financial Crimes Defender™.
April 30, 2025 |
Independent Banker
Compliance
How community banks are advertising on streaming TV
Community bankers are exploring the targeting capabilities and flexibility of advertising on connected TV, according to the latest Independent Banker magazine.
April 29, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Community banker testifying today at House regulatory hearing
J. Michael Radcliffe—chairman and CEO of Community Financial Services Bank in Benton, Ky.—today is scheduled to testify before the House Financial Services Committee’s Subcommittee on Financial Institutions.
April 29, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
ICBA urges grassroots action on trigger leads
As Congress returns from its April recess, ICBA is encouraging community bankers to tell their lawmakers to protect homebuyers by limiting mortgage trigger leads.
April 29, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Grassroots/Be Heard
ICBA urges grassroots action on trigger leads
As Congress returns from its April recess, ICBA is encouraging community bankers to tell their lawmakers to protect homebuyers by limiting mortgage trigger leads.
April 28, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Grassroots/Be Heard
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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