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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.

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Fed payment services will operate normally on Thursday

The Federal Reserve said that while its Washington, D.C., offices will be closed this Thursday due to the national day of mourning for former President Jimmy Carter, its payment systems will operate normally.
January 06, 2025 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Federal Reserve 

End the Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac conservatorship: blog

With a new Congress and administration coming to Washington, it’s time for policymakers to free Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac from government control to support the nation’s housing sector, according to a Main Street Matters blog post.
January 06, 2025 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Congressional Matters 

Blog: Innovation takes ICBA forward

ICBA doubled down on its commitment to innovation in 2024, according to a new ICBA blog post.
January 03, 2025 | ICBA NewsWatch Today  

FHFA, Treasury preview process on ending GSE conservatorship

The Federal Housing Finance Agency and Treasury Department announced a process for eventually receiving public input on options and potential effects of ending the conservatorship of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
January 03, 2025 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Federal Housing Finance Agency 

Tickets available for ’80s-themed ICBA PAC auction

Tickets are now available for ICBA PAC’s 36th Annual Auction Fundraiser, scheduled for March 12 during ICBA LIVE in Nashville.
January 03, 2025 | ICBA NewsWatch Today  

Podcast: Following successful 2024, community bankers look forward to 2025

2024 was a successful year for ICBA’s advocacy efforts, which sets the table for more wins in 2025, according to the latest Independent Banker podcast.
January 02, 2025 | ICBA NewsWatch Today  

After latest credit union acquisition, ICBA says policymakers must act

The record-extending 22nd credit union acquisition of a community bank in 2024 demands a response from policymakers, ICBA said following the announcement of the latest deal.
January 02, 2025 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Credit Unions 

Latest beneficial ownership update: Companies not required to file

The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network announced that, in light of a recent federal court order, reporting companies are not currently required to file beneficial ownership information, or BOI.
January 02, 2025 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Compliance Financial Crimes Enforcement Network 

Smart Org Changes That Could Boost Your Bank’s Trajectory

As community banks face increased competition, emerging roles and employees’ desire for advancement, it could be the right time for your community bank to assess its organizational structure to make sure it’s set up efficiently and in a way that brings the whole team together. We hear from five community banks that have reconfigured their org charts to hone overall operations, reinforce culture and create opportunities for employees to succeed.
January 01, 2025 | Independent Banker  

Michael Benedict: Make Portfolio Strategy Fun Again

Things are looking up for portfolio management in 2025.
January 01, 2025 | Independent Banker   Growing the Community 

Lance Noggle: It's Time to Bolster Cybersecurity Measures—Now and Forever

As the costs of data breaches continue to rise, it’s essential for community banks to access and use available federal cybersecurity tools for combating fraudsters and bad actors.
January 01, 2025 | Independent Banker   Payments 

Lucas White: Why Advocacy Should Be a Top Priority in 2025

“We have a new administration and elected officials who need to fully understand the community bank difference.”
January 01, 2025 | Independent Banker  

Out of Office: Kati LeBreton

The vice president and director of P.O.W.E.R., a program for women in business, at $1 billion-asset Fidelity Bank in New Orleans, hosts The Big Bad Boot, a podcast about true crime, urban legends and spooky Louisiana lore with her brother, Caleb Morse.
January 01, 2025 | Independent Banker  

Community Bank Delaware Salutes Space Heroes

Last July, Community Bank Delaware in Lewes, Del., donated $3,000 to American Legion Post 28, an organization branch founded in 1920 to support local veterans, military personnel, their families and the broader community.
January 01, 2025 | Independent Banker  

Charles Potts: The Innovations We'll See in 2025

They say the only constant is change, and 2025 is shaping up to prove that point. We are in for a dynamic year, influenced by customer demand, product accessibility and partner potential.
January 01, 2025 | Independent Banker  

How to Balance Human and Machine While Using Chatbots

Community banks’ reputations are built on personal connection. But with an effective chatbot, banks can free up staff to focus on customers’ more complex needs. It just takes effective training.
January 01, 2025 | Independent Banker  

Commercial Bank of Mott Helps Fund a Home Base for the Community

The Commercial Bank of Mott set out to plan, fund and build a community center that will serve as a new hub for all locals to enjoy.
January 01, 2025 | Independent Banker  

Powering Potential: ICBA Certification Q&A with Arlene Cooper

Arlene Cooper, internal audit officer at CNB Bank in Carlsbad, N.M., is a certified community bank internal auditor (CCBIA) and certified community bank compliance officer (CCBCO). She shares insights on compliance challenges and her approach to upholding ethical standards at CNB Bank.
January 01, 2025 | Independent Banker  

Lindsay LaNore: 8 Healthy Habits for Conflict Resolution

January 01, 2025 | Independent Banker  

Strategies for Consumer-Centric Banking: an Exclusive Bud Webinar

SPONSORED | Bud Financial has joined community bankers for an Independent Banker webinar where we’ve explored the actions they would take to drive success, revenue and customer engagement.
January 01, 2025 | Independent Banker   Growing the Community 

Growth Goals: Navigating IPOs and OTC Trading

Is your community bank thinking about launching an initial public offering or over-the-counter trading of stocks to raise liquidity? The rewards could be great—but both options come with extra regulatory requirements and costs. Careful consideration is critical.
January 01, 2025 | Independent Banker   Growing the Community 

2025 Lending Outlook: Cautious Optimism

Falling interest rates are expected to fuel borrowing activity at community banks. We examine the prospects for commercial, consumer/mortgage and ag lending in the new year.
January 01, 2025 | Independent Banker   Lending 

4 Regulatory Developments Coming in 2025

Community bankers have a variety of new regulatory changes to prepare for in 2025, across agencies and banking functions. As always, forewarned is forearmed.
January 01, 2025 | Independent Banker   Advocacy 

2025 Community Bank CEO Outlook: Balancing Between Deposits and Loans

While the business of community banking is ongoing, a new year is always a good time to take stock of the challenges and opportunities ahead. We surveyed community bank presidents and CEOs about their plans for 2025—and found that those plans look very different from our last survey in 2022.
January 01, 2025 | Independent Banker  

Rebeca Romero Rainey: Nurturing the Community Bank Ecosystem

“Without a doubt, advocacy serves as the most critical piece of our mission in 2025. With a shift in control in Congress and the White House, our focus will be on regulatory relief and proportionate rulemaking.”
January 01, 2025 | Independent Banker  

Stearns Bank Lays Groundwork in Minnesota's Hmong Community

Stearns Bank is fostering trust, financial empowerment and meaningful relationships with Minnesota’s sizable Hmong community by establishing a branch in one of their cultural hubs.
January 01, 2025 | Independent Banker  

How Can Community Banks Ride the Digital Wallet Wave?

Looking to drive card usage and ensure continued deposit recapture? As the use of digital wallets continues to accelerate, here’s how you can participate and benefit from this trend.
January 01, 2025 | Independent Banker   Payments 
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ICBA Applauds Congressional Passage of Funding Bill with Farm Bill, Farm Aid

Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) President and CEO Rebeca Romero Rainey issued the following statement applauding the inclusion of a farm bill extension and a $10 billion farm aid package in the year-end continuing resolution.
December 21, 2024 | Press Release   Agriculture Farm Bill 

TCM Bank Appoints C.J. Littrell as President, Jacob Eisen to Continue as TCM Bank CEO

ICBA Payments, the payments-services subsidiary of the Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA), today announced that C.J. Littrell has been appointed president of its credit card bank, TCM Bank, N.A. Littrell will retain his role as chief operating officer (COO), working closely with Jacob Eisen, who continues as TCM Bank’s permanent CEO. As president and COO, Littrell will oversee the bank’s strategic initiatives, drive operational efficiency, and work alongside Eisen and members of the TCM Bank board of directors to continue strengthening TCM Bank’s partnerships with community banks nationwide.
December 20, 2024 | Press Release  

ICBA encourages grassroots calls on farm aid package

ICBA is urging community bankers to call their members of Congress to urge inclusion of an emergency farm aid package in a final funding bill when Congress approves a continuing resolution, or CR.
December 20, 2024 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Farm Bill 

’80s-themed ICBA PAC auction set for ICBA LIVE

ICBA PAC is hosting its 36th Annual Auction Fundraiser on Wednesday, March 12, during ICBA LIVE in Nashville. Tickets for the ’80s-themed event go on sale Friday, Jan. 3.
December 20, 2024 | ICBA NewsWatch Today  

Agencies adjust CRA asset thresholds

Federal regulators announced the 2025 updated asset-size thresholds used to define "small banks" and "intermediate small banks" under their current Community Reinvestment Act regulations.
December 20, 2024 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Compliance CRA 

ICBA urging congressional outreach on spending package’s farm provisions

ICBA is calling on community bankers to contact their members of Congress and urge support for including a farm bill extension and farm aid package in a pending end-of-year funding bill.
December 19, 2024 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Farm Bill 

Fed cuts rates by 25 basis points

The Federal Open Market Committee voted to cut target interest rates by 25 basis points due to an easing labor market and inflation moving toward its 2% goal.
December 19, 2024 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Federal Reserve 

CFPB targets credit card reward programs

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau issued a circular warning that some credit card companies operating rewards programs may be breaking the law.
December 19, 2024 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Consumer Financial Protection Bureau 

ICBA applauds farm aid package, farm bill extension

ICBA applauded the initial inclusion of a farm bill extension and a $10 billion farm aid package in the year-end continuing resolution before Congress.
December 18, 2024 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Farm Bill 

ICBA-advocated trigger leads bill passes Senate

ICBA-advocated legislation that would protect the financial privacy of mortgage applicants passed the Senate by unanimous consent.
December 18, 2024 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Congressional Matters 

Romero Rainey: Credit unions should pay taxes—period

Credit unions should pay taxes, as The Wall Street Journal rightly pointed out in a recent editorial, ICBA President and CEO Rebeca Romero Rainey said in a LinkedIn post.
December 18, 2024 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Credit Unions 

ICBA urges Congress to pass emergency farm aid

ICBA called on Congress to pass a farm bill extension and a farm aid package in addition to assisting citizens recovering from weather-related disasters.
December 17, 2024 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Congressional Matters 

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