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.
Former NCUA official profiles rogue credit union
A new blog post spotlights a growth-focused credit union that has rapidly expanded its footprint and obscured its declining net worth by acquiring smaller credit unions and issuing subordinated debt.
November 04, 2024 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Credit Unions
ICBA: Credit union penalty exemplifies consumer impact of lagging oversight
ICBA said a new regulatory action against VyStar Credit Union for harming consumers through its botched rollout of a new online banking system exemplifies the risks posed by lagging credit union regulation.
November 01, 2024 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Credit Unions
ICBA calls for additional EGRPRA outreach meetings
ICBA commended the federal banking agencies for hosting a virtual community banker outreach meeting under their current regulatory review and called for at least three more meetings.
November 01, 2024 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
EGRPRA s.2155
Here Comes the Snow: Lending Support for Winter Businesses
Rain or shine, community banks are there to serve their communities. But how about snow? For some, the cold weather is more than welcome. We talked to four community banks located in winter-centric areas—Alaska, Minnesota, Colorado and northern New York—about how they take advantage of seasonal snowfall and lend to meet the needs of those at the cold front.
November 01, 2024 |
Independent Banker
Lending
Michael Benedict: Bridging the Gap
Rate cuts may not provide immediate margin relief, but you can take steps to reduce near-term pressure.
November 01, 2024 |
Independent Banker
Growing the Community
Community Bank Tactics for Recruiting Tech Superstars
The battle for tech talent continues to be a difficult one for community banks. But with the right approach, bank leadership can appeal to a segment of tech-savvy individuals fit for the job.
November 01, 2024 |
Independent Banker
Easing the Way: Current and Upcoming Banking Technology Trends
The best technology is the kind that supports both the customer and the community bank. We look at some key industry challenges and where tech could potentially ease pain points. Importantly, we encourage banks to ask one essential post-implementation question: Is this technology getting the job done?
November 01, 2024 |
Independent Banker
Payments
How to Prepare for a Potential 1071 Implementation
While ICBA continues to challenge the 1071 rule’s legality, community banks must prepare for its potential passage.
November 01, 2024 |
Independent Banker
Compliance
Alternative Credit Scoring Models: Beyond FICO
Community banks can expand access to capital by looking at other factors for loan approval. Here’s what to consider.
November 01, 2024 |
Independent Banker
Lending
Tim Roy: Pushing Back Against Upcoming FHLB Regulations
Significant changes could be in store for the Federal Home Loan Bank system, with possible negative effects for community banks.
November 01, 2024 |
Independent Banker
Advocacy
Native American Bank Dedicates a Day to Gratitude
On June 28, Denver-based Native American Bank, N.A., hosted a Customer Appreciation Day at Yellow Bird Woman Park near its Browning, Mont., branch.
November 01, 2024 |
Independent Banker
Out of Office: Rachell Bilbrey
The senior vice president and director of treasury at $1.8 billion-asset Builtwell Bank in Chattanooga, Tenn., finds creative fulfillment through conceptualizing, creating and styling home interiors.
November 01, 2024 |
Independent Banker
Lucas White: Staffing for the Digital Future
We can teach technology, but we can’t teach the passion that comes with community banking. It has to be inherent.
November 01, 2024 |
Independent Banker
Ion Bank: A Reflection of the Customers It Serves
Ion Bank makes a point of fostering a diverse workplace and supporting local communities through its multilingual staff, fundraising efforts and inclusive outreach.
November 01, 2024 |
Independent Banker
Powering Potential: A Guide to In-Person ICBA Events
ICBA’s in-person events offer unparalleled opportunities for professional growth. Discover how stepping out of the office and into a collaborative environment can enhance understanding, retention and network building.
November 01, 2024 |
Independent Banker
5 Tips for Handling Fintech Partnership Contracts
Go into fintech contract negotiations with clear intention to save your community bank from future conflict.
November 01, 2024 |
Independent Banker
Compliance
You’ve Launched a New Website—What Happens Now?
SPONSORED | “Build it and they will come” is great for a baseball field. But when you’ve just put your all into a new website, find out how to generate ROI, produce actionable results and more.
November 01, 2024 |
Independent Banker
Growing the Community
Rebeca Romero Rainey: AI, the New Frontier
To safeguard our banks, we must understand how AI is being used today for the good and the bad, then evolve our risk management procedures accordingly.
November 01, 2024 |
Independent Banker
Independent Financial: A New Model for Expanding Healthcare Access
Independent Financial asked what its community needed most, then undertook an innovative approach to supporting public health.
November 01, 2024 |
Independent Banker
Lindsay LaNore: How To Be a Memorable Leader
Is Your Bank's Website Accessible To All?
Ensuring people with disabilities can access all corners of your bank’s digital properties is more than just a legal requirement. Here are tips on how to keep your content within reach of everyone.
November 01, 2024 |
Independent Banker
Compliance
Charles Potts: Driving Strategy With AI as a Tool
How Can Community Banks Attract Gen Z Customers?
While youth accounts are a great value-add for parents, younger customers are looking for offerings with a few key characteristics.
November 01, 2024 |
Independent Banker
Portfolio and Loan-Level Stress Testing: Be Proactive & Examiner-Ready
SPONSORED | Regulators are increasingly mandating stress testing, with growing expectations for community banks to take a more proactive approach. Banks should consider easier and more affordable methods to conduct both portfolio- and loan-level stress testing for more comprehensive risk management.
November 01, 2024 |
Independent Banker
Compliance
Rethink Your Digital Banking Experience to Retain Customers
SPONSORED | Retain customers, enhance efficiencies, and compete effectively by leveraging cutting-edge technology and a powerful digital banking experience.
November 01, 2024 |
Independent Banker
Time’s Up for Excel & Managing Credit Risk
SPONSORED | For 45 years spreadsheets have dominated business tasks from bookkeeping and inventory management to advanced data analysis. The problem is the overuse of Excel leads many community banks to embrace terrible tradeoffs – especially in commercial lending. It’s time to ditch your spreadsheets.
November 01, 2024 |
Independent Banker
Payments
FSB concerned about lack of stablecoin regulation
The Financial Stability Board reiterated its calls for countries to regulate stablecoins due to concerns about users losing confidence in stablecoins, which could lead to runs on issuers.
October 31, 2024 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Digital Assets
CFPB Penalty Against VyStar Credit Union Exemplifies Consumer Impact of Tax-Exempt Industry’s Lagging Regulatory Oversight
Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) President and CEO Rebeca Romero Rainey issued the following statement after the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau took action against VyStar Credit Union for harming consumers through its botched rollout of a new online banking system.
October 31, 2024 |
Press Release
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Technology
ICBA: Agencies should publish supervisory highlights on bank-fintech partnerships
To counteract “regulation through enforcement,” ICBA urged federal banking regulators to periodically publish supervisory highlights on key examination findings related to bank-fintech partnerships, similar to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s.
October 31, 2024 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
Task force updates AML-deficiency jurisdiction list
The Financial Action Task Force—a global anti-money-laundering watchdog—updated its lists of jurisdictions with AML deficiencies.
October 31, 2024 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Financial Crimes Enforcement Network
EGRPRA grassroots letters due today
ICBA is urging community bankers to use its Be Heard grassroots action center to submit comments on the current Economic Growth and Regulatory Paperwork Reduction Act review ahead of today’s deadline.
October 30, 2024 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
EGRPRA s.2155
Blog: ICBA Payments entering a new era
ICBA Payments has a 40-year history of innovation and growth with a successful brand, steady business, and loyal clients—but it’s time for a transformation, according to a new blog post.
October 30, 2024 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Gruenberg: Orderly resolutions without systemic risk exception needed
FDIC Chairman Martin Gruenberg said there is a need for meaningful action to improve the likelihood of orderly resolutions of large regional banks without the expectation of invoking the systemic risk exception.
October 30, 2024 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
Hurricane Relief Fund surpasses $100,000, continues vital support for community banks
The ICBA Foundation’s Hurricane Relief Fund—which is dedicated to supporting community bankers, their employees, and communities—has surpassed $100,000 in donations across five states.
October 29, 2024 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
EGRPRA grassroots letters due tomorrow
ICBA continues urging community bankers to use its Be Heard grassroots action center to submit comments on the current Economic Growth and Regulatory Paperwork Reduction Act review.
October 29, 2024 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
EGRPRA s.2155
Pew research: Americans don’t think crypto is safe
More than six in 10 Americans (63%) say they have little to no confidence that investing in, trading, or using cryptocurrencies is reliable and safe, according to the Pew Research Center.
October 29, 2024 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Digital Assets
Independent Banker: Faster payments don’t have to lead to faster fraud
Addressing real-time payments fraud requires a combination of techniques—there's no silver bullet—according to the latest Independent Banker magazine.
October 25, 2024 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Technology Faster Payments
FHA seeks feedback on housing proposals
The Federal Housing Administration posted two draft mortgagee letters on its Drafting Table for feedback:
October 25, 2024 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Mortgage Lending FHA/HUD
CFPB: Companies must follow FCRA rules when tracking employees
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau issued a circular that said that companies using third-party consumer reports must follow Fair Credit Reporting Act rules.
October 25, 2024 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Compliance
ICBA: Latest Credit Union Acquisition Shows Why a Federal Response Is Needed
Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) President and CEO Rebeca Romero Rainey today issued the following statement after the 19th acquisition of a tax-paying bank by a tax-exempt credit union in 2024, which expands on this year’s annual record.
October 23, 2024 |
Press Release
Credit Unions
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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