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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Romero Rainey named top Washington influencer
ICBA President and CEO Rebeca Romero Rainey was named to Washingtonian magazine’s list of the 500 Most Influential People in the nation’s capital.
April 28, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
SEC chair, commissioner push for rational crypto framework
In his first public remarks since being sworn in as Securities and Exchange Commission chair, Paul Atkins said he looks forward to working with market participants, the administration, and Congress to “establish a rational, fit-for-purpose regulatory framework for crypto assets.”
April 28, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Digital Assets
Romero Rainey Named to Washingtonian’s Top Influencers for Community Bank Advocacy
Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) President and CEO Rebeca Romero Rainey has once again been selected for Washingtonian magazine's 500 Most Influential People feature, as part of the publication’s banking and finance list.
April 25, 2025 |
Press Release
Advocacy
After another acquisition, ICBA continues push on credit union tax breaks
Following the latest acquisition of a tax-paying community bank by a tax-exempt credit union, ICBA continued its call for Congress to eliminate the federal tax exemption for credit unions over $1 billion in assets.
April 23, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Credit Unions
ICBA urging grassroots outreach on ACRE Act
With Congress potentially taking up tax legislation when it returns from the current congressional recess, ICBA is calling on community bankers to urge their lawmakers to co-sponsor legislation that would provide tax relief to support rural lending.
April 23, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Agriculture Grassroots/Be Heard
House Democrats urge Treasury to exempt CDFI Fund from cuts
House Financial Services Committee Ranking Member Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) and 87 House Democrats asked Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to exclude the CDFI Fund from a recent executive order directing it to scale back operations.
April 23, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Department of Treasury
ICBA Continues Call to End Tax Breaks for Largest Credit Unions Following Latest Community Bank Acquisition
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.
April 22, 2025 |
Press Release
Credit Unions
ICBA urging grassroots outreach on ACRE Act
With Congress potentially taking up tax legislation when it returns from the current congressional recess, ICBA is calling on community bankers to urge their lawmakers to co-sponsor legislation that would provide tax relief to support rural lending.
April 22, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Agriculture Grassroots/Be Heard
ICBA seeks participants for cross-border payments group
ICBA is seeking 12-15 community bankers to join its working group on cross-border payments.
April 22, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Payments
French Hill, Byron Donalds slated for ICBA Capital Summit
House Financial Services Committee Chairman French Hill (R-Ark.), Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.), and Deputy Treasury Secretary Michael Faulkender are scheduled to speak during next month’s ICBA Capital Summit in Washington, D.C.
April 22, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Community bankers to hear quick pitches from fintechs Thursday
ICBA ThinkTECH Connect—which provides a quick look at fintech companies that may be of interest to community banks—is scheduled for noon (Eastern time) this Thursday, April 24.
April 21, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
FDIC modifies resolution planning for large banks
The FDIC modified its approach to resolution planning for large banks.
April 21, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
Fed proposes stress test changes
The Federal Reserve proposed changes that would reduce the volatility of capital requirements stemming from its annual stress test results.
April 21, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Federal Reserve
Independent Banker: Capital Summit shapes the future of community banking
At ICBA Capital Summit—slated for May 12-15 in Washington, D.C.—community bankers engage in important discussions about the future of community banking, advocate for policies that support local economies, and share best practices with peers, according to the latest Independent Banker magazine.
April 18, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
ICBA urges OCC to preserve dedicated supervision for community banks
In response to the OCC’s decision to combine its community, midsize, and large bank supervision functions, ICBA said merging supervisory functions threatens to dilute the nuanced oversight that effective community bank supervision requires in favor of a one-size-fits-all model.
April 18, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
OCC
Fed’s Barr: Banks are frontline defenders against deepfake-enabled fraud
Banks play a critical role in safeguarding against deepfake-driven fraud given their direct handling of financial transactions and sensitive customer data, according to Federal Reserve Governor Michael Barr.
April 18, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Fraud
ICBA, other groups affirm support for legislation to prohibit mortgage trigger leads
ICBA and other groups expressed support for the reintroduction of legislation in the House and Senate to protect the financial privacy of mortgage applicants.
April 17, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Mortgage Rules
ICBA urges OCC to preserve dedicated supervision for community banks
In response to the OCC’s announced decision to combine its community, midsize, and large bank supervision functions, ICBA said merging supervisory functions threatens to dilute the nuanced oversight that effective community bank supervision requires and jeopardizes the tailored regulatory approach that community banks deserve.
April 17, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
OCC
Acquisition ignites calls to end tax exemption for large credit unions
ICBA reiterated its call for policymakers to eliminate the federal tax exemption for credit unions with more than $1 billion in assets following the fourth announced credit union acquisition of a tax-paying community bank this year.
April 17, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Credit Unions
ICBA Urges OCC to Preserve Dedicated Supervision for Community Banks
Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) President and CEO Rebeca Romero Rainey issued the following statement in opposition to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency’s announced decision to merge its community, midsize, and large bank supervision functions into a single line of business.
April 16, 2025 |
Press Release
OCC
After community bank acquisition, ICBA urges end to tax exemption for billion-dollar credit unions
ICBA reiterated its call for policymakers to eliminate the federal tax exemption for credit unions with more than $1 billion in assets following the fourth announced credit union acquisition of a tax-paying community bank this year.
April 16, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Credit Unions
Judge scraps CFPB credit card late fee rule
A federal judge voided a Consumer Financial Protection Bureau rule capping credit card late fees at $8, after the agency agreed with opponents that the rule was illegal.
April 16, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
OCC releases bank letter on information security incident
The OCC released a letter sent to supervised institutions regarding unauthorized access to OCC email systems. The letter included background on the February incident, the OCC’s response, and what financial institutions could expect going forward.
April 16, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
OCC
ICBA Urges End to Tax Exemption for Billion-dollar Credit Unions After Another Community Bank Acquisition
Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) President and CEO Rebeca Romero Rainey issued the following statement in response to the latest acquisition of a tax-paying community bank by a tax-exempt credit union.
April 15, 2025 |
Press Release
Credit Unions
Independent Banker details how banks can leverage FedNow
FedNow, the Federal Reserve’s instant payments system, wrapped up 2024 with more than 1,000 financial institutions participating, and 68% of community banks offering or planning to offer FedNow, according to the latest Independent Banker magazine.
April 15, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
ICBA seeks participants for cross-border payments group
ICBA is seeking 12-15 community bankers to join its working group on cross-border payments.
April 15, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Fed’s Waller: Tariffs could affect the FOMC’s economic objectives
Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller said large, broadly applied tariffs could significantly affect the economy and the Federal Open Market Committee's pursuit of economic objectives.
April 15, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Federal Reserve
New blog post highlights value of compensation data
Reliable competitive compensation and benefits data are crucial to securing and retaining top performers, according to a new Main Street Matters blog post.
April 14, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Bank Director/Board Member Human Resources
ICBA, other groups oppose efforts to increase income tax rates
ICBA and other groups said recent proposals to raise the top individual income tax rate to 40% would disproportionately harm hundreds of thousands of pass-through businesses organized as S corporations, partnerships, and sole proprietorships.
April 14, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Taxes & Budget
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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