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 Statement on New York’s Proposed Climate Risk Guidance
Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) President and CEO Rebeca Romero Rainey issued the following statement on New York State Department of Financial Services proposed guidance on climate risk.
December 21, 2022 |
Press Release
Climate
Durbin Amendment expansion out of congressional omnibus
Congress left out of its end-of-year omnibus spending bill numerous ICBA-opposed legislative initiatives, including language to extend the Durbin Amendment to credit cards.
December 21, 2022 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Lending
ICBA Statement on Confirmation of FDIC Board Nominees
Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) President and CEO Rebeca Romero Rainey issued the following statement on the Senate confirmation of President Joe Biden’s nominees to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. board of directors.
December 20, 2022 |
Press Release
ICBA, Groups to Congress: CDFI Fund Proposal Would Harm Local Communities
The Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) and other groups today requested a meeting with members of Congress to discuss a Treasury Department proposal that would irreversibly harm access to services provided by Community Development Financial Institutions Fund-certified depository institutions.
December 20, 2022 |
Press Release
CDFI Department of Treasury
CFPB updates HELOC brochure
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau issued an update to its “What you should know about home equity lines of credit” brochure.
December 19, 2022 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Compliance
NCUA chief backs bill to tighten credit union cyber oversight
The head of the National Credit Union Administration called on Congress to pass ICBA-advocated legislation that would authorize the agency to examine credit union third-party service providers for cyber risk.
December 19, 2022 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Credit Unions Cybersecurity
New bill would establish national data breach standard
Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-Mo.) reintroduced ICBA-advocated legislation to establish a national data breach notification standard.
December 19, 2022 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Cybersecurity Technology
ICBA urges agency collaboration to support underserved communities
ICBA encouraged the Treasury Department’s newly formed Interagency Community Investment Committee to promote agency collaboration as it works to support access to affordable capital and financial services in historically underserved communities.
December 19, 2022 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Department of Treasury
FinCEN proposes rule on accessing beneficial ownership info
The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network issued a proposed rule governing access to and protection of beneficial ownership information.
December 16, 2022 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Technology Fintech Regulation
Regulators adopt Fair Debt Collection Practices Act exam procedures
The Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council’s Task Force on Consumer Compliance adopted revised examination procedures for the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and its implementing Regulation F.
December 16, 2022 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Compliance
ICBA backs ‘same risk, same regulation’ approach to crypto oversight
ICBA said it strongly supports the Financial Stability Board’s approach to international crypto-asset regulation that is based on the principle of “same activity, same risk, same regulation.”
December 16, 2022 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Digital Assets Technology
ICBA continues grassroots push as Congress debates omnibus
With Congress debating end-of-year omnibus spending legislation, ICBA continues calling on community bankers to reach out to lawmakers on ICBA-advocated cannabis banking legislation and ICBA-opposed language to expand the Durbin Amendment.
December 16, 2022 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Cannabis banking Lending
N.Y. banking agency issues crypto guidance
The New York Department of Financial Services released guidance for New York-regulated banking organizations that wish to engage in virtual currency-related activities.
December 16, 2022 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Compliance
ICBA op-ed: FDIC should draw down assessment rate increase
With the Federal Reserve's interest rate hikes hastening the normalization of deposits, the FDIC should respond by quickly drawing down its assessment rate increase, ICBA Chairman Brad Bolton wrote in a new op-ed.
December 13, 2022 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
FS-ISAC spotlights Cuba ransomware, smash-and-grab mitigation
The Financial Services Information Sharing and Analysis Center’s latest weekly risk summary spotlights the recent Joint Cybersecurity Advisory on Cuba ransomware variants.
December 13, 2022 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Cybersecurity Technology
New ICBA Polling Shows Consumer Opposition to Bill That Would End Credit Card Rewards Programs
As Congress considers controversial legislation to apply routing restrictions to credit card transactions — which would end popular credit card rewards programs — the Independent Community Bankers of America released new polling conducted by Morning Consult indicating consumers oppose the policy change.
December 13, 2022 |
Press Release
Credit Cards
Grassroots needed on cannabis banking, Durbin Amendment
While the National Defense Authorization Act excludes ICBA-advocated cannabis banking legislation and ICBA-opposed language to expand the Durbin Amendment, the debate over both initiatives continues.
December 13, 2022 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Cannabis banking Lending
CFPB: TILA doesn’t preempt N.Y. disclosure law
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau issued a preliminary determination that the Truth in Lending Act does not preempt a New York state law requiring commercial financing disclosures.
December 09, 2022 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Compliance
ICBA urges passage of new Senate bill to close ILC loophole
ICBA expressed strong support for the introduction of Senate legislation to close the industrial loan company loophole.
December 07, 2022 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Lending
ICBA’s Romero Rainey, Merski Again Named Top Lobbyists by The Hill
ICBA President and CEO Rebeca Romero Rainey and ICBA Group Executive Vice President of Congressional Relations and Strategy Paul Merski are featured on The Hill’s 2022 list of the top Washington advocates in the nation.
December 07, 2022 |
Press Release
Advocacy Community Bank Awareness
Grassroots heating up as lame-duck Congress winds down
As Congress considers must-pass end-of-year legislation, ICBA is calling on community bankers to contact their members of Congress on top advocacy priorities.
December 07, 2022 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Cannabis banking Lending
CFPB issues guidance on HMDA enforcement following court ruling
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau released Home Mortgage Disclosure Act enforcement guidance following a recent court ruling vacating its 2020 HMDA final rule.
December 07, 2022 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Mortgage Rules
Financial Services and Consumer Groups Support Senate Bill to Close Industrial Loan Company Loophole
Today, a broad coalition of financial services and consumer organizations expressed support for new legislation to close the industrial loan company (ILC) charter loophole, the "Close the Shadow Banking Loophole Act."
December 06, 2022 |
News
Lending
ICBA Urges Senate to Pass Newly Introduced Bill to Close ILC Loophole
The Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) today expressed its strong support for Senate Banking Committee Chairman Sherrod Brown's (D-Ohio) introduction of the Close the Shadow Banking Loophole Act to close the industrial loan company loophole, which allows companies to skirt regulatory oversight and violates U.S. policy separating banking and commerce.
December 06, 2022 |
Press Release
Lending
Grassroots key as Senate cannabis banking debate ramps up
With the debate over ICBA-advocated cannabis banking legislation picking up as some policymakers express concerns and others confidence in the bill's passage, ICBA is urging community bankers to continue speaking out to their members of Congress.
December 05, 2022 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Cannabis banking
ICBA, groups urge Congress to oppose SBA's proposed 7(a) changes
ICBA and other groups called on Congress to oppose Small Business Administration proposals to detrimentally reform its 7(a) lending program.
December 05, 2022 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Lending Small Business Administration
ICBA: PPP report validates that community banks are superior alternative to nonbanks
ICBA said a congressional report on financial technology participants in the Paycheck Protection Program validates that community banks were the unequivocal leaders of the U.S. economic recovery during the pandemic.
December 05, 2022 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Community Bank Awareness
ICBA: Congressional Report Validates That Community Banks Are a Superior Alternative to Nonbank Lenders
Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) President and CEO Rebeca Romero Rainey issued the following statement on the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis’s report regarding the role of financial technology companies in facilitating a disproportionately high rate of fraudulent and otherwise ineligible loans through the Paycheck Protection Program.
December 03, 2022 |
Press Release
Technology
ICBA to regulators: Ensure CRA reform minimizes new burdens
With FDIC Acting Chairman Martin Gruenberg telling Congress this week that he expects regulators to release a final rule modernizing Community Reinvestment Act regulations during the early part of next year, ICBA reiterated its call for the federal banking agencies to issue a uniform rule that minimizes new data collection and reporting burdens for community banks.
December 02, 2022 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
CRA
Community bank net income rises 13.5% in Q3
Community banks reported a 13.5% increase in net income during the third quarter from the previous quarter and a 3.9% increase from a year ago, according to the FDIC's latest Quarterly Banking Profile.
December 02, 2022 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Community Bank Awareness
Lawmakers urge FHFA to align capital standards with banking agencies
ICBA expressed support for a new bipartisan letter from members of Congress urging the Federal Housing Finance Agency to align its capital rules with those of federal banking regulators to avoid penalizing community banks for supporting local communities during the COVID-19 pandemic.
December 02, 2022 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Capital Regulatory Compliance
OCC cuts 2023 assessments
The OCC published its assessment rates for the 2023 calendar year, reducing the rates in its general assessment fee schedule and maintaining its 2022 rates for the independent trust and independent credit card fee schedules.
December 02, 2022 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
ICBA Urges Regulators to Ensure CRA Reform Minimizes New Community Bank Reporting Burdens
With FDIC Acting Chairman Martin Gruenberg testifying before Congress that he expects regulators to release a final rule modernizing Community Reinvestment Act regulations during the early part of next year, the Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) reiterated its call for the federal banking agencies to issue a uniform rule that minimizes new data collection and reporting burdens for community banks.
December 01, 2022 |
News
CRA
Gruenberg: Expect CRA rule early part of next year
FDIC Acting Chairman Martin Gruenberg told lawmakers he anticipates regulators will release a final rule reforming Community Reinvestment Act regulations during the early part of next year.
December 01, 2022 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Compliance
ICBA Supports Congressional Letter Urging FHFA to Align Capital Standards with Banking Regulators
The Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) expressed support for a new bipartisan letter from members of Congress urging the Federal Housing Finance Agency to align its capital rules with those of federal banking regulators to avoid penalizing community banks for supporting local communities during the COVID-19 pandemic.
December 01, 2022 |
Press Release
Federal Housing Finance Agency Housing Finance/GSEs
The resurgence of de novos
As the number of financial institutions have dropped, the number of de novos has started to rise. The founders of three startup banks discuss the importance of community banks to the country as mission-driven organizations.
December 01, 2022 |
Independent Banker
Out of office: Ryan Monica
The assistant vice president and sales manager of $628.5 million-asset Metairie Bank in Metairie, La., is a passionate music producer, guitarist and DJ. He plays gigs all around Louisiana, including outdoor festivals, weddings, college events and fundraisers.
December 01, 2022 |
Independent Banker
Jim Reber: Historic sell-off
This year’s market rout takes us back decades.
December 01, 2022 |
Independent Banker
Charles Potts: ICBA's legacy of success
In 2022, ICBA’s award-winning ThinkTECH Accelerator program reached more community banks with innovative solutions and partnerships than ever before.
December 01, 2022 |
Independent Banker
A fund for diverse tech companies
First National Bank and Black Tech Nation Ventures teamed up to support minority-owned startups in the Pittsburgh community and beyond.
December 01, 2022 |
Independent Banker
Advocacy
Lexicon Bank: A bank that shows its hand
When it comes to supporting outliers in the Las Vegas community, Lexicon Bank knows how to play its cards.
December 01, 2022 |
Independent Banker
Advocacy
Aaron Stetter & Joe Schneider: ICBA state association partnerships
ICBA works closely with our affiliated state associations to identify creative ways to communicate our collective message to Congress and the regulatory agencies.
December 01, 2022 |
Independent Banker
Advocacy
Super apps: The rise of an all-in-one platform
Convenience is a growing desire from consumers everywhere. Across the world, people are using super apps to send messages, purchase tickets and, of course, bank online. What are they, and how can community banks stay on top of this trend?
December 01, 2022 |
Independent Banker
Payments
Board succession planning after a merger
From blending differing values to choosing a new chairman, there are many challenges that can arise after a merger or acquisition. We spoke with legal and financial experts about what questions community bank leaders should ask themselves pre-merger, what issues they may face and how they can build an even stronger financial institution.
December 01, 2022 |
Independent Banker
Growing the Community
Best Community Banks to Work For 2022
What great resignation? In our annual workplace survey, employees of ICBA’s best community banks to work for told us they benefit from engaging cultures, opportunities for advancement and innovative benefits.
December 01, 2022 |
Independent Banker
3 ways to spot the right tech partner for banking innovation
SPONSORED | The right tech partner can be the difference between growing your business and watching it grind to a halt. Read our latest guide to learn which questions to ask and what to look for when choosing a technology partner.
December 01, 2022 |
Independent Banker
Payments
Lindsay LaNore: The art of saying "thank you"
The end of the year is the perfect time to share your appreciation for the hard work and successes of the year gone by.
December 01, 2022 |
Independent Banker
Rebeca Romero Rainey: The people make the bank
How we hire, retain, recruit and advance our missions amid momentous change will remain a key topic for community bank leaders and will influence our plans for the future.
December 01, 2022 |
Independent Banker
Maintaining momentum in an unpredictable lending landscape
In the past few years, the lending landscape was unpredictable, to say the least. Community bankers look back at what happened in 2022 and what’s on the road ahead.
December 01, 2022 |
Independent Banker
Compliance Lending
2022 regulatory compliance review
While the creation of new compliance regulations was slow this year compared with years past, some regulations were implemented as expected, and some continue to evolve.
December 01, 2022 |
Independent Banker
Advocacy Compliance
Can AI assist in vendor management challenges?
As community banks grow, their vendor partnerships usually also do, which can lead to challenges with organization, data security and more. To address these issues, some community banks have turned to artificial intelligence.
December 01, 2022 |
Independent Banker
Payments
Is it time to rebrand your community bank?
Some community banks are taking a cue from consumer products and marketing companies as they rebrand with catchy new names they believe are more memorable and better represent their values as an organization.
December 01, 2022 |
Independent Banker
Growing the Community
Brad M. Bolton: Putting the “community” in community banking
People want to be a part of something bigger than themselves, and community banks provide that opportunity.
December 01, 2022 |
Independent Banker
Harnessing technology to empower your staff and automate processes
SPONSORED | The Great Resignation is lingering longer than many anticipated, leaving financial institutions with many roles to fill and duties to reallocate. In this Dialogue on Demand session, we discuss the benefits of utilizing technology to optimize margins and operate more efficiently with less staff.
December 01, 2022 |
Independent Banker
Lending Payments
What community banks need to know about ESG
SPONSORED | The conversation on ESG went from a murmur to deafening in a short amount of time, so much so that taking a first step might seem overwhelming. There are many reasons to consider ESG factors but focus on why it matters to your organization.
December 01, 2022 |
Independent Banker
Growing the Community
ICBA’s Independent Banker Names 2022 Best Community Banks to Work For
Independent Banker magazine, the award-winning monthly publication of the Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA), announced its 2022 Best Community Banks to Work For recipients.
November 30, 2022 |
Press Release
Community Bank Awareness
ICBA urging grassroots outreach on cannabis banking bill
ICBA is calling on community bankers to urge their members of Congress to pass legislation before year-end that would establish a cannabis banking safe harbor in states where cannabis is legal.
November 30, 2022 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Cannabis banking
Senate Finance chair questions crypto exchanges following FTX failure
Washington continued to escalate its response to instability in the crypto sector as the Senate Finance Committee’s chairman questioned leading crypto exchanges on their consumer protections.
November 30, 2022 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Cybersecurity Digital Assets Technology
ICBA to CFPB: Promote mortgage refinancing by reducing reg burdens
ICBA responded to a Consumer Financial Protection Bureau request for information on encouraging residential mortgage loan refinances by calling on the bureau to reduce unnecessary compliance burdens for community banks.
November 30, 2022 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
CFPB issues annual adjustment for file disclosure charges
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau issued a final rule with its annual adjustment to the maximum amount consumer reporting agencies may charge consumers for making a file disclosure to a consumer under the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
November 28, 2022 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Compliance
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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