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.
Lindsay LaNore: Managing remote employees
As life settles into a new rhythm, you may find that some team members continue working remotely permanently, or that they shift to a hybrid model in which they can work remotely at least some of the time. What are some best practices for managing this new distributed workforce?
June 01, 2022 |
Independent Banker
Charles Potts: Being comfortable with discomfort
We live in unprecedented times, filled with new challenges and opportunities for small businesses. Fortunately, community banks have greater access than ever before to advanced solutions and technologies to meet those needs.
June 01, 2022 |
Independent Banker
Aaron Stetter: Start planning for August recess
With the congressional summer break right around the corner, now is the time to connect with legislators in their home districts and advocate for the issues important to community banks. Here’s how to arrange a face-to-face meeting with lawmakers, as well as talk about the legislative priorities they can take back to Capitol Hill.
June 01, 2022 |
Independent Banker
Unexpected allies
Meeting serendipitously at a ThinkTECH Accelerator showcase, Fintel Connect and Finzly prove that the best relationships allow both partners to complement each other’s strengths.
June 01, 2022 |
Independent Banker
Out of Office: Tyrone Beatty
After becoming a fan of The Great British Baking Show, Tyrone Beatty, assistant branch manager at $2.3 million-asset 1st Security Bank of Washington in Mountlake Terrace, Wash., added baking to his long list of interests.
June 01, 2022 |
Independent Banker
Are Bankers and Customers on the Same Page?
SPONSORED | Vericast surveyed financial services marketers and consumers about their banking goals, priorities, expectations and experiences. Industry experts analyzed the data and identified five trends and challenges facing financial institutions seeking to improve loyalty, increase acquisition and grow relationships in 2022.
June 01, 2022 |
Independent Banker
Growing the Community
Threat Hunting for Banks: What are the Benefits?
SPONSORED | As any threat hunter will tell you, threat intelligence is an essential component of every bank’s cybersecurity strategy. Community banks are targets for cybercriminals, which is why being proactive is critical. Explore the top three benefits of threat hunting for banks.
June 01, 2022 |
Independent Banker
Payments
USDA B&I loan program funding running out
The USDA told Business and Industry Guaranteed Loan Program stakeholders that it has discontinued allocating funds on an as-requested basis because the program is running low on authorized funding.
May 31, 2022 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Agriculture
FDIC climate comment letters due this week
Community bankers have until this Friday, June 3, to submit personalized comment letters to the FDIC on its draft statement of principles for climate-related financial risk management for large financial institutions.
May 31, 2022 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Climate
SEC, CFTC leaders propose joint crypto roundtables
Securities and Exchange Commission and Commodity Futures Trading Commission officials called on their agencies to hold joint roundtables to consider regulations governing digital assets.
May 31, 2022 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Digital Assets Technology
Lawmakers echo ICBA’s CBDC concerns during hearing
Members of Congress from both parties raised concerns about the impact of a U.S. central bank digital currency on community banks after ICBA told lawmakers it opposes the digital dollar.
May 27, 2022 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Digital Assets
One week left for FDIC climate comment letters
Community bankers have one week left to submit personalized comment letters to the FDIC on its draft statement of principles for climate-related financial risk management for large financial institutions.
May 27, 2022 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Climate
ICBA requests records on CFPB’s 1071 rulemaking
ICBA and other groups filed a Freedom of Information Act request seeking Consumer Financial Protection Bureau records on its implementation of Section 1071 of the Dodd-Frank Act.
May 27, 2022 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Compliance
Statement on Confirmation of Sandra Thompson for FHFA Director
Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) President and CEO Rebeca Romero Rainey released the following statement on the Senate confirmation of Sandra Thompson for Federal Housing Finance Agency director.
May 25, 2022 |
Press Release
Federal Housing Finance Agency
Joey Arnone Named ICBA Director of Product Strategy
ICBA today announced the hire of Joey Arnone as director of product strategy for vendor relations. In this new role he will analyze key bank performance indicators to identify relevant products and services that address the evolving financial services needs of community bank customers.
May 24, 2022 |
Press Release
Vendor Management
FDIC climate comment letters due next week
Next week is the deadline for community bankers to submit personalized comment letters to the FDIC on its draft statement of principles for climate-related financial risk management for large financial institutions.
May 24, 2022 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Climate
House hearing this week on central bank digital currency
After ICBA last week expressed opposition to the establishment of a U.S. central bank digital currency, a House hearing this week will focus on CBDC benefits and risks.
May 24, 2022 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Digital Assets Technology
ICBA urges agency consistency, innovation to promote banking access
ICBA encouraged federal banking regulators to take several steps to increase services to unbanked and underbanked households.
May 24, 2022 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Commerce & Banking
ICBA’s FDIC climate principles comment campaign continues
ICBA continues calling on community bankers to submit personalized comment letters to the FDIC on its draft statement of principles for climate-related financial risk management for large financial institutions.
May 23, 2022 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Climate
Former NCUA official continues targeting credit union acquisitions
A former National Credit Union Administration official continued an ongoing series of blog posts raising concerns over credit union acquisitions.
May 23, 2022 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Credit Unions
ICBA opposes U.S. central bank digital currency
ICBA expressed opposition to the establishment of a U.S. central bank digital currency. In a comment letter to the Federal Reserve, ICBA said a U.S. CBDC would introduce significant privacy and cybersecurity risks into the nation’s monetary system and disrupt U.S. banking stability.
May 23, 2022 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Digital Assets Technology
ICBA Opposes U.S. Central Bank Digital Currency
The Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) today expressed its opposition to the establishment of a U.S. central bank digital currency.
May 20, 2022 |
Press Release
Digital Assets Payments
Strong favorability fuels successful Capital Summit: blog
New polling conducted by Morning Consult supported community banker meetings with policymakers at the recent 2022 ICBA Capital Summit, according to ICBA’s latest blog post.
May 20, 2022 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Community Bank Awareness
ICBA pressing comment letters on FDIC climate principles
ICBA continues calling on community bankers to submit personalized comment letters to the FDIC on its draft statement of principles for climate-related financial risk management for large financial institutions.
May 20, 2022 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Climate
ICBA speaks out against FDIC supervisory appeals reversal
ICBA expressed disappointment that the FDIC eliminated the independent Office of Supervisory Appeals and restored the Supervision Appeals Review Committee as the final level of review in the agency’s supervisory appeals process.
May 20, 2022 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Compliance
Agencies confirm updated flood insurance Q&As are guidance
Federal regulators issued revised questions and answers regarding federal flood insurance law and the agencies’ implementing regulations.
May 19, 2022 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Compliance
ICBA Statement on FDIC Restoration of Supervision Appeals Review Committee
ICBA President and CEO Rebeca Romero Rainey issued the following statement after the FDIC board of directors voted to restore the agency’s Supervision Appeals Review Committee and amend the January 2021 Guidelines for Appeals of Material Supervisory Determinations, which had created an independent Office of Supervisory Appeals.
May 19, 2022 |
Press Release
ICBA Statement on Death of John Ryan
ICBA President and CEO Rebeca Romero Rainey released the following statement on the death of Conference of State Bank Supervisors President and CEO John Ryan.
May 19, 2022 |
Press Release
Financial Trades Support Modified SEC Cyber Incident Disclosure Proposal to Aid Law Enforcement and Support Remediation Efforts
ICBA, American Bankers Association, Bank Policy Institute, and Mid-Size Bank Coalition of America commented late yesterday on a SEC proposal that would implement new requirements for financial institutions to disclose material cyber incidents, as well as cybersecurity risk management, strategy and governance.
May 10, 2022 |
Press Release
Risk Cybersecurity
CFPB: Equal Credit Opportunity Act protects borrowers after loan
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau published an advisory opinion affirming that the Equal Credit Opportunity Act bars lenders from discriminating against customers after they have received a loan, not just during the application process.
May 10, 2022 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Compliance
ICBA offers custom marketing-comms resources for May
ICBA’s Tell Your Story marketing and communications toolkit offers new and updated resources to engage consumers in May.
May 10, 2022 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
OCC’s Hsu: Regulators should change approach to mergers
Acting Comptroller of the Currency Michael Hsu said he has directed senior OCC staff to work with the Justice Department and other agencies to review federal frameworks for bank mergers.
May 10, 2022 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
OCC
ICBA supports barring adverse credit reporting on human trafficking victims
ICBA expressed support for a Consumer Financial Protection Bureau proposed rule that would prohibit consumer reporting agencies from reporting adverse information on victims of human trafficking.
May 10, 2022 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
ICBA Statement on Proposal to Modernize Community Reinvestment Act Framework
ICBA President and CEO Rebeca Romero Rainey released the following statement on today’s interagency proposed rule to modernize Community Reinvestment Act regulations.
May 05, 2022 |
Press Release
CRA
ICBA Encourages Consumers to Support America’s Entrepreneurs During National Small Business Week
The Independent Community Bankers of America joins the nation’s community banks in celebrating National Small Business Week (May 1-7) and showing their support for locally owned and operated businesses.
May 04, 2022 |
Press Release
Advocacy
Summary and Background of Climate-related Financial Risk Management for Large Financial Institutions
The FDIC is proposing that large financial institutions, defined as those with over $100 billion in total consolidated assets, be subject to a climate-related financial risk management framework.
May 04, 2022 |
News
ICBA Releases 2022 Community Banking Policy Resolutions
The Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) today released its legislative and regulatory policy objectives for 2022 during the ICBA Capital Summit.
May 03, 2022 |
Press Release
Advocacy
As Capital Summit kicks off, polling confirms public support for local banking
ICBA kicked off the 2022 ICBA Capital Summit in Washington with new national and state-level polling data showing Americans in all 50 states view community banking favorably.
May 03, 2022 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Advocacy
Capital Summit continues today with congressional meetings
Today’s ICBA Capital Summit agenda includes in-person meetings with congressional offices following remarks from Senate Banking Committee member Mike Rounds (R-S.D.).
May 03, 2022 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
FDIC board meeting this week on CRA reform proposal
The FDIC board of directors announced it will meet this week on a notice of proposed rulemaking on revising Community Reinvestment Act regulations. The board meeting is scheduled for 10 a.m. (Eastern time) this Thursday, May 5.
May 03, 2022 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
CRA
As Community Bankers Gather in Washington, New Polling Confirms Public Support for Local Banking
The Independent Community Bankers of America today is kicking off the 2022 ICBA Capital Summit in Washington with new national and state-level polling data showing Americans in all 50 states view community banking favorably.
May 02, 2022 |
Press Release
ICBA Capital Summit underway in Washington
The 2022 ICBA Capital Summit is underway in Washington, with community bankers advocating key issues in the nation’s capital and from back home.
May 02, 2022 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
ICBA updates ILC loophole white paper
Ahead of this week’s Capital Summit, ICBA updated its white paper detailing why policymakers should close a legal loophole that allows industrial loan companies and their parent companies to skirt regulatory oversight.
May 02, 2022 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Lending
Is commercial lending on the rise?
Loan providers share an infectious enthusiasm and growing optimism for one vertical’s prospects in 2022: commercial lending. Here’s how community bankers can take advantage of various sectors—including SBA lending—over the next 12 months.
May 01, 2022 |
Independent Banker
Lending
Stealthy shopping for better service
It’s no secret why Alpine Bank’s mystery shopper program has helped the community bank meet and exceed customer expectations over the past two decades.
May 01, 2022 |
Independent Banker
Jim Reber: Mayday for mortgages?
Rising borrower costs have consequences for MBS.
May 01, 2022 |
Independent Banker
Lending
These Asian-American led banks are helping their communities
May marks Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month—and these Asian American-led community banks are adding to that heritage every single day by helping bring dreams within reach. We asked them about the unique challenges and satisfactions of their work.
May 01, 2022 |
Independent Banker
Advocacy Compliance
How thrift and mutual banks are benefiting their customers
Thrift banks, otherwise known as savings and loans, focus on turning deposits into consumer mortgage loans. Some thrifts are owned and operated by mutual banks, but not necessarily vice versa. We take a deep dive into what lies at the heart of these community banks’ business models and how this benefits their customer relationships.
May 01, 2022 |
Independent Banker
Lending
Demystifying Bitcoin and Digital Assets
SPONSORED | We recently sat down with Thomas Grundy for a conversation on demystifying Bitcoin and digital assets. A former regulator and a compliance professional for U.S.-based financial institutions. Tom shared insights on where Bitcoin could be headed and the compliance challenges facing financial institutions as they enter the market for digital assets.
May 01, 2022 |
Independent Banker
Why Banks Should Focus on Board Security
SPONSORED | As more bank board executives, directors, and administrators adopt digital board management processes, cybersecurity risks from half-baked digital adoption make them more vulnerable to expensive cyber threats.
May 01, 2022 |
Independent Banker
Payments
Out of Office: Justin Kitzinger
Justin Kitzinger, a private banking officer at $6 billion-asset Bankers Trust in Des Moines, Iowa, dedicates 200 hours each year to volunteer firefighting.
May 01, 2022 |
Independent Banker
Rhonda Thomas-Whitley: Defending overdraft protection for consumers
Overdraft programs and policies are once again in the sights of officials in Washington. ICBA takes on the fight.
May 01, 2022 |
Independent Banker
Charles Potts: Back-office innovation
Community bankers are embracing innovation like never before—with impressive results. But with so much emphasis placed on customer-facing products and technologies, innovating back-office operations can fall to the bottom of the priority list.
May 01, 2022 |
Independent Banker
Brad M. Bolton: Educating future leaders
Focusing on the ‘whys’ helps employees see how decisions fit together in a perfect puzzle for high-performing success, and it motivates them to be contributors to that success.
May 01, 2022 |
Independent Banker
Rebeca Romero Rainey: Community bankers are all in
Everything feeds into the customer experience, and that ability to meet and exceed customer expectations is what distinguishes us as community bankers.
May 01, 2022 |
Independent Banker
Technology your remote and hybrid employees need
Remote and hybrid working was once the exception but, for some community bank employees, it’s now the norm. What technology is needed to keep remote workers productive, connected and, most of all, engaged?
May 01, 2022 |
Independent Banker
Payments
The top-performing community banks of 2021
Independent Banker’s annual listing top-performing community banks of 2021 alongside interviews with some of the winners. In true community bank fashion, each has its own story to tell and its own path to success.
May 01, 2022 |
Independent Banker
Lending
Mortgage eClosing: The Path to eSignatures
SPONSORED | The path to eClosing is complex but achievable. During this Dialogue on Demand session, we will uncover the benefits and uses of eSignatures, legislation surrounding eSignatures and steps to achieve a fully digital mortgage closing process.
May 01, 2022 |
Independent Banker
Lending
Prepare for a purchase market and create mortgage efficiencies
SPONSORED | The mortgage industry is very volatile. How can lenders be ready? In this webinar, you’ll learn about how APIs can enhance the experience for both borrowers and lenders and preparing for the purchase market with your own online application.
May 01, 2022 |
Independent Banker
Lending
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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