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ICBA LIVE 2025 registration is open
Registration is open for ICBA LIVE 2025, slated for March 11-14 at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville.
Community bank CFOs: It’s about managing your margin
Even as rates stay higher and competition for deposits remains strong, fueling margin pressure, community bank chief financial officers don’t see impending doom and focus instead on increasing...
Fed Chair: Dialing back policy restraint will bring down inflation
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said “with an appropriate dialing back of policy restraint, there is good reason to think that the economy will get back to 2% inflation while maintaining a...
ICBA asks FDIC to withdraw brokered deposits proposal
ICBA requested that the FDIC withdraw its proposed rulemaking relating to brokered deposit restrictions.
ICBA requests extended comment period for RFI on deposits
ICBA and 10 industry associations requested that the FDIC extend by 60 days the comment period for its request for information on deposits. The comment deadline is currently October 7, 2024.
Fed’s Bowman: Community banks are the key to financial inclusion
Community banks are indispensable in providing access to financial products and services, especially in remote or rural areas, according to Federal Reserve Governor Michelle Bowman.
Fed shares five steps to discount window borrowing
Community banks need to take formal actions to ensure discount window access, and bank management needs to understand the mechanics of discount window borrowing even if there is no immediate need...
FDIC podcast: Community banks performed well in 2023
Community banks saw weakened liquidity at the end of 2023 but had favorable asset quality and loan numbers, according to the latest FDIC podcast.
FHFA proposes housing goals for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac
The Federal Housing Finance Agency issued a proposed rule on the housing goals for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (the Enterprises) for 2025-27.
Q3 community bank briefing in September
ICBA is hosting a complimentary community bank briefing on key congressional and regulatory developments.
Texas district court sets aside FTC’s non-compete ban
The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas issued a decision setting aside the Federal Trade Commission’s non-compete ban and prohibiting the FTC from enforcing the rule.
Independent Banker recognizes community banks celebrating milestones
The latest issue of Independent Banker magazine highlights ICBA-member community banks that are celebrating their 150th, 125th, or 100th anniversary.
ICBA: Policymakers must examine credit unions’ tax status
Urgent congressional action is needed to preserve community banks and the communities that depend on them, ICBA President and CEO Rebeca Romero Rainey said.
Fed’s Waller: Non-banks and stablecoins pose risks
Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller voiced concern about the risks from emerging payment technologies, especially non-banks and stablecoins.
Credit Unions Exploit Federal Tax Exemption to Acquire Tax-Paying Community Banks; Congress Must Act
Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) President and CEO Rebeca Romero Rainey issued the following statement after another community bank acquisition by a tax-exempt credit union:
CFPB updates small business lending instructions
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau updated its 2025 Small Business Lending Filing Instructions Guide.
Credit union acquisitions generating new headlines
The ICBA-opposed trend of tax-exempt credit unions acquiring taxpaying community banks generated a new round of headlines.
Lawmakers: CFPB’s medical debt proposal will make health care more expensive
Republican members of the House Financial Services Committee said the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s proposal to remove medical debt from credit reports will make health care more expensive...
FinCEN says it will only enforce willful beneficial ownership violations
Small-business owners doing their best to comply with beneficial ownership requirements should not lose sleep over the new reporting requirements, Financial Crimes Enforcement Network Deputy...
Fed: Instant payments require enhanced risk management
Banks moving to an instant payment environment need a strategy that considers fraud, liquidity, compliance, and third-party risks, according to a blog post from the Federal Reserve.
Lawmakers call on Gruenberg to resign or testify
Republican members of the House Financial Services Committee called on FDIC Chairman Martin Gruenberg to appear before the committee next month if he has not stepped down before then.
IRS forms coalition to combat growing scams
The Internal Revenue Service announced it has formed a coalition with state tax agencies and the tax industry to combat the growth of scams and schemes threatening taxpayers and tax systems.
FDIC publishes Q&As on official signage
The FDIC published questions and answers related to its final rule governing the usage of official FDIC signs, advertising, name, logo, and more.
Credit unions use loopholes to undercut community banks: former exec
Credit unions use their tax-exempt status to weaken community banks and their capacity to meet the credit needs of local communities, according to a former credit union executive who now works for...
Independent Banker offers ideas to budget strategically
The 2025 budgeting season will be difficult because of the current interest rate environment, according to a new Independent Banker article, but there are opportunities for community banks to...
CFPB: federal rules apply to contract-for-deed arrangements
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau issued an advisory opinion and research report on contracts for deed, a form of home seller financing.
ICBA: FHFA overstepping with FHLBank inquiry
The Federal Housing Finance Agency does not have the authority to redefine the mission of the Federal Home Loan Banks, ICBA told American Banker.
FDIC announces initial dates for new resolution filings
The FDIC announced initial submission dates for its final rule requiring resolutions plans for banks with at least $100 billion in assets and “informational filings” for banks over $50 billion.
FDIC issues notice on asset manager exemption notice
The FDIC issued a Financial Institution Letter on an amended Labor Department rule governing how qualified professional asset managers handle exemption requests under the Prohibited Transaction...
ICBA: Removing medical debt information from credit reporting won’t work
ICBA told the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau that its proposed rule to remove medical debt information from credit reporting will lead to inaccurate reports and hinder community banks’...
ICBA: Agencies don’t need specific regulations on AI
ICBA said the Treasury Department and federal banking agencies do not need to issue specific regulations to govern artificial intelligence usage because overly prescriptive regulations may stifle...
Fed’s Bowman: Bankers and regulators aren’t on the same page about M&A
When it comes to process reform for mergers and acquisitions, it can feel like bankers and regulators are living in different worlds, according to Federal Reserve Governor Michelle Bowman.
FDIC issues guidance on interactive teller machines
The FDIC issued guidance on whether the use of interactive teller machines at a location other than an established branch facility would require banks to file a domestic branch application.
ICBA requests comment extension on bank-fintech arrangements
ICBA and other groups requested a 30-day extension to the comment period for the regulatory agencies’ request for information on bank-fintech arrangements.
Independent Banker deciphers FHFA credit score transition
A new Independent Banker article breaks down the Federal Housing Finance Agency’s new credit scoring requirements for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and ICBA’s concerns with the models.
OCC: Banks affected by Hurricane Debby can close
The OCC issued a proclamation allowing national banks, federal savings associations, and federal branches to close offices in areas of Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and...
ICBA continues call for 1033 exemption in new article
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau should exempt banks with less than $850 million in assets from its pending rule on sharing consumer financial data, ICBA told American Banker.
ICBA urges Congress to advance community bank tax priorities
ICBA urged members of the House Ways and Means Committee Tax Teams to advance several community banking industry tax initiatives as they craft priorities for tax legislation in 2025.
Agencies request comment on data collection proposal
Federal financial regulators requested comment on a proposed rule that would establish data standards for certain information collections submitted to the agencies.
EGRPRA outreach meeting registration closes Friday
ICBA encourages community bankers interested in providing oral comments at federal regulators’ virtual public outreach meeting on banking regulations to register by this Friday’s deadline.