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ICBA releases EGRPRA guide for community banker outreach
ICBA issued a guide to help community bankers participate in the Economic Growth and Regulatory Paperwork Reduction Act review process launched by banking regulators this year.
FDIC board meeting tomorrow on custodial deposits, mergers
The Federal Reserve Bank of New York releases its Empire State manufacturing survey for September at 8:30 a.m. (Eastern time).
Treasury sanctions Cambodian scam centers
The Treasury Department sanctioned Cambodian businessman Ly Yong Phat, L.Y.P. Group Co., and O‑Smach Resort for their role in human rights abuse related to the treatment of trafficked workers...
House committee chair calls for interview with Gruenberg
House Financial Services Committee Chairman Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.) called for a transcribed interview with FDIC Chairman Martin Gruenberg after Gruenberg refused to testify at a planned hearing...
ICBA testifies before Congress on community bank support for small business
ICBA Rural America and Agriculture Committee Chairman Gus Barker told Congress that community banks have served rural America well for decades and play a vital role in the economic prosperity of...
ICBA urges policymakers to take on crypto scams, improve information sharing
The persistent growth of romance confidence scams emphasizes the urgent need for policymakers to prioritize national security, counter illicit finance uses of cryptocurrency, and improve...
CFPB: Banks need to keep proof of consent for certain overdraft fees
The CFPB issued a circular that says a financial institution violates the Electronic Fund Transfer Act and Regulation E.
OCC approves separate rule, guidance on bank mergers
The OCC approved a final rule updating its regulations for business combinations involving national banks and federal savings associations and a policy statement clarifying its review of...
DOJ rescinds bank merger guidelines in favor of generic standards
The Justice Department announced that it is withdrawing its 1995 bank merger guidelines, saying its 2023 merger guidelines for all industries will be its sole and authoritative policy.
As FDIC Includes Credit Unions in Merger Statement Following ICBA Advocacy, Most Americans Support Investigation of Credit Union Bank Acquisitions
Thanks to ICBA advocacy, the FDIC today approved a new statement of policy on bank mergers that for the first time explicitly states that additional scrutiny may be needed for deals involving...
ICBA testifying this week on supporting rural businesses
ICBA Rural America and Agriculture Committee Chairman Gus Barker is scheduled to testify before Congress this week on streamlining and coordinating support for rural small businesses.
FinCEN to small businesses: Don’t wait to file beneficial owner reports
The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network called on small businesses to begin filing initial beneficial ownership reports under the Corporate Transparency Act.
Agencies announce ICBA-requested comment extension on bank-fintech arrangements
Federal banking regulators extended until Oct. 30 the comment period on a request for information on bank-fintech arrangements.
Independent Banker details SCOTUS decisions affecting community banking
The latest Independent Banker magazine spotlights three Supreme Court decisions that may curb the administrators that oversee community banks.
Poll shows growing demands for credit union policy reform
ICBA released new polling data showing Americans are growing increasingly uneasy with credit unions’ regulatory exemptions and support reforms to policies that arbitrarily favor these tax-exempt...
Today is deadline to file claims for Wawa data security incident
Today is the deadline for financial institutions to file claims in a settlement between financial institutions (including community banks) and Wawa arising out of a 2019 data security incident at...
FDIC board meeting on custodial deposit accounts, bank mergers
The FDIC board of directors scheduled a meeting for next week on a notice of proposed rulemaking on custodial deposit accounts with transaction features and to issue a final statement of policy on...
ICBA: Nonbank payments firms benefit from regulatory imbalance
ICBA said it agrees with a Financial Stability Board report that nonbank service providers involved in cross-border payments are not subject to the same regulatory scrutiny as banks.
ICBA advocacy briefing next week
ICBA next week is hosting a complimentary community bank briefing on key congressional and regulatory developments.
Poll: Growing Majority of Americans Demand Equal Consumer Protections for Credit Union Customers
ICBA today released new polling data showing Americans are growing increasingly uneasy with credit unions’ regulatory exemptions and support reforms to policies that arbitrarily favor these...
ICBA: Credit unions shouldn’t use Wall Street to acquire community banks
ICBA called on the National Credit Union Administration to bar tax-exempt credit unions from using funds raised from Wall Street investors to finance acquisitions of tax-paying community banks.
ICBA: Policymakers Should Bar Credit Unions from Using Wall Street Funds to Acquire Community Banks
The Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) today called on the National Credit Union Administration to bar tax-exempt credit unions from using funds raised from Wall Street investors to...
Mitigating Instant Payments Risk to Reap Rewards
Today’s fraud attacks don’t seek out a faster transaction; they look for a chink in the armor and the path of least resistance. That’s why I’m a big believer in cross-channel fraud detection.
ICBA, groups urge Congress to advance farm bill this year
ICBA and other agricultural stakeholders called on Congress to advance a meaningful farm bill in 2024 that addresses worsening conditions in farm country.
FBI: Crypto fraud complaints rise 45% in 2023
The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center said it received more than 69,000 complaints from the public regarding financial fraud involving the use of cryptocurrency last year.
FinCEN: Banks lead in reporting mail-related check fraud
The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network said it received more than 15,000 reports from financial institutions on mail theft-related check fraud in the six months after it issued an alert on the...
Agencies issue guidance on Cybersecurity Assessment Tool sunsetting
The FDIC and OCC issued bulletins on last week’s interagency announcement that regulators are sunsetting the Cybersecurity Assessment Tool on Aug. 31, 2025.
CFPB targets rental, medical debt in latest report
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau issued its annual report to Congress on debt collection, which focuses on medical debt and rental debt.
ICBA: AML/CFT modernization should not expand reg burden
ICBA told the FinCEN that its proposed rule to update anti-money-laundering and countering-the-financing-of-terrorism programs would create additional burdens on banks without benefitting FinCEN’s...
CNBC features opposition to credit union acquisitions of community banks
ICBA’s campaign spotlighting credit union tax and regulatory inequities generated new coverage this week with a CNBC segment on acquisitions of community banks.
ICBA urges CFPB to simplify rule on earned wage access products
ICBA told the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau that its proposed interpretive rule on “earned wage access” products defines “debt” too broadly.
2024 Summer Internship Diaries - Vol. 1
Last week, we began our internship program here at ICBA. Starting a new position is an exciting time, but it comes with challenges that we must face together. The first week is critical, where we...
ICBA honors National Community Bank Service Award recipients
ICBA announced the winners of the 2024 National Community Bank Service Awards in recognition of the creative and exemplary efforts of the nation’s community banks to help their local communities.
ICBA 2024 National Community Bank Service Award Recipients Recognized for Community Impact and Dedication
ICBA today announced the winners of its 2024 National Community Bank Service Awards, recognizing the innovative and exceptional efforts of the nation’s community banks to support and uplift their...
ICBA: Credit unions are violating the limits established by Congress
After the announcement of the 15th credit union acquisition of a community bank this year, ICBA said the acquisition trend shows credit unions have expanded beyond the limits established by...
ICBA: Proposed expansion of Fedwire/NSS operating hours not necessary
ICBA said the Federal Reserve’s proposed expansion of Fedwire Funds Service and National Settlement Service hours to 22 hours per day, seven days a week would place significant burdens on community...
Latest Acquisition of Tax-paying Community Bank Comes Amid Increased Attention to Credit Union Tax Exemption
Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) President and CEO Rebeca Romero Rainey today issued the following statement after this year’s 15th acquisition of a tax-paying bank by a tax-exempt...
ICBA Supports Acting Comptroller Michael Hsu’s Remarks on Supervising the Largest Banks
Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) President and CEO Rebeca Romero Rainey today issued the following statement on Acting Comptroller of the Currency Michael Hsu’s remarks on evolving...
OCC’s Hsu: Supervision must contend with more large banks
Supervision must adapt to the growth of the largest banks, Acting Comptroller of the Currency Michael Hsu said.
FBI: North Korea targeting crypto industry
Teams of North Korean malicious cyber actors are targeting specific decentralized finance or cryptocurrency-related businesses with social engineering to gain unauthorized access to the companies’...