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New Analysis Shows Credit Union Acquisitions of Community Banks Harm the Communities That Can Least Afford It
ICBA and community bankers have long warned about the dangers of tax-exempt credit unions acquiring tax-paying community banks, a concerning trend that peaked last year and has continued in 2025.
On your marks
September 17 will possibly be a watershed day for Fed-watchers. Not only did we see the Federal Open Market Committee resume its rate cutting that’s been on hold since last December.
Online Course Newsletter – October 2025
Did you know there is a Best Practices Guide for LMS Users in the Administration Tab? This document should be distributed to all employees of the bank that are taking courses within the ICBA Online...
Online Course Newsletter – August 2025
Online Course Newsletter – August 2025 Did you know that employee training records within ICBA stay with the employee? This means if an employee worked at another financial institution that...
Online Course Newsletter July 2025
Online Course Newsletter – July 2025 Did you know that the ICBA Online Training Custom Plan allows you to track in-house and third party training inside the Learning Management System? For those of...
Online Course Newsletter June 2025
Online Course Newsletter June 2025 Did you know that the ICBA Online Training Custom Plan allows you to track in-house and third party training inside the Learning Management System? For those of...
Flood of national bank trust charter applications demands policy response from OCC
Flood of national bank trust charter applications demands policy response from OCC While the financial services industry continues to rapidly evolve, banking policy often struggles to keep up or...
Community bank innovation: a multipronged approach to stablecoins, AI, and fraud
Community bank innovation: a multipronged approach to stablecoins, AI, and fraud From the digitization of money with stablecoins to the rise of artificial intelligence across operations,...
Digital Banking for the Modern Age
For community banks, digital transformation has moved from an industry colloquialism to a punch list reality.
Strategic Loan Modifications That Work
When a customer gets into trouble with loan payments, a modification is sometimes the easiest way to help them get back on track.
BayCoast Bank Helps Craft a Playhouse Fit for a Princess
In June 2023, BayCoast Bank in Swansea, Massachusetts, joined forces with a network of community partners to create a playhouse for a young girl with life-limiting medical challenges.
Managing Third-Party Fintech Risk
No matter how much effort your community bank puts into compliance, a third party can still put the bank at risk. Learn how to keep partners in check and ensure they’re compliant with regulations,...
Free IT Assessment for Banks—Limited-Time Offer
Banks: Get a free, expert-led IT assessment covering firewalls, MFA, email security, and more. Reduce risk, boost compliance, and plan for growth. Offer ends December 31, 2025. See if you qualify...
Rising Concerns Over National Bank Trust Charters
Over the past few years, we’ve witnessed an alarming upsurge in the number of nonbank financial technology firms applying for national bank trust charters.
Streamlining Social Media for Community Banks
Don’t have a dedicated social media person? No problem. New tools and an inclusive approach make your community bank’s social presence simpler to establish and maintain.
Personalization Strategies, Driven by Community Bank Data
By exploring and analyzing data-driven customer insights, community banks can enhance their personalization efforts to deliver proactive solutions with enhanced trust.
The Anatomy of a Rate-Cut Cycle
Examine the current Fed cycle versus the past to inform portfolio strategy.
Succession Planning Essentials for Family Banks
Creating succession plans for family-owned community banks can be complicated in all sorts of ways.
Evaluating Credit Card Rewards in Modern Banking
Younger generations prefer debit to credit, but consumers’ appetite for card rewards is still strong. Learn how your community bank can integrate rewards as part of its payments strategy.
Safeguarding Borrower Data
The HPPA curbs trigger leads and reinforces the trust at the heart of community banking.
Inviting Questions to Spark Better Conversations
We all know how powerful curiosity can be. Every great leader knows that inviting feedback and questions from their team can be a highly collaborative and productive process.
Customer Experience Through Strategic Innovation
Recent research from FICO shows that 88% of bank customers say experience is as important as or more important than products and services.
Making Homeownership Achievable, Together
Prospective homebuyers today might feel like the odds are stacked against them as they face increasing costs, market challenges and other socioeconomic barriers.
Ozark Bank Offers Custom Solutions for Nonprofit Partners
From lease-purchase solutions to crisis support, Ozark Bank shows how tailored financial services help local nonprofits and municipalities thrive.
Strengthening Franchise Value: Community Banks’ Growing Use of Reciprocal Deposits
In an environment where deposit competition is intensifying and customer concerns about deposit safety remain top of mind, reciprocal deposits have emerged as a vital tool for community banks.
Understanding the Opportunities and Concerns for Agentic AI
Here’s what you need to know about the newest form of AI, known as agentic AI.
Up-and-Coming Bank Technology: Separating Innovation from Hype
Community bankers, fintech experts and consultants alike are keeping their finger on the pulse when it comes to the latest technology—with the goal of understanding what’s useful and what’s all hype.
Out of Office: John and Lou Buhrmaster
John Buhrmaster, chief executive officer at 1st National Bank of Scotia in Scotia, New York, shares how he and his father, chairman Lou Buhrmaster, have a unique connection to vintage taxi cabs.
Powering Potential: Maximize Your Social Media Impact
ICBA’s marketing resources, education programs and compliance tools provide community bankers with strategic social media solutions and regulatory guidance to amplify their online presence.
Community State Bank Brews Up Coffee and Community
Community State Bank and Shepherds College united to create Shepherds Community Café, a donation-based coffee shop that fosters occupational experience for students with different needs.
Fraud Moves Fast. Are You Keeping Up?
Fraud flows across entire financial ecosystems. Without a unified approach, you risk operating with the same limited visibility that fraudsters exploit.
Mission: Excellence—Are You Ready to Lead?
Mission: Excellence—Are You Ready to Lead? Every great leader has a moment when they’re called to step up—to lead with clarity, purpose, and excellence. For the next generation of community bank...
On your marks
On your marks In just a few short weeks, the fixed-income market’s expectations for monetary policy have done a virtual about-face. This is not to say that investors are fickle. Some of this change...
New Analysis Shows Credit Union Acquisitions of Community Banks Harm the Communities That Can Least Afford It
New Analysis Shows Credit Union Acquisitions of Community Banks Harm the Communities That Can Least Afford It ICBA and community bankers have long warned about the dangers of tax-exempt credit...
Attract the Next Banking Generation with a Great Credit Card Portfolio
Attract the Next Banking Generation with a Great Credit Card Portfolio Discover how community banks can attract the next generation with TCM Bank’s competitive credit card solutions. As the banking...
How Community Banks Can Compete with Major Credit Card Issuers
How Community Banks Can Compete with Major Credit Card Issuers In today’s credit card market, community banks face significant competition from the major credit card issuers. However, with a...
Online Course Newsletter – October 2025
Online Course Newsletter – October 2025 It’s that time of year again for Standard Plan, Custom Plan, and Bank Compliance Bundle subscribers – Subscription Renewals! Renewal invoices were mailed...
ICBA Urges OCC to Deny Coinbase’s Application for a National Trust Bank Charter
The Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) urged the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) to reject Coinbase’s application for a national trust bank charter for its subsidiary,...
ICBA Statement on Bipartisan Deal to Reopen Government
The Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) issued the following statement on bipartisan Senate efforts to reopen the federal government.
ICBA Statement on CFPB’s New Proposal to Implement Section 1071 Small-Business Reporting Requirements
Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) President and CEO Rebeca Romero Rainey issued the following statement on today’s updated Consumer Financial Protection Bureau proposed rule to...