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Billion-Dollar Credit Union Exploits Tax Exemption to Acquire a Community Bank
Washington, D.C. (August 25, 2026) — Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) President and CEO Rebeca Romero Rainey issued the following statement on the newly reported acquisition of a...
Community bank net income increases 8.2% in Q2
2026-08-26 Community banks reported an 8.2% second-quarter increase in net income from the previous quarter, according to the FDIC’s latest Quarterly Banking Profile. Key Drivers: During the...
ICBA: Latest credit union acquisition highlights need for tax policy change
2026-08-26 After another tax-paying community bank was reportedly acquired by a billion-dollar credit union, ICBA said Congress should discuss credit union tax and regulatory exemptions. Details:...
Agencies rescind SPCP statement
2026-08-26 Federal banking regulators rescinded the Interagency Statement on Special Purpose Credit Programs Under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act and Regulation B, dated Feb. 22, 2022. Details:...
ICBA supports FAIR Exams Act
2026-08-26 ICBA expressed support for the Senate version of the Fair Audits and Inspections for Regulators’ Exams Act (S. 5335), which would improve the bank examination environment by creating a...
Romero Rainey: No ‘middle ground’ on fixing Clarity Act
In a new Q&A, ICBA President and CEO Rebeca Romero Rainey told Banking Dive that policymakers must address ambiguities within the Clarity Act that could allow stablecoins to hurt local lending....
Regulators issue final rule prioritizing material financial risks
2026-08-28 The FDIC and OCC issued a final rule designed to focus examiners’ and institutions’ attention on material financial risks and compliance with banking and banking-related laws and...
FDIC proposes rule to implement ICBA-advocated reciprocal deposit change
FDIC proposes rule to implement ICBA-advocated reciprocal deposit change 2026-08-28 The FDIC board of directors approved an interim final rule to amend the statutory framework governing reciprocal...
OCC announces additional updates focusing on material risks
2026-08-28 In addition to an FDIC-OCC rule on material financial risks, the OCC announced additional actions to focus supervisory attention on the most significant risks and violations. Details:...
ICBA opposes Dakota Ridge national trust bank charter application
2026-08-28 ICBA urged the OCC to deny Dakota Ridge’s application for a national trust bank charter, citing concerns with its business model and broader policy considerations. Defer Action: At a...
ICBA chair: Stablecoins cannot become deposit substitution
2026-08-31 On a new podcast, ICBA Chair Alice Frazier said the Clarity Act focus on keeping stablecoin as a payment tool and not allow it to become a deposit substitute. Details: Appearing on the...
International finance leaders voice concerns about digital assets
Top central bankers echoed ICBA’s concerns about the impact of stablecoins on community banks. Details: Speaking at the Jackson Hole Economic Symposium hosted by the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas...
OCCIP issues alert on business email scams
2026-08-31 The Treasury Department’s Office of Cybersecurity and Critical Infrastructure Protection issued an alert on business email compromise (BEC) scams. Details: In the alert to financial...
FDIC releases Q4, Q1 CRA evaluation schedules
The FDIC issued the list of institutions scheduled for a Community Reinvestment Act evaluation during the fourth quarter of 2026 and first quarter of 2027. Q4 2026:...
Transforming Complex Core Evaluations into Strategic, Bottom-Line Wins
Sponsored_Brand825 2026-09-01 ICBA_FeatureImage_CoreRenewals_2000x1250_v1.png The prospect of undertaking a core evaluation feels daunting for many bank executives. After all, it is easy to view a...
What Does the New Reciprocal Deposit Legislation Mean for U.S. Banks?
What the law changes The new law amends the Federal Deposit Insurance Act to expand the amount of a bank’s reciprocal deposits that can be classified as “nonbrokered,” a designation that generally...
What 1,100 Consumers Told Us About Banking
2026-09-01 Independent Banker Featured Image.png The decisions financial institutions make today will shape the relationships they build tomorrow. Whether you're investing in new technology,...
Examiner-Ready CECL: What the OCC's 2026 Handbook Update Changes
Examiner-Ready CECL: What the OCC's 2026 Handbook Update Changes 2026-09-01 Independent Banker Article Feature Image_2000 x 1250 (1).png From vague to prescriptive The 2021 version opened with...
ICBA 2026 National Community Bank Service Award Recipients Honored for Transformative Efforts to Uplift Local Communities
ICBA 2026 National Community Bank Service Award Recipients Honored for Transformative Efforts to Uplift Local Communities 2026-09-01 0926 NCBSA 2k.jpg Independent Banker magazine spotlights...
House members release CFPB-reform bill
Members of the House Financial Services Committee introduced legislation to reform the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Sponsors: Committee Chairman French Hill (R-Ark.), Financial...
Fed’s Barr: Rate increases needed if inflation doesn’t moderate
2026-09-02 Federal Reserve Governor Michael Barr said the Federal Open Market Committee should act decisively to raise rates if inflation doesn’t moderate sufficiently. Details: Speaking in...
FinCEN issues digital asset scam alert
2026-09-04 The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network issued an alert urging financial institutions to be vigilant to digital asset investment scams perpetrated by overseas scam centers. Details: The...
Bill would give NCUA authority over credit union vendors
2026-09-04 Rep. Bill Foster (D-Ill.) introduced legislation to strengthen oversight of credit union service organizations and other third-party vendors. Details: The Strengthening Oversight for the...
CISA, G7 urge quantum preparedness
2026-09-04 The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and the Group of Seven Cyber Security Working Group said organizations and governments should begin transitioning to post-quantum...
Hearing on economic growth includes focus on empowering community banks
Hearing on economic growth includes focus on empowering community banks 2026-09-08 The House Financial Services Committee last week held a hearing that included discussions on reducing unnecessary...
ICBA, others urge revisions to VA eligibility disclosure
2026-09-08 ICBA and other groups urged revisions to the Informed Consumer Choice Disclosure that explains Veterans Affairs loan eligibility to prospective borrowers. Details: In a letter to the...
FinCEN updates FAQs on southwest border targeting order
2026-09-08 The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network updated frequently asked questions regarding its Geographic Targeting Order imposing additional recordkeeping requirements for money service...
Why Innovation Is a Strategic Imperative
2026-09-10 Innovation Image Innovating is no longer optional; it’s a strategic imperative. But that directive will look different for every community bank, which is why ICBA offers targeted...
State Banking Associations Join ICBA and ABA to Raise Clarity Act Concerns Ahead of Cloture Vote
2026-09-10 INN-TECH_01_image branded Washington, D.C. (Sept. 10, 2026) — In a letter sent today to Senate leadership and shared with all senators, all 77 of America's state bankers associations,...
ICBA Applauds Agency Rule Expanding Community Bank Exam Relief
2026-09-10 0123 US Capitol 2k Washington, D.C. (Sept. 10, 2026) — The Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) expressed strong support for today’s joint interim final rule enacting an...
Collateral Advantage: The MBS market offers a kaleidoscope of opportunities
2026-09-11 opportunity glass ball.jpeg Many community bankers are beginning to get serious about their bond portfolios as liquidity has normalized, and rates have stayed, shall we say, buoyant. It...
Agencies increase community bank eligibility for 18-month exam cycles
2026-09-11 The federal banking regulators issued an ICBA-supported interim final rule increasing the number of community banks eligible for an 18-month exam cycle. Details: The interim final rule...
FHA releases date, guide for alternative credit score models
FHA releases date, guide for alternative credit score models 2026-09-11 The Federal Housing Administration announced an implementation date of Jan. 1, 2027, to add VantageScore 4.0 and FICO Score...
ICBA, state groups urge senators to amend Clarity Act
2026-09-11 crypto digital assets clarity act.jpeg ICBA and state and national banking associations urged senators to strengthen the Clarity Act’s prohibition on stablecoin interest, yield, and...
ICBA Commends Agencies for Joint Statement on Core Providers
Press Releases Washington, D.C. (Sept. 11, 2026) — Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) President and CEO Rebeca Romero Rainey issued the following statement on today’s joint statement...
ICBA commends agency statement on core providers
2026-09-14 ICBA commended the federal banking regulators for issuing a joint statement to provide clarity on their supervision of core service providers. Details: The joint statement from the...
Agencies propose third-party risk management guidance
2026-09-14 Federal banking regulators issued a proposal to replace existing third-party risk management guidance with guidance focused on tailoring risk-management practices to the level of risk...
FBI releases cyber strategy
The FBI published a strategy document that defines its priorities, objectives, and framework for fighting cyber fraud. Details: The agency said the strategy is based on four pillars: Investigate,...
FFIEC announces new CRA reporting option
2026-09-14 Federal regulators announced that, beginning with the 2027 reporting year, institutions will have the option to submit annual Community Reinvestment Act aggregated data through Reporting...
Banking Trades Statement on Clarity Act Cloture Vote
2026-09-15 Capitol DC Washington, D.C. (Sept. 15, 2026) — Following today’s Senate cloture vote on the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act, the Independent Community Bankers of America, the American...
FDIC board to discuss mergers, state bank parity tomorrow
2026-09-16 The FDIC announced that its board will meet tomorrow to discuss proposed rules for merger transactions and state bank parity. Details: The meeting is slated for 10 a.m. (Eastern time)...
Bessent: Administration wants to reduce BSA/AML threshold for community banks
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent reiterated the administration’s commitment to reducing unnecessary Bank Secrecy Act/anti-money laundering regulatory burdens on community banks. Details: Testifying...
CDFI Fund announces awards
2026-09-16 The Community Development Financial Institutions Fund announced awards for the fiscal 2025 and 2026 programs. Details: The CDFI announced awards for: The Community Development Financial...
CISA, partners update guidance on Microsoft compromises
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and international partners updated guidance on detecting and mitigating Microsoft Active Directory compromises. Details: The guidance: Describes...
ICBA Statement on Farm Bill Passage in Senate Ag Committee
2026-09-16 farm_shutterstock_1955728411_hor Washington, D.C. (Sept. 16, 2026) — Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) President and CEO Rebeca Romero Rainey issued the following...
FDIC proposes merger reforms that account for credit unions
The FDIC board proposed reforming the process by which it reviews merger transactions under the Bank Merger Act, including accounting for credit union member shares. Credit Union Provision: The...
FDIC proposes state bank parity rule
2026-09-18 The FDIC proposed a rule that says out-of-state, state-chartered banks can engage in interstate activities under the same standards that apply to national banks. Details: Under the...
SEC, CFTC issue digital rules
SEC, CFTC issue digital rules 2026-09-18 Following this week’s failed Clarity Act vote in the Senate, the Securities and Exchange Commission and Commodity Futures Trading Commission issued rules to...
House panel advances CFPB reform, payment scams bills
2026-09-18 The House Financial Services Committee this week voted to advance bills that would reform the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and coordinate efforts to fight payment scams. Details:...
FDIC rescinds statement on supervisory recommendations
2026-09-18 During its board meeting, the FDIC rescinded its 2016 Board Statement on the Development & Communication of Supervisory Recommendations. Reasoning: The agency said the 2016 statement is...
CSBS releases AI supervisory framework
2026-09-18 The Conference of State Bank Supervisors this week released a supervisory resource to support state examiners in assessing the use and risks of artificial intelligence at state-chartered...
Fed’s Bowman: Agency should have known about SVB vulnerabilities sooner
2026-09-21 Federal Reserve Vice Chair for Supervision Michelle Bowman said an independent review of the failure of Silicon Valley Bank found the Fed’s supervisory staff knew, or should have known,...
ICBA: Hold off on stablecoin reporting proposals until GENIUS Act framework is complete
2026-09-21 ICBA urged the FDIC to finalize the reporting regime for the GENIUS Act only after the core regulatory framework is complete and to coordinate with other regulators to avoid...
FDIC issues Summary of Deposits
The FDIC released the results of its annual survey of branch office deposits for all FDIC-insured institutions. Details: The FDIC’s Summary of Deposits provides deposit totals for each of the more...
Online Course Newsletter - September 2026
Online Course Newsletter - September 2026 2026-09-21 online education man working on computer What’s New On Sept. 15, the following new courses were launched: Check Fraud Community Reinvestment...
ICBA publishes cyber insurance resource for community bankers
2026-09-23 ICBA released a white paper to help community banks address the challenges of securing cyber insurance coverage, with a particular focus on artificial intelligence issues. Details:...
Britt introduces bill to update bank thresholds
2026-09-23 Sen. Katie Britt (R-Ala.) introduced legislation to update asset-based thresholds in federal banking law. Details: The Tailoring and Indexing Enhanced Regulations (TIER) Act would make...
Jefferson discusses Fed discount modernization efforts
2026-09-23 Federal Reserve Vice Chair Philip Jefferson said the Fed’s efforts to modernize the discount window include business process improvements, automation enhancements, and coordination with...
FHA proposes changes to minimum property requirements
2026-09-23 The Federal Housing Administration posted proposed policy updates to its minimum property requirements (MPRs) on its Single Family Drafting Table for review and feedback. Details: The...
Fed issues rules on backing, issuing stablecoins
The Federal Reserve proposed two rules related to establishing a regulatory framework for payment stablecoin issuers under the GENIUS Act. Backing: The first proposal would: Require that payment...