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Checklist: Questions to Ask When Integrating with Fintechs
As more community banks engage with fintechs to support their business plans, due diligence continues to become an even bigger piece of the puzzle. While every bank is different there are several...
Treasuries for the win! Low yield spreads send community banks back to the basics
I’ll let you in on a secret: sometimes your columnist runs out of new ideas to cover. A dearth of new products, no new regs, a stable rate environment—all of these can cause a writer to run aground...
Rising tide: Bonds to own for a rate hike environment
Community bankers are nothing if not predictable, and I mean that as a compliment. They are bright, have a nose for the risk/reward and a sense of duty and loyalty to their customers and staff....
Buyers of U.S. debt come in many shapes and sizes.
I think we can all agree that there has been plenty to be concerned about in the last, say, five years. Some are environmental issues, some are social and, for community bankers, plenty are economic.
The Financially Underserved: How Banks are Positioned to Make a Lasting Impact
For the financially underserved in the United States the widening wealth gap and financial hardships resulting from the pandemic are not just media headlines. They are a reality.
Why Financial Institutions Should Embrace ESG
Public and regulatory expectations regarding climate change and other environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues are rapidly changing. The largest banks have made climate commitments...
NEW and UPDATED Online Courses Added to Bank Director Program!
The 20 online training courses that are included in your Bank Director Program subscription are a great tool to onboard new bank directors while also ensuring your seasoned directors are up-to-speed.
The Reality Facing Your Real Estate Credit Portfolio
If your bank is average, your credit portfolio will contain a concentration of over 70% in real estate loans. While you might have the best intentions for underwriting real estate loans with the...
Five Things Banks can do to Prepare for Interest Rate Hikes
With inflation running hot, the Federal Reserve Board has recently begun accelerating its tapering program. In addition, the latest dot plot for the median Federal Funds rate show that short-term...
Banking in the Metaverse
According to Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg, the metaverse is where all activities will happen in a virtual reality world. To many community bankers, the idea of banking in the metaverse seems closer...
Commercial Real Estate Concerns in Your Portfolio
Commercial real estate is a hot topic right now. The perception of increasing risk within the banking system surrounding real estate loans is prevalent. This might be an area within your bank that...
Corporate governance and employment law help is on the way!
With your ICBA Bank Director Program subscription you have access to attorneys from Jackson Lewis and Gerrish Smith Tuck for help with your employment law and corporate governance questions.
Interagency Guidance for Bank Risk Management of Third-Party Relationships
On June 6, 2023, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency issued final guidance on managing...
Put these two trends on your TO DO list
Directors must understand that new technology procurement and deployment is mandatory and must be accompanied by business modeling that adjusts branch and staffing efficiencies.
Is cybersecurity insurance worth the higher premiums?
Cybersecurity should be a foundational element of any community bank, but do you really need to be insured for it—especially as premiums rise? We spoke to experts to learn more about this type of...
AI is a new cybersecurity risk: Learn how to help protect your organization
Artificial intelligence (AI) has come a long way, advancing from single-use tools to sophisticated systems that can analyze mountains of data. As AI continues to expand and be used in more ...
Time out for trivia: Qs and As to enlighten portfolio management
Hang with me as I pose a series of my own questions relating to community banks, which I hope you will view as more helpful than trivial. Even better: Your author supplies the answers.
The future of banking: How AI is revolutionizing operations
Artificial intelligence tools such as ChatGPT—though many are still nascent—are rapidly shifting the landscape in numerous industries, including the financial institutions space. The hype around
How to Deal with Brand in the Boardroom
As a bank director myself, I’m the last person who would advocate for longer meeting agendas. That said, I’m on a constant mission to be mindful that understanding bank performance requires...
Value, added: High baseline yields accompany surprisingly wide spreads
If your responsibilities include your community bank’s bond portfolio, you’ve been confounded by several elements of its performance in the last 18 months.
Remember the munis
I’m speaking of the municipal bond market. It is a maxim of community banking that the more munis a bank owns, the higher performing the portfolio will be.
Banking acronyms simplified: complimentary compliance reference guide
Having trouble keeping up with all the acronyms and initialisms in the banking world? You're certainly not alone. To streamline your understanding, we've put together a handy reference guide.
Economic Update: Rising Concerns in Housing Industry
The housing starts number for October was recently released. Based on higher interest rates and overall supply considerations, the number was supposed to moderate from the big September results. In...
2024's Regulatory Year Ahead
A new year, and many things old are new again, including the Dodd-Frank Act (DFA); data privacy; Community Reinvestment Act (CRA); Unfair, Deceptive, or Abusive Acts or Practices Act (UDAAP); and...
Power corporate governance excellence: Attend the Bank Director Current Issues Seminar at ICBA LIVE
Join us for the Bank Director Current Issues Seminar at ICBA LIVE in Orlando, Florida, on Thursday, March 14, 2023.
Spread the wealth
As we have navigated the holiday season, and hopefully had some time to wrap up some gifts as well as a successful 2023, let’s now spend a few minutes looking into pockets of relative value in the...
The Answer Is Revenue
When margins are narrow, there is only ‘so much’ value you can squeeze out of your assets and liabilities. It is time to rethink balance sheet growth and strategies to achieve results.
Data-Driven Success: Enhancing ROI in Digital Marketing
The financial landscape is evolving rapidly, and with it, the way banks market themselves. Gone are the days of relying solely on traditional tactics like print ads, branch marketing, and annual...
Play ball! National pastime gives us some portfolio management guidance.
It occurs to me that with a little thought there may be some parallels between our national pastime and community banking. Follow along as we see what lessons we might glean from the grand old game.
Corporate governance and employment law help is on the way!
With your ICBA Bank Director Program subscription you have access to attorneys from Jackson Lewis and Gerrish Smith Tuck for help with your employment law and corporate governance questions.
Interchange versus swipe fees, a primer.
With so much discussion around card transactions, what does a bank director need to know about interchange and swipe fees to understand their fiduciary duties and guide their decisions?
New! Enhancing Organizational Value Conference
Don’t miss the new Enhancing Organizational Value Conference to gain insights into critical corporate governance topics like stock liquidity, capital raising, succession planning, and employee...
Recession proofing: How to benefit from a lull in the economy
Tell me if you’ve heard this: An inverted yield curve is highly correlated with a subsequent recession. And might I point out that the U. S. treasury curve has been upside down for pushing two...
Strategic Planning Reimagined
Like many of today’s processes in banking, strategic planning is undergoing a dramatic shift. One of the core responsibilities of a bank board is to approve, support, and monitor its strategic plan.
Five Ways Community Banks Can Improve Cloud Security
Cloud security has become increasingly crucial as more community banks are transitioning from on-premises solutions to cloud-based services. The rapid transition has expanded the potential areas...
New course added to Bank Director Online Courses
Your Bank Director Program subscription includes access to 20 online courses on topics ranging from the Bank Secrecy Act to Understanding UDAAP. These courses are a great way to onboard new...
7 Strategies for Raising Bank Deposits
Money is moving out of low- and no-interest bank accounts in favor of higher-yielding money markets, CDs and other fixed income products available elsewhere. Deposits that swelled in the wake of...
Employment law help is on the way!
With your ICBA Bank Director Program subscription you have access to attorneys from Jackson Lewis to help with your employment law questions.
Attracting and retaining key personnel
With so much discussion around card transactions, what does a bank director need to know about interchange and swipe fees to understand their fiduciary duties and guide their decisions?
The Importance of AI Literacy for Bank Boards
The importance of artificial intelligence (AI) literacy cannot be overlooked as AI is rapidly transforming the banking industry. As this technology evolves, so do the risks and opportunities.
The Meek…
There are a whole lot of anomalies in community banking in the waning stages of this restrictive Fed cycle. One of the overriding themes is the sheer duration of the process.
Easing into the fall
It’s been a while, but the tightening cycle that started in early 2022 has finally run its course. It appears the price stability mandate has been met sufficiently for the focus to turn to maximum...
Battle Over/War Isn’t: Employer Considerations Now That FTC Non-Compete Ban Is Set Aside
A Texas court set aside the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC’s) Final Rule banning all non-compete clauses days before it was set to take effect on Sept. 4. Ryan LLC v. FTC, No. 3:24-CV-00986-E,...
What Directors Should Know About the Liquidity Crisis
To paraphrase President Reagan, a recession in banking is when banks face funding and cost of funds challenges. Banks, however, can replenish their liquidity. In contrast, borrowers may be...
The Board E’s
Recently, a board chair described to us his approach toward managing his board of directors and how he strives to improve overall corporate governance for the organization by focusing on “the three...
A fresh perspective: FOMC’s 2025 roster has some new voters
While we in the financial services sector start thinking about monetary policy in the coming year, there’s a new wrinkle to consider. Many Fed-watchers, rate prognosticators, economists and...
The importance of information when building customer relationships at community banks
While large financial institutions have long used data analytics to drive customer engagement, community banks are now recognizing the value and importance of leveraging information and data to...
From Volatility to Vision: Guiding Bank Performance Through Economic Cycles
As the economic landscape continues to shift rapidly, the ability to navigate unforeseen macroeconomic changes is essential for a bank’s long-term success and the preservation of franchise value.
Tariff Impacts on Credit Risk: What Bank Boards Need to Know
In periods of uncertainty, the only certainty is that risk increases. In statistical analysis risk is defined by a growing variance level. The wider the swings recorded between a bottom and top...
Prepare your high school graduate for the financial changes college and the workforce bring
Prepare your high school graduate for the financial changes college and the workforce bring While classes and dorm rooms and new jobs are on the forefront of high school seniors’ minds, it’s...
Top Strategies to Mitigate Current Cyber Threats
Hackers are leveraging new technology to find vulnerabilities in systems once thought impossible to exploit. As a technological renaissance pushes new methods of convenience and optimization, it’s...
Maintaining Data Privacy Through Your Financial Institution’s Digital Journey
One of financial institutions’ biggest concerns when considering digital tools such as artificial intelligence, automation, or data platforms is verifying your institution and customer data remain...
Yield enhancer, or gimmick?
Most representatives of the broker-dealer industry have been suggesting to their customers, especially community banks, that their collection of bonds could be situated to perform pretty well in 2025.
Why Your Community Bank Needs a Disaster Recovery Plan
Natural disasters can be personally and economically devastating to local communities, and it’s important that community banks are prepared to help both themselves and the people they serve.
Combating Fraud: One Attack at a Time
The numbers don’t lie: fraud losses are on the rise, with 61% of financial organizations reporting direct losses of over $500,000 in a 12-month period. In addition, 52% of mid-market organizations...
Vigilante justice?
While it will possibly take months and even the rest of the year to see the full shakeout, April 2025 was a laboratory for market efficiency. Some might contend there was an element of ruthlessness...
5 Beneficial Money Habits you Can Put into Practice Right Now
5 Beneficial Money Habits you Can Put into Practice Right Now When it comes to saving, investing, or getting your finances in order, the process can often feel daunting. Here are some tips to help...
The 411 for First Time Home Buyers
Venturing into the housing market, especially for the first time, can be intimidating and difficult to navigate without a financial expert in your corner.
Business banking: How to switch to a community bank
Business banking: How to switch to a community bank Changing who your business banks with might sound overwhelming, especially if you’ve been with your current bank for a long time. But community...
WSJ: Community banks came through for businesses
WSJ: Community banks came through for businesses When big banks left small businesses hung out to dry in a pandemic, the Wall Street Journal reports that many community banks came through with...