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Treasury releases two AI resources
Treasury releases two AI resources The Treasury Department released the first two of six recently announced resources to guide AI use in the financial sector. Details: Treasury said: The AI Lexicon...
ICBA urges grassroots outreach on check services
ICBA urges grassroots outreach on check services ICBA is urging community bankers to submit comment letters on the future of the Federal Reserve Banks’ check collection and processing services....
Community bank net income decreases in Q4 but is up in 2025
Community bank net income decreases in Q4 but is up in 2025 Community banks reported a 3.8% fourth-quarter decrease in net income from the previous quarter, but full-year net income was up 22.5% in...
Blog post: Solving for community bank innovation at ICBA Core Day/Reg Day
Blog post: Solving for community bank innovation at ICBA Core Day/Reg Day A new blog post details ICBA’s recent Core Day/Regulator Day, which brought together fintech founders, core providers, and...
Customer Retention Strategies for Community Banks
Looking to improve customer retention? Here’s how community banks strengthen loyalty through appreciation events, feedback programs and community engagement strategies.
Ransomware Prevention Strategies for Community Banks
Ransomware attacks are evolving. Learn how community banks can prevent successful ransomware attacks through AI-driven detection, employee training, vendor oversight and strong cybersecurity...
Teen Debit Cards: Financial Literacy for the Next Generation
Teen debit cards help community banks teach financial literacy while building long-term customer relationships. Explore features, safeguards and youth banking strategies that drive generational...
5 Essential Treasury Management Services for Community Banks
Discover five essential treasury management services community banks should offer to improve business cash flow, prevent fraud and strengthen commercial banking relationships.
ICBA Capital Summit 2026: Key Policy Priorities
Community bankers head to Washington for the ICBA Capital Summit 2026 to advocate for regulatory relief, ag lending support, deposit insurance reform and key community banking policies.
Single-Location Community Banks That Thrive
Can community banks succeed with just one location? Four single-branch community banks share how staying small lowers overhead, strengthens customer relationships and supports long-term growth.
Community Bank Marketing Strategies for Growth
Learn the latest marketing strategies for community banks, including video, contests, AI, and social media to engage local audiences.
Incoming ICBA Chairman Alice Frazier on Leadership
Meet Alice Frazier, president and CEO of Potomac Bank and incoming ICBA chairman. Learn how her leadership journey, advocacy work and focus on developing the next generation of community bankers...
OCC proposes rule on GENIUS Act implementation
OCC proposes rule on GENIUS Act implementation The OCC requested comment on a proposed rule to implement provisions of the GENIUS Act regarding the issuance of payment stablecoins. About the...
OCC approves ICBA-opposed national trust charter applications
OCC approves ICBA-opposed national trust charter applications The OCC recently approved national trust charters for three crypto-focused applicants following ICBA opposition. Recent Approvals: The...
ICBA supports strong farm bill, opposes expansion of FCS financing
ICBA supports strong farm bill, opposes expansion of FCS financing ICBA said it strongly supports passage of a farm bill that protects producers, strengthens rural communities, and ensures a...
IRS launches web page for tax fraud and scam reporting
IRS launches web page for tax fraud and scam reporting IRS launches web page for tax fraud and scam reporting The Internal Revenue Service announced the launch of a web page that allows taxpayers...
Regulators tout community bank relief on Capitol Hill
Regulators tout community bank relief on Capitol Hill During testimony at a Senate Banking Committee oversight hearing, federal banking regulators said community bank regulatory relief is a top...
New op-ed highlights local cost of credit union tax disparity
New op-ed highlights local cost of credit union tax disparity A new op-ed in Kentucky says the state’s budget shortfall could be fixed if credit unions paid taxes like community banks. Details: In...
ICBA opposes Affirm Bank’s ILC application
ICBA opposes Affirm Bank’s ILC application ICBA and the Bank Policy Institute said the FDIC should not issue deposit insurance to Affirm Bank or any other industrial loan company applicant until...
ICBA Expresses Concerns with OCC National Trust Bank Chartering Final Rule
ICBA Expresses Concerns with OCC National Trust Bank Chartering Final Rule Washington, D.C. (Feb. 27, 2026) — Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) President and CEO Rebeca Romero Rainey...
Check Fraud Is Rising—and Technology Debt Is Making It Worse for Community Banks
Check Fraud Is Rising—and Technology Debt Is Making It Worse for Community Banks SPONSORED | Check fraud isn’t just a crime problem—it’s a technology problem. Aging deposit systems can fuel risk,...
How Instant Payments Can Accelerate B2B Payments Modernization
How Instant Payments Can Accelerate B2B Payments Modernization SPONSORED | Community banks have the opportunity to provide new payment offerings, including instant payments, to help businesses move...
2026 Banking Trust & Technology Outlook: What Community Bank Leaders Need to Know
2026 Banking Trust & Technology Outlook: What Community Bank Leaders Need to Know SPONSORED | Rising cyber risks, AI anxiety, and unclear IT spending is challenging community bank leaders to...
FinCEN: Residential real estate reporting begins
FinCEN: Residential real estate reporting begins The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network published a reminder that, as of March 1, select professionals involved in real estate closings and...
FinCEN issues limited exemptive relief for Minnesota GTO
FinCEN issues limited exemptive relief for Minnesota GTO The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network issued tailored exemptive relief related to the geographic targeting order imposing recordkeeping...
Agencies release Q2, Q3 CRA exam schedules
Agencies release Q2, Q3 CRA exam schedules The OCC and FDIC issued their lists of institutions scheduled for a Community Reinvestment Act evaluation or examination during the second and third...
ICBA offers ready-to-use March marketing tools
ICBA offers ready-to-use March marketing tools ICBA’s Marketing Resource Center features ready-to-use marketing tools that community bankers can use to celebrate and highlight March events. Assets:...
Justice Department seizes $580M from crypto scammers
Justice Department seizes $580M from crypto scammers The Justice Department’s Scam Center Task Force announced that it has seized almost $580 million from crypto scammers in Burma, Cambodia, and...
OCC reports BankNet vulnerability
OCC reports BankNet vulnerability The OCC reported that its cybersecurity team last week discovered a vulnerability affecting the BankNet Portal and related OCC systems. Details: The OCC said: It...
FDIC approves ILC application from Edward Jones
FDIC approves ILC application from Edward Jones The FDIC board of directors approved the deposit insurance application submitted by the Jones Financial Companies to establish an industrial loan...
ICBA urges Senate to include community bank provisions in housing bill
ICBA urges Senate to include community bank provisions in housing bill ICBA urged senators to include House-passed community bank provisions in the ROAD to Housing Act (S. 2651). The bipartisan...
OCC releases ICBA-opposed national trust bank chartering rule
OCC releases ICBA-opposed national trust bank chartering rule After the OCC issued its final chartering rule for national trust banks, ICBA expressed significant concerns with chartering...
ICBA Securities Selects The Baker Group as New Endorsed Provider Following Comprehensive Review
ICBA Securities Selects The Baker Group as New Endorsed Provider Following Comprehensive Review Washington, D.C. (March 3, 2026) — ICBA Securities, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Independent...
Credit Card Growth Amid Regulatory Hurdles: Why Partnerships Matter for Community Banks
Credit Card Growth Amid Regulatory Hurdles: Why Partnerships Matter for Community Banks Community banks have long been defined by close relationships, local expertise, and deep trust within their...
Ways to Improve Community Bank Credit Card Risk Management
Ways to Improve Community Bank Credit Card Risk Management Financial fraud is evolving rapidly. As more consumers turn to online shopping, bill pay, mobile banking, and person-to-person payments,...
FFIEC announces updates to interest rate risk analysis web pages
FFIEC announces updates to interest rate risk analysis web pages The Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council announced updates to the Uniform Bank Performance Report’s Interest Rate Risk...
ICBA urges OCC to adjust threshold for heightened standards proposal
ICBA urges OCC to adjust threshold for heightened standards proposal ICBA said that while it supports efforts to improve clarity and reduce unnecessary burden, the OCC’s proposal to increase the...
ICBA LIVE’s “Anchored in Purpose” Spotlights Enduring Spirit of Community Banking
ICBA LIVE’s “Anchored in Purpose” Spotlights Enduring Spirit of Community Banking San Diego, Calif. (March 3, 2026)—Community bankers and industry leaders convene this week at the San Diego...
Customers Don't Care Who Built It
Customers Don't Care Who Built It Banks want tokenized deposits. Fintechs want stablecoins. Customers will choose what works. Banks want tokenized deposits. Fintechs want stablecoins. Customers...
ICBA Taps Digital Assets Leader Wade Peery to Inform Solutions and Banker Education
ICBA Taps Digital Assets Leader Wade Peery to Inform Solutions and Banker Education ICBA has announced a consulting agreement with Wade Peery, a longtime community bank executive and digital assets...
Off and Running
Off and Running I’m hopeful that those New Year’s Resolutions are intact and having their desired effects. In taking one more look back into 2025, it dawns on me the further we got into the year,...
Fannie Mae provides shutdown guidance
Fannie Mae provides shutdown guidance Fannie Mae published temporary guidance on selling and servicing policies that may be impacted by the partial federal government shutdown that began on Feb....
Farm bill markup continues today
Farm bill markup continues today The House Agriculture Committee is scheduled to continue its markup of the farm bill (H.R. 7567) at 8 a.m. (Eastern time) today. Details: The committee began its...
OCC finalizes reg relief rules
OCC finalizes reg relief rules The OCC announced two final ICBA-supported rules to reduce the regulatory burden for community banks. Details: The OCC final rules: Rescind its Fair Housing Home Loan...
ICBA Raises Deep Concerns with Master Account Approval for Kraken Financial
ICBA Raises Deep Concerns with Master Account Approval for Kraken Financial Washington, D.C. (March 4, 2026) — Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) President and CEO Rebeca Romero Rainey...
ICBA Commends House Financial Services Committee for Advancing Main Street Capital Access Act
ICBA Commends House Financial Services Committee for Advancing Main Street Capital Access Act Washington, D.C. (March 4, 2026) — The Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) today commended...
Staying power - Fed’s balance sheet has some duration, for better or worse
Staying power - Fed’s balance sheet has some duration, for better or worse It appears that, assuming the nominee for the next federal reserve chairman is confirmed by the Senate, he is going to...
ICBA Congratulates House Agriculture Committee on Passing New Farm Bill
ICBA Congratulates House Agriculture Committee on Passing New Farm Bill Washington, D.C. (March 5, 2026) — Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) President and CEO Rebeca Romero Rainey...
ICBA Testifies Before Congress on Helping Community Banks Fight Fraud
ICBA Testifies Before Congress on Helping Community Banks Fight Fraud Washington, D.C. (March 5, 2026) — The Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) today testified before Congress on...
Economic activity increases in recent weeks: Beige Book
Economic activity increases in recent weeks: Beige Book Economic activity increased at a slight to modest pace in more than half of the Federal Reserve Districts from early January through...
Trump officially nominates Warsh to lead Fed
Trump officially nominates Warsh to lead Fed President Donald Trump officially nominated Kevin Warsh to serve as Federal Reserve chairman. If confirmed by the Senate, Warsh would replace Jerome...
New op-ed says it’s time to end credit unions’ tax exemption
New op-ed says it’s time to end credit unions’ tax exemption A new op-ed says ending the tax exemption for business entities such as credit unions could help solve the nation’s budget issues....
ICBA raises concerns with master account approval for crypto firm
ICBA raises concerns with master account approval for crypto firm ICBA expressed significant concerns with the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City’s approval of a master account for Kraken...
House panel advances ICBA-supported reg relief bill
House panel advances ICBA-supported reg relief bill ICBA commended the House Financial Services Committee for voting to advance the pro-community bank Main Street Capital Access Act (H.R. 6955)....
Agencies issues FAQs on the capital treatment of tokenized securities
Agencies issues FAQs on the capital treatment of tokenized securities The federal bank regulatory agencies issued answers to frequently asked questions on the capital treatment of tokenized...
House panel advances farm bill
House panel advances farm bill The House Agriculture Committee advanced a new farm bill with bipartisan support by a 34-17 vote. The bill will proceed to the House floor for a full vote....
ICBA testifies at House hearing on fraud
ICBA testifies at House hearing on fraud ICBA community banker Gay Dempsey testified on Capitol Hill that fraud is an urgent problem that must be fought through coordination among financial...
ICBA Adds Jack Henry’s Financial Crimes Defender to its Preferred Service Provider Program Offering
ICBA Adds Jack Henry’s Financial Crimes Defender to its Preferred Service Provider Program Offering AI-enabled, real-time fraud and BSA compliance platform helps community banks fight fraud San...
ICBA and Holtmeyer & Monson Mark 20th Anniversary Serving Community Banks
ICBA and Holtmeyer & Monson Mark 20th Anniversary Serving Community Banks San Diego, Calif. (March 6, 2026) —The Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) today recognized the 20th...
West Virginia Community Banker Alice Frazier Elected ICBA Chairman
West Virginia Community Banker Alice Frazier Elected ICBA Chairman San Diego, Calif. (March 9, 2026) — Alice P. Frazier, president and CEO of Potomac Bank in Charles Town, W. Va., was elected...