Search Articles
Unlimited Webinar Pass
One price for the whole bank
Capitalize on social payments
Social payments methods like Venmo and Cash App continue to grow in popularity, creating an opportunity to give customers 24/7 access to cashless, P2P and mobile transactions. So how do social...
How to reach customers with disabilities
Some people living with disabilities eschew banking services because they feel financially underserved or physically barred. Through sensitive customer service and ADA-compliant accessibility,...
Rebeca Romero Rainey: The spirit of service
Community banks stand out in today’s financial services space because our business model depends on an ecosystem where the bank only benefits when customers do.
Aaron Stetter: ICBA's fall legislative outlook
Legislation addressing everything from farm lending to credit union overreach is set to go before Congress this autumn. Now’s the time to make your voice heard on the issues that affect community...
A Loan So Good, Borrowers Can’t Stop Talking About It
SPONSORED | See what real borrowers are saying about the Kasasa Loan® — and why its flexibility, control, and transparency are changing the loan game for consumers and community banks alike.
Jim Reber: Buying time (maybe)
A sell-off in 2022 isn’t following previous bear markets.
Banking Milestones: Celebrate Yesterday’s Innovations, and Embrace Tomorrow’s Opportunity
SPONSORED—Rather than being held back by aging platforms, let’s celebrate yesterday’s innovations, but look ahead towards opportunity.
Jenna Burke: Leading the climate risk charge
As lawmakers and regulatory bodies discuss their approach to managing climate-related rules, disclosures and oversight, ICBA pushes back against regulations that could prove disadvantageous to...
Commercial real estate outlook
The commercial real estate market is changing, as demand for new construction grows along with rising costs and interest rates. How do community banks fit in the bigger CRE picture? Lenders share...
4 trending social media tips to know
The Social Bankers, a collective of community bank marketers, offers inspiration, information and professional development advice to community bankers focused on marketing and social media. We...
Efficiency now: 8 smart strategy tips
Fallout from recent global events presents an obstacle to generating revenue for community banks. How can they counteract these effects and maximize financial efficiency? As we enter budgeting...
Charles Potts: Fueling growth through innovation
Innovation is taking place all around us at a pace unlike anything we have ever experienced. We’ve developed an ecosystem to foster growth through innovative partnerships and community involvement.
Gamification’s Place in Community Banking
SPONSORED—How can gamification benefit your community bank? In more ways than you might realize. Zogo has mastered the art of incentivizing gamification that bolsters loyalty, engagement, activity,...
How OnBoard’s Board Governance Solution Helps Banks Be Their Best
SPONSORED | First Citizens Bank, an Iowa state-chartered bank, uses OnBoard’s board management software to increase efficiency and deliver a consistent, improved process for its boards, committees,...
Why Today’s Innovation Is Tomorrow’s Normal—With Tim Shangle, AVP, Innovation and Data Analytics, ChoiceOne Bank
“Innovation isn’t magic,” says Tim Shangle, ChoiceOne Bank’s associate vice president of innovation and data analytics. “You don’t need a wizard to make your bank innovative.”
SouthState Bank turns swag into art
After a recent merger, SouthState Bank had hundreds of unused T-shirts featuring its old logo. Rather than send them to the landfill, it donated them to a community textile arts project that...
Jim Reber: Floating rate assets are back
Floaters are gaining popularity. Again.
Lindsay LaNore: Strategic training initiatives
The workplace is in constant flux, business goals are growing, and employee preferences are evolving. Ensure that your professional development programs support your strategic goals.
Charles Potts: Strengthening human connections
Community banks are the lifeblood of communities, but people are the lifeblood of community banks.
Brad M. Bolton: Retaining the best
Community bank employees fill a special role, unlike no other position in the market today, and we must do a better job of telling that story.
Rebeca Romero Rainey: Budget prioritization
Community banks stand out in today’s financial services space because our business model depends on an ecosystem where the bank only benefits when customers do.
The community banks beating the Great Resignation
A mass exodus of the U.S. workforce during the pandemic brought challenges in recruiting entry- to mid-level staff. These community banks share how they have (or haven’t) altered their hiring...
Member Milestones: Landmark anniversaries
From centennials to dodransbicentennials (that’s 175 years), 36 community banks are marking significant anniversaries in 2022. Four presidents and CEOs reflect on how their banks survived the past,...
Commercial Cards: An Opportunity Too Big to Miss
SPONSORED—With a new operating model in play, financial institutions are in a great position to shift check spend to commercial card spend. Read Visa’s article to understand the commercial card...
How BHG Financial’s innovative solutions can help community banks thrive in the digital age
SPONSORED | First Citizens Bank, an Iowa state-chartered bank, uses OnBoard’s board management software to increase efficiency and deliver a consistent, improved process for its boards, committees,...
Mark K. Scanlan: Overregulation is strangling rural America
After the CFPB released its report on the financial issues facing rural America, ICBA emphasized that leveling the playing field and easing rural community banks’ regulatory burden would drive...
Jim Reber: Three chords and the truth
Country music evokes portfolio management themes.
Lindsay LaNore: Getting more out of virtual learning
Whether you are in the learner’s or supervisor’s seat, the phrase “You only get out what you put into it” should be top of mind as every community bank looks to continue enriching its professional...
Brad M. Bolton: Working through difficult times
Working through any difficulty or crisis at your community bank won’t be a walk in the park, but it may lead to an experience for which you’re truly grateful.
Rebeca Romero Rainey: Shifts in lending
Loan providers are multiplying, and we cannot underestimate the need for a frictionless loan, one that removes hoops for our customers and feels simple, efficient and effective.
9 ways to manage credit risk
Effects of the pandemic and other factors creating unpredictability have changed how community banks approach their credit and lending operations. These experts share nine tips and credit risk best...
Introducing the 2022 ICBA ThinkTECH Accelerator finalists
The 2022 ICBA ThinkTECH Accelerator spotlighted some of the most innovative fintech providers. We asked this year’s cohort how community banks can harness today’s technologies and solutions to...
4 Ways to Find International Business Customers
SPONSORED | International expansion means more opportunities to acquire new customers. PCBB's insights paper, "Strategies to Attract New International Business Customers", identifies ways to find...
Can staying vigilant prevent fraud?
By staying vigilant to consumer guidelines and establishing their own security safeguards, community banks can stay ahead of today's ever-evolving threat of fraudulent activity and erroneous...
Ensure your community bank is inclusive
For a workplace to be truly inclusive, its employees should feel accepted for who they are and valued for their unique perspectives and backgrounds. We asked community bankers and experts for their...
5 ways to shake up your lending strategy
A new approach to loan protocols is just one way for community banks to grow in new and different directions. Assessing best practices, rates, marketing efforts and more can position loan producers...
How community banks can help young homebuyers
As house prices skyrocket, student loan debt grows and wages stagnate, many Gen Zers and millennials are watching their homebuying dreams move out of reach. But there are ways community banks can...
Q1 2020 Bank Executive Business Outlook Survey Highlights
Q1 2020 Bank Executive Business Outlook Survey Highlights What a difference three months make. In the fourth quarter of 2019, the outlook among bankers about the economy and the state of the...
Raising Community Banker Awareness of CDFIs
Raising Community Banker Awareness of CDFIs ICBA is working to raise awareness of a special designation available to certain community banks – the Community Development Financial Institution. By...
A Guide for Community Banks Reopening Their Doors
A Guide for Community Banks Reopening Their Doors ICBA has compiled a guide to help community banks resume more normal operations and person-to-person services. ICBA has compiled a guide to help...
ICBA’s Annual M&A Workshop Goes Virtual through a Webinar Series
ICBA’s Annual M&A Workshop Goes Virtual through a Webinar Series Kicking off Oct. 13, Community Banker University® is hosting a four-part Mergers & Acquisitions Webinar Workshop series...
Bank Director News has Gone Digital
Bank Director News has Gone Digital Due to the unprecedented challenges presented by COVID-19, this issue of Community Bank Director News is being distributed exclusively in electronic format so...
SBA Offers PPP Answers on Directors, Partnerships, and More
SBA Offers PPP Answers on Directors, Partnerships, and More The Treasury Department and Small Business Administration just answered key ICBA questions about the Paycheck Protection Program relating...
ICBA revamps COVID-19 resource center
ICBA revamps COVID-19 resource center ICBA is continuously updating its COVID-19 Community Banking Resources page to provide community bank leadership with the latest breaking industry news and...
Governance Help is Just a Call Away
Governance Help is Just a Call Away As a subscriber of ICBA's Bank Director Program, you have free access to knowledgeable community bank attorneys at Gerrish Smith Tuck who can quickly and...
Paycheck Protection Plan Flexibility Act Increases PPP Loan Program Flexibility
Paycheck Protection Plan Flexibility Act Increases PPP Loan Program Flexibility On June 5, 2020, the Paycheck Protection Plan (PPP) Flexibility Act was signed into law by the President. The PPP...
Ready to Run: After a lag, prepayments are primed to take off.
Ready to Run: After a lag, prepayments are primed to take off. If you are inclined to read bond analysts’ research reports, eventually you’ll chance upon some commentary that addresses the...
Why Succession Planning is Key to Bank Independence
Why Succession Planning is Key to Bank Independence Independence is at the heart of many community banks’ ethos, but how do community bankers embed this core value into their strategic planning?...
2008 vs. 2020: A Financial Crisis Comparison
2008 vs. 2020: A Financial Crisis Comparison How does the financial crisis of 2008 compare with the pandemic-driven economic crisis of today? Though both significantly impacted our economy, there...
Kickoff! A Football Fan’s Guide to Portfolio Management
Kickoff! A Football Fan’s Guide to Portfolio Management As the calendar turns to September, millions of Americans gear up for their favorite sport of football. Of course, with this being a year...
CDFI Program Offers Help to Small Businesses in Underserved Communities
CDFI Program Offers Help to Small Businesses in Underserved Communities On Sept. 3, a complimentary presentation hosted by CDFI certified bankers, federal agency staff, and ICBA experts will share...
Shop Talk 2020
Shop Talk 2020 Our conversation with a community banker resumes. By Jim Reber, President & CEO, ICBA Securities Our conversation with a community banker resumes. “This is Jim Reber speaking.” “Hi...
Things You Never Thought You’d Say
Things You Never Thought You’d Say Over time, a business relationship develops, much of which is a matter of convenience for the busy portfolio manager. And out of this relationship comes dialogue....
New COVID-19 Safety and Soundness Standards for Financial Institutions
New COVID-19 Safety and Soundness Standards for Financial Institutions On June 23, 2020, the financial institution regulatory agencies jointly issued “Interagency Examiner Guidance for Assessing...
Succession in a Covid-19 World
Succession in a Covid-19 World One of the less discussed impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic , which is shaking boardrooms and executive suites, is the issue of leadership succession. By Alan J....
We Decided to Make COVID a Magic Word
We Decided to Make COVID a Magic Word For all that 2020 hasn’t been, let’s look at what it has. In fact, let’s make COVID a magic word and see what happens to our perspective. By Tom Hershberger,...
An Economic Update for Bank Directors
An Economic Update for Bank Directors As 2020 comes to an end, here are a couple of items to consider within the economy that might be important. By Brad Stevens, Principal and Founder, SRM As 2020...
Congress Could Act to Overturn Treasury Guidance on PPP Loan Expense Deductibility
Congress Could Act to Overturn Treasury Guidance on PPP Loan Expense Deductibility On Nov. 18, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued Revenue Ruling 2020-27 and Revenue Procedure 2020-51. This...
Banks Leaving the Pain of 2020 Behind
Banks Leaving the Pain of 2020 Behind Banks are looking ahead to this year with the hope that the human and economic toll of 2020 can be left in the past. By Brandon Koeser, RSM U.S. Banks are...
An Economic Update for Bank Directors
An Economic Update for Bank Directors SRM founder and principal Brad Stevens has been leading the credit industry as an analyst, trainer and consultant for over 30 years. Read Brad's Economic...