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Using Loyalty Programs to Grow Your Portfolio
2021-12-07 Using Loyalty Programs to Grow Your Portfolio Loyalty programs are a tremendous tool for community banks to build trust with consumers and deliver an enhanced shopping experience. These...
Grow and Protect
Grow and Protect I’m a glass-half-full banker. So, while we can look at 2021 as a year of challenges, we should also take a moment to recognize the opportunities that have emerged in their wake....
ICBA/Travelers Deliver Over $4 Million in Dividends for Participating Community Banks
2021-12-07 ICBA/Travelers Deliver Over $4 Million in Dividends for Participating Community Banks Washington, D.C. (Dec. 7, 2021) — The Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) today...
This week: ICBA advocacy briefing on 1071 push
This week: ICBA advocacy briefing on 1071 push ICBA this week is hosting a complimentary briefing on its campaign targeting the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s Section 1071 proposal....
ICBA to CFPB: Extend inquiry of largest tech firms
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau should extend its inquiry of the six largest technology companies to all tech firms that participate in payments and financial services or hold consumer...
ICBA advocacy briefing this week on 1071 push
ICBA advocacy briefing this week on 1071 push ICBA this week is hosting a complimentary briefing on its campaign targeting the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s Section 1071 proposal. Details:...
Boozman op-ed targets postal banking pilot
A U.S. Postal Service pilot program to test postal banking will further complicate already-strained mail delivery, Sen. John Boozman (Ark.) wrote in a new op-ed. Op-ed: In The Hill, Boozman wrote...
New ICBA video: Call for credit union hearings
Wake Up to Credit Unions 2021-12-03 New ICBA video: Call for credit union hearings ICBA released a new video distinguishing taxpaying community banks from tax-exempt credit unions. Mission Creep:...
Growing your credit portfolio starts with knowing the numbers
You’ve probably heard the saying, “the numbers don’t lie” and in the financial world, it is more than a cliché it’s usually a fact. So, when I’m asked about the best ways to grow a credit card...
Credit unions report Q3 growth
Credit unions report Q3 growth Shares and deposits at federally insured credit unions increased 14.4% in the third quarter from the previous year, the National Credit Union Administration reported....
ICBA 1071 campaign continues
ICBA this week began calling on community bankers to submit personalized comments on the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s proposal to implement Dodd-Frank Section 1071 collection and...
Romero Rainey: Act now on 1071 proposal
Romero Rainey: Act now on 1071 proposal ICBA President and CEO Rebeca Romero Rainey called on community bankers to join the grassroots push on the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s 1071...
ICBA’s Independent Banker Names 2021 Best Community Banks to Work For
Washington, D.C. (Dec. 1, 2021) — Independent Banker magazine, the award-winning monthly publication of the Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA), today bestowed 2021 Best Community Banks...
CFPB issues annual threshold adjustment
CFPB issues annual threshold adjustment The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau raised the annual threshold adjustment maximum that consumer reporting agencies may charge consumers for making a...
Yellen, Powell testifying this week
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell are scheduled to testify this week before the Senate Banking and House Financial Services committees. Set for tomorrow and...
ICBA urges cannabis banking safe harbor in Senate defense bill
ICBA urges cannabis banking safe harbor in Senate defense bill ICBA called on senators to support the inclusion of an ICBA-advocated cannabis banking safe harbor as an amendment to a pending...
ICBA’s Romero Rainey, Paul Merski Named Top Lobbyists by The Hill
Executives highlighted for leading community bank advocacy in Washington Washington, D.C. (Dec. 2, 2021) — Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) President and CEO Rebeca Romero Rainey and...
Regulators update BSA/AML exam manual
2021-12-02 Regulators update BSA/AML exam manual The Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council updated its BSA/AML Examination Manual, which instructs examiners on assessing BSA/AML...
Agencies adjust regulatory thresholds
Agencies adjust regulatory thresholds Federal regulators announced 2022 updates to key regulatory thresholds. Mortgage Loans: The threshold for exempting loans from special appraisal requirements...
CFPB: Community banks charge lower overdraft fees
2021-12-02 CFPB: Community banks charge lower overdraft fees The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau said community banks charge lower overdraft fees than larger institutions. Details: The CFPB...
ICBA, The Venture Center Announce 2022 ThinkTECH Accelerator Cohort
ICBA, The Venture Center Announce 2022 ThinkTECH Accelerator Cohort Cohort offers diverse mix of cybersecurity, lending, financial wellness solutions, and more Washington, D.C. (Nov. 30, 2021) —...
ICBA launches comment letter campaign on 1071 proposal
2021-11-30 ICBA launches comment letter campaign on 1071 proposal ICBA is calling on community bankers to submit personalized comments on the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s proposal to...
ICBA endorses HR. 6037, pushes back against SBA direct lending plan
ICBA endorses HR. 6037, pushes back against SBA direct lending plan ICBA continued its grassroots efforts against a provision under consideration in the Build Back Better reconciliation bill that...
Five Democratic senators oppose Omarova nomination: report
2021-11-29 Five Democratic senators oppose Omarova nomination: report Five Democratic senators reportedly don't support Saule Omarova’s nomination to lead the Office of the Comptroller of the...
Cybersecurity advisory warns of holiday attacks
Cybersecurity advisory warns of holiday attacks The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and FBI issued a cybersecurity reminder for public and private sector organizations to remain...
SBA office backs 1071 comment extension
2021-11-24 SBA office backs 1071 comment extension The SBA Office of Advocacy expressed support for ICBA and state banking associations’ request that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau extend...
ICBA congratulates Powell, Brainard on Fed nominations
ICBA congratulates Powell, Brainard on Fed nominations ICBA congratulated Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell and Fed Governor Lael Brainard after President Joe Biden said he intends to nominate...
Bill would bar SBA 7(a) direct lending
2021-11-23 Bill would bar SBA 7(a) direct lending Legislation to bar SBA direct lending under its 7(a) loan program was introduced amid an ICBA grassroots campaign opposing the policy. Background:...
OCC provides crypto guidance as agencies announce roadmap
OCC provides crypto guidance as agencies announce roadmap Federal regulators said they plan to provide greater regulatory clarity on crypto-related activities next year, with the OCC issuing an...
ICBA cautions FHFA on excessive credit risk transfer reliance
ICBA said it is largely supportive of proposed amendments to the Federal Housing Finance Agency’s final capital rule, though it cautioned the agency not to allow Fannie and Freddie to become overly...
ICBA Statement on House Passage of Reconciliation Bill
ICBA Statement on House Passage of Reconciliation Bill Washington, D.C. (Nov. 19, 2021) — Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) President and CEO Rebeca Romero Rainey issued the following...
ICBA Introduces BankTech Ventures Investment Fund
Washington, D.C. (Nov. 19, 2021) — The Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) today announced the Initial Closing of a fund launched by BankTech Ventures, LP (“BTV”). The venture capital...
Agencies issue computer incident notification final rule
2021-11-19 Agencies issue computer incident notification final rule Federal banking regulators approved a final rule designed to improve the sharing of information about cyber incidents that may...
ICBA issues summary of employer vaccine mandate
ICBA issues summary of employer vaccine mandate ICBA published a summary of the Biden administration’s policy requiring employers with 100 or more employees to ensure their workers are fully...
ICBA: SBA plans should include community bank role
2021-11-23 ICBA: SBA plans should include community bank role ICBA told the SBA it should continue partnering with community banks rather than attempting to remove them from the loan origination...
Statement on Federal Reserve Nominations of Jerome Powell, Lael Brainard
Statement on Federal Reserve Nominations of Jerome Powell, Lael Brainard Washington, D.C. (Nov. 22, 2021) — Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) President and CEO Rebeca Romero Rainey...
House passes spending bill without IRS reporting plan
2021-11-22 House passes spending bill without IRS reporting plan The House passed its version of the Build Back Better reconciliation bill without numerous ICBA-opposed provisions, including the...
Fed officials: Faster tapering may be needed
Fed officials: Faster tapering may be needed Federal Reserve officials discussed the potential need to speed up the tapering of asset purchases in response to rising job gains and inflation....
OCC nominee faces tough questions at Senate hearing
2021-11-19 OCC nominee faces tough questions at Senate hearing Community bank opposition to Saule Omarova’s nomination to lead the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency took center stage at a...
ICBA urging grassroots pushback against SBA direct lending plan
ICBA urging grassroots pushback against SBA direct lending plan ICBA is calling on community bankers to continue the campaign opposing proposed changes to the SBA 7(a) loan program contained in the...
Hsu: Agencies planning additional clarity on crypto activities
2021-11-17 Hsu: Agencies planning additional clarity on crypto activities Federal banking regulators will soon issue a short statement that describes the recently concluded interagency “crypto...
ICBA, state groups oppose Omarova OCC nomination
ICBA, state groups oppose Omarova OCC nomination ICBA and state community banking groups expressed opposition to Cornell University law professor Saule Omarova’s nomination to lead the Office of...
ICBA, groups push for NCUA oversight hearing
2021-11-18 ICBA, groups push for NCUA oversight hearing ICBA and other groups called on Congress to hold an oversight hearing on troubling National Credit Union Administration rulemaking activity....
Credit union satisfaction lags banks again: index
Credit union satisfaction lags banks again: index Consumer satisfaction with credit unions lagged banks for the third year in a row, according to a national survey covered by CU Today. Details:...
ICBA urging grassroots pushback against SBA direct lending plan
ICBA is calling on community bankers to continue the campaign opposing proposed changes to the SBA 7(a) loan program contained in the House budget-reconciliation bill. Grassroots: Community bankers...
Republican senators denounce postal banking pilot
Republican senators denounce postal banking pilot A group of 19 Senate Republicans led by Sen. John Boozman (Ark.) denounced an ICBA-opposed U.S. Postal Service pilot program to test postal...
ICBA-backed updates included in cyber reporting bill
Lawmakers reached an agreement on bipartisan cyber incident reporting legislation that includes ICBA-advocated updates to avoid excessive burdens on community banks. Background: Based on the Cyber...
ICBA to Congress: Extend data security standards to nonbanks
ICBA to Congress: Extend data security standards to nonbanks ICBA called on Congress to extend Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act data security standards to retailers, technology companies, and other parties...
IRS issues November Child Tax Credit payments
The Treasury Department said families with roughly 61 million eligible children received more than $15 billion in the fifth batch of Advance Child Tax Credit payments, most via direct deposit....
House committee Republicans issue CBDC principles
House committee Republicans issue CBDC principles House Financial Services Committee Republicans released principles to guide Congress in evaluating potential proposals for a U.S. central bank...
IRS reporting press push continues
The community banking industry continued its media push against the IRS bank reporting proposal, which remains a threat even after it was recently left out of the framework guiding Democratic...
Treasury targets ransomware operators
Treasury targets ransomware operators The Treasury Department announced a new round of coordinated actions as part of the federal government’s response to ransomware. Designations: The Office of...
ICBA continues IRS push in congressional roundtable
ICBA continued pushing back against the IRS reporting proposal during testimony at a House Financial Services Committee Republican roundtable. Roundtable: Wm. Jack Riddle, president of Community...
ICBA releases new innovation podcast
ICBA releases new innovation podcast ICBA released the second podcast in its new Communities of Innovation series on community bank innovation stories and experiences. Details: In the latest...
CFPB targets faulty identity matching practices
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau issued an advisory opinion affirming that consumer reporting companies engaging in “shoddy name-matching procedures” are violating the law. Details:...
ICBA joining webinar on bank-like credit unions
ICBA joining webinar on bank-like credit unions ICBA Chairman Robert Fisher will participate in a National Taxpayers Union webinar scheduled for next week on the “rise of bank-like credit unions.”...
Hsu: OCC has concluded fintech charter review
Hsu: OCC has concluded fintech charter review The OCC has concluded its review of bank charter applications and crypto-related interpretative letters and will be communicating its findings in the...
ICBA to OCC: Take moderate approach to CRA rescission
2021-11-01 ICBA to OCC: Take moderate approach to CRA rescission ICBA advocated a moderate approach to the OCC’s rescission of its 2020 Community Reinvestment Act final rule and reinstatement of...
IRS: Update income in Child Tax Credit portal
IRS: Update income in Child Tax Credit portal The IRS today is launching a new feature allowing any family receiving monthly Child Tax Credit payments to update their income using the Child Tax...
SBA: $44.8B in 2021 lending through signature programs
2021-11-01 SBA: $44.8B in 2021 lending through signature programs The SBA said its 7(a) and 504 loan programs supported more than 61,000 traditional loans worth $44.8 billion in fiscal 2021. The...