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CISA releases guidance on integrating AI in operational technology
2025-12-04 The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and its partners released new cybersecurity guidance on the secure integration of artificial intelligence in operational technology. ...
FinCEN: Ransomware incidents totaled $2.1 billion over three years
2025-12-05 The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network said ransomware incidents totaled more than $2.1 billion in payments between 2022 and 2024. Details: FinCEN said reported ransomware incidents...
Fed announces pricing for payment services
Fed announces pricing for payment services 2025-12-05 The Federal Reserve Board announced pricing for payment services provided by the Federal Reserve Banks, effective Jan. 1, 2026. Details: The...
Fed seeks feedback on potential changes to check services
Fed seeks feedback on potential changes to check services 2025-12-05 The Federal Reserve Board requested public input on check usage and the impact of potential strategic changes to check services...
OCC, FDIC withdraw leveraged lending guidance
OCC, FDIC withdraw leveraged lending guidance 2025-12-08 The OCC and FDIC announced they are rescinding their March 2013 guidance on leveraged lending and the November 2014 frequently asked...
USDA expands crop insurance access
USDA expands crop insurance access 2025-12-08 The Agriculture Department announced updates to federal crop insurance to reduce red tape for farmers, modernize policies, and expand access to risk...
New op-ed: Deposit insurance reform is critical for Main Street
2025-12-08 Bipartisan legislation supported by the administration is an important starting point for meaningful reforms to the nation’s deposit insurance system, ICBA Chairman Jack Hopkins writes...
ICBA ThinkTECH Accelerator Debuts 10th Cohort to Continue Driving Community Bank Innovation
2025-12-09 ICBA News The Independent Community Bankers of America® (ICBA) today announced the selected companies for the 10th iteration of its award-winning ICBA ThinkTECH Accelerator program...
Trump administration announces $12 billion farm aid package
2025-12-09 The Trump administration announced a farm aid package of $11 billion for basic crop commodities with an additional $1 billion being considered for specialty crops following ICBA...
Congress continues to back CDFI Fund: report
2025-12-09 Members of Congress are strongly supporting community development financial institutions in current budget discussions, Politico reported. Details: The “Morning Money” report notes: ...
OCC’s Gould: Digital asset entities should have pathway to charters
2025-12-09 Comptroller of the Currency Jonathan Gould said entities that engage in activities involving digital assets and other novel technologies should have a pathway to become federally...
OCC confirms permissible bank activities related to principal cryptoasset transactions
The OCC confirmed permissible bank activities related to riskless principal transactions in cryptoassets. Details: In an interpretive letter, the OCC said: A national bank may engage in...
ICBA, others urge Fed to withdraw debit interchange proposal
2025-12-10 ICBA and other groups urged the Federal Reserve to withdraw its 2023 debit interchange proposal until there is legal certainty in several court cases. Details: In a letter to the Fed,...
In new op-ed, ICBA breaks down consumer harm of credit union acquisitions
In new op-ed, ICBA breaks down consumer harm of credit union acquisitions 2025-12-10 A new op-ed from ICBA President and CEO Rebeca Romero Rainey breaks down ICBA’s data analysis showing that when...
Fed lowers interest rates by 25bp
Fed lowers interest rates by 25bp 2025-12-11 The Federal Open Market Committee voted to lower target interest rates by 25 basis points to a range of 3.50% to 3.75%. Statement: The FOMC said: ...
OCC releases findings on large bank debanking activities
The OCC released preliminary findings from its review of debanking activities at the nine largest national banks it supervises. Background: The OCC said it conducted its supervisory review in...
Senators request hearing on digital assets market structure
2025-12-11 Senate Banking Committee members John Kennedy (R-La.) and Jack Reed (D-R.I.) asked the committee’s leaders to promptly schedule a hearing on digital assets market structure policy before...
Romero Rainey, Merski Once Again Named to The Hill’s Top Lobbyists List, Demonstrating ICBA’s Advocacy Prowess
2025-12-11 Rebeca Romero Rainey Paul Merski Washington, D.C. (Dec. 11, 2025) — Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) President and CEO Rebeca Romero Rainey and Executive Vice President of...
ICBA tells Senate panel that IORB is vital to financial system
Ahead of a hearing on the Federal Reserve’s policy of paying interest on reserve balances (IORB) to financial institutions that maintain balances at the Fed, ICBA told senators that the IORB is...
ICBA’s Romero Rainey, Merski recognized as top lobbyists
ICBA President and CEO Rebeca Romero Rainey and Executive Vice President of Congressional Relations Paul Merski were featured on The Hill’s 2025 list of the nation’s top lobbyists. ICBA Response:...
How community banks are navigating the end of penny production
2025-12-12 A new ICBA article spotlights how community bankers are responding to the federal government officially discontinuing production of new pennies. Details: Based in part on conversations...
ICBA Opposes OCC’s Approval of Five National Trust Charter Applications
Washington, D.C. — The Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) today expressed opposition to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency’s conditional approval of five national trust bank...
CISA releases cybersecurity performance goals
2025-12-15 The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency released updated Cross-Sector Cybersecurity Performance Goals (CPG 2.0), which include actions for critical infrastructure owners and...
President Trump proposes national AI framework
President Trump proposes national AI framework 2025-12-15 President Donald Trump proposed removing state-level artificial intelligence laws and installing a national standard. Details: In an...
ICBA opposes approval of national trust charter applications from nonbanks
2025-12-15 ICBA expressed opposition to the OCC’s conditional approval of five national trust bank charter applications from nonbank fintechs. OCC Approvals: The OCC conditionally approved...
ICBA Analysis: Permitting Interest on Payment Stablecoin Holdings Would Reduce Community Bank Lending by $850 Billion
2025-12-15 ICBA News Washington, D.C. — As Congress crafts legislation to establish a regulatory framework for digital assets markets, the Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) today...
ICBA supports parts of CFPB’s Reg B proposal
2025-12-16 ICBA said the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s proposal to amend Reg B with the Equal Credit Opportunity Act 's statutory text will reduce regulatory uncertainty and protect...
ICBA supports revisions to the 1071 small-business rule
2025-12-16 ICBA expressed support for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s proposed revisions to its 1071 small-business data collection and reporting rule while pushing for additional relief...
ICBA analysis: Permitting interest on payment stablecoins would harm community bank lending
With Congress crafting legislation to establish a regulatory framework for digital assets markets, ICBA released new data showing the harmful impact on local economies of allowing crypto exchanges,...
CFPB updates TILA, CLA, FCRA thresholds for 2026
CFPB updates TILA, CLA, FCRA thresholds for 2026 2025-12-16 The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau issued annual threshold adjustments that are effective Jan. 1, 2026. TILA: The CFPB issued a...
Agencies update appraisal exemption threshold
Regulators announced that the 2026 threshold for higher-priced mortgage loans that are subject to special appraisal requirements will increase from $33,500 to $34,200. Background: The threshold...
ICBA Opposes PayPal Application to Form Industrial Loan Company
2025-12-16 Washington, D.C. — The Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) today expressed strong opposition to PayPal’s application to form an industrial loan company—a type of financial...
FDIC proposes application process for bank subsidiaries to issue stablecoins
2025-12-17 The FDIC issued a proposed rule that would implement the application provisions under the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins Act (GENIUS) Act. ...
House panel advances five ICBA-supported bills
2025-12-17 After ICBA urged the House Financial Services Committee to vote yes on five pro-community bank bills during its two-day markup, the committee voted to advance all of the bills on day...
ICBA opposes PayPal’s ILC application
2025-12-17 ICBA expressed strong opposition to PayPal’s application to form an industrial loan company, saying the FDIC should not allow nonbank firms to benefit from the federal safety net while...
OCC issues CRA strategic plan for community banks
2025-12-18 The OCC issued proposed guidance for a simplified strategic plan process for community banks to comply with the Community Reinvestment Act. Details: The OCC said the strategic plan: ...
Senate passes NDAA with ICBA-opposed measures removed
Senate passes NDAA with ICBA-opposed measures removed 2025-12-18 The Senate passed the National Defense Authorization Act by a 77-20 vote after removing several ICBA-opposed measures from the...
ICBA looks back on transformative year for community banking
2025-12-18 A new article from ICBA President and CEO Rebeca Romero Rainey and ICBA Chairman Jack Hopkins details what 2025 has meant for community banks and how this year’s events will shape the...
Kristine LaVigna Named President & CEO of ICBA CRA Solutions/USI Alliance
Washington, D.C. — ICBA CRA Solutions/USI Alliance, a subsidiary of the Independent Community Bankers of America® (ICBA), today announced the appointment of Kristine LaVigna as president and CEO....
ICBA Names Justin Dunmyer as SVP, Innovation & Product Strategy
ICBA Names Justin Dunmyer as SVP, Innovation & Product Strategy 2025-12-18 Washington, D.C. (Dec. 18, 2025)—The Independent Community Bankers of America® (ICBA) announced today that Justin Dunmyer...
ICBA Congratulates Travis Hill on Confirmation as FDIC Chairman
2025-12-19 Washington, D.C. — Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) President and CEO Rebeca Romero Rainey issued the following statement on the Senate’s confirmation of Travis Hill to...
OCC weighs in on state interest rate case
2025-12-19 The OCC filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit in connection with the National Association of Industrial Bankers v. Weiser case, saying the court’s...
ICBA supports proposal to increase Same Day ACH limit
ICBA said it supports Nacha’s proposal to increase the Same Day ACH dollar limit to $10 million while acknowledging the risk and efficiency concerns this expansion presents. Details: In a letter...
Fed research reinforces ICBA call to mitigate stablecoin risks
2025-12-19 A newly released Federal Reserve research paper warns that stablecoins could reduce bank deposits and lending—in line with a recent ICBA analysis on crypto exchanges paying interest or...
Fed report: Debit card transaction fraud growing
Fed report: Debit card transaction fraud growing 2025-12-22 The Federal Reserve published its biennial report on debit card transactions, which summarizes information collected from Durbin-covered...
Senate confirms Hill as FDIC chairman
2025-12-22 The Senate confirmed Travis Hill as FDIC chairman. Hill has served as acting chairman since January and was previously sworn in as vice chairman in January 2023. ICBA View: In a...
Fed seeks input on limited-purpose ‘payment accounts’
Fed seeks input on limited-purpose ‘payment accounts’ 2025-12-22 The Federal Reserve requested public comment on a proposed "payment account," which eligible financial institutions could use for...
Why Consistency is Essential in Banking
Why Consistency is Essential in Banking 2025-12-01 Working on Computer.png Banking thrives when trust is present. Customers entrust banks with their savings, aspirations, and financial security....
Navigating the end of penny production
2025-12-01 The U.S. Mint officially ended penny production on November 12, 2025, striking the final one-cent coin in Philadelphia. This marked the conclusion of a 232-year history for the penny....
Online Course Newsletter – December 2025
Online Course Newsletter – December 2025 2025-12-22 Course Catalog Changes for Jan. 1, 2026 Bank Compliance Bundle Subscribers Only: On Jan. 1, the following courses will be removed from the...
Rebeca Romero Rainey: Let's Continue the Course in the New Year
Rebeca Romero Rainey, president and CEO of ICBA, shares why it's more important than ever to ensure that community banks are actively engaged and leveraging the power of the tools that ICBA provides.
Jack E. Hopkins: Setting Our Priorities for 2026
There’s something about the new year that brings with it a clean slate and a fresh start. As we kick off 2026, we have the opportunity to shape where we want to go.
Deregulation Ahead: Community Bank Regulatory Outlook
Learn how regulatory changes in 2026, including stablecoin legislation and Section 1071 exemptions, will shape the future of community banking.
Innovation Strategies for Community Banks
Explore how community banks can use data insights, fintech tools and innovation to stay competitive.
4 Reasons Community Banks Should Offer E-Invoicing
E-invoicing can transform community banking by increasing deposits, reducing check fraud and fostering deeper customer connections.
How Community Banks Are Navigating Lending Growth
Explore the 2026 lending landscape for community banks, including trends in CRE, SBA loans, consumer spending and credit quality monitoring.
Should Community Banks Offer Subscription Management?
Build your customers’ financial health by helping them manage their subscriptions in-app.
Ladder vs. Barbell: Portfolio Management Tips
Learn how community banks can leverage barbell strategies to balance risk, improve yields and manage bond portfolios effectively.
ILC Loophole Impact on Community Banks & Regulation
Learn about the historical context of the ILC loophole, its implications for community banks and the ongoing regulatory debates surrounding this critical issue.
Community Bank CEO Outlook 2026: Challenges & Opportunities
Discover how community banks plan to stand out in 2026. Explore strategies for differentiation, deposit growth, fintech partnerships and loan opportunities