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ICBA Urges OCC to Consider Key Principles for Digital Asset National Bank Charter Applications
In light of an increase in charter applications from nonbank digital asset firms, ICBA today urged the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency to keep in mind several key principles when...
Senate confirms Bill Briggs as SBA deputy administrator
The Senate voted to confirm William Briggs as deputy administrator of the Small Business Administration.
USDA announces expedited disaster assistance for farmers
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced that farmers who suffered eligible crop losses due to natural disasters in 2023 and 2024 can apply for $16 billion in assistance through the...
Agencies propose to revise, extend call reports
The federal banking agencies published a proposal to revise the FFIEC 031 call report and to extend the FFIEC 041 and FFIEC 051 call reports without revision.
ICBA Payments Appoints Two New Members to Board of Directors
ICBA Payments, the payments-services subsidiary of ICBA, today announced the election to its board of directors Corey Neil, president and CEO of The Bank of Tampa, and Josh Hogue, president and CEO...
ICBA Congratulates Jonathan Gould on Comptroller of the Currency Confirmation
Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) President and CEO Rebeca Romero Rainey issued the following statement on the Senate confirmation of President Donald Trump’s nomination of Jonathan...
OCC updates info on notices, posters
The OCC announced updates for certain notices and posters required by the Community Reinvestment Act, Equal Credit Opportunity Act, and Fair Housing Act.
New York Community Banker Joins TCM Bank Board
TCM Bank, N.A., the credit card bank of ICBA Payments, announced the election of Jill Sung, president and CEO of Abacus Federal Savings Bank, to the TCM Bank Board of Directors.
Georgia approves Stripe application to form MALPB
The state of Georgia approved Stripe’s application for a merchant acquirer limited purpose bank charter, or MALPB.
Fed rate-setters indicate support for cutting rates at next meeting: minutes
While all participants in last month’s Federal Open Market Committee meeting supported holding steady on target interest rates, “a couple” of participants said they would be open to cutting rates...
ThinkTECH Accelerator Showcase returns to Graduate School of Banking next week
ICBA announced that the ThinkTECH Accelerator program showcase will once again take place at the Graduate School of Banking at Colorado.
Report: Community banker optimism holds steady
Community bankers’ optimism on the future economy is holding steady, according to the Conference of State Bank Supervisors’ second-quarter Community Bank Sentiment Index.
Independent Banker: Community banks step up after California wildfires
The latest Independent Banker magazine details how community banks stepped up to help employees, customers, and neighbors after wildfires devastated areas of Southern California.
OCC: Texas banks affected by flooding can close
The OCC issued a proclamation allowing national banks, federal savings associations, and federal branches and agencies of foreign banks to close offices in areas of Texas affected by flooding.
ICBA ThinkTECH Accelerator Showcase Returns to GSBC, Connecting Fintechs with Future Community Leaders
The Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) announced its upcoming ICBA ThinkTECH Accelerator program showcase will once again take place at the Graduate School of Banking at Colorado (GSBC).
Independent Banker highlights exceptional lenders
High-performing community bank lenders use innovation and relationship-based banking to support their customers, as detailed in the latest Independent Banker magazine.
FDIC publishes consumer compliance supervisory highlights
The FDIC published its annual Consumer Compliance Supervisory Highlights, which includes a summary of the overall consumer compliance performance of FDIC-supervised institutions in 2024.
Agencies issue 2025 list of CRA geographies
Federal banking regulators issued the 2025 list of distressed or underserved nonmetropolitan middle-income geographies.
ICBA Thanks Congress for Passing Community Bank Legislative Priorities in One Big Beautiful Bill Act
Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) President and CEO Rebeca Romero Rainey issued the following statement on congressional passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act budget...
New ICBA Polling Shows Public Support for Policy Efforts Targeting Check Fraud
The Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) today announced polling results showing Americans support policy efforts to take on the scourge of check fraud.
FATF: Stronger action needed to stem digital asset risks
The Financial Action Task Force said stronger action is needed to safeguard the integrity of the international financial system from the risks posed by virtual assets.
Budget reconciliation bill with pro-community bank policies signed into law
President Donald Trump signed into law the One Big Beautiful Bill Act budget reconciliation package after the House of Representatives passed it on a 218-214 vote.
CFPB confirms plan to issue new rule on 1071, extend deadlines
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau said it plans to issue new Section 1071 rulemaking as soon as possible and has extended compliance deadlines for most entities by one year.
2025 Summer Internship Diaries - Vol. 2
The interns and a few other members of the ICBA team joined in on some team building activities with teambuilding.com!
ICBA shares community bank digitalization priorities with OCC
ICBA said the OCC should adopt a modernized and responsive regulatory framework that enables responsible innovation while preserving the safety and soundness of the financial system.
New BIS report raises concerns with stablecoins
The Bank for International Settlements said that while tokenization can enhance efficiency & open new possibilities in cross-border payments & securities markets, stablecoins pose a risk to...
House passes ICBA-supported bill to restrict mortgage ‘trigger leads’
The House of Representatives passed ICBA-advocated legislation to restrict credit reporting agencies from selling consumers’ contact information when they apply for a residential mortgage.
Is Your Bank Overspending on Tech?
It goes without saying that keeping up to date with the latest technology can cost a pretty penny, but many community banks don’t realize some of their current tech practices are racking up a bill.
Nissan is latest automaker to apply for ILC charter
Nissan this week became the latest automaker to apply to form an industrial loan company in Utah.
FHA seeks input on the effect of BNPL loans on housing affordability
The Federal Housing Administration published a request for information regarding “buy now, pay later” unsecured debt.
ICBA to CFPB: Section 1033 should not be mandated for community banks
ICBA told the CFPB that community banks already meet the requirements of Section 1033 of the Dodd-Frank Act by providing consumers with electronic access to their financial data through online...
Fed’s Bowman: Community bank leverage ratio should be recalibrated
Federal Reserve Vice Chair for Supervision Michelle Bowman said the Fed should reconsider capital requirements for a wide range of banks, including the calibration of the community bank leverage...
Scott Anchin: How to Prevent Wire Fraud
With electronic payments increasingly the norm, wire fraud is becoming more common and varied in format.
West Shore Bank and Timberland Bank Offer Unique Avenues for Charitable Giving
West Shore Bank and Timberland Bank are fostering generosity by giving their customers unique avenues to support local charities.
CFO Roundtable: Interest Rates, Tariffs, Examiners
Amid the difficult economic environment community banks face today, our 2025 CFO Outlook survey shows a shift in priorities and thoughtful insight into changes to come.
Powering Potential: Unlock Your Leadership Potential With ICBA Resources
ICBA offers a comprehensive suite of resources designed to equip professionals with the tools and knowledge to thrive in our industry.
How One Bank Tackled Online Gambling Friendly Fraud
A fraud case at Williamstown Bank sheds light on how community banks can combat rising online gaming “friendly fraud” claims and navigate Regulation E compliance hurdles.
Out of Office: Evelyn Franco
The chief operating officer at $970 million-asset Frontier Bank of Texas in Elgin, Texas, is determined to hike and canyoneer through all 63 U.S. national parks alongside her sister.
First American Bank Draws a Chalk Path of Kindness
First American Bank in Artesia, New Mexico, embraced the spirit of Random Acts of Kindness Month in February.
Rebeca Romero Rainey: Conversations Must Determine Our Innovation Budgets
Innovation is one of those line items that can be hard to wrap our heads around.
Boost Your Non-Interest Income with Credit Cards
ICBA Payments helps community banks increase their non-interest income with credit card programs that span the revenue and risk spectrum.
Member Milestones 2025: Community Banks Are Here to Stay
Community banking requires vigor, skill and passion to withstand the test of time. That’s why ICBA is honoring member banks celebrating 100, 125, 150, 175 and even 200 years in service.
Mickey Marshall: Mutual Banks Are Mutually Beneficial
Customer-owned mutual banks offer a community-focused banking model.
KS Bank Helps Make Retirement Plans Happen
KS Bank’s wealth division provides retirement benefits planning services to its business clients to help them save money and attract and retain employees.
Jim Reber: Manage Interest Rate Risk With Strategic Portfolio Decisions
Yield curve shape reflects bond market’s mood.
Why Community Banks Are Revamping Their CD Strategies
Certificates of deposit are nothing new, but these products’ reputation for reliability is leading some community banks to reposition and market them more competitively.
Q&A: Amy Ledig on the EGRPRA Review Process
Independent Banker caught up with Amy Ledig, vice president of capital, accounting and finance policy at ICBA, to discuss the regulatory outlook.
The Most Notable 2025 Audit Updates So Far
A change in government leadership has led to adjustments in how examiners conduct audits. Learn what experts are seeing at a bank level.
Jack E. Hopkins: Turning Vendors Into Partners With ICBA
When faced with a crisis, community banks step up.
Jacob Eisen: Make Payments a Strategic Budget Priority
Payments have transformed into a strategic opportunity. They no longer simply perform a routine function. Instead, they offer revenue potential, enhanced customer experiences and more.
Yes, You CAN Offer Government-Guaranteed Lending Without Burdening Staff
Government-guaranteed lending isn’t just smart—it’s essential for community banks looking to serve more local businesses, add non-interest income, and stay competitive.
Q&A: Growth-Related Challenges for the Evolving Community Bank
Whether growing organically or through M&A, even positive change can present challenges. We talked to two community bankers about considerations and issues they’ve noticed as their banks have grown.
Rob Birgfeld: Amplify Community Banking With Local Influencers
Influencer marketing doesn’t have to target social media stars with millions of followers, it can start at a local level.
Jack E. Hopkins: Riding the Pendulum of Regulatory Compliance
Over the past decade, community banks have experienced our fair share of pendulum swings when it comes to regulation.
Out of Office: Skyler Kanipe
The project manager at $1.4 billion-asset Community Financial Services Bank (CFSB) in Benton, Kentucky, is always on the lookout for her next vintage find.
CedarStone Bank Recognizes and Thanks Local Teachers
Through its annual Teacher of the Year program, CedarStone Bank recognizes the dedication of Wilson County educators who inspire students and make a difference in their schooling every day.
What Benefits Does Gen Z Value Most?
Gen Z and community banks are both purpose-driven, so attracting the youngest employees largely depends on which benefits companies offer. Here’s how some community banks are doing it.
Reduce Collateralization: A Path to Greater Efficiency and Depositor Satisfaction
Banks can use a reciprocal deposit network to make large deposits eligible for millions in aggregate FDIC insurance across network banks — replacing the need for collateral or repos.
Rebeca Romero Rainey: Making a Difference, One Act at a Time
Community bankers are driven by a spirit of service. Giving back to our communities is simply a part of who we are.
Addressing Operational Pain Points With Regtech
Community banks face a variety of challenges day to day—risk, fraud, cybersecurity, etc.—that are perpetuated by a lack of time or staff. Regtech can help take the weight off bankers’ shoulders.