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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
Adding a New Business Line? Key Bank Tips
Thinking of expanding your bank’s services? Explore expert advice on creating specialty lines, conducting due diligence and ensuring long-term profitability.
Financial Wellness: Community Banking & Investments Services
Learn how First National Bank of Pasco connects banking, lending, and investment services under one roof, focusing on women investors, retirement, and business planning.
Community Banking & Healthcare in Illinois
See how Longview Capital Corporation partnered with Remote Area Medical to provide free medical, dental and vision care, transforming lives in Illinois communities.
Powering Potential: ICBA Certification Q&A With McKenzie Humpal of First Citizens Bank
McKenzie Humpal, VP and compliance officer at First Citizens Bank in Mason City, Iowa, shares her journey and insights on compliance.
Powering Potential: How ICBA LIVE Is Crafted for Community Bankers
Every year, ICBA puts together a dynamic conference that puts community bankers front and center. Learn more about ICBA LIVE and how every educational session, speaker and meet-up event is built...
Word of Mouth: Community Bank Growth
Discover how community banks can leverage word of mouth to grow their customer base. Learn 10 actionable strategies to boost referrals, testimonials and engagement.
FS-ISAC shares tips for defending against ransomware
FS-ISAC shares tips for defending against ransomware Threat actors are increasingly targeting the financial services sector’s supply to steal data – and a favored tactic is ransomware extortion,...
FHFA reports decline in single-family guarantee fees
FHFA reports decline in single-family guarantee fees The Federal Housing Finance Agency said the average single-family guarantee fee decreased to 65.2 basis points in 2024 from 65.5 in 2023. ...
House Republicans push Fed for new approach on pennies
House Republicans push Fed for new approach on pennies House Republicans asked the Federal Reserve to take a thoughtful approach to its role in recirculating pennies. Details: In a letter to...
ENTER NOW: 40 Under 40: Community Bank Leaders awards
Nominations for 40 Under 40: Community Bank Leaders 2026 are now open! 40 Under 40 seeks to recognize community banking’s brightest, most promising young professionals. Winners are featured in...
OCC proposes preempting state laws on escrow interest
OCC proposes preempting state laws on escrow interest The OCC proposed issuing a preemption determination saying that federal law preempts state laws that eliminate OCC-regulated banks’...
Agencies adjust CRA asset thresholds
Agencies adjust CRA asset thresholds Federal regulators announced the 2025 updated asset-size thresholds used to define "small banks" and "intermediate small banks" under their current Community...
Treasury publishes penny FAQs
Treasury publishes penny FAQs The Treasury Department published non-binding guidance for businesses and consumers on handling various penny situations. Details: The frequently asked questions...
ICBA supports proposal to bar agency use of reputation risk
ICBA supports proposal to bar agency use of reputation risk ICBA expressed support for a proposed rule to prohibit the use of reputation risk by regulatory agencies and urged the agencies to...
Public Funds as a Strategic Anchor in Modern Wholesale Funding
Public Funds as a Strategic Anchor in Modern Wholesale Funding SPONSORED | PTMA Funding links community banks and local governments, providing stable public deposits that diversify liquidity....
The IT Vendor Decision That Could Make or Break Your Bank
The IT Vendor Decision That Could Make or Break Your Bank SPONSORED | Choosing the wrong IT vendor can cost your bank in security, compliance, and growth. Discover how to evaluate your MSP and make...
Your 2026 Budget Is Complete. Now Is the Right Time to Fix What Made It Hard.
Your 2026 Budget Is Complete. Now Is the Right Time to Fix What Made It Hard. SPONSORED | Budget season is behind you, but those frustrating spreadsheet errors, manual ALM imports, and limited...
Report: FHA insured 876k mortgages in 2025
Report: FHA insured 876k mortgages in 2025 The Federal Housing Administration reported it insured 876,502 mortgages in 2025, representing $274.76 billion in original unpaid principal balance....
CFPB accepting HMDA data submissions
CFPB accepting HMDA data submissions The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau said its filing period for Home Mortgage Disclosure Act data collected in 2025 opened on Jan. 1. Submissions will be...
New article spotlights accelerating credit union acquisitions
New article spotlights accelerating credit union acquisitions Once-rare credit union acquisitions of community banks are becoming routine and a defining feature of consolidation in U.S. finance,...
'40 Under 40' nominations now open
'40 Under 40' nominations now open Independent Banker magazine opened nominations for its 2026 “40 Under 40: Community Bank Leaders” awards. Details: Sponsored by FIS, the awards recognize...
ICBA Engages Digital Assets Expert to Inform Solutions and Banker Education
ICBA Engages Digital Assets Expert to Inform Solutions and Banker Education Washington, D.C. (Jan. 7, 2026) — The Independent Community Bankers of America® (ICBA) today announced a consulting...
At Congressional Hearing on Making Community Banking Great, Romero Rainey Testifies for Regulatory Transformation to Promote Growth
At Congressional Hearing on Making Community Banking Great, Romero Rainey Testifies for Regulatory Transformation to Promote Growth Washington, D.C. (Feb. 5, 2025) — With the House Financial...
Representing Community Banks at House Small Business Committee Hearing, ICBA Urges Regulatory and Tax Relief to Promote Lending
Representing Community Banks at House Small Business Committee Hearing, ICBA Urges Regulatory and Tax Relief to Promote Lending Washington, D.C. (Feb. 5, 2025) — At the first House Small Business...
ICBA Joins House Financial Services Committee in Support of Legislation to Transform Community Bank Regulation
ICBA Joins House Financial Services Committee in Support of Legislation to Transform Community Bank Regulation Washington, D.C. (Jan. 8, 2026) — Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA)...
ICBA Names Charles Yi Senior Executive Vice President of Government Relations
ICBA Names Charles Yi Senior Executive Vice President of Government Relations The Independent Community Bankers of America® (ICBA) today announced that Charles Yi, has been named senior executive...
ICBA Urges Reform to Credit Union Tax Exemption as 2026 Opens with Acquisition of Tax-Paying Community Bank
ICBA Urges Reform to Credit Union Tax Exemption as 2026 Opens with Acquisition of Tax-Paying Community Bank Washington, D.C. (Jan. 8, 2026) — Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA)...
Banks Respond to Proposed Cap on Credit Card Interest Rates
Banks Respond to Proposed Cap on Credit Card Interest Rates Washington, D.C. (Jan. 9, 2026) — The Administration announced plans today to issue an executive order imposing a temporary 10% cap on...
Report: Community banker optimism remains high
Report: Community banker optimism remains high Community banker optimism dropped slightly in the fourth quarter but remains high, according to the Conference of State Bank Supervisors. Details: The...
Agencies release 4Q call report materials
Agencies release 4Q call report materials Federal regulators released materials for submitting fourth-quarter call reports, which are due by Friday, Jan. 30. There are no new or revised data items...
ICBA asks court to reverse decision on debit card interchange fee case
ICBA asks court to reverse decision on debit card interchange fee case ICBA and other groups asked the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals to reverse a North Dakota district court’s decision holding...
ICBA opposes Trump call to cap credit card rates at 10%
ICBA opposes Trump call to cap credit card rates at 10% ICBA and other groups expressed opposition to President Donald Trump’s call for a temporary 10% cap on credit card interest rates. Trump...
Romero Rainey urges stablecoin outreach ahead of markup this week
Romero Rainey urges stablecoin outreach ahead of markup this week With the Senate Banking Committee negotiating digital asset market structure legislation ahead of a markup set for this week, ICBA...
Agencies issue 2025 Shared National Credit Program review
Agencies issue 2025 Shared National Credit Program review Credit risk for large, syndicated bank loans remained moderate in 2025, according to the federal banking agencies, and trends continue to...
CFPB, Justice Department withdraw ECOA statement for noncitizens
CFPB, Justice Department withdraw ECOA statement for noncitizens The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and Justice Department withdrew their joint statement on fair lending and credit...
Independent Banker details 2026 regulatory outlook
Independent Banker details 2026 regulatory outlook The latest Independent Banker magazine previews how deregulation may play out in 2026, citing agency efforts to relieve regulatory burden on...
ICBA Names 2026-27 Board Nominees to Advance Community Banking Priorities
ICBA Names 2026-27 Board Nominees to Advance Community Banking Priorities Washington, D.C. (Jan. 13, 2026) — The Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) today announced its 2026-27 board of...
Banking and Credit Union Groups: Credit Card Mandate Would Harm Consumers and Small Businesses
Banking and Credit Union Groups: Credit Card Mandate Would Harm Consumers and Small Businesses Washington, D.C. (Jan. 13, 2026) — Following the Administration’s comments in support for the...
Off and Running: Community banks set for a robust 2026
Off and Running: Community banks set for a robust 2026 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...
FinCEN issues Spanish translation of advisory on Chinese money laundering
FinCEN issues Spanish translation of advisory on Chinese money laundering The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network issued Spanish translations of its August 2025 advisory and financial trend...
FinCEN issues FAQs on Minnesota GTO
FinCEN issues FAQs on Minnesota GTO The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network published frequently asked questions pertaining to the recent geographic targeting order requiring all banks and money...
FS-ISAC warns of hackers using fake Notepad sites
FS-ISAC warns of hackers using fake Notepad sites FS-ISAC warns of hackers using fake Notepad sites The Black Cat hacker group is using fake Notepad download websites to distribute malware and...
Travis Hill sworn in as FDIC chairman
Travis Hill sworn in as FDIC chairman Travis Hill was sworn in as the 23rd chairman of the FDIC. Background: Hill has served as acting chairman since January 2025. He was nominated by President...
ICBA urges market structure grassroots, pushes back on credit card proposals
ICBA urges market structure grassroots, pushes back on credit card proposals ICBA President and CEO Rebeca Romero Rainey urged community bankers to continue contacting their members of Congress on...
CISA releases operational technology guidance
CISA releases operational technology guidance The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and its partners released guidance to help address increasing business and regulatory pressures...
New marketing tools available
New marketing tools available ICBA’s Marketing Resource Center kicked off 2026 with fresh, ready-to-use content designed to make community banks’ marketing easier and more effective. More Assets:...
ICBA requests comment extension on OCC chartering rule
ICBA requests comment extension on OCC chartering rule ICBA and the Bank Policy Institute urged the OCC to implement a 30-day extension of the comment period for its proposed rule on national bank...
ICBA, fintechs push for modernized CSI framework
ICBA, fintechs push for modernized CSI framework ICBA and the American Fintech Council encouraged the federal banking agencies to modernize the framework governing confidential supervisory...
Senate committee delays markup of digital assets bill amid ICBA campaign
Senate committee delays markup of digital assets bill amid ICBA campaign Senate committee delays markup of digital assets bill amid ICBA campaign The Senate Banking Committee announced a delay of...
Community banks, Credit Unions Urge Congress to Reject Durbin-Marshall Credit Card Mandates
Community banks, Credit Unions Urge Congress to Reject Durbin-Marshall Credit Card Mandates Washington, D.C. (Jan. 15, 2026) — The Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA), America’s Credit...
FDIC issues Q3 state profiles
FDIC issues Q3 state profiles The FDIC issued its state profiles for the third quarter of 2025. The series provides quarterly summaries of banking and economic conditions for each state. 2026-01-16
CDFI certification webinars start today
CDFI certification webinars start today The CDFI Fund announced its monthly certification webinars for 2026 and the first one is today at 3 p.m. (Eastern time). Details: The CDFI Fund says the...
FDIC to meet next week on appeals of material supervisory determinations
FDIC to meet next week on appeals of material supervisory determinations The FDIC announced its board of directors will meet next week to discuss amendments to its guidelines for appeals of...
ICBA push against stablecoin yield provision makes news
ICBA push against stablecoin yield provision makes news ICBA’s calls for policymakers to ensure digital assets market structure legislation does not harm access to credit in local communities—ahead...
ICBA, groups voice opposition to Durbin-Marshall bill
ICBA, groups voice opposition to Durbin-Marshall bill ICBA and other groups expressed strong opposition to recently reintroduced legislation to create new credit card routing mandates. Background:...
Matt Woodrum Test Module for Test Page
Matt Woodrum Test Module for Test Page ICBA would like to announce the hire of Matthew T, Woodrum as a Digital Strategist. Matt Joins ICBA after a lenghty carreer in Web Content Management and...
CSBS shares cyber hygiene tips for banks
CSBS shares cyber hygiene tips for banks The Conference of State Bank Supervisors published Cyber Hygiene Fundamentals: A Guide to Securing Your Financial Institution Against Cyber Threats, which...
CFPB to discontinue HMDA emails
CFPB to discontinue HMDA emails The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau announced that, due to operational constraints, it is discontinuing email delivery of HMDA platform updates and...
Bowman: Fed to focus on M&A, capital requirements
Bowman: Fed to focus on M&A, capital requirements Federal Reserve Vice Chair for Supervision Michelle Bowman said the Fed will focus on improving the mergers and acquisitions review process and...