ICBA and community bankers focused much of our attention in 2023 on differentiating our industry in the wake of failures at larger institutions, while 2024 was all about elevating our positions on key issues at a time of intense political debate.

Our objective to raise awareness and elevate perception of community banks is central to everything we do – and as we monitor the campaign and optimize for efficiency and performance, we want to be sure we are sharing our learnings with our members along the way.

As part of our ongoing effort to share our learnings for the benefit of our members, we hosted a webinar this month showcasing some of our market research findings that have guided our journey thus far.

The idea of switching banks can be daunting, especially if you’ve been with your current bank since you started your business. Luckily, community banks make it easy for small business customers to bank locally.

Paying it forward — or repaying a kindness received with a good deed to someone else — is more than a concept, it’s put into practice every day at the nation’s community banks.

We're here to share that when you choose to #BankLocally with a community bank, your money is in the right hands — and more importantly, in the hands of a community banker who cares about you and your financial well-being for the long haul.

We want your input on where to focus our time and resources. We are putting webinars on the calendar to share what we’ve learned, discuss some best practices, and take your questions.

In 2022, ICBA and community bankers stood together against a steady stream of efforts to impose harmful policies while working tirelessly to advance initiatives benefiting local communities—proving once again the importance of making our voice heard in the nation’s capital.

Talent recruitment and professional development has always been a critical issue for community banks, but today’s job market is different. The impact of the “Great Resignation” has placed the workforce in the driver’s seat. Even so, as nimble, local decision makers, community banks have a big opportunity to stand out from the crowd of potential employers.

To support community banker meetings with policymakers on top industry issues, ICBA released new polling data affirming the industry’s strong public favorability at the state and national levels.