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Rebeca Romero Rainey: Remaining Nimble Against a Litany of Regulation
Flexibility: It’s one of the characteristics that sets our community banks apart, enabling us to meet the needs of distinct communities in unique ways.
Lucas White: Getting Comfortable With Fintechs
When I first got involved with ICBA’s ThinkTECH Accelerator, I must admit that I believed fintechs were scary.
Charles Potts: Making the Case for Responsible Innovation
The rapid pace of today’s financial services landscape pulls community banks in varied directions. You must balance technology upgrades with budgetary constraints and identify pressing priorities.
Ron Haynie & Tim Roy: Deciphering FHFA's Credit Score Transition
The FHFA continues to transition away from FICO, leaving lenders wondering about the potential impact it may have on the industry. Here’s what we know so far.
Michael Benedict: Are We There Yet?
Take a look at the nagging persistence of portfolio mark‑to‑market.
Lindsay LaNore: Practical Tips for Knowledge Transfer
When community bankers with decades of experience retire, they take with them a precious commodity: their knowledge. But it doesn’t have to be that way.
Lucas White: Showing Pride In Independence
Throughout his banking career, my dad had a standard saying that became a regular refrain: “If you need a quick answer, it’s no.”
Rebeca Romero Rainey: Connected As Independent Community Banks
When you enter ICBA’s headquarters, you are greeted with a large U.S. map that contains a peg for each community bank and a singular cord linking them all together.
Kianga Lee and Michael Emancipator: MDI and CDFI Designations Elevate Community Banks' Influence
A Treasury Department report shows the positive effect minority depository institutions and community development financial institutions have on their served markets.
Charles Potts: Setting the Stage for Banking the Next Generation
In recent years, community bankers have embraced constant change to drive the future of banking.
Lindsay LaNore: Make Space for Creativity
Out of all the qualities that make a great leader, it could be argued that creativity ranks highest.
Lucas White: The Compelling Case for Thoughtful Leadership
Throughout his banking career, my dad had a standard saying that became a regular refrain: “If you need a quick answer, it’s no.”
Powering Potential: Start Planning for the August Recess
In August, your member of Congress will be back in your district looking for things to do. Help them fill their schedule with a visit to your bank.
Jim Reber: The Fed Loosens Up
A slowdown in quantitative tightening has an element of policy easing.
Lance Noggle: New ICBA Resource Aims To Combat Check Fraud
Even with checks becoming less common to use, check fraud continues to rise. To address this issue, ICBA has created a guide that explains how to stop this type of fraud in its tracks.
Charles Potts: How Community Bankers Are Leading the Financial Evolution
One of my favorite reads is the story of Ted Turner’s rise. I’m struck by how it points to exactly the path community bankers are taking to drive the future of financial services.
Rebeca Romero Rainey: Change Is Hard, Good Leadership Is Critical
The mere mention of change can send pulses racing and blood pressure rising. But while change can be hard, it’s unavoidable, and it’s only going to continue to accelerate in our evolving marketplace.
Jim Reber: Rolling With the Curve
An upward slope can bolster market values.
Lindsay LaNore: How To Be An Ambassador For Change
Whether your bank is a de novo or a long-established institution, change is an inescapable constant.
Lucas White: Banking Outside the Box for Small Businesses
When it comes to serving small businesses, community banks just get it.
Kari Mitchum: New NACHA Rules Strengthen Security of ACH System
Credit-push fraud in the ACH system has spurred the introduction of new rules from Nacha. With ICBA’s support, these new rules have changed how receiving institutions can address such fraud.
Charles Potts: How Core Providers Are Becoming Core to Innovation
On February 5, the ICBA Innovation team conducted our first core day with our AP5 Accelerator cohort.
Jim Reber: Dialing It Back
Simple bonds find favor with portfolio managers in 2024.
Lucas White: Driving Community Banking's Agenda with Advocacy
I am an avid motorcyclist. In fact, I have completed two Iron Butt rides, riding at least 1,000 miles in 24 hours.
Lindsay LaNore: 10 Quick Wins For New Leaders
Here’s the scenario: You’ve just been put in charge of a new team or new project. No matter how seasoned a leader you are, that can be daunting.
John Coleman: An Opportunity for Advocacy at ICBA Capital Summit
As the ICBA Capital Summit approaches, it’s more important now than ever that community bankers understand what impact their stories can have on legislation.
Meet ICBA's 2024/25 Board of Directors
The 2024/25 ICBA board of directors is raring to go. With their eyes set on community bank advocacy, they have high hopes of what they can achieve during their term.
Charles Potts: Today's Data Marketing Mindset
Business planning functions as a life cycle. Strategy overlies everything, but it’s discovery that informs, leading to tactics and activation.
Lindsay LaNore: Purposeful Abandonment and the Art of Letting Go
There’s a great deal of pressure on organizations to be innovative. And in a constantly changing world, that can sometimes be daunting.
Derek Williams: Continuing the Community Bank Legacy
As I reflect on my year as ICBA chairman, I’m proud to say that it’s been a big win for ICBA and for community banks across the country, as our “one mission” has been on full display.
Anne Balcer: What Have We Learned One Year After the SVB Failure?
For the past year, ICBA has remained steadfast in advocating for community banks in the wake of Silicon Valley Bank’s collapse. Here are the results of those advocacy efforts.
Jim Reber: Shop Talk 2024
Another conversation with our consummate community banker, Charlie Brown.
Final Updates to Debit Cards Rules
In October 2022, the Federal Reserve Board finalized updates to the Board’s rule for debit card transactions, which went into effect July 1, 2023.
Charles Potts: Convening With the Spirit of More
Thomas Edison once said, “Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.” The message resonates, but the standout word for me is “more.”
Lindsay LaNore: Developing Drive
Drive. It’s a quality we all need and a characteristic we look for when hiring new employees, considering who to promote and identifying leaders within the bank. Yet, it’s often elusive.
Jim Reber: The Big Chill
Might the bond market be range-bound in 2024?
Derek Williams: The Meaning of "Here for Good"
As our ICBA LIVE theme points out, community banks and bankers are “here for good,” and that phrase works in multiple ways.
Paul Merski: ICBA Advocacy and the Year Ahead
Learn about the legislative issues ICBA is prioritizing in 2024—and how you can help.
2024's Regulatory Year Ahead
With many proposed rules to sections of well-known acts, there will be plenty of compliance and regulatory news for community banks to keep up with this year.
Derek Williams: Why Instant Payments Need to Be a 2024 Priority
As we kick off the new year, our budgets have been set and our plans developed. But you know what they say about the best laid plans: They change.
2023 Regulatory Review: A Late-Year Surge
Regulatory changes in 2023 may have started slowly but picked up speed in the fourth quarter.
Scott Anchin: Why You Should Adopt FedNow Now
FedNow is here, providing community banks with the opportunity to better serve their customers and push the financial services industry forward.
Derek Williams: The True Community Difference
As we close out 2023, I’ve been reflecting on the influence community banks have had this year.
Michael Emancipator: ICBA Advocacy Results in Nationwide 1071 Delay
ICBA will continue to work with policymakers to pursue 1071 relief for community banks.
Derek Williams: The Human Side of Banking
When I think about my blessings as a community banker, it comes down to our relationship model. In a society that has become increasingly disconnected, our model puts the human back into banking.
Ron Haynie: The GSE Conservatorship Should End Now
After 15 years, the federal government should end its conservatorship of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The conservatorship prevents these enterprises from operating like a privately run entity.
An Update on Data Protection Regulations
Last year, the CFPB issued an advisory opinion on privacy protection for personal data compiled from community banks. Here’s what you need to know.
Chris Cole: Basel III Endgame Proposals Targeted at Large Banks
With legislation like the Interagency Proposal to Amend Regulatory Capital Requirements for Large Banks, it’s important for community bankers to share their opinions on why “too big to fail” banks...
Modernizing the Community Reinvestment Act
To meet the needs of today’s world, the Community Reinvestment Act is getting an update. Here’s what to know about it.
Jenna Burke: Are Changes to Bank M&A Rules on the Horizon?
The Department of Justice and other banking agencies are evaluating a new potential M&A framework. What does this mean for community banks?
In Pictures: The ICBA Capital Summit 2023
To advocate for community banks across the nation, ICBA and participating bankers went straight to the source: Capitol Hill.
Susan Sullivan: Staking a Claim in the Digital Assets Debate
As Congress and other federal agencies discuss the evolving marketplace of cryptocurrency and a CBDC, ICBA is ensuring the voice of community banks are being heard.
Stephen Keen: ICBA Defends Against FDIC Special Assessment
As soon as the news broke about Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank, ICBA sprang into action, shielding community banks from paying for the failures of the megabanks.
Minnesota's First Black-Owned Bank
In 2022, Detroit-based First Independence Bank became the first Black-owned bank to open a branch in Minnesota, with the goal of creating greater economic prospects for underserved people.
John Coleman: Make the Most of the August Congressional Recess
When members of Congress return home during congressional recess, it’s a great opportunity for community bankers to engage with them over policy—with the right preparation.
Mark Scanlan: Speaking out for rural America in the new Farm Bill
The five-year Farm Bill is set to expire later this year. ICBA is lobbying Congress in the reauthorization with six important provisions.
Listen Up: Taking bold and brave action
What does it mean to be innovative? In episode 5 of the Independent Banker podcast, host Charles Potts talks to Rebeca Romero Rainey, president and CEO of ICBA, about her passion for community...
Aaron Stetter: Return to Capitol Hill
The 2023 ICBA Capital Summit is next month. Here’s a peek at what you can expect from the premier community bank advocacy event.
Kari Neckel: It Matters to Community Banks Who Has Master Accounts
Master accounts are a notable part of the traditional financial institution’s ecosystem, but nontraditional financial companies like crypo-native institutions and nonbanks are gunning for access.
Anjelica Dortch: Executive Orders Chart New Policies for Community Bankers
Our industry faces certain changes following President Trump’s recent executive orders. Here’s what you need to know.