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How Four Community Banks Recognize and Celebrate Juneteenth
While Juneteenth is the youngest U.S. federal holiday after it became formally recognized in a law enacted last year, it has decades of significance—with June 19, 1865, recognized as the end...
How Community Bankers Association of Illinois Partnered with ICBA ThinkTECH Accelerator to Further Community Bank Innovation
Community Bankers Association of Illinois (CBAI) is no stranger to fintech collaborations, but the idea of helping shape fintech offerings tailored to community banks was too intriguing an idea to...
Where the Rubber Meets the Road: Creating Mutually Beneficial Relationships with Community Banks and Fintechs
Engaging community bankers to think about innovation in new ways continues to be my driving force, but I’m not doing it alone. This year I’m bringing along ICBA ThinkTECH Accelerator alumni
The Rise of the Super App… and What Community Banks Can Do About It
Everyone, including big tech and social media players, want a super app. That’s according to a 2022 report, which underscores that the threat is real.
How Agility Bank and Rockland Trust are Leveraging Digital Services to Cultivate Personal Relationships
Relationship banking has entered a new, digital era as confirmed by recent research from Cornerstone Advisors that concluded, “There is a human element to mobile banking.”
Why ICBA opposes flawed Marshall-Durbin Amendment expansion legislation
Despite ICBA’s persistent communications on the negative impact of Durbin Amendment interventions on payment card systems, its latest iteration furthers the misguided policies of the past that will...
How community banks can use cultural-driven engagement and continuous learning to combat the Great Resignation
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...
ICBAs Reimagined ThinkTECH Accelerator to Support Year-Round Programming
Bob Dylan once said, “There is nothing so stable as change,” and I have found that to be true, particularly as we look to embrace modern technologies and the companies that enable them.
Community Bankers Prepare for Cyber Risks with CISA/ICBA Tabletop Exercises
It comes as no surprise that cybersecurity tops community bankers’ list of risk concerns. In fact, cybersecurity ranks higher than government regulation, the cost and availability of labor, and...
Innovating on Customer Behaviors: The Case for Credit and Debit Rewards Programs
The first half of 2022 has pointed to a return to pre-pandemic behaviors. In fact, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York reported that in the first quarter of 2022 credit card balances have risen...
Striking the Right Balance: Innovation in Ag Banking
As the leading providers of agricultural loans, community banks make up 80 percent of all financing to agriculture, and opportunities exist to extend that support.
Is professional development the key to recruiting and retention in today's tight labor market?
The current worker shortage is creating real economic impacts across all industries. According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, there are 3.4 million fewer Americans working today compared to...
Three Take-Aways for Community Banks from the VenCent Summit
The Venture Center, ICBA’s leadership bankers, and our ThinkTECH Accelerator cohorts demonstrated the importance of community bank-fintech collaborations at the VenCent Summit. It was an...
How Federal Regulators Can Avoid Penalizing Community Banks for Economic Measures Taken During the COVID-19 Pandemic
The consequences of uncoordinated regulatory standards at the federal level are creating an artificial problem at the local level, potentially endangering many community banks’ ability to lend to...
How Community Banks Can Leverage Strong Multifactor Authentication to Fend off Hackers
In the first half of 2022, there were 817 data breaches in the U.S., and combined with data leaks, they impacted more than 53 million people. These are alarming numbers, but they could have been...
Three Financial Technology Trends Community Banks Should Consider for 2023
When I attended FinovateFall in September, I was struck by its palpable energy. Not only was it the most attended Finovate to date, it was a collaborative conference, converting what had once felt...
How ICBA’s Investments in Innovation Are Paying Off for Community Banks
Just shy of a year ago, ICBA announced its role as one of the general partners and investment committee members in a strategic investment fund designed to accelerate technology opportunities and...
Ten ICBA Innovation Milestones for 2022
We have previously called 2021 a year of innovation, but there’s no doubt that ICBA doubled down on its position throughout 2022 to ensure that innovation is accessible, affordable, and attainable...
From the CEO: ICBA and Community Bankers Stand Together in 2022
As we near the waning days of another thrilling and unforgettable year, I remain awed by the endless energy and devotion community bankers dedicate to serving as effective advocates in Washington.
Five New Sessions to Advance Your Digital Transformation - ICBA ThinkTECH Innovation Series: Digital Transformation Demystified
Digital customer engagement has risen as a top priority for financial institutions in 2023, according to new research from Anna Kooi, financial services industry leader at Wipfli LLP, a top...