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IRS Reporting Grassroots Campaign Evolves with Congressional Debate
ICBA’s campaign against Washington’s IRS reporting proposal helped consumers speak out against the plan. As the debate evolves, the campaign now demands that community bankers increase their outreach.
Cybersecurity Experts offer Tips to Help Community Banks Shore up Defenses
A recent 21st Century from the Conference of State Bank Supervisors report indicates that more than 80% of bankers ranked cybersecurity risk as “very important,” which was more than double the rate...
Community Bank Cybersecurity Mitigation Checklist
Between March and June of last year banks experienced a 520% increase in phishing and ransomware attempts. Though these trends were exacerbated by COVID, cybersecurity has been a top concern for...
The Challenges and Risks of Smart Contracts
Smart contracts — blockchain-based programs that operate when predetermined conditions are met — offer potential use cases as well as risks for community banks evaluating their payments...
2021: The Year of Community Bank Innovation—with More to Come
In the innovation world, 2021 may go down in history as the year of community bank innovation. Despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and associated challenges thrown in our path, community banks...
Trust in Code? Smart Contracts, DeFi, and Use Cases for Community Banking
Smart contracts — computer programs that automatically execute specific actions — are becoming increasingly relevant to community banks. Here’s a breakdown of smart contracts and how...
Three Principles to Drive Community Bank Innovation
For $200 million-asset First Community Bank and Trust in Beecher, Ill., having an innovation mindset means being open to explore new ways to solve for business challenges and opportunities.
Reconciliation Update: IRS Reporting, Tax Hikes, and Needed Grassroots
Community bankers are witnessing the fruits of their labor in ICBA’s months-long campaign opposing the onerous IRS bank reporting proposal. However, the grassroots push must continue.
Seven Myths About Central Bank Digital Currencies
In the latest edition of our Digital Dollar Digest series, ICBA is here to help dispel CBDC misconceptions and debunk the most common myths.
How and Why We’re Updating Our Twitter Strategy to Better Serve Members
For more than 90 years, ICBA has provided value to our membership in a wide variety of ways and places. Today, we are refocusing efforts to better serve our members on Twitter.
Putting Innovation to Work in Community Development
While all community banks place a firm focus on serving, when you are a CDFI, serving is at the very core of your business identity. Couple that with an increased desire to think creatively, and...
Why Core Providers Attend the ThinkTECH Accelerator—And Why It Matters
The third quarter of 2021 yielded the second-highest quarter for fintech financing, up 147%. Despite this growth, an analysis by EY research of 45 banks revealed only one-quarter had deep...
Why Core Providers Attend the ThinkTECH Accelerator—And Why It Matters
As more community banks engage with fintechs to support their business plans, due diligence continues to become an even bigger piece of the puzzle. There are several questions every community bank...
Three Reasons First-Time Registrations are Spiking for ICBA LIVE 2022
With time ticking down until ICBA LIVE, schedules are solidifying, speeches are taking shape, details are firming up, and hotel rooms are filling up. The energy and momentum around coming together...
How Expanding the Durbin Amendment Would Further Harm Community Banks and Their Customers
ICBA is reminding policymakers that the Durbin Amendment has distorted the debit card and consumer checking markets to the detriment of community banks and consumers nationwide.
What’s Next in the Stablecoin Debate—and What it Means for Community Banks
While stablecoins have drawn increased scrutiny from policymakers in Washington, the policy response has only just begun. Here’s a look at the policy outlook and what it means for community banks.
Regulators Tout Responsible Innovation, Collaboration at ICBA ThinkTECH Event
Bank innovation continues to be a central focus for regulatory agencies. From the launch of innovation offices and office hours to policy statements encouraging innovative approaches.
New Federal Reserve Papers on CBDC: Key Takeaways for Community Banks
The Federal Reserve Board recently released its long-anticipated report on how the U.S. might advance towards an “age of digital transformation” with a future central bank digital currency (CBDC).
ThinkTECH Accelerator Showcase: Taking Innovation to the Profitable Next Level
“There is only one threat, and it’s inaction,” said The Venture Center’s Wayne Miller in his opening remarks at the ThinkTECH Accelerator Showcase. That set the tone for the session, where each...
Stablecoin Expansion Raises Policy Questions in Washington and on Main Street
The volume of stablecoins in circulation has grown rapidly in recent months, drawing increased attention from policymakers and the media. Here’s a breakdown of where this increasingly significant...