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“Baby Stepping” Got Coastal Community Bank to BaaS - A Conversation with Eric Sprink, CEO
Host Charles Potts, CIO of the Independent Community Bankers of America, sits down with Eric Sprink to discuss his storied career and passion for community banking. This episode is brought to you...
Community Banking and Cryptocurrency – A Conversation with Quontic Bank’s Steve Schnall and ICBA’s Brian Laverdure
Host Charles Potts, Chief Innovation Officer of the Independent Community Bankers of America, talks with Steve Schnall, CEO of Quontic Bank about how the bank launched a cryptocurrency rewards...
Taking Bold and Brave Action for Community Banks – with Rebeca Romero Rainey, President and CEO of ICBA
Rebeca Romero Rainey, President and CEO of ICBA, talks with host Charles Potts, Chief Innovation Officer, about how and why ICBA made the decision to stand alone in public opposition to the...
Look Back, Look Ahead: ICBA’s Innovation Journey
This year we’ve redoubled our commitment to innovation—with the opening of our Center for Innovation, the rollout of two ThinkTECH Accelerators, and a host of specialized forums and...
Yield enhancer, or gimmick? Callable securities present risk and reward.
Most representatives of the broker-dealer industry have been suggesting to their customers, especially community banks, that their collection of bonds could be situated to perform pretty well in 2025.
Countdown to ISO 20022: Key Steps for Community Banks to Ensure a Smooth Fedwire Transition
With the Federal Reserve scheduled to convert the Fedwire Funds Service to the ISO 20022 message format on March 10, community banks have a few remaining weeks to ensure they are ready.
ICBA’s Regulator Day: Fostering Community Bank Innovation Through Industry Collaboration
Innovation never stops, but regulatory considerations can impede progress if not properly managed. That’s why it’s crucial to create dedicated spaces where innovators, regulators, and policymakers...
Vigilante justice?
While it will possibly take months and even the rest of the year to see the full shakeout, April 2025 was a laboratory for market efficiency. Some might contend there was an element of ruthlessness...
Building Bridges: How Community Bankers Can Leverage Instagram for Growth
Instagram, primarily known for its visual appeal, can be a powerful tool for community bankers to engage with existing customers, attract new clients, and showcase the human side of banking.
Building Stronger Community Connections: Leveraging LinkedIn for Community Bankers
LinkedIn, with its professional focus, offers a unique opportunity for community bankers to engage with their community on a personal and professional level. Here are a few tips to help you take...
Empowering Community Banks: Leveraging Social Media Influencers for Growth
In today's rapidly evolving digital landscape, community banks face the challenge of staying relevant and connecting with their audience in meaningful ways. One effective strategy gaining momentum...
Finding and Keeping Talent – With Kim Kirk of Queensborough National Bank & Trust Company and Tommy Marshall of Georgia Fintech Academy
A timely conversation about recruiting and retaining top bank talent in today’s competitive job market.
Partners in Fraud Prevention – A Conversation with Pioneer Trust Bank’s Betsy Steinberg and ICBA Bancard’s Rebecca Kruse
Host Charles Potts, Chief Innovation Officer of the Independent Community Bankers of America, talks with Betsy Steinberg, Vice President of Pioneer Trust Bank NA about the bank’s card fraud...
The Digital Transformation Journey Begins with the “People Factor”—with Kathy Strasser, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of IncredibleBank
“The people factor is about your culture,” notes Kathy Strasser, IncredibleBank’s Executive Vice President and COO. “You can have people with a digital mindset, but when you have a digital culture,...
Demystifying and Prosper: How Community Banks Find Success in Fintech Partnerships—with Greg Ohlendorf of First Community Bank and Trust and Joe Ehrhardt of Teslar Software
We have to demystify that fintech is complicated, or fintech is difficult, or fintech is risky or scary. Fintech, to me, is opportunity,” says Greg Ohlendorf, President and CEO, First Community...
Why Cybersecurity is No Longer Just an IT Issue—with Jeff Newgard of Bank of Idaho and Kevin Piette of State Bank of Cross Plains
“Today, in literal terms, everybody has to operate as that state-of-the-art bank,” says Kevin Piette, chief operating officer and chief information officer for State Bank of Cross Plains, in the...
What’s Ahead for ThinkTECH? — With Jack Hartings and Wayne Miller
ICBA announced it was bringing the Accelerator and all innovation activities in house. Our guests reveal the reasons behind this move and give a glimpse of how the association will develop...
Fighting the Good Fight — with Anne Balcer
Anne Balcer talks to host Charles Potts, ICBA’s chief innovation officer, about the value of her background as a community banker, the advocacy wins community banks saw last year, and much, much more.
Inside a Cybersecurity Collaboration —Bob Fisher and David Shipley
High-value vendor relationships work more like partnerships. At least, that’s certainly what Bob Fisher, president and CEO of Tioga State Bank in Spencer, N.Y., found when his bank hired...
Winning the Talent War — with Renee Peterson and Steve Farbstein
We started focusing on our employees and what they need as much as what we need,” says Steve Farbstein, Blue Ridge Bank’s chief revenue and development officer.