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Community Bank Persistence Pays Dividends
Community Bank Persistence Pays Dividends It wasn’t exactly what ICBA was advocating; nevertheless, nearly all community banks scored a major victory with the industry’s hard-fought exemption from...
FASB Fabrications Show Genuine Disconnect with Reality
FASB Fabrications Show Genuine Disconnect with Reality Some might be surprised to learn that I’ve encountered circumstances so unbelievable I’ve been left speechless (hard to believe, I know), but...
Responsiveness Is Key to Another Productive Year
Responsiveness Is Key to Another Productive Year Welcome to 2016, community bankers! We had a prolific year of advocacy in 2015, and I want to thank all of you for doing your part. ICBA is again...
Taking the Reins of Leadership
Taking the Reins of Leadership “There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure.” General Colin Powell Good leaders aren’t born, they’re...
Conventional Wisdom
Conventional Wisdom What do community banks have in common with astronauts, fighter pilots and football stars? At next month’s ICBA Community Banking LIVE® national convention, community bankers...
Community Bankers Achieve Vital Changes to Accounting Rules
Community Bankers Achieve Vital Changes to Accounting Rules It took years of hard work, but community bankers once again showed they can make a positive impact on new regulations through engaged...
Taking Pride in Successful Capital Summit
Taking Pride in Successful Capital Summit Community bankers have many reasons to stand proud after last week’s seminal ICBA Capital Summit in Washington. Community bankers have many reasons to...
The Story I Heard in New Orleans
The Story I Heard in New Orleans It’s a funny thing. The buildup to the ICBA Community Banking LIVE® national convention is a massive undertaking, one that uses up every ounce of energy from ICBA...
A Matter of Responsibility
A Matter of Responsibility A hallmark of community banking is accountability. Community bankers are held accountable to their customers because they live and work in the same neighborhoods. As...
White House Shows Commitment to Community Banks
White House Shows Commitment to Community Banks As much as I enjoyed being with my fellow community bankers in San Antonio last week at ICBA’s national convention, it was nice to get back to...
Evaluating the Psychology of Money
Evaluating the Psychology of Money Rarely do I pause to share recommended reading, but a new feature in this month’s Independent Banker magazine is worth it. The “Psychology of Money” feature in...
Small Enough to Jail, Strong Enough to Resist
Small Enough to Jail, Strong Enough to Resist A documentary premiering this week in New York features a community bank that not only stood up for what’s right against overwhelming...
Study Affirms Community Banks’ Small-Biz Leadership
Study Affirms Community Banks’ Small-Biz Leadership It’s something ICBA and the community banking industry say all the time: community banks are the nation’s leading small-business lenders. And the...
A Voice That Must Be Heard
A Voice That Must Be Heard “You say it again, and you say it again, and you say it again, and you say it again, and you say it again, and then again and again and again and again, and about the...
Standing Up to a Reckless Regulator
Standing Up to a Reckless Regulator Every now and then we have the chance to stand up for what’s right against powerful forces. As the legacy of a group of colonists who stared down and defeated...
A New Source of Legal Trolling
A New Source of Legal Trolling Predatory plaintiff’s attorneys have found a new source of legal exploitation to hound community banks and other small businesses with legal threats: the Americans...
Wells Fargo: Still Not a Community Bank
Wells Fargo: Still Not a Community Bank Apparently Wells Fargo isn’t content to tarnish its own reputation—it has the gall to try to hide behind the sterling reputation of the nation’s...
A Convention to Remember
A Convention to Remember We’re just a few short weeks away from next month’s ICBA Community Banking LIVE® national convention—the biggest show in community banking in the world! And to top it...
The Power is Yours
The Power is Yours Another ICBA Capital Summit is in the books, and it might have been the best one yet. While last year’s White House visit of more than 100 community bankers is hard to beat, this...
ICBA Brief Offers Latest on Tax Reform Debate
ICBA Brief Offers Latest on Tax Reform Debate To give community bankers the lay of the land on the fast-paced and fluctuating tax reform debate, ICBA released a new informational brief with the...
Gimme Shelter
Gimme Shelter Sheltered Harbor is a financial services sector initiative that enables financial institutions to securely store and rapidly reconstitute account information while recovering from a...
Finish the Job
Finish the Job With the 2018 ICBA Capital Summit just weeks away, I’ve never been more impressed by the strength of community banks! What a week it was. While nearly 3,000 community bankers and...
Banks Leaving the Pain of 2020 Behind
Banks Leaving the Pain of 2020 Behind Banks are looking ahead to this year with the hope that the human and economic toll of 2020 can be left in the past. By Brandon Koeser, RSM U.S. Banks are...
Bankers Don’t Foresee Full Economic Recovery Until 2022 or Later
Bankers Don’t Foresee Full Economic Recovery Until 2022 or Later Despite some improvements in outlook, bank leaders continue to be wary about the prospects for an economic recovery in 2021....
Welcome to the metaverse: The digital future of banking
We are at the very beginning of exploring the opportunities the metaverse may provide. And while the path forward may be long, financial institutions need to start assessing what those...
Interchange versus swipe fees, a primer.
With so much discussion around card transactions, what does a bank director need to know about interchange and swipe fees to understand their fiduciary duties and guide their decisions?
From Volatility to Vision: Guiding Bank Performance Through Economic Cycles
As the economic landscape continues to shift rapidly, the ability to navigate unforeseen macroeconomic changes is essential for a bank’s long-term success and the preservation of franchise value.
We Decided to Make COVID a Magic Word
We Decided to Make COVID a Magic Word For all that 2020 hasn’t been, let’s look at what it has. In fact, let’s make COVID a magic word and see what happens to our perspective. By Tom Hershberger,...
Early signs point to raised awareness for community banks
Our objective to raise awareness 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...
5 Beneficial Money Habits you Can Put into Practice Right Now
5 Beneficial Money Habits you Can Put into Practice Right Now When it comes to saving, investing, or getting your finances in order, the process can often feel daunting. Here are some tips to help...
The 411 for First Time Home Buyers
Venturing into the housing market, especially for the first time, can be intimidating and difficult to navigate without a financial expert in your corner.
Business banking: How to switch to a community bank
Business banking: How to switch to a community bank Changing who your business banks with might sound overwhelming, especially if you’ve been with your current bank for a long time. But community...
WSJ: Community banks came through for businesses
WSJ: Community banks came through for businesses When big banks left small businesses hung out to dry in a pandemic, the Wall Street Journal reports that many community banks came through with...
Learn why these entrepreneurs put their trust in community banks
Learn why these entrepreneurs put their trust in community banks Small business owners share their stories of how community banks stuck by their side and helped their businesses navigate uncertain...
Three Reasons to Bank Locally with a Community Bank
Three Reasons to Bank Locally with a Community Bank The COVID-19 pandemic has created a new type of consumer—one increasingly focused on essential products and online shopping. Interestingly,...
Accelerating Time-to-Market with the Venture Center Bootcamp
Accelerating Time-to-Market with the Venture Center Bootcamp Meeting The Venture Center team and our 10 finalists inspired me, and I am confident that all community bankers stand to benefit from...
Community Bankers to Influence ThinkTECH Accelerator Solutions
Community Bankers to Influence ThinkTECH Accelerator Solutions The ICBA ThinkTECH Accelerator bootcamp has begun! Things are moving quickly, and we’re hard at work helping our 10 finalists develop...
Rebeca Romero Rainey: Conversations Must Determine Our Innovation Budgets
Innovation is one of those line items that can be hard to wrap our heads around.
Member Milestones 2025: Community Banks Are Here to Stay
Community banking requires vigor, skill and passion to withstand the test of time. That’s why ICBA is honoring member banks celebrating 100, 125, 150, 175 and even 200 years in service.
KS Bank Helps Make Retirement Plans Happen
KS Bank’s wealth division provides retirement benefits planning services to its business clients to help them save money and attract and retain employees.