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7 best practices to help avoid audit missteps
An audit tells a community bank whether it’s adhering to regulations and objectives. However, a lack of preparation and poor scoping techniques, among other factors, can lead to wasted time. Here’s...
4 community banks with eye-catching names
These community banks know you never get a second chance to make a first impression. From Ergo Bank in Wisconsin to Happy State Bank in Texas, we uncover the roots of four banks’ eye-catching...
How community banks are reaching the unbanked
Millions of Americans don’t have bank accounts. Their reasons are their own; some lack financial literacy, and others’ trust in the banking system has been eroded. But many community banks are...
What you can do now to prepare for CECL
Community banks won’t have to implement current expected credit losses, or CECL, standards until 2023, but it’s never too early to start getting ready. Here’s what industry experts say you should...
2020’s National Community Bank Service Award winner? You
ICBA’s National Community Bank Service Awards celebrates the community banks that have stepped up for their communities. Instead of highlighting a few winners, this year we are honoring all...
How branch security is catching up with branch design
As the design of the branch has advanced, so, too, have the measures that community banks use to keep their branches secure.
10 mobile lending UX best practices
The easier and more intuitive your mobile lending platform is to use, the more high-quality loan applications you’ll receive.
Who made ICBA’s 2020 Top Lenders list?
Our top lenders’ exceptional performance last year has set them up for success even in a time of turmoil. Read on to meet the year’s most successful loan producers in the agriculture, commercial...
Why succession planning is key to bank independence
Independence is at the heart of many community banks’ ethos, but how do community bankers embed this core value into their strategic planning? Here are three critical strategies that use succession...
How your bank can fight first-party fraud
First-party fraud puts banks in the tough position of deciding which account applicants are synthetic and which are real. But experts agree that there are ways to can use technology and...
40 Under 40: 2020’s Emerging Community Bank Leaders
Our second annual 40 Under 40: Emerging Community Bank Leaders competition uncovered some amazing talent. Meet our 2020 winners and hear their thoughts on the industry’s future.
ICBA’s best-performing community banks
Our annual list of the year’s top-performing community banks boasts institutions that focus on efficiency and the personal service that builds strong, lasting relationships. Their success last year...
How to get and keep new customers
Customers have more choices than ever about where and how to do their banking. Community banks must find the right ways to engage them if they want to win and retain their loyalty. Here are the...
Banks that found their niche lending markets
Technology has blurred community banks’ geographic borders for some lending niches—but for others, face-to-face remains the gold standard. These community banks know one size doesn’t always fit all.
Community Bank CEO Outlook 2020: How your peers plan to grow
Independent Banker’s Community Bank CEO Outlook survey asked community bank leaders how they plan to grow their institutions this year. This year’s survey reveals what community bankers have...
Why these banks are supporting women entrepreneurs
In the past 50 years, women have gone from a small part of the business community to a significant—and fast-growing—segment. How can community banks form mutually beneficial relationships with this...
Preventing and detecting mortgage fraud
Many compliance functions are needed to detect mortgage fraud, from FACTA and FCRA to the SAFE Act. Here’s a look at the requirements.
The juicy story behind First Citrus Bank
Established 21 years ago, First Citrus Bank’s strategic planning is now bearing fruit. At the core of the Tampa, Fla., community bank is a set of fundamental values that define how its associates...
How your bank should handle consumer complaints
It’s important for community banks to understand and respond to customer complaints. But what should a complaint program include, and how might complaint data be an opportunity to improve your...
How your bank can stay compliant on social media
It’s common for community banks to have a presence on one, two or up to half a dozen social media platforms to engage with customers. But what does being an active social media user mean for...