Advocacy

Community bankers share common goals for protecting depositors.

Credit union acquisitions of community banks are leaving lasting scars on local economies—reducing small business lending, limiting mortgage access and weakening community reinvestment. But community banks are fighting back, armed with data and grassroots advocacy to protect Main Street and their local communities.

The HPPA curbs trigger leads and reinforces the trust at the heart of community banking.

Fintech and crypto firms continue to seek out trust charters for deposit-like products, raising policy questions and competitive risks for community banks.

When a member of Congress introduces a bill that would affect the community banking industry, ICBA analyzes its implications, provides guidance and begins putting pen to paper. Here’s how ICBA uses letters to try to influence Congress.

A rundown of five areas where ICBA’s advocacy is making an impact.

Customer-owned mutual banks offer a community-focused banking model.

This has been a year of change for the bank regulatory environment. With the once-in-a-decade EGRPRA regulatory review process now underway, community banks have a special opportunity to make their voices heard. Independent Banker caught up with Amy Ledig, vice president of capital, accounting and finance policy at ICBA, to discuss the regulatory outlook.

Master accounts are a notable part of the traditional financial institution’s ecosystem, but nontraditional financial companies like crypo-native institutions and nonbanks are gunning for access. See why community banks are keen to protecting such accounts.