Don Sadler

Navigate the biggest legal risks facing community banks. Learn how to manage overdraft fees, Reg E compliance and cyber threats to empower your bank against lawsuits.

Treasury management services for business customers are table stakes for community banks looking to attract and retain valuable customer relationships.

Serving on a community bank board carries serious responsibility. This guide explains how a structured onboarding process helps new directors understand banking fundamentals, governance expectations and risk oversight.

Build your customers’ financial health by helping them manage their subscriptions in-app.

Community bankers, fintech experts and consultants alike are keeping their finger on the pulse when it comes to the latest technology—with the goal of understanding what’s useful and what’s all hype. Assessing the hottest new banking technology and how they’ve personally seen it used, here’s what they had to say.

Community banks that offer wealth management can play a notable role in easing customers’ anxiety amid economic and financial uncertainty.

The regulatory environment for banks feels like it’s being turned upside down, but the fundamentals of compliance and risk management remain the same. We look at a few of the challenges community banks face today and hear from ICBA experts on what’s next.

Amid the difficult economic environment community banks face today, our 2025 CFO Outlook survey shows a shift in priorities and thoughtful insight into changes to come. We talked with four community bank CFO respondents about what they’ve seen this year and what they expect from competition, tariffs and examiners going into 2026.

WesBanco prioritizes accessibility and practicality with FlexCash, a solution that offers affordable support for customers facing emergency expenses.

Our seventh annual 40 Under 40 community bank leaders awards shine a light on inspiring people who take bettering their workplaces to the next level, offering thoughtful ideas for improved efficiencies, digital innovations, community involvement and more. No matter the challenge, these individuals put in the work.

Succession planning is complicated in all sorts of ways. An attorney or legal team can help iron out the issues and lay out documents that ensure long-term continuity for community banks.

While the business of community banking is ongoing, a new year is always a good time to take stock of the challenges and opportunities ahead. We surveyed community bank presidents and CEOs about their plans for 2025—and found that those plans look very different from our last survey in 2022.

In a tight labor market, current and prospective employees are drawn to good pay, Attractive benefits and, importantly, a sense of purpose. Learn about how to build or improve your community bank’s workplace culture from Five of the industry’s top employers.

Offering fiduciary services can add depth to your wealth management offerings, but it won’t be right for every community bank. Bankers and other experts weigh in.

If your community bank doesn’t have the time or resources to recruit for open or hard-to-fill positions, a staffing agency is one way to take the burden off your shoulders. Here’s what you should know about finding the right one.

During staff shortages, leaves and short-term projects, freelancers can fulfill the needs of your community bank in a variety of areas and concentrations—but there are risk-management considerations to be aware of.

Community bank chief financial officers are currently facing one of the most challenging environments in decades. Rising interest rates have raised the cost of funds considerably, inflation remains stubbornly high and many economists believe that a recession is likely either late this year or next year. Independent Banker recently spoke with community bank CFOs to see how they are helping their banks flourish in this environment.

Acquiring a wealth management firm, fintech, title business or other nonbank organization can unlock new opportunities for community banks. These acquisitions can add new revenue generators, specialized employees and other assets to a community bank in place of organic growth. But experts say that finding the right business to acquire can be tricky.

In recent years, some community banks have made the decision to go public as part of their strategy for growth. In 2020, however, COVID-19 cast uncertainty over the market. But experts, including community bankers who recently made the decision to go public, say community banks should chart their own path for growth.

Expect the unexpected. It’s a saying that proved especially true this year, given the months of uncertainty 2020 threw at the banking industry. However, with the proper planning, community banks can make the most out of an unexpected year. The strategists at Vining Sparks shed light on a winning portfolio management strategy as we head into the new year.