Katie Kuehner-Hebert
Katie Kuehner-Hebert has more than two decades of journalism experience writing about all facets of the banking industry. She is based in California.
Articles by Katie Kuehner-Hebert
How Native-Owned Banks Serve Unbanked Communities: Tribal Banking Strategies for Community Banks
Native-owned banks are expanding tribal banking access through reservation branches, financial literacy programs, second chance checking accounts, ITMs, and small-dollar loans. Learn best practices community banks can use to reach unbanked households and strengthen financial inclusion.
How New Nacha Rules Help Fight ACH Fraud
Two new Nacha rules went into effect in March aimed at strengthening banks’ defenses against ACH payment scams and frauds. Here’s what experts say about these new rules and the best ways for community banks to comply with them.
Retail Banking Trends 2026: Strategies for Growth
Explore six retail banking trends shaping 2026, from hybrid branch design and AI automation to deposit growth strategies, alternative lending and smarter marketing for community banks.
Deregulation Ahead: Community Bank Regulatory Outlook
Learn how regulatory changes in 2026, including stablecoin legislation and Section 1071 exemptions, will shape the future of community banking.
Community Bank CEO Outlook 2026: Challenges & Opportunities
Discover how community banks plan to stand out in 2026. Explore strategies for differentiation, deposit growth, fintech partnerships and loan opportunities
Ways to Get the Most Out of Your AML/CFT Program
Anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism programs have become a priority for regulators. Here’s how to ensure your program is up to par.
Fine Tuning the Fine Print for Bank Disclosures
As regulators continue to go through financial institution messaging with a fine-tooth comb, community banks must be diligent about maintaining best compliance and regulatory practices.
Generative AI Fraud: How to Fight It
Generative AI allows fraudsters to easily impersonate real people and makes phishing emails even harder to detect—but your community bank can still dodge these attacks by staying vigilant.
Banking With Heart: How Community Banks Support Customers' Dreams
In honor of Community Banking Month, here are stories from six banks about how their work helps customers achieve their dreams.
Test Driving Community Bank Mobile Banking Apps
With so many mobile banking apps available, a growing number of people are looking to try them out before they sign up. Can community banks give them a “test drive” function to attract more customers?
ICBA LIVE 2023: What to expect
With sessions on hot‑button issues, inspirational speakers and beneficial networking opportunities, ICBA LIVE is the greatest community banking event in the country. Here’s a sneak peek of the event, held this year from March 12–16 in Honolulu.
How to reach customers with disabilities
Some people living with disabilities eschew banking services because they feel financially underserved or physically barred. Through sensitive customer service and ADA-compliant accessibility, community banks can make them feel welcomed and accommodated.
Long-serving community bankers and their stories
What’s the secret to professional longevity? Four long-serving community bankers share the many ways they’ve grown in their respective careers, how the industry continues to evolve and, most importantly, what a life in community banking has meant to them.
Community Bank CEO Outlook 2022: Your priorities for the new year
Independent Banker’s annual Community Bank CEO Outlook survey reveals how community bank leaders plan to leverage today’s deposit-laden banking environment to grow this year.
Fraudsters’ latest target? UI benefits
Criminals have stolen more than half a billion dollars by taking advantage of the surge in unemployment claims during the pandemic. Luckily, most of this money has been recovered. Here’s what you should know about this scheme.
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 monikers—and offer tips for a successful rebranding.
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.
Why your bank needs dedicated cyber insurance
Some banks have relied on their existing insurance policies to protect them from today’s security threats. But as the amount of data that community banks amass grows, they should consider dedicated cyber policies to help them withstand a data breach.
Digital marketing tools your bank should know about
Digital marketing is evolving rapidly to meet customers where they are. We look at how remarketing, geofencing and other techniques can help your community bank get the word out.
The pros and cons of niche lending
In niche lending, your community bank’s fate comes down to expertise and passion for the work.
Community Bank Sponsorship in Action: Bank of Botetourt
Discover how Bank of Botetourt's community bank sponsorship of the Beaver Dam Farm Sunflower Festival drives $1.4 million in local economic impact and strengthens small business bank support across Virginia.
New AI Risk Management Guides Can Help Community Banks
The Treasury's AI Lexicon & Risk Framework helps community banks govern AI with confidence and adopt it strategically.
FDIC Part 363 Reforms: New Audit Rules for Community Banks
FDIC's Part 363 reforms ease audit requirements for banks under $1 billion in assets. Here's what the new rules mean for your compliance obligations.
5 Ways Community Banks Can Streamline Call Reports
Discover five proven strategies to cut the burden of call reports, which could help you save hours and increase capacity for strategic initiatives.
FHFA Updates Enable Faster, Fairer Mortgages
The Federal Housing Finance Agency announced updates that it says are designed to deliver more efficiency, cost savings and a fairer appraisal process for borrowers and lenders alike.
How Each Bank Department Contributes to a Core Conversion
Core conversions are a huge undertaking, which is why every bank employee, from IT to HR, plays a critical role in the transition.
What Every Community Bank Needs to Fight Fraud
When it comes to fraud, everything old is new again—and then some.
4 Regulatory Developments Coming in 2025
Community bankers have a variety of new regulatory changes to prepare for in 2025, across agencies and banking functions. As always, forewarned is forearmed.
The Year in Compliance: 6 Notable Updates for Community Banks
New guidance and proposed rules from regulatory agencies in 2024 have kept community banks on the alert for forthcoming changes to compliance processes.
Keeping in Line With Equal Lending Practices
Regulators continue to crack down on unfair lending practices and redlining.
How to Streamline Balance Sheet Risk Management
Balance sheet risk management is a constantly evolving area. Luckily for community bankers, new tools are being created in turn to help optimize the process.
Add text-to-pay to your payments toolbox
When it comes to payments, customers want convenience. With text-to-pay, community banks can help small businesses meet the needs of their customers.
The benefits of offering virtual advisor services
Spurred by social distancing and shutdowns during the pandemic, many community banks turned to virtual financial advisory services, and these new practices are expected to stick around.
How fraudsters target different generations
Financial fraud and cyber attacks aren’t a one-age-fits-all scenario. By identifying the banking and spending habits of different generations, scammers tailor how they reach their targets. We look at community banks’ options for fighting cyber crime.
Data privacy: How to keep customer data safe
Shielding sensitive customer information remains an industry challenge. But as the prevalence of security breaches grows, so do opportunities for community banks to position themselves as guardians of their customers’ personal data.
A community bank-fueled payments rail
A secure, open-loop, cost-saving, customer-accessible, multiplatform P2P payments network might sound too good to be true, but community bank consortium Alloy Labs Alliance hopes to achieve just that with the CHUCK payment rail.
Can fintechs enhance your bank’s marketing campaign?
Customized, well-thought-out interactions are integral to wooing new customers and retaining existing ones. We asked several banking leaders how they’ve employed fintech to ramp up their marketing campaigns.
11 hot-button issues you should know about
While the political landscape in Washington, D.C., has changed considerably over the past year, ICBA continues to work with regulators and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle for the betterment of community banks and their customers.
7 benefits that will make your bank stand out
Today’s competitive labor market means employers have to stand out from the pack. One strategy community banks can use is a well-rounded benefits package. Here are seven benefits that community banks have put in place to recruit and retain workers.
A community bank guide to cloud migration
Many community banks are moving their software, hardware and even core systems to the cloud in search of more flexible, scalable and affordable services.
Bank Insurance Strategy: A Holistic Approach to Community Bank Risk Management
Learn how community banks can build a unified bank insurance strategy that treats coverage as a strategic asset, closes insurance coverage gaps, and strengthens enterprise risk management.
Meet the Winners of ICBA National Community Bank Service Awards 2026
From cleaning up after a devastating tornado to packing backpacks for students, this year’s National Community Bank Service Award winners give back to their communities in ways both big and small.
How to Balance Collections With Compassion for Customers
Community banks face the delicate task of collecting past-due loans while maintaining a compassionate approach, There are ways to be successful at both, experts say.
The Most Notable 2025 Audit Updates So Far
A change in government leadership has led to adjustments in how examiners conduct audits. Learn what experts are seeing at a bank level.
40 Under 40: 2025's Community Bank Leaders
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.
Taking the Proper Steps to Unmask Deepfake Fraud
Community banks face the threat of deepfake fraud as developments in AI continue to refine it. While addressing such a challenge, banks must remain cognizant of reporting practices.
Fighting Fraud Under the USA PATRIOT Act Section 314(b)
Information sharing, permitted under the USA PATRIOT Act Section 314(b), presents opportunities for banks to work together and combat suspicious bank activity.
The Ultimate Community Banker Guidebook for All Things Advocacy
This year, a new presidential administration and a new Congress bring opportunities for regulatory and legislative changes.
Optimize Your Community Bank's Treasury Management Offerings
These four community banks compared the costs and use cases for adding treasury management to their services and streamlining them. Now, they’re seeing the benefits.
Can Faster Payments Lead to Faster Fraud?
Community banks can thwart criminals’ attempts to scam people via instant payments by deploying multilayered controls, including educating customers on how to not fall for scams.
Is Your Community Bank Ahead of the Pack on Instant Payments?
Whether it’s through RTP or FedNow, many community banks are still exploring how instant payments rails can fulfill the needs of and benefit their customers.
7 Steps to a Successful Regulatory Audit
Preparation is key to passing a regulatory exam with flying colors. These tips for the stages before, during and after an audit will ensure your bank and management impress regulators.
4 CFPB Rules to Watch for This Year
From limitations on fee practices to personal financial data rights, these proposed and final Consumer Financial Protection Bureau rules could have a significant impact on the community bank industry.
RESPA and HMDA Violations: What to Know
In the second half of 2023, the CFPB penalized Freedom Mortgage for violating both RESPA and HMDA. Here’s what community banks need to know about complying with these acts.
Risk or Reward: A Community Bank's Guide to AI
What do community banks need to know about getting started with AI, how can it boost efficiency across departments—and how to manage risk? We spoke to experts from ICBA and beyond to learn about the potential of AI technology for the banking industry.
6 Things Community Banks Need to Know About Cybersecurity Today
From dealing with emerging cyber threats to finding ways to get all your employees to be aware and proactive, we spoke to community bankers and experts about the tools and knowledge that will help you fight cyberattacks.
Protect your community bank from business payments fraud
Multiple types of business payments fraud are on the rise. We spoke with experts on how to effectively protect your community bank and its customers.
Scaling your community bank's core as you grow
As community banks grow, their cores need to, too. We spoke with experts on how to prepare your core for scalability and growth.
5 things to know about crypto today
Cryptocurrency is here to stay. As Wall Street gets involved, we look at some of the factors community banks should consider before they dive into the world of digital currencies.
How 3 community banks are innovating with fintechs
The best fintech companies aren’t just service providers. They’re partners. Three community bank-fintech partnerships tell us how they’ve forged mutually beneficial relationships that thrive on a shared sense of purpose.
AI in ATMs: Risks & Rewards for Community Banks
Discover how community banks leverage AI in ATMs to prevent hardware failures, enhance the digital customer experience, and mitigate security risks effectively.
How to Build a Layered Fraud Defense for Community Banks
Discover how community banks can fight fraud using a 4-layered defense strategy involving internal controls, governance, staff training, and AI technologies.
How Community Banks Should Evaluate New Fintech
Six ThinkTECH Accelerator fintechs explain how their products support community banks—and what bankers should prioritize when evaluating new technology partnerships.
2025's Seismic Regulatory Shifts
Thanks to advocacy work from community bankers and ICBA, fairer regulatory compliance standards are on the horizon.
Managing Third-Party Fintech Risk
No matter how much effort your community bank puts into compliance, a third party can still put the bank at risk. Learn how to keep partners in check and ensure they’re compliant with regulations, too.
Making Homeownership Achievable, Together
Prospective homebuyers today might feel like the odds are stacked against them as they face increasing costs, market challenges and other socioeconomic barriers.
Creative Solutions for Fortifying ATM Defenses
Faced with continued ATM security theft and threats, community banks and vendors are banding together to share creative strategies and bolster ATM defenses.
Establishing a Lifelong Career in Community Banking
Individuals looking for a fulfilling career can find their calling within the community banking industry—even if they’d never considered it before.
Strengthening Work Relations Through Bank Employee Surveys
Are your employees happy? Staff surveys are a great way to find out. The key, say community bankers and experts, is following up on what you hear.
What Banks Need to Know About the CFPB's Open Banking Rule
ICBA’s advocacy efforts have affected the outcome of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s open banking rule. Learn about these changes and understand which guidelines apply to your bank.
Insights from ICBA's Minority Bank Advisory Council
Minority depository institutions ensure their communities have access to the financial services that will help them succeed in the long term.
How To Assess Your Community Bank's Physical Security Risk
Evaluate your community bank’s zones, employees and strategies to ensure your physical security is strong enough to dissuade criminals.
How Banks Can Approach Cannabis Compliance
For community banks that are interested in or are already working with cannabis-related businesses, understanding compliance guidelines surrounding that sector is vital. We spoke with experts on how to navigate the specific requirements of this industry.
Step-by-Step Succession Planning for Community Banks
Community bankers and other experts offer a guide to succession planning that'll ensure a seamless transition and future success for the bank and its customers for years to come.
Introducing the 2022 ICBA ThinkTECH Accelerator finalists
The 2022 ICBA ThinkTECH Accelerator spotlighted some of the most innovative fintech providers. We asked this year’s cohort how community banks can harness today’s technologies and solutions to bolster business and enhance their customers’ experiences.