William Atkinson
Bill Atkinson has been a full-time business magazine writer since 1976. He has been writing for Independent Banker magazine for over a decade and has also published seven books.
Articles by William Atkinson
GBank's Fraud Prevention Bingo: Protecting Las Vegas Seniors
See how GBank uses Fraud Prevention Bingo to teach Las Vegas seniors to spot scams. Discover how your community bank can do the same.
Behind Gateway Bank's Extensive Gateway Gives Community Program
Gateway Bank in Mendota Heights, Minnesota, gives back through nine community initiatives, including Special Olympics and Toys for Tots.
Nonprofit Lending Strategies for Community Banks: 3 Steps to Success
Nonprofit organizations face different funding challenges than for-profit businesses. Learn how community banks can build these relationships, provide nonprofit loans and meet CRA objectives.
Casual for a Cause: Bar Harbor Bank & Trust Employee Donated $21K to New England Nonprofits
Discover how Bar Harbor Bank & Trust employees donated over $21,000 to local New England nonprofits through the Casual for a Cause charitable giving program.
Why Choose a Community Bank? Community Banking Benefits
Discover the top reasons to love community banking. Learn how community banks support colleagues, customers, local businesses, and communities.
Competitive Analysis Strategies for Community Banks
Learn how community banks can use competitive analysis and market intelligence to improve growth, pricing strategy, customer retention and operational efficiency.
Single-Location Community Banks That Thrive
Can community banks succeed with just one location? Four single-branch community banks share how staying small lowers overhead, strengthens customer relationships and supports long-term growth.
Native American Bank Helps Bring Modern Utilities to an Alaskan Island
Learn how a partnership between Native American Bank and Metlakatla Indian Community is bringing cheaper, faster electricity and internet to an underserved island in Alaska.
Financial Wellness: Community Banking & Investments Services
Learn how First National Bank of Pasco connects banking, lending, and investment services under one roof, focusing on women investors, retirement, and business planning.
First Liberty Bank is Digging Deep Into Energy Lending
With tailored solutions and long-term partnerships, First Liberty Bank’s energy lending program is fostering growth for businesses, communities and the bank itself.
Why Your Community Bank Needs a Disaster Recovery Plan
Natural disasters can be personally and economically devastating to local communities, and it’s important that community banks are prepared to help both themselves and the people they serve.
Furthering Education at Dream First Bank
Dream First Bank empowers agriculture, entrepreneurial and commercial business customers with educational seminars and programs designed to fuel business success.
Crossbridge Community Bank's Golden Opportunity for Seniors
Through its Golden Community Club program, Crossbridge Community Bank goes the extra mile for its senior customers and offers an array of social and educational resources.
Inside the evolving roles of community bank tellers
Today’s tellers meet very different customer needs than they did just a decade ago. In the wake of trends like falling in-branch transactions and rising digital services, some community banks are retooling tellers with an array of new titles and skills.
Uwharrie Bank and the power of connection
Realizing that many residents of the greater Charlotte, N.C., area face barriers to housing and financial prosperity, Uwharrie Bank is connecting with local organizations in a mission to uplift others.
How Systematic Savings Bank turned around
When Derek Fraley joined Systematic Savings Bank as president and CEO in 2017, it was in trouble. To save it, he changed the community bank’s charter, launched an IPO and executed sweeping culture changes.
How Fidelity Bank boosts nonprofits
Beyond standing by its community for more than a century, Fidelity Bank supports nearby nonprofits through financial support, volunteering and specialized banking products.
Safe deposit boxes can have benefits beyond revenue
Safe deposit boxes aren’t big revenue drivers at most community banks, but for some customers, they can be an important service. They provide peace of mind when breaches and hacks have eroded trust for many.
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 burgeoning group of business owners?
Community banks keep customers safe through shredding
When your customers leave their personal information intact, whether at home or in the recycle bin, fraudsters could use that sensitive data to commit identity fraud. Many community banks offer shredding services to address this.
Building Stronger Futures Through the Heartland Bank Community Foundation
Focused on youth development and family enrichment, Heartland Bank’s charitable foundation delivers meaningful results through strategic giving and community partnerships.
Out of Office: Kati LeBreton
The vice president and director of P.O.W.E.R., a program for women in business, at $1 billion-asset Fidelity Bank in New Orleans, hosts The Big Bad Boot, a podcast.
Powering Potential: Special Assessment Success Sparks Membership Momentum
ICBA’s success in achieving a community bank exemption from the FDIC’s special assessment leads to expanded membership.
Elkhorn Valley Bank & Trust: The Bankers Behind the Screen
Elkhorn Valley Bank & Trust strikes a balance between personalized service and quick convenience with its growing collection of Teller On Demand kiosks.
b1Bank Paves the Way for New Businesses
Entrepreneurs find education and capital through b1Bank’s b1 Foundation, furthering its small business relationships and the community’s economic development.
ICBA's Best-Performing Banks of 2024
These community banks hit their stride in 2024, and they intend to keep the momentum going with hard work, flexibility and the expertise they've built over their years of service.
Dieterich Bank Inspires Young Entrepreneurs
Dieterich Bank’s KidPreneur Pop Up Shop program has taught the younger generation how to build and run their own businesses.
Out of Office: Beth Whitehead
The executive vice president and chief administrative officer of $9.2 billion-asset American Savings Bank (ASB) in Honolulu has more than 100 pairs of Converse shoes, also known as Chucks.
Out of Office: Curtis Anderson
The executive vice president of $12.6 billion-asset Veritex Community Bank in Dallas, Texas, relives his childhood through his collection of unique vending and self-service machines from decades past.
Countybank's Half-Century of Charitable Giving
In a show of unwavering support, Countybank founded the Countybank Foundation more than 50 years ago to fulfill its mission to improve every community it serves.
American Savings Bank Rallies Around Maui
Right after the devastating fires in Hawaii last August, American Savings Bank jumped into action to support those affected not just as bankers, but as fellow community members.
Citizens Bank & Trust Brings Banking Back to School
Citizens Bank & Trust saw a need and a demand for financial literacy in local high schools. Now, the community bank has two school branches that are run by student tellers and teacher presidents.
Bank of Anguilla Weathers the Storm
In the wake of a destructive tornado in Mississippi, Bank of Anguilla continues to develop initiatives that will help people recover from the damage and return home.
Can Third-Party Vendors Ease Wealth Management?
Community banks with wealth management programs can access a new source of revenue, but starting from scratch can be a major undertaking.
Veritex Community Bank Throws a Fastball for Financial Literacy
This baseball season, every strikeout thrown by Houston Astros pitcher Ryan Pressly spurs a $100 donation to Junior Achievement of Southeast Texas—courtesy of Veritex Community Bank.
BankOnBuffalo redefines mobile banking
BankOnBuffalo has hit the road with its new mobile bank, BankOnWheels, to meet the needs of underserved communities.
Scottsdale Community Bank: Making microloans
De novo Scottsdale Community Bank set out to provide microloans to small and mid-size businesses, family organizations and nonprofits—a project that was inspired by the humble lemonade stand.
Should you offer financial planning services?
Offering financial planning services is one way to expand a community bank’s footprint and deepen customer relationships. We spoke with several banks about why and how they offer wealth management services to new and existing clients.
Stealthy shopping for better service
It’s no secret why Alpine Bank’s mystery shopper program has helped the community bank meet and exceed customer expectations over the past two decades.
Fighting fraud with education
COVID-19 has exacerbated vulnerabilities to fraud. To combat this trend, Tompkins VIST Bank has been delivering valuable education to its small business customers to keep them informed and protected.
Climbing the Community Bank Career Ladder
What’s special about community banking is the support and growth young bankers see throughout their careers.
Powering Potential: How ICBA is Helping ICBC Cultivate Tomorrow's Leaders
The Independent Community Bankers of Colorado’s leadership initiatives empower professionals to lead with purpose, capped by the ICBA LEAD FWD Summit.
Why Your Community Bank Needs a Disaster Recovery Plan
Community banks like Countybank face and overcome challenges every day, but what about the events banks don’t expect?
First Citizens Bank: Playing the Talent Development Long Game
First Citizens Bank’s internship initiative underscores the importance of offering students valuable hands-on industry exposure and nurturing the next generation of banking professionals.
Fidelity Bank Is Transforming Women's Entrepreneurship
By promoting education, advocacy, networking and financial support, Fidelity Bank's P.O.W.E.R. program is setting a new standard for financial institutions.
Powering Potential: Strengthening Community Banking State by State
ICBA’s links with state banking associations help shape organizational growth and drive powerful collaborations.
Endeavor Bank Turns Business Banking into a Conversation
Endeavor Bank’s consultative banking model boosts business banking with tailored meetings, onboarding roadmaps and community connections.
Member Milestones: Keeping the Community Bank Spirit Alive
Each year, ICBA recognizes member banks celebrating significant anniversaries: 100, 125, 150 or 175 years. Each has a story that proves why these community banks remain staples of their towns and cities to this day.
Tompkins Community Bank Nurtures Youth Programs
Tompkins Community Bank has a long history of helping fund youth programs, making a difference in the lives of future leaders, game changers and creatives.
Cedar Rapids Bank & Trust and the Road to Succession
Cedar Rapids Bank & Trust’s succession planning professionals have built up their expertise to better serve the community bank’s retail business customers.
Availa Bank offers a different kind of college education
Understanding and seeking out financial assistance is difficult for many families with college-bound children, but Availa Bank alleviates this difficulty through its financial college prep program.
Community banks putting community first
Community banks do more than meet the financial needs of their customers and communities. They go above and beyond to make a difference in revitalizing, building and serving their communities.
The community banks beating the Great Resignation
A mass exodus of the U.S. workforce during the pandemic brought challenges in recruiting entry- to mid-level staff. These community banks share how they have (or haven’t) altered their hiring strategies.
How University Bank is redressing redlining
Widespread housing discrimination made homeownership unattainable for Black Americans for generations. To address this, University Bank and a nonprofit launched a new mortgage program, creating a national model for homeownership counseling in the process.
Why internships could benefit your community bank
An internship provides opportunities for young people to be exposed to an industry and lay the groundwork for a future career. For community banks, they can be a tool for finding the right long-term talent they need.
First Home Bank’s PPP pivot
First Home Bank doubled down on Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) lending, dedicating its entire SBA lending division and dozens of other employees to delivering much-needed funds to businesses. The result? More than $1.2 billion in PPP loans.