ICBA Newsroom
The ICBA Newsroom collects and centralizes all the NewsWatch Today articles, press releases, Main Street Matters blogs, advocacy letters and other news that impacts community bankers.
West Shore Bank and Timberland Bank Offer Unique Avenues for Charitable Giving
West Shore Bank and Timberland Bank are fostering generosity by giving their customers unique avenues to support local charities, merging tradition with technology to make a lasting impact in local communities.
August 01, 2025 |
Independent Banker
CFO Roundtable: Interest Rates, Tariffs, Examiners
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.
August 01, 2025 |
Independent Banker
Powering Potential: Unlock Your Leadership Potential With ICBA Resources
ICBA offers a comprehensive suite of resources designed to equip professionals with the tools and knowledge to thrive in our industry.
August 01, 2025 |
Independent Banker
How One Bank Tackled Online Gambling Friendly Fraud
A fraud case at Williamstown Bank sheds light on how community banks can combat rising online gaming “friendly fraud” claims and navigate Regulation E compliance hurdles.
August 01, 2025 |
Independent Banker
Compliance
Out of Office: Evelyn Franco
The chief operating officer at $970 million-asset Frontier Bank of Texas in Elgin, Texas, is determined to hike and canyoneer through all 63 U.S. national parks alongside her sister.
August 01, 2025 |
Independent Banker
First American Bank Draws a Chalk Path of Kindness
First American Bank in Artesia, New Mexico, embraced the spirit of Random Acts of Kindness Month in February.
August 01, 2025 |
Independent Banker
Rebeca Romero Rainey: Conversations Must Determine Our Innovation Budgets
“With innovation, ROI is about looking through the lens of overall impact, not just how it will affect us financially in the year ahead.”
August 01, 2025 |
Independent Banker
Boost Your Non-Interest Income with Credit Cards
SPONSORED | ICBA Payments helps community banks increase their non-interest income with credit card programs that span the revenue and risk spectrum.
August 01, 2025 |
Independent Banker
Payments
Member Milestones 2025: Community Banks Are Here to Stay
Community banking requires vigor, skill and passion to withstand the test of time. That’s why ICBA is honoring member banks celebrating 100, 125, 150, 175 and even 200 years in service. Read on for stories of how these community banks started out, persevered and have made a difference in their communities.
August 01, 2025 |
Independent Banker
Mickey Marshall: Mutual Banks Are Mutually Beneficial
Customer-owned mutual banks offer a community-focused banking model.
August 01, 2025 |
Independent Banker
Advocacy
KS Bank Helps Make Retirement Plans Happen
KS Bank’s wealth division provides retirement benefits planning services to its business clients to help them save money and attract and retain employees.
August 01, 2025 |
Independent Banker
Jim Reber: Manage Interest Rate Risk With Strategic Portfolio Decisions
Yield curve shape reflects bond market’s mood.
August 01, 2025 |
Independent Banker
Growing the Community
Why Community Banks Are Revamping Their CD Strategies
Certificates of deposit are nothing new, but these products’ reputation for reliability is leading some community banks to reposition and market them more competitively.
August 01, 2025 |
Independent Banker
Q&A: Amy Ledig on the EGRPRA Review Process
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.
August 01, 2025 |
Independent Banker
Advocacy
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.
August 01, 2025 |
Independent Banker
Compliance
Jack E. Hopkins: Turning Vendors Into Partners With ICBA
“If ICBA has included a vendor [as a Preferred Service Provider or Corporate Member], we know they are a source that can be trusted.”
August 01, 2025 |
Independent Banker
Jacob Eisen: Make Payments a Strategic Budget Priority
Payments have transformed into a strategic opportunity. They no longer simply perform a routine function. Instead, they offer revenue potential, enhanced customer experiences and more.
August 01, 2025 |
Independent Banker
What Benefits Does Gen Z Value Most?
Gen Z and community banks are both purpose-driven, so attracting the youngest employees largely depends on which benefits companies offer. Here’s how some community banks are doing it.
August 01, 2025 |
Independent Banker
ICBA offers new GENIUS Act summary, webinar
ICBA published a new summary of the GENIUS Act for ICBA members and next week is scheduled to host a complimentary community bank briefing on the act and other digital asset policy developments.
July 31, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Digital Assets
ICBA opposes Circle’s application for a national trust bank charter
ICBA said it strongly opposes Circle’s application for a national trust bank charter for its proposed subsidiary, First National Currency Bank, N.A.
July 31, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
OCC
White House releases digital asset recommendations
President Donald Trump’s Working Group on Digital Asset Markets released recommendations for digital financial technology.
July 31, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Digital Assets
CFPB says it will rework 1033 rule
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau requested a stay in a lawsuit challenging the 1033 rule on consumer data security and privacy and said it plans to craft a new rule soon.
July 30, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
CFPB
ICBA asks for regulatory relief on Debit Card Issuer Interchange survey
ICBA urged the Federal Reserve to provide regulatory relief on the Debit Card Issuer Interchange survey, which is used to implement Regulation II debit card interchange standards.
July 30, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Federal Reserve
Complimentary ICBA briefing on GENIUS Act next week
ICBA is scheduled to host a complimentary community bank briefing on the GENIUS Act at 1 p.m. (Eastern time) next Thursday, Aug. 7.
July 30, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
ICBA opposes Nissan’s ILC application
ICBA urged the FDIC to reject Nissan’s deposit insurance application for its proposed industrial loan company, Nissan Bank.
July 29, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
FDIC
ICBA supports bill to mitigate impact of 1071 rule
ICBA expressed strong support for the Preventing Regulatory Overreach to Empower Communities to Thrive and Ensure Data privacy (PROTECTED) Act (S. 2352), which would mitigate the adverse impact of the CFPB’s rule under Dodd-Frank Section 1071 on America’s small businesses and community banks.
July 29, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
CFPB
ICBA, others correct the record on CFPB’s 1033 rule
ICBA and other groups issued a statement correcting the record on the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s Section 1033 rulemaking following misleading claims from a group of fintech and retail organizations.
July 29, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
CFPB
ICBA Urges FDIC to Reject Nissan’s Application to Form Industrial Loan Company
The Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) today expressed strong opposition to Nissan’s application to form a financial institution that receives federal deposit insurance while avoiding full regulatory oversight.
July 28, 2025 |
Press Release
Deposit Insurance
Correcting the Record on Safe Data Sharing
The Bank Policy Institute, the American Bankers Association, America’s Credit Unions, Consumer Bankers Association and the Independent Community Bankers of America issued the following statement in response to the falsehoods contained in a letter from a group of fintech and retail organizations regarding the CFPB’s Section 1033 rulemaking:
July 28, 2025 |
Press Release
Data Security/Fraud
Agencies officially launch final round of feedback on reg burden under EGRPRA review
The OCC, FDIC, and Federal Reserve published in the Federal Register their fourth notice requesting comment on their regulations pursuant to the Economic Growth and Regulatory Paperwork Reduction Act of 1996.
July 28, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
EGRPRA s.2155
Independent Banker shares tips on building AI policies
The latest Independent Banker magazine offers tips for community banks that are developing policies on artificial intelligence.
July 28, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
CISA updates alert on SharePoint vulnerabilities with new Microsoft guidance
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency updated its alert on vulnerabilities with Microsoft SharePoint servers to reflect newly released information as threat actor tactics, techniques, and procedures continue to evolve.
July 28, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Cybersecurity
President issues executive orders on AI
After unveiling his AI Action Plan this week, President Donald Trump released three executive orders on artificial intelligence.
July 25, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Artificial Intellegence
Second billion-dollar credit union acquisition of a community bank this week
After a second acquisition this week of a taxpaying community bank by a tax-exempt, billion-dollar credit union, ICBA continued to call for policymakers to end the federal tax exemption for credit unions with $1 billion or more in assets.
July 25, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Credit Unions
Fintechs awarded at ThinkTECH Accelerator Showcase
At the recent ThinkTECH Accelerator Showcase held at the Graduate School of Banking at Colorado, ICBA presented three awards to participating fintech companies.
July 25, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
House committee passes ICBA-advocated reg relief bills
The House Financial Services Committee passed several ICBA-supported bills during a two-day markup.
July 24, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Compliance
ICBA updates advocacy dashboard
ICBA updated its “Advocacy in Action” government relations dashboard for the third quarter with the latest community banking advocacy successes and priorities.
July 24, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Advocacy
Second Billion-dollar Credit Union Acquisition of Community Bank This Week Underscores Policy Abuses
Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) President and CEO Rebeca Romero Rainey issued the following statement after a second acquisition this week of a taxpaying community bank by a tax-exempt credit union. Both acquiring credit unions hold more than $1 billion in assets.
July 24, 2025 |
Press Release
Credit Unions
Administration releases Artificial Intelligence Action Plan
The White House released an AI Action Plan that includes removing barriers to innovation and responsible adoption of AI.
July 24, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Artificial Intellegence
ICBA reiterates call for policy change following latest credit union acquisition
After a credit union in California leveraged its asset size and tax exemption to acquire a community bank, ICBA reiterated its call for policymakers to end the federal tax exemption for credit unions with $1 billion or more in assets.
July 23, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Credit Unions
House committee passes reg relief bill with more votes set for today
The House Financial Services Committee passed ICBA-supported legislation to provide regulatory relief to certain community banks, with additional votes on ICBA-advocated legislation slated for today.
July 23, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Housing Finance/GSEs
ICBA urges CFPB to use modified TRID disclosure forms
ICBA urged the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to move its TRID Sandbox Project forward with a modified TILA-RESPA Integrated Disclosure (TRID) form developed by ICBA.
July 23, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
CFPB
Billion-dollar Credit Union Acquisition of Community Bank Affirms ICBA Calls for Policy Change
Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) President and CEO Rebeca Romero Rainey issued the following statement after a new acquisition of a taxpaying community bank in California by a tax-exempt credit union with assets exceeding $1 billion.
July 22, 2025 |
Press Release
Credit Unions
ICBA breaks down the GENIUS Act and what’s next for community banks
A new blog post from ICBA President and CEO Rebeca Romero Rainey details what’s in the recently signed GENIUS Act stablecoin law and what it means for community banks.
July 22, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Digital Assets
ICBA Foundation raising funds for Texas flood relief
The ICBA Foundation Disaster Relief Program in coordination with the Independent Bankers Association of Texas is requesting tax-deductible donations to assist community banks and employees affected by recent flooding in as.
July 22, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
ICBA urges House committee to advance reg relief bills at markup
The House Financial Services Committee today kicks off a two-day markup of various banking bills, including several ICBA-advocated regulatory reform measures.
July 22, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Congressional Matters
ICBA: OCC should postpone decisions on recent charter applications
ICBA and other groups told the OCC that recent national bank charter applications raise substantial concerns and urged the OCC to postpone considering the applications.
July 21, 2025 |
Press Release
OCC
GENIUS Act bill to establish stablecoin regulations signed into law
President Donald Trump signed into law the GENIUS Act, which establishes a regulatory framework for payment stablecoins. The bill signing follows a House vote last week of 308-122 to pass the GENIUS Act following Senate passage last month.
July 21, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Digital Assets
Senators introduce bill to roll back 1071 requirements
Sens. Katie Britt (R-Ala.) and John Boozman (R-Ark.) introduced legislation to shield community banks from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s Section 1071 small-business reporting rule.
July 21, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
CFPB
ICBA Welcomes Back Loughlin Cleary as Executive Vice President of Member Relations
The Independent Community Bankers of America® (ICBA) today announced that Loughlin Cleary has rejoined the organization as executive vice president, member relations. In this role, Cleary will lead ICBA’s nationwide member relations team, working to strengthen relationships with community banks and ensure they are well-connected to ICBA’s advocacy, innovation, and education initiatives.
July 21, 2025 |
Press Release
House passes bills to establish digital assets regulatory frameworks, bar U.S. CBDC
The House of Representatives passed three bills designed to establish stablecoin and digital asset regulatory frameworks and prohibit the United States from issuing a central bank digital currency.
July 18, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Digital Assets
ICBA CRA Solutions/USI Alliance Names Two New Community Bankers to its Board
ICBA CRA Solutions/USI Alliance, an ICBA subsidiary, today announced the election to its board of directors Shon Myers, president and CEO of Farmers & Merchants Bank in Miamisburg, Ohio, and Andrew Tinberg, president and CEO of CNB Bank and Trust N.A., in Carlinville, Ill.
July 18, 2025 |
Press Release
Independent Banker: It matters who has access to master accounts
The latest Independent Banker magazine spotlights efforts by nontraditional financial companies to get access to Federal Reserve master accounts and why ICBA is working to protect access to these accounts.
July 18, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
FHA: Disaster area for Texas floods expanded
The Federal Housing Administration shared that the Presidentially-Declared Major Disaster Area declaration in Texas issued on July 6 due to the recent catastrophic flooding across the state was updated to include additional counties.
July 18, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Agencies propose rescinding 2023 CRA final rule
Federal bank regulatory agencies issued a joint proposal to rescind the Community Reinvestment Act final rule issued in October 2023 and replace it with the prior CRA regulations after the FDIC board of directors advanced the proposal earlier this week.
July 17, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
FDIC
ICBA Statement on House Passage of Legislation to Establish Digital Asset Regulatory Framework and Bar U.S. Central Bank Digital Currency
Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) President and CEO Rebeca Romero Rainey issued the following statement on House passage of the GENIUS Act (S. 1582), the CLARITY Act (H.R. 3633), and the Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act (H.R. 1919).
July 17, 2025 |
Press Release
Digital Assets
ICBA urges Congress to build on pro-agriculture policies
ICBA testified before Congress on the importance of community banks to the nation’s agriculture credit markets and how policymakers can enhance the new farm bill.
July 17, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Agriculture
ISO 20022 migration for Fedwire Funds complete
The Federal Reserve announced the completed migration to the ISO 20022 message format for the Fedwire Funds Service.
July 17, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Federal Reserve
ICBA Payments and Visa Renew Partnership Supporting Community Bank Payments
ICBA Payments, a subsidiary of the Independent Community Bankers of America® (ICBA), today announced the renewal of its four-decade relationship with Visa. Together, the organizations are deepening their efforts to equip local financial institutions with the modern payment tools and support they need to grow and better serve the needs of their customers.
July 16, 2025 |
Press Release
Independent Banker
Independent Banker is the award-winning monthly member publication of ICBA. Continually rated the best news source by community bankers, IB provides timely, relevant information and insights to help community banks continue to flourish.
Marketing Resource Center
Visit this page regularly for new customizable press releases, opeds, tutorials, sharable videos, tip sheets, and sample social media posts which are available exclusively for ICBA members.
Access the toolkit
Example Text
ICBA NewsWatch Today
ICBA offers numerous specialty newsletters related to the community banking industry. Sign up for ICBA's daily email news bulletin for current and breaking industry news
Read Articles
Example Text
Subscribe to Independent Banker Magazine
Independent Banker® is the monthly publication of the Independent Community Bankers of America, recognized as the number one source ICBA members rely on for community banking news.
Subscribe Now
Example Text
Manage Your Email Notifications and Subscriptions
Sign up to receive or manage your email messages from ICBA. Questions? Contact ICBA.
Subscribe Now
Example Text