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.
At Congressional Hearing on Making Community Banking Great, Romero Rainey Testifies for Regulatory Transformation to Promote Growth
Representing Community Banks at House Small Business Committee Hearing, ICBA Urges Regulatory and Tax Relief to Promote Lending
Rebeca Romero Rainey: Marching to the Beat of Community Banking
“Community banks set the tempo for our communities, serving as the constant drum line that anchors those around them.”
February 05, 2025 |
Independent Banker
Jacob Eisen: The Difference Between Direct and Agent Bank Credit Card Programs
Preparing and Nurturing Future Bank Leaders
How can community banks foster future leaders and make sure they’re prepared to take on a managerial role? It takes a healthy dose of attention, understanding and room for trial and error.
February 05, 2025 |
Independent Banker
Kick Lending Up a Notch With Digital Solutions
Increased efficiency and fewer errors are just two of the benefits of digitalizing your loan production process.
February 05, 2025 |
Independent Banker
Payments
Lucas White: Tackling Fraud With Technology and Education
“[Fraud] must be a business priority, because our employees and customers truly are our first line of defense.”
February 05, 2025 |
Independent Banker
United Community Bank Helps Veterans Take Flight
On Oct. 4, United Community Bank in Perham, Minn., hosted a Tailgate for Troops event in the nearby city of Frazee to raise money for the Veterans Honor Flight of ND/MN.
February 05, 2025 |
Independent Banker
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.
February 05, 2025 |
Independent Banker
Compliance
Jim Reber: Spreading the Good News
Incremental yield can indicate relative value.
February 05, 2025 |
Independent Banker
Growing the Community
Michael Emancipator: ICBA Speaks Out Against One-Size-Fits-All Regulations
In the face of disproportionate compliance requirements, ICBA is advocating for threshold changes that would lighten community banks’ regulatory burden.
February 05, 2025 |
Independent Banker
Advocacy
Find Your Rhythm at ICBA LIVE 2025
Do you hear that? That’s the sound of community bankers across the nation heading to Nashville to learn, network and enjoy all Music City has to offer. From March 11 to 14, ICBA LIVE 2025 will bring your peers together for the world’s largest gathering of community bankers. There, you’ll be able to learn from experts in their fields about how to stay competitive, listen to dynamic and thought-provoking guest speakers, participate in roundtables and celebrate this great industry. Here’s a sneak peek of what you can expect from this year’s incredible agenda.
February 05, 2025 |
Independent Banker
Is Data the Key to Enhancing Bank Customer Relationships?
Conversion data from social media, websites and marketing platforms can help prove whether banks are successful in their personalization, outreach and differentiation. That—and other forms of data—could play a significant role in your marketing strategy.
February 05, 2025 |
Independent Banker
Growing the Community
Amplifying Nashville's Booming Businesses
ICBA members are coming to Nashville, Tenn., from across the nation for ICBA LIVE, but there are plenty of community banks already in Music City. From restaurants and bars to contracting firms and museums, Nashville’s small businesses are a top priority for community banks.
February 05, 2025 |
Independent Banker
Lending
OneUnited Bank Uses Tech to Bridge the Racial Wealth Gap
OneUnited Bank’s AI-powered financial wellness tool is enabling the bank’s customers to make better financial decisions and build generational wealth.
February 05, 2025 |
Independent Banker
Relief From the Aftermath of Hurricane Helene
Community banks around the country came together to help those affected by Hurricane Helene, assisting with cleanup, donating supplies and more.
February 05, 2025 |
Independent Banker
Out of Office: Aaron Hines
The commercial loan manager and SVP of $500 million-asset Denali State Bank in Fairbanks, Alaska, has ridden his snowmobile through the state’s vast landscapes, kicking up powder in untouched snowy areas.
February 05, 2025 |
Independent Banker
Insights from ICBA's Minority Bank Advisory Council
Whether it’s by providing education, supplying down payments or jump-starting generational wealth, minority depository institutions ensure their communities have access to the financial services that will help them succeed in the long term. Members of ICBA’s Minority Bank Advisory Council tell us how they do it.
February 05, 2025 |
Independent Banker
Powering Potential: Rethinking Your Payments Strategy With ICBA Payments
ICBA Payments—formerly ICBA Bancard—hasn’t just rebranded. It has begun a multiyear phased investment strategy to modernize its technology and service offerings, which are designed to elevate your bank’s payments strategy.
February 05, 2025 |
Independent Banker
Payments
Future-Proofing Community Banks: Upgrading Check Processing to Enhance Security, Efficiency, and Remain Competitive
SPONSORED | Despite digital payment growth, checks remain vital, requiring banks to consolidate systems for better efficiency and fraud mitigation. Modern solutions enhance security, streamline processing, and provide real-time fraud detection, helping community banks reduce risks and stay competitive.
February 01, 2025 |
Independent Banker
Payments
7 Lessons Learned by FedNow® Service Participants
SPONSORED | Financial institutions live on the FedNow Service have shared valuable lessons they learned along their instant payment journeys.
February 01, 2025 |
Independent Banker
Payments
Mitigating Risk in Construction Draw Loans
SPONSORED | Construction projects hold great potential but also come with risks, especially when it’s time to draw funds. Addressing these challenges head-on with timely & accurate inspections through proactive and engaging communication will help mitigate each loans risk.
February 01, 2025 |
Independent Banker
Lending
Treasury Department withdraws from climate group
The Treasury Department announced it has withdrawn from the Network of Central Banks and Supervisors for Greening the Financial System, which focuses on climate risk management. The department noted that the NGFS was organized to help to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement, from which the United States has withdrawn.
January 31, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Discount pricing for ICBA LIVE ends today
Final discount pricing for ICBA LIVE, the world’s largest gathering of community bankers, ends today.
January 31, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
ICBA urging grassroots outreach on community bank priorities
ICBA is calling on community bankers to use its Be Heard Grassroots Action Center to urge members of Congress to support policy priorities for the 119th Congress.
January 31, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Grassroots/Be Heard
Fed maintains rates following three rounds of cuts
The Federal Open Market Committee voted to maintain the target range for the federal funds rate at a range of 4.25% to 4.5%, citing an uncertain economic and inflation outlook.
January 30, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Federal Reserve
Trump administration rescinds federal funds freeze memo, says pause is still on
The Trump administration rescinded the original memo outlining its freeze for some federal agency grant and loan programs while noting the funding pauses spelled out in previous executive orders remain in effect.
January 30, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Government Banks
ICBA LIVE discount pricing ends tomorrow
Final discount pricing for ICBA LIVE, the world’s largest gathering of community bankers, ends tomorrow, Jan. 31.
January 30, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
ICBA reviewing impact of Trump administration freeze on SBA programs
ICBA is reviewing the community banking industry impact of the Trump administration’s pause to some federal agency grant and loan programs, which has been temporarily blocked by a federal judge until Monday.
January 29, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Small Business Administration
FinCEN: Companies not required to file BOI despite Supreme Court ruling
The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network said reporting companies are not required to file beneficial ownership information despite a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling overturning a lower court injunction.
January 29, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
FinCEN
ICBA urges CFPB to halt informal regulatory actions
In light of President Donald Trump’s Jan. 20 executive order freezing new rulemaking activity, ICBA urged the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to stop issuing new informal regulatory actions.
January 29, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
CFPB
‘Bank of Dave’ inspiration speaking at ICBA LIVE
Dave Fishwick, the English businessman whose story inspired the Netflix hit “Bank of Dave” and other movies about community banking, will be speaking at ICBA LIVE 2025.
January 28, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
FinCEN: Companies not required to file BOI despite Supreme Court ruling
The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network said reporting companies are not required to file beneficial ownership information despite a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling overturning a lower court injunction.
January 28, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Data Security/Fraud FinCEN
ICBA congratulates new Treasury secretary
After the Senate voted 68-29 to confirm Scott Bessent as the next Treasury secretary, ICBA congratulated Bessent on his confirmation and said it looks forward to working with him to implement needed policy reforms.
January 28, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
CFTC to hold public roundtables on digital assets
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission announced it will soon begin a series of public roundtables on several evolving issues, including digital assets.
January 28, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Digital Assets
ICBA Congratulates Scott Bessent on Treasury Secretary Confirmation
Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) President and CEO Rebeca Romero Rainey issued the following statement on Scott Bessent's confirmation for Treasury secretary.
January 27, 2025 |
Press Release
Report: More credit union M&A deals failing as acquisitions increase
As credit union mergers and acquisitions have increased, so have terminations of announced transactions, according to a recent report.
January 27, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Credit Unions
House hearing on community banking next week
The House Financial Services Committee announced hearings for February, including a “Making Community Banking Great Again” hearing at 10 a.m. (Eastern time) Wednesday, Feb. 5.
January 27, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
This week: FOMC announces rate decision on Wednesday
This week: FOMC announces rate decision on Wednesday
January 27, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Commerce & Banking
President Trump creates crypto council, bans CBDC
President Donald Trump signed an executive order that creates a working group on digital assets markets “to support the responsible growth and use of digital assets, blockchain technology, and related technologies across all sectors of the economy.”
January 24, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Digital Assets
ICBA: Ensure community banks are represented at agencies
As President Donald Trump considers nominees to lead the federal banking agencies under his new administration, policymakers have a unique opportunity to secure representation for community banks, ICBA President and CEO Rebeca Romero Rainey wrote in a recent op-ed.
January 24, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Agencies/Regulators
Last call: ICBA seeks bankers for Subchapter S working group
With major tax legislation high on the congressional agenda, ICBA is making a final call for interested Subchapter S bankers to join the new Subchapter S Tax Working Group. ICBA members who do not currently serve in ICBA leadership are encouraged to apply.
January 24, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
ICBA applauds priorities of FDIC’s Hill
ICBA congratulated Travis Hill on his appointment as acting chairman of the FDIC and said it looks forward to future collaboration on his stated objectives for the agency.
January 23, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
FDIC
ICBA: Acquisition by controversial credit union fuels need for policy action
ICBA said the latest announced acquisition of a community bank by a tax-exempt credit union—featuring a controversial credit union and the first such deal in California—demands a policy response.
January 23, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Credit Unions
N.Y. Judge: Reg E wire lawsuit against Citibank can proceed
Citibank’s request to dismiss a lawsuit was rejected by a federal judge who said Regulation E consumer protections extend to wire transactions.
January 23, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Controversial Credit Union Leverages Tax Exemption to Acquire Community Bank, Fueling Need for Policy Action
Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) President and CEO Rebeca Romero Rainey today issued the following statement after the latest announced acquisition of a community bank by a credit union—the first of 2025 and the first ever in California.
January 23, 2025 |
Press Release
NCUA Credit Unions
ICBA seeking Subchapter S bankers for new working group
With major tax legislation high on the congressional agenda, ICBA is recruiting interested Subchapter S bankers for its new Subchapter S Tax Working Group. ICBA members who do not currently serve in ICBA leadership are encouraged to apply.
January 22, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Congressional Matters
ICBA thanks President Trump for rulemaking pause
ICBA thanked President Donald Trump for issuing an executive order freezing new rulemakings.
January 22, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Agencies/Regulators Compliance
FDIC’s Hill announces regulatory review
Following his appointment as acting chairman of the FDIC, Travis Hill pledged to conduct a “wholesale review” of the agency’s regulations, guidance, and manuals.
January 22, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
FDIC
ICBA Thanks President Trump for Regulatory Freeze
Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) President and CEO Rebeca Romero Rainey issued the following statement on President Donald Trump’s executive order freezing new rulemakings.
January 21, 2025 |
Press Release
Regulatory Relief
ICBA urges effective crypto policies that provide regulatory clarity
ICBA encouraged the Trump administration to ensure regulatory clarity for banks as it considers new policies on digital assets.
January 21, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Agencies/Regulators
ICBA op-ed: Washington must ensure community banks represented at agencies
As President Donald Trump considers nominees to lead the federal banking agencies under his new administration, policymakers have a unique chance to secure representation for community banks, ICBA President and CEO Rebeca Romero Rainey wrote in a new op-ed.
January 21, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Agencies/Regulators
ICBA welcomes President Donald Trump
ICBA and the nation's community banks welcomed President Donald Trump following his inauguration, citing the historic opportunity to make significant improvements to financial services policy.
January 21, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Congressional Matters
ICBA Welcomes President Donald Trump
Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) President and CEO Rebeca Romero Rainey issued the following statement on the inauguration of Donald Trump as the 47th president of the United States.
January 20, 2025 |
Press Release
Community Bank Awareness
ICBA Urges Effective Crypto Policies That Provide Clarity for Community Banks
Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) President and CEO Rebeca Romero Rainey today released the following statement on reports that President-elect Donald Trump is planning to issue an executive order on digital assets.
January 17, 2025 |
Press Release
Digital Assets
ICBA Foundation raising funds for Calif. wildfire relief
The ICBA Foundation Disaster Relief Program is requesting tax-deductible donations to assist community banks and employees affected by recent wildfires in California.
January 17, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
ICBA Names 2025-26 Board Nominees to Advance Community Banking Priorities
The Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) today announced its 2025-26 board of directors’ nominees, setting the stage for the organization’s next chapter in advancing the community banking industry. ICBA’s current board will vote on the nominations March 11-14 in Nashville, Tenn., during ICBA LIVE 2025—the largest gathering of community banks in the world.
January 17, 2025 |
Press Release
ICBA-advocated de novo bill introduced in House, Senate
ICBA expressed strong support for the introduction of legislation to promote the creation of de novo community banks.
January 17, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
De Novo Banks
ICBA recruiting Subchapter S bankers for new working group
With major tax legislation high on the congressional agenda, ICBA is recruiting interested Subchapter S bankers for its new Subchapter S Tax Working Group.
January 17, 2025 |
ICBA NewsWatch Today
Congressional Matters
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.
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