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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.

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CISA call today on Microsoft vulnerability

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency is hosting a conference call at noon (Eastern time) today on the active exploitation of a vulnerability in Microsoft Exchange Server 2013, 2016, and 2019
March 05, 2021 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Risk Cybersecurity 

New Same Day ACH window in effect this month

Nacha's new rule allowing Same Day ACH transactions to be submitted to the ACH Network for an additional two hours every business day takes effect on at 4:45 p.m. (Eastern time) Friday, March 19.
March 05, 2021 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Compliance Payments 

FS-ISAC Coronavirus Update, March 5, 2021

The average number of vaccine doses being administered across the US per day topped two million for the first time on Wednesday, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, up from an average of about 1.3 million a month ago.
March 05, 2021 | News   Advocacy Operational Risk Crisis Preparedness 

Treasury launches $9B CDFI, MDI program

The Treasury Department opened the application process for the Emergency Capital Investment Program, which will provide $9 billion in capital to Community Development Financial Institutions and Minority Depository Institutions.
March 05, 2021 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   MDI 

ICBA Expands Preferred Service Provider Relationship with QwickRate to include its IntelliCredit Offering

The ICBA today announced that its Preferred Service Provider relationship with QwickRate LLC now includes its IntelliCredit loan review and credit intelligence solutions, which are designed to help community banks better detect and manage credit risk.
March 04, 2021 | Press Release  

CFPB proposes delaying new QM rule

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau proposed delaying the mandatory compliance date of its general Qualified Mortgage final rule from July 1, 2021, to Oct. 1, 2022.
March 04, 2021 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Compliance Compliance Mortgage Rules 

FS-ISAC Coronavirus Update, March 4, 2021

About 80.5 million doses of Covid-19 vaccine have been administered in the US, according to data published Wednesday by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
March 04, 2021 | News   Advocacy Operational Risk Crisis Preparedness 

SBA issues new PPP rule, applications

The SBA released its new interim final rule and new application forms implementing Paycheck Protection Program changes for sole proprietors and other borrowers that file IRS Form 1040, Schedule C. An SBA webinar on the updates is scheduled for today.
March 04, 2021 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Advocacy Crisis Preparedness Lending 

Romero Rainey: ICBA pressing PPP reforms

While Congress is fast-tracking the next stimulus package, problems with existing recovery programs remain unaddressed, ICBA President and CEO Rebeca Romero Rainey wrote in an op-ed this week.
March 04, 2021 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Advocacy Crisis Preparedness Lending 

FS-ISAC Coronavirus Update, March 3, 2021

Ramped up vaccination rates and the arrival of a new vaccine from Johnson & Johnson are making economists optimistic about their forecast for a strong economic rebound in the summer.
March 03, 2021 | News   Advocacy Operational Risk Crisis Preparedness 

Community Bankers to Convene for ICBA Connect

The Independent Community Bankers of America announced a first-of-its kind team-focused virtual banking conference designed to address the unique challenges and opportunities facing the nation’s community banks.
March 02, 2021 | Press Release  

Romero Rainey named one of Washington's most influential

ICBA President and CEO Rebeca Romero Rainey was named one of Washington's most influential people by Washingtonian magazine.
March 02, 2021 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Advocacy 

Meeting with constituents during CUNA’s virtual GAC? Here are some things to consider.

Credit unions were created and granted a substantial tax exemption to serve “people of modest means.” However, fewer than 20 percent of credit unions are physically located in an economically distressed area and only 27 percent are in low- and moderate-income areas.
March 02, 2021 | News   Credit Unions 

SBA: New PPP rule coming soon

The SBA said it will "soon" publish a new Paycheck Protection Program interim final rule and issue a new application for Schedule C filers. Until then, it issued the following considerations:
March 02, 2021 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Advocacy Crisis Preparedness Lending 

Fed issues continuity tips for storm season

In a new post, the Federal Reserve provided resources on pre-storm planning, storm watching, and post-storm procedures
March 02, 2021 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Advocacy Risk 

FS-ISAC Coronavirus Update, March 2, 2021

he $900 billion Covid relief bill passed in December with $600 stimulus checks and extra unemployment benefits, helped lift about 1.6 million Americans out of poverty in January, according to economists at the University of Chicago and the University of Notre Dame.
March 02, 2021 | News   Advocacy Operational Risk Crisis Preparedness 

IRS issues guidance on employee retention credit

The IRS issued guidance for employers claiming the employee retention tax credit under the CARES Act. The guidance includes clarifications and describes retroactive changes relating to expanded eligibility.
March 02, 2021 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Advocacy Crisis Preparedness 

Here are the benefits of bank-owned life insurance

Over the past two decades, banks have increasingly dabbled in BOLI, or bank-owned life insurance. While there are downsides to consider, experts say the benefits of these policies are two-fold: to generate income in the long term and to retain bank leaders.
March 01, 2021 | Independent Banker  

Improve your next marketing campaign with data

Using data from your community bank, an ad campaign or public sources allows your marketing efforts to find potential or existing customers who’ve already shown interest in your brand.
March 01, 2021 | Independent Banker   Payments Growing the Community 

Jim Reber: The big "if"

General market munis have gained favor among community bankers.
March 01, 2021 | Independent Banker  

New ICBA chairman Robert Fisher is in the driver’s seat

Faced with the unexpected and unexplainable, it’s hard to stay on course. But Robert Fisher is an expert at just that. Between his time as an Air Force navigator and his love for fast cars, ICBA’s next chairman is ready to help community banks and the customers they serve power through the coming year.
March 01, 2021 | Independent Banker  

6 ways to boost your social media strategy

Community banks are building relationships through an active, thoughtful presence on social media. Rather than a distraction, these platforms are an extension of the close customer relationships that community banks foster. Here, experts share their top strategies for a winning social media presence.
March 01, 2021 | Independent Banker   Growing the Community 

How going green can help the planet and your bank

Study after study shows that consumers—especially younger people—expect the brands they support to commit to sustainability. How can community banks put eco‑friendly strategies to work?
March 01, 2021 | Independent Banker  

Are more branches better? Community banks weigh in

With an increase in online traffic and challenges to in-person banking, community banks may be asking themselves if new branches are necessary. But many bank leaders report they’re investing in new branches because they’re strategic tools for growth.
March 01, 2021 | Independent Banker  

The advertising regulations you need to know

Like any business marketing its products and services, a community bank must keep its advertising truthful. There are plenty of regulations specific to financial institutions under the FDIC, CFPB and other regulators.
March 01, 2021 | Independent Banker   Compliance Growing the Community 

Responding to the SolarWinds breach

All institutions, even those with a solid cybersecurity defense, were vulnerable to 2020’s SolarWinds Orion cyberattack. Community banks should be ready for a future cyber event.
March 01, 2021 | Independent Banker   Advocacy Compliance 

The de novo bringing craft banking to Atlanta

Craft Bank, Atlanta’s first de novo bank in more than a decade, was about to open—and then the pandemic arrived. Now open, it promises to give potential customers the ability to craft their banking experience.
March 01, 2021 | Independent Banker  

Passing banking to the next generation

For three decades, Cape Ann Savings Bank has operated a unique program where a branch operates within a local high school. It’s been a vehicle for multiple generations of students to learn banking basics and connect with the community bank.
March 01, 2021 | Independent Banker  

Noah Wilcox: Committed to community

Despite everything, we remain a thriving network of community banks, united in our common passion for and commitment to our communities.
March 01, 2021 | Independent Banker  

Growing Your Loan Portfolio with Construction Lending

SPONSORED | Community Bankers have historically considered construction loans an essential part of their loan portfolio. Whether or not you currently have programs running, the current market conditions lend themselves to an opportunity of portfolio growth with construction lending.
March 01, 2021 | Independent Banker   Lending 

SBA: PPP changes effective this week

The SBA this week plans to issue an interim final rule detailing and implementing pending changes to the Paycheck Protection Program.
March 01, 2021 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Advocacy Crisis Preparedness Lending 

ICBA summarizes new House-passed stimulus plan

ICBA released a summary of the House version of the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act (H.R. 1319), which the House passed Saturday on a nearly party-line vote.
March 01, 2021 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Advocacy Crisis Preparedness 

Bill would expand farm partnership access to PPP

ICBA-supported legislation allowing farmers and ranchers categorized as partnerships to use gross income to calculate maximum Paycheck Protection Program loan amounts was introduced in the House.
March 01, 2021 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Advocacy Agriculture Crisis Preparedness Lending Rural Development 

FS-ISAC Coronavirus Update, Feb. 26, 2021

ollowing are today’s major Headlines, US Snapshots, US Vaccinations, US Variant Cases, key Highlights, the “Good Stuff” as well as key Statistics, Vaccine and Treatment information, US Restrictions and the Back to Normal Index related to the novel coronavirus pandemic.
February 26, 2021 | News   Advocacy Operational Risk Crisis Preparedness 

Fed payment services back up following disruption

Federal Reserve payment services are back online following a three-hour disruption yesterday that the Fed attributed to "operational error."
February 25, 2021 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Federal Reserve 

PPP small borrower window opens, other reforms effective next week

One of the Biden administration's Paycheck Protection Program reforms announced earlier this week started yesterday, with the rest set to be implemented next week.
February 25, 2021 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Advocacy Crisis Preparedness Lending 

COVID Relief Package Should Include USDA Business & Industry (B&I) Funding

The B&I program is expected to exhaust current funding in the next few months and faces a projected $1 billion shortfall in loan authority this fiscal year. This program is vital to sustaining rural businesses and job creation.
February 25, 2021 | News   Commerce & Banking 

ICBA urges crop insurance support

ICBA and other groups urged policymakers to protect crop insurance from harmful cuts as they develop the fiscal 2022 budget.
February 25, 2021 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Agriculture Crop Insurance 

FinCEN issues advisory on EIP fraud

The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network issued an advisory to alert financial institutions to fraud and other financial crimes related to Economic Impact Payments.
February 25, 2021 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Advocacy Crisis Preparedness Cybersecurity Lending 

What I Have in Common with Matthew McConaughey: We Both Reinvented Our Careers

ICBA Connect is a virtual experience that is designed to energize, inspire and bring community banking teams together. And to magnify that energy, our goal has been to engage community bankers at every level.
February 24, 2021 | News  

CFPB announces plans to rethink QM rules

​The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau said it expects to propose a rule to delay its Qualified Mortgage rule’s July 1 mandatory compliance date.
February 24, 2021 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Compliance Compliance 

ICBA urges garnishment exemption for EIPs

ICBA and other groups urged Congress to include language in the next stimulus package exempting the third round of Economic Impact Payments from garnishment.
February 24, 2021 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Advocacy Crisis Preparedness Lending 

Community banks again outperform industry: FDIC

Community banks reported net income growth of 21.2 percent in the fourth quarter from a year ago and a 3.6 percent increase in 2020 from the year before, according to the FDIC's Quarterly Banking Profile.
February 24, 2021 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Advocacy Commerce & Banking 

FS-ISAC Coronavirus Update, Feb. 23, 2021

A new report out Tuesday warns that a more transmissible variant of coronavirus threatens to start a renewed surge of infections in March, and suggests the US speed up vaccination by skipping second doses for now.
February 24, 2021 | News   Advocacy Operational Risk Crisis Preparedness 

ICBA Encourages Americans to Celebrate Saving

During America Saves Week, the Independent Community Bankers of America reminds consumers that building a nest egg can help alleviate stress and provide additional financial security during times of uncertainty.
February 23, 2021 | Press Release  

Agencies announce relief for Texas winter storms

Federal and state agencies announced relief to institutions and taxpayers affected by this month's winter storms in Texas and other states.
February 23, 2021 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Advocacy Risk 

PPP reforms target smallest businesses

The Biden administration announced several Paycheck Protection Program reforms to target the program to the smallest businesses.
February 23, 2021 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Advocacy Crisis Preparedness Lending 

ICBA urges funding for rural development programs

ICBA and other groups called on House appropriators to ensure adequate funding for key USDA rural development programs in the next COVID bill.
February 23, 2021 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Advocacy Agriculture Crisis Preparedness Lending 

FS-ISAC Coronavirus Update, Feb. 22, 2021

President Joe Biden on Monday criticized the Paycheck Protection Program because small businesses struggled to get loans that instead went to larger companies, and announced a 14-day exclusive loan program using PPP funds for businesses with under 20 employees to apply for financial assistance.
February 23, 2021 | News   Advocacy Operational Risk Crisis Preparedness 

Agencies finalize call report threshold relief

Federal regulators issued final call report changes related to asset threshold relief given the impact of Paycheck Protection Program lending on bank balance sheets.
February 22, 2021 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Advocacy Crisis Preparedness Lending 

Fed's Powell testifying this week

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell is slated to testify this week before the Senate Banking Committee and House Financial Services Committee on the agency's Semiannual Monetary Policy Report.
February 22, 2021 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Federal Reserve 

Minority bank webinar on evaluating capital opportunities

ICBA, ICBA Securities, and Vining Sparks are hosting a complimentary webinar for FDIC-designated Minority Depository Institutions on evaluating unsolicited interest from investors to provide capital and funding.
February 22, 2021 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   MDI 

FS-ISAC Coronavirus Update, Feb. 18, 2021

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said Thursday that a major stimulus package is necessary for the economy to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic even amid strong economic momentum to start 2021.
February 19, 2021 | News   Advocacy Operational Risk Crisis Preparedness 

Community banks lead 2021 PPP lending

Insured depository institutions under $10 billion in assets in 2021 have approved more than 740,000 Paycheck Protection Program loans worth $60.7 billion, according to the latest SBA data issued this week.
February 19, 2021 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Advocacy Crisis Preparedness Lending 

Climate change poses risks to FIs: Fed's Brainard

Federal Reserve Governor Lael Brainard said climate change is already imposing substantial economic costs while presenting risks and opportunities to financial institutions.
February 19, 2021 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Agriculture 

Fed extends netting protections

The Federal Reserve Board issued a final rule to apply netting protections to a broader range of financial institutions.
February 19, 2021 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Federal Reserve Compliance 

USDA announces dealer trust for livestock sellers

The USDA Agricultural Marketing Service announced a new Dealer Statutory Trust for livestock sellers, in accordance with the year-end appropriations law.
February 19, 2021 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Agriculture 

ICBA updates 'Return to the New Normal' guide

ICBA updated its "Return to the New Normal" guide featuring suggestions to help community banks resume more normal operations and person-to-person services amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
February 18, 2021 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Advocacy Crisis Preparedness Lending 

ICBA issues summary on new BSA/AML law

ICBA recently issued a summary on the defense spending law enacted at the beginning of the year that includes BSA/AML reforms.
February 18, 2021 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   BSA/AML 

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