Skip to Main Content
ICBA
ICBA
  • Member Login
  • Member Login

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.

Subscribe to Our Newsletter Example Text Press Resources Example Text

National Taxpayers Union targets credit union push

Citing problems with credit union industry transparency, oversight, and unfair competition, the National Taxpayers Union told key members of Congress that it opposes expanding the credit union member-business-lending cap unless several conditions are met.
July 17, 2020 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Credit Unions 

FinCEN issues advisory on Twitter scam

The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network issued an advisory on a high-profile scam exploiting Twitter accounts to solicit fraudulent virtual currency payments.
July 17, 2020 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Cybersecurity 

CFPB reports consumer COVID-19 complaints

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau reported on more than 8,000 complaints it received from January through May that mention the coronavirus or related terms. Mortgage, credit card, and credit or consumer reporting complaints top the list.
July 17, 2020 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   CFPB Crisis Preparedness 

ICBA, States Offer Stimulus Plan Ahead of Congressional Debate

As the leaders in responding to the economic fallout of COVID-19 and responsible for two-thirds of Paycheck Protection Program loans, community banks today provided Congress with recommendations for the next economic stimulus package.
July 16, 2020 | Press Release   Advocacy Crisis Preparedness Lending 

Pandemic Relief Letter for State Sign-On

Community bankers across the country have worked tirelessly to deliver PPP loans quickly and successfully on behalf of thousands of small businesses. PPP loans could be a lifeline for borrowers, if the terms for forgiveness are flexible and realistic, reflecting the complexity and variability of the current business environment.
July 16, 2020 | News   Advocacy Crisis Preparedness 

Stimulus grassroots needed ahead of Senate debate

With the Senate set to begin debating the next economic stimulus package next week, ICBA is calling on community bankers to use its Be Heard grassroots action center to weigh in with recommendations.
July 15, 2020 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Advocacy Crisis Preparedness 

SEC warns of ransomware attacks

The Securities and Exchange Commission issued an alert about recent reports that threat actors are targeting financial institution networks to access internal resources and deploy ransomware.
July 15, 2020 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Cybersecurity 

Review process for AML deficiencies paused

The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network issued an advisory on the Financial Action Task Force’s reissued list of jurisdictions with strategic deficiencies in countering money laundering, terrorist financing, and proliferation financing.
July 15, 2020 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   BSA/AML 

FSOC to review secondary mortgage market

The Financial Stability Oversight Council will launch an activities-based review of the secondary mortgage market, the Federal Housing Finance Agency said.
July 15, 2020 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Mortgage Rules 

Community bank PPP share continues climb

Lenders under $10 billion in assets have made some 2.52 million PPP loans worth more than $229 billion through both rounds of funding, according to SBA data through July 10.
July 14, 2020 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Advocacy Crisis Preparedness Lending 

ICBA seeks updates to Nacha ACH overhaul

ICBA told Nacha that it generally supports a provision in proposed operating rule updates that would employ ACH as a low-cost account-validation method for originators, though it is concerned with the burden on receiving institutions.
July 14, 2020 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Compliance 

CFPB report touts credit builder loans

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau released a report on how credit builder loans could help consumers establish credit records and improve the credit scores of those with no outstanding debt. CBLs generally require borrowers to make installment payments before receiving funds.
July 14, 2020 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   CFPB 

ICBA Bancard Announces New Board of Directors Members

ICBA Bancard, the payments subsidiary of the Independent Community Bankers of America, today announced that Gregory Hohl, chairman and president of Wahoo State Bank in Wahoo, Nebraska, and Jim Amundson, president and CEO of the Independent Community Bankers of Minnesota, were elected to the ICBA Bancard board of directors.
July 14, 2020 | Press Release  

Visa to discontinue Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver and Warranty Manager

Effective January 31, 2021, Visa will discontinue the Auto Rental Collision Damage waiver (ARCDW) and Warranty Manager (WM) benefits as mandatory, Visa-funded benefits from the U.S. consumer credit platform except for Visa Infinite cards.
July 14, 2020 | News  

First monthly PPP reports due tomorrow: SBA

Paycheck Protection Program lenders must submit the first monthly PPP 1502 report by tomorrow, July 15, according to a new procedural notice issued Monday night by the SBA. The SBA said it is granting a two-day grace period for this month's report.
July 14, 2020 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Crisis Preparedness Lending 

Stimulus campaign continues amid congressional debate

With Congress continuing to debate the next economic stimulus package, community bankers can continue using ICBA's Be Heard grassroots action center to weigh in with recommendations.
July 14, 2020 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Advocacy Crisis Preparedness 

House committee passes ag appropriations

The House Appropriations Committee approved fiscal 2021 agriculture and rural development legislation. The bill allows for a combined $153 billion in discretionary and mandatory funding, an increase of $331 million over fiscal 2020.
July 13, 2020 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Agriculture 

ICBA: Commercial firms shouldn't own banks

ICBA told the FDIC that commercial firms should not own full-service banks or industrial loan companies, even if they are subject to enhanced supervision and regulation.
July 13, 2020 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Lending 

CFPB reports on debt settlement, credit counseling

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau released a report documenting changes in how consumers have used debt settlement and credit counseling for unsecured debt.
July 13, 2020 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   CFPB 

ICBA to FDIC: Commercial Firms Shouldn't Own Banks

The Independent Community Bankers of America told the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. that commercial firms should not own full-service banks or industrial loan companies, even if they are subject to enhanced supervision and regulation
July 10, 2020 | Press Release  

Support grows for ICBA-backed PPP forgiveness bill

Nearly 140 other organizations joined ICBA in urging Congress to advance legislation that would forgive Paycheck Protection Program loans under $150,000.
July 10, 2020 | ICBA NewsWatch Today  

ICBA Independent Banker Ranks Community Bank Top Lenders

Independent Banker, the award-winning magazine of the Independent Community Bankers of America and the number-one source for community banking news, announced its rankings of the top community bank loan producers for 2020 in the July issue.
July 10, 2020 | Press Release   Lending 

SoFi ditches ILC push for full-service bank charter

Fintech company SoFi applied for a full-service national bank charter with the OCC after withdrawing its industrial loan company application nearly three years ago, according to reports.
July 10, 2020 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Lending 

ICBA continues fighting debt plan for largest credit unions

ICBA continued pushing back against a National Credit Union Administration proposal that would allow the largest and most complex credit unions to issue subordinated debt as an alternative form of capital.
July 10, 2020 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Credit Unions 

ICBA resources follow PPP data release

ICBA this week released talking points and a sample letter to PPP borrowers about the SBA and Treasury Department release of information about individual Paycheck Protection Program loans.
July 09, 2020 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Crisis Preparedness 

ICBA to Approps panel: Don't expand Farm Credit

ICBA urged the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense to ensure the fiscal 2021 defense spending bill does not include any expansion of the Farm Credit System.
July 09, 2020 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Agriculture 

ICBA urging ILC grassroots outreach

ICBA is calling on community bankers to urge their senators to co-sponsor legislation to close the industrial loan company loophole.
July 09, 2020 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Lending 

CFPB rescinds part of small-dollar rule

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau issued a final rule on small-dollar lending that rescinds the mandatory underwriting provisions of the 2017 rule but keeps its payments provisions.
July 08, 2020 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   CFPB Compliance 

ICBA seeking ILC grassroots outreach

ICBA continues calling on community bankers to urge their senators to co-sponsor legislation to close the industrial loan company loophole.
July 08, 2020 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Lending 

CFPB ratifies regulations following Supreme Court decision

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ratified most regulatory actions it took from Jan. 4, 2012, through June 30, 2020. The CFPB said the move provides the financial marketplace with certainty that the rules are valid following last week's Supreme Court ruling that the bureau's single-director governance structure is unconstitutional.
July 08, 2020 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   CFPB Compliance 

IRS cancels stimulus payments to ineligible recipients

The IRS cancelled outstanding Economic Impact Payment checks issued to recipients who may not be eligible for the stimulus payments, including those who might be deceased.
July 08, 2020 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Advocacy Crisis Preparedness 

ICBA offers resources on PPP data release

ICBA this week released talking points and a sample letter to PPP borrowers about the SBA and Treasury Department release of information about individual Paycheck Protection Program loans.
July 08, 2020 | ICBA NewsWatch Today  

Visa Small Business Recovery Monitor report, June 2020

Visa’s analysis of current economic data indicates that U.S. small business activity was slowly recovering in June.
July 07, 2020 | News  

ICBA urging grassroots on ILC loophole

ICBA is calling on community bankers to urge their senators to co-sponsor legislation to close the industrial loan company loophole.
July 07, 2020 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Lending 

CFPB details higher-level exams

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau posted frequently asked questions about prioritized assessments, a new supervisory approach the bureau developed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
July 07, 2020 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Crisis Preparedness 

ICBA resources follow release of PPP data

Following the SBA and Treasury Department release of information about individual Paycheck Protection Program loans, ICBA released talking points and a sample letter to PPP borrowers about the agency announcement.
July 07, 2020 | ICBA NewsWatch Today  

PPP calculator bill introduced in Senate

ICBA thanked Sens. Angus King (I-Maine) and John Kennedy (R-La.) for introducing legislation to establish a free online calculator to complete Paycheck Protection Program loan-forgiveness forms.
July 07, 2020 | ICBA NewsWatch Today  

House subcommittee set to pass ag appropriations

The House Appropriations Agriculture Subcommittee adopted fiscal 2021 agriculture and rural development legislation.
July 07, 2020 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Agriculture 

ICBA on PPP extension: Community banks a lifeline

ICBA said community banks will continue working to meet the needs of their communities after Congress passed and President Trump signed a law extending the Paycheck Protection Program application deadline.
July 06, 2020 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Advocacy Crisis Preparedness 

ICBA's Merski talks community banks on business podcast

ICBA's Paul Merski discussed the benefits of community banks to small businesses and local communities in a new podcast interview.
July 06, 2020 | ICBA NewsWatch Today  

CFPB begins implementing escrow exemption

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau issued a proposed rule to implement ICBA-supported relief from mandatory escrow requirements for higher-priced mortgage loans.
July 06, 2020 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Compliance Mortgage Rules 

Edward Jones applies for ILC

The Jones Financial Companies said it has applied with the FDIC and Utah Department of Financial Institutions to establish the Edward Jones Bank industrial loan company.
July 06, 2020 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Lending 

Senate bill would forgive PPP loans under $150K

Senate Banking Committee member Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) introduced ICBA-supported legislation that would forgive Paycheck Protection Program loans under $150,000.
July 02, 2020 | ICBA NewsWatch Today  

ICBA Statement on Paycheck Protection Program Extension

Independent Community Bankers of America President and CEO Rebeca Romero Rainey released a statement on congressional passage of legislation to extend the Paycheck Protection Program through Aug. 8.
July 02, 2020 | Press Release  

Independent Banker: Small biz loves community banks

The July issue of Independent Banker magazine focuses on why small businesses love their community banks—especially now. The cover story profiles four enterprising business owners whose community banks have guided them through thick and thin.
July 02, 2020 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Advocacy 

House sends PPP extension to president

The House passed legislation to extend the Paycheck Protection Program application deadline until Aug. 8, sending it to President Donald Trump to be signed into law. The House vote came hours after the SBA stopped accepting PPP applications.
July 02, 2020 | ICBA NewsWatch Today  

ICBA to FDIC: Commercial firms should not own ILCs

ICBA commended the FDIC for working to strengthen its supervisory processes for non-commercial parent companies of industrial loan companies, but it said the agency's proposal falls short of ensuring the safety and soundness of these companies.
July 02, 2020 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Lending 

Regulators warn of LIBOR transition risks

Financial regulators issued a joint statement highlighting the risks of transitioning from LIBOR. The Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council encouraged institutions to continue the switch to alternative reference rates to mitigate financial, legal, operational, and consumer protection risks.
July 02, 2020 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Lending 

The bank pioneering banking as a service

With the help of a fintech partnership, Coastal Community Bank has blazed a trail by providing banking as a service (BaaS).
July 01, 2020 | Independent Banker   Payments 

How branch security is catching up with branch design

As the design of the branch has advanced, so, too, have the measures that community banks use to keep their branches secure.
July 01, 2020 | Independent Banker   Compliance 

10 mobile lending UX best practices

The easier and more intuitive your mobile lending platform is to use, the more high-quality loan applications you’ll receive.
July 01, 2020 | Independent Banker   Lending 

Who made ICBA’s 2020 Top Lenders list?

There’s no doubt that 2019 looked very different than 2020 in all areas of life, and community banking was no exception. But our top lenders’ exceptional performance last year has set them up for success even in a time of turmoil. Read on to meet the year’s most successful loan producers in the agriculture, commercial and consumer/mortgage categories.
July 01, 2020 | Independent Banker   Lending 

Why succession planning is key to bank independence

Independence is at the heart of many community banks’ ethos, but how do community bankers embed this core value into their strategic planning? Here are three critical strategies that use succession planning and board management to maintain independence.
July 01, 2020 | Independent Banker  

FDIC ILC Rule Comment Letter

The Independent Community Bankers of America appreciates this opportunity to provide feedback to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation’s request for comments in response to its Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on the supervision of the Parent Companies of Industrial Banks and Industrial Loan Companies.
July 01, 2020 | News   Commerce & Banking 

ICBA: Bill to establish PPP calculator supports small biz

ICBA thanked Reps. Ann Wagner (R-Mo.) and Wm. Lacy Clay (D-Mo.) for introducing legislation to establish a free online calculator to complete Paycheck Protection Program loan-forgiveness forms.
July 01, 2020 | ICBA NewsWatch Today  

ICBA urges passage of military-banking parity

ICBA urged congressional leaders to support a provision of the Senate's 2021 National Defense Authorization Act that would promote parity between banks and credit unions on military bases.
July 01, 2020 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Military Lending 

ICBA opposes resubmitted Rakuten ILC application

ICBA called on the FDIC to deny Rakuten Bank America’s resubmitted federal deposit insurance application and urged Congress to permanently close the industrial loan company loophole.
July 01, 2020 | ICBA NewsWatch Today   Commerce & Banking 

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

Subscribe to Independent Banker Magazine