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Robert Fisher: The nimbleness of community bankers
Let’s rediscover what it means to be community bankers. Let’s exercise our nimble natures to exceed customer expectations. Because as community bankers, it’s what we do.
2021’s Best Community Banks to Work For
This year’s winners do everything in their power to keep their community bankers happy and fulfilled. We asked both leaders and staffers to tell us what makes their community banks stand out as...
Beneficial State Bank’s financial activism
The idea that community banking can be a force for positive change is at the heart of Beneficial State Bank, which engages its customers through financial activism.
Why community banks form charitable foundations
Supporting local causes and charities is a core differentiator of community banks. To that end, some community banks have elected to form foundations to be lasting stewards of their charitable...
Walden Mutual aims to serve New England’s food community
As the first mutual bank to open in decades, Walden Mutual Bank is gearing up to support New England’s farmers, food service industry and sustainable food community.
Out of Office: Orvin Kimbrough
The chairman and CEO of $2.3 billion-asset Midwest BankCentre in St. Louis has been teaching students valuable leadership skills for more than a decade as a Washington University adjunct professor.
Brattleboro Savings & Loan is a force for good
Brattleboro Savings & Loan is the ninth bank in the country to become an official B Corporation, a designation that certifies the community bank’s commitment to its community, the environment and...
ICBA’s 2021 National Community Bank Service Award winners
ICBA’s National Community Bank Service Award winners for 2021 demonstrate that when their local areas need support, community banks are there with innovative, compassionate and thoughtful responses.
Rebeca Romero Rainey: Starting a new chapter
As we enter a new chapter and start a new financial statement cycle, know that ICBA will be there to support you with tools, resources and advocacy efforts.
Out of Office: Kyle DeCicco
The executive vice president and senior loan officer at $740 million-asset Sanibel Captiva Community Bank in Sanibel, Fla., competes in Ironman triathlons, tests of endurance that involve swimming...
Sunflower Bank is making change for schools
For two decades, Sunflower Bank has empowered customers to raise money for schools in their community. These efforts have generated more than $1.4 million for schools and started financial...
Why community banks are banking on artists
Boosting the arts is a natural extension of the commitment many community banks make to their communities. Here’s how several community banks are engaging art and artists in their own ways.
Tenacity drives Stearns Bank
The community bank in St. Cloud, Minn., has cultivated a culture that combines creativity and hard work. The result is an award-winning workplace that fosters growth for both employees and the bank.
Charles Potts: A culture of innovation
Innovation is a high priority for many community bank leaders, so it’s critical that we have a foundational definition of innovation.
ICBA’s best-performing community banks of 2020
Independent Banker’s annual listing of America’s best-performing community banks shows that nimble thinking and an adherence to good old-fashioned customer service can bring success, whatever the...
Robert Fisher: Creating strong culture
Culture is more than just how bank staff interact with one another; it’s about how we convey who we are to our customers.
How 4 community banks came through for customers
The past year has put community banks’ local missions to the test, and they came through with flying colors. In the spirit of Community Banking Month, here are stories from several community banks...
Out of Office: Dave Wise
The senior vice president for business banking at $406 million-asset TS Bank in Council Bluffs, Iowa, picked up gravel riding, or biking on rural gravel roads and trails, during the pandemic to...
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...
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...