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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Out of Office: Skyler Kanipe
The project manager at $1.4 billion-asset Community Financial Services Bank (CFSB) in Benton, Kentucky, is always on the lookout for her next vintage find.
CedarStone Bank Recognizes and Thanks Local Teachers
Through its annual Teacher of the Year program, CedarStone Bank recognizes the dedication of Wilson County educators who inspire students and make a difference in their schooling every day.
Building Bright Futures with Financial Education
High school financial literacy courses are an opportunity for community banks to set local youth up for success. See how some community banks are making a difference in financial education today.
2025 National Community Bank Service Awards
Gulf Coast Bank and Legends Bank run thoughtful and strategic programs that support their neighbors. That’s why they’ve been named the winners of the 2025 National Community Bank Service Awards.
Katahdin Trust Company Shoots and Scores for Youth Athletes
In March, $1 billion-asset Katahdin Trust Company (KTC) in Houlton, Maine, teamed up with Big Time Hoops to host its All Star Weekend.
Patriots Bank Goes Pink to Fight Breast Cancer
Patriots Bank launched a special debit card to generate emotional and financial support for breast cancer patients, and it has generated over $20,000 so far.
Bank of the Pacific Strikes Up Support for a Local Nonprofit
In March, Bank of the Pacific in Aberdeen, Washington, sponsored the Bowl-A-Thon fundraiser for Friends of the Children Portland.
Out of Office: Brad Henion
The executive vice president and chief lending officer at $4.4 billion-asset ChoiceOne Bank in Sparta, Michigan, has trained hunting dogs for decades.
MainStreet Bank Empowers the Community, One Employee At a Time
Through its Making Change program, MainStreet Bank implores its employees to engage in and contribute to community work.
BayCoast Bank Helps Craft a Playhouse Fit for a Princess
In June 2023, BayCoast Bank in Swansea, Massachusetts, joined forces with a network of community partners to create a playhouse for a young girl with life-limiting medical challenges.
Out of Office: John and Lou Buhrmaster
John Buhrmaster, chief executive officer at 1st National Bank of Scotia in Scotia, New York, shares how he and his father, chairman Lou Buhrmaster, have a unique connection to vintage taxi cabs.
Community State Bank Brews Up Coffee and Community
Community State Bank and Shepherds College united to create Shepherds Community Café, a donation-based coffee shop that fosters occupational experience for students with different needs.
Charles Potts: The Importance of Curiosity
What makes an innovation leader? By its very nature, innovation doesn’t conform to a particular series of checkboxes, yet all innovation-focused leaders exemplify one critical trait: curiosity.
Minnesota's First Black-Owned Bank
In 2022, Detroit-based First Independence Bank became the first Black-owned bank to open a branch in Minnesota, with the goal of creating greater economic prospects for underserved people.
Tompkins Community Bank Nurtures Youth Programs
Tompkins Community Bank has a long history of helping fund youth programs, making a difference in the lives of future leaders, game changers and creatives.
Derek Williams: A Show of Support
By supporting the people and businesses we know and understand, we are supporting our employees and our shareholders, and making our communities better places to live.
Who are ICBA's Top Lenders of 2023?
In an uncertain economic environment, community banks have continued to make smart lending decisions that help individuals and businesses in their communities. Here are 2023's most successful loan...
How to See the Value of Customer Complaints
No one likes customer complaints, but they can provide a wealth of information that can improve both your community bank and your customers’ experience.
Lindsay LaNore: How to Work the Room
These days, we do a lot of our networking online via forums like LinkedIn, but they’re no match for meeting in person.
Texas First Bank Lends a Helping Hand
When a tornado struck their community in January, employees of Texas First Bank in Pasadena, Texas, joined forces with a local Jersey Mike’s and Orangetheory Fitness to hand out free lunches to...
Loren Brown: Above it All
The president and chief executive officer of $88 million-asset Ascent Bank in Helena, Mont., has fulfilled his childhood dream of being a pilot and skydiver.
Bankers Trust Illustrates a Love of Art
Bankers Trust in Des Moines, Iowa, hosts a gallery of artwork created by local artists and rotates each piece through its branches.
Julie Bauer: Hotel hero
The assistant vice president of $1.6 billion-asset First Citizens Bank in Mason City, Iowa, is the chair of a local fundraiser that benefits the last remaining Frank Lloyd Wright-designed hotel in...
Clinton Savings Bank’s animal rescue
Clinton Savings Bank's has supported Animal Adventures, an exotic animal rescue in Bolton, Mass., for more than 25 years. The Bank's recent donation will help the organization continue its mission...
Listen Up: Taking bold and brave action
In episode 6 of the Independent Banker podcast, host Charles Potts speaks with Greg Ohlendorf of First Community Bank and Trust and Joe Ehrhardt of Teslar Software about the digital imperative for...
Lindsay LaNore: You're a new community banker—now what?
Preparation and establishing good habits allow you to optimize your workday—and ultimately your whole team’s productivity.
ICBA's top-performing community banks of 2023
Through creativity, local knowledge and dedication to their customers, community banks continued to demonstrate the value of their relationship-based model in the past year.
Bulletin Board: A look into ICBA LIVE 2023
Community bankers from across the country gathered in beautiful Honolulu to attend ICBA LIVE 2023. In addition to listening to guest speakers and networking, bankers had the opportunity to learn...
Liz McIntyre: Friend of the flock
The director of social media and VP of marketing at $17 billion-asset Renasant Bank in Tupelo, Miss., delves into the world of birding.
One Community Bank supports the trees
In January, the One Community Bank in Oregon, Wisc., donated $5,000 to the Terrace Tree program, the village of Oregon’s tree planting initiative.
Webster Bank's financial literacy
To help the children of low- to moderate-income families, Webster Bank made a $100,000 donation to the Wakeman Boys & Girls Club to aid financial education.
Native American Bank supports Indian country's recovery
Native American Bank secured financing for the construction of a $10 million opioid treatment clinic in North Dakota as just one effort in a series of community projects.
6 ways community banks can build a better onboarding experience
The first few weeks of an employee starting a new job are pivotal in terms of how they’ll connect to the bank and their role. We spoke with community bankers about how they perfected their...
Unity Bank’s fields of gold
Unity Bank volunteers help people facing food insecurity in their community.
Community banks putting community first
Community banks do more than meet the financial needs of their customers and communities. They go above and beyond to make a difference in revitalizing, building and serving their communities.