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Michael Benedict: Finding the Portfolio's Fit in Your Balance Sheet
Address common problems with creative solutions.
The Key to Winning Over SMBs With Merchant Services
Local businesses appreciate having resources that will give them the boost they need to succeed. With merchant services, community banks can offer those resources and stay competitive.
Make Every Season Count With Year-Round Marketing Strategies
Fall is back-to-school season, winter welcomes a range of holidays, spring brings Financial Literacy Month, and summer spurs all sorts of warm weather activities.
Michael Benedict: The Resilience of Agency MBS in a Shifting Financial Landscape
Agency mortgage-backed securities rise above the rest in this relative value update.
Why is Streaming the Hottest New Marketing Platform for Community Banks?
As streaming services grow in popularity with viewers, community bankers are exploring the targeting capabilities and flexibility of advertising on connected TV.
Optimize Your Community Bank's Treasury Management Offerings
These four community banks compared the costs and use cases for adding treasury management to their services and streamlining them. Now, they’re seeing the benefits.
Michael Benedict: Community Bank Growth in a New Rate Environment
A steeper yield curve brings growth strategies back into the fold.
Marketing Personalization Is More Than Adding Names to Emails
The advent of data-focused, personalized marketing has opened up doors to deeper customer relationships for community banks.
How Marketing Can Win Over the C-Suite
Getting buy-in from the C-suite is essential in all facets of the bank, including marketing. Here are tips for how to get executives and the marketing team working toward the same goals.
Powering Potential: Marketing Made Easier for Your Community Bank
The ICBA Marketing Resource Center delivers dynamic, evolving resources that can help you save time, elevate your messaging and win over current and prospective customers.
Jim Reber: Spreading the Good News
Incremental yield can indicate relative value.
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.
Growth Goals: Navigating IPOs and OTC Trading
Is your community bank thinking about launching an initial public offering or over-the-counter trading of stocks to raise liquidity?
Michael Benedict: Make Portfolio Strategy Fun Again
Things are looking up for portfolio management in 2025.
Strategies for Consumer-Centric Banking: an Exclusive Bud Webinar
Bud Financial has joined community bankers for an Independent Banker webinar where we’ve explored the actions they would take to drive success, revenue and customer engagement.
Jim Reber: Will the Wave Return?
Falling rates should boost cash flows.
Michael Benedict: Bridging the Gap
Rate cuts may not provide immediate margin relief, but you can take steps to reduce near-term pressure.
You’ve Launched a New Website—What Happens Now?
“Build it and they will come” is great for a baseball field. But when you’ve just put your all into a new website, find out how to generate ROI, produce actionable results and more.
The Pros and Cons of Offering Trust Services
Offering fiduciary services can add depth to your wealth management offerings, but it won’t be right for every community bank. Bankers and other experts weigh in.
D&O, Liability and Cyber Insurance: How to Keep Up
Emerging threats make it important to update insurance coverage, whether it’s for directors and officers, cybersecurity or professional liability insurance.
Jim Reber: October, Effectively
How have the financial markets performed in the tenth month?
Michael Benedict: Too Much of a Good Thing?
Balance is key when it comes to capital and profitability.
How Bigger Community Banks Maintain a Local Feel
It’s in the name—community banks are all about building community. So, when they expand into other markets, how do they continue to make the authentic connections they’re known for?
Jim Reber: Moving on Up
Bond portfolios’ yields are beginning to catch up.
7 Steps to a Successful Regulatory Audit
Preparation is key to passing a regulatory exam with flying colors. These tips for the stages before, during and after an audit will ensure your bank and management impress regulators.
8 Budgeting Ideas That Support Growth
Smart budgeting allows for adaptation to changing financial and economic conditions. But the most important thing, say experts, is that community banks focus on investing in what’s working for them.
6 Things to Consider Before Opening a New Branch
A new branch can present new opportunities for community banks—if you plan thoroughly and calculate the risk involved.
Michael Benedict: Are We There Yet?
Take a look at the nagging persistence of portfolio mark‑to‑market.
What Is Behavioral Economics, and Could It Help Your Bank Grow?
Much of our financial decision-making is driven by cognitive biases and emotions—and behavioral economics is the science behind that.
The Importance of Change Management at Community Banks
As new technology and solutions ebb and flow, community bankers have to manage the change that comes with them. While change can be hard, offering a hand and lending an ear can ease the transition.
Maximize Your Community Bank's Digital Experience
A high-functioning digital platform is no longer an added perk for bank customers—it’s the standard.
Jim Reber: The Fed Loosens Up
A slowdown in quantitative tightening has an element of policy easing.
Chippewa Valley Bank: Fueling Growth With Innovative Bank Stock Lending
Chippewa Valley Bank has pioneered an innovative bank stock lending program, providing community banks with an expedited and cost-efficient avenue to acquire capital and interest-earning assets.
Powering Potential: A Successful Year for ICBA's National Campaign
Since its debut in April 2023, the ICBA National Campaign and its vital marketing resources have made significant headway in raising awareness for community banks and their mission.
Jim Reber: Rolling With the Curve
An upward slope can bolster market values.
7 Strategies for Raising Bank Deposits
Community banks must maintain a competitive edge to stay on top of their deposits.
How Marketing Impacts Community Banks' Recruiting
A marketing campaign could be the first thing a prospective employee sees while researching your community bank.
Jim Reber: Dialing It Back
Simple bonds find favor with portfolio managers in 2024.
How to Curate Your Community Bank's Social Strategy
Between Facebook, Instagram, X and other social media platforms, it can be difficult, if not impossible, to successfully follow every social trend when it comes to your marketing.
Traditional Advertising's Place in Community Bank Marketing
Marketing success is often measured against website traffic, comments and likes these days, but there’s still a place for traditional ads.