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The race for faster payments is here
In just a few years, the U.S. payments space has developed game-changing faster payments technologies, and consumers are taking notice. Experts say it's time for community banks to prepare for a...
Lindsay LaNore: The great brainstorming session
If your bank is entering a new market, offering a new product or service, or establishing a new process, brainstorming is a tool that can help set you on the right trajectory.
Rebeca Romero Rainey: Prepare your cyber defenses
While there’s no cyber or data security silver bullet, by bringing the theoretical into a true banking environment, we can begin to establish action plans that speak to real-world attacks.
The banks serving active duty personnel
Community banks operate on a majority of the country’s military installations. Given their selfless service, active-duty personnel rely on community banks that understand their unique needs.
Now is a prime time for digital account opening
How Americans bank has been changing for years, including how they start their banking relationships. Offering the ability to open an account online can be one way to reach customers who are unable...
RPA: What is it and could it boost your productivity?
While artificial intelligence has made headlines for years with a promise of automating complex tasks throughout the bank, the lesser-known robotic process automation (RPA) could help community...
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.
Jim Reber: Bill Shakespeare, community banker
The Bard had some thoughts on balance sheet management.
Charles Potts: Know where you’re going
As you begin thinking about your goals for the year ahead, ICBA’s Preferred Service Providers directory is a great starting point to research potential vendors selected by community bankers for...
Robert Fisher: Who sits at your table?
Working with a community bank is like being welcomed into the fold, and that’s why we choose our partners with care.
The community bank’s complete guide to building trust
Building trust in your institution has a lot to do with technology, from implementing strong data security practices to humanizing your online customer interactions.
How University Bank is redressing redlining
Widespread housing discrimination made homeownership unattainable for Black Americans for generations. To address this, University Bank and a nonprofit launched a new mortgage program, creating a...
Overcoming banking hurdles for Native American customers
Native American customers on tribal lands have historically been redlined and ignored by the mainstream financial system. Native-owned community banks have been there to serve these communities by...
What is open banking and what does it mean for you?
Open banking is a buzzword in the banking industry, but what exactly does it mean, and how will it affect you? From application programming interfaces to fintech partnerships, it’s been applied to...
Jim Reber: Financing, fine-tuned
New risk profiles call for attention to details.
Rebeca Romero Rainey: Mitigating cybercrime
We know that despite the frights cyberattacks bring, you continue to flourish by safeguarding the communities you serve.
How BankMD’s experiment paid off
Digital-only brand BankMD has shaken up the medical lending arena since its launch in 2019, led by Moses D. Luevano. Anchored by San Antonio-based TransPecos Banks, the experiment has brought huge...
Aaron Stetter: Sounding the alarm on IRS reporting overreach
ICBA is building a coalition of associations, community banks and customers to oppose a Treasury Department proposal adding burdensome reporting to the plates of all financial institutions.
How to do a cybersecurity risk assessment
The way community banks gauge cybersecurity risk is the same as for any other risk, but it’s becoming more important as the industry adopts the latest digital tools and practices. Here’s why...
Ponce Bank serves the underserved
Ponce Bank has brought banking services to minority neighborhoods in the Bronx and greater New York City for more than six decades with a clear focus on community investment.
Aaron Stetter: Pushing back against postal banking
ICBA is fighting a flawed proposal that would have the U.S. Postal Service enter the banking industry.
Charles Potts: Integrating cybersecurity
As banks are revisiting their strategic plans and budgeting for the future, cybersecurity needs a seat at the table.
Lindsay LaNore: Creative teambuilding
Sometimes teambuilding gets a bad rap, and busy schedules can keep it from reaching the top of the priority list, but it is something every leader should have in their repertoire.
Robert Fisher: Education is the foundation
Educated customers form stronger relationships with their community banks. They are more likely to repay loans, live within their means and maintain higher balances.
“Baby Stepping” Got Coastal Community Bank to BaaS - A Conversation with Eric Sprink, CEO
Host Charles Potts, CIO of the Independent Community Bankers of America, sits down with Eric Sprink to discuss his storied career and passion for community banking. This episode is brought to you...
Jim Reber: Balance sheet, complete
Investors have turned their sights on loan purchases.
Robert Fisher: A legacy of good
It’s our responsibility to help make our communities better places to live, to help pull people out of poverty and address issues they’re facing.
7 benefits that will make your bank stand out
Today’s competitive labor market means employers have to stand out from the pack. One strategy community banks can use is a well-rounded benefits package. Here are seven benefits that 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...
Rebeca Romero Rainey: Engaging with talent
The people we employ embody our banks, and the personal relationships our teams forge with our customers make us unique in the industry and keep our customers returning.
Why internships could benefit your community bank
An internship provides opportunities for young people to be exposed to an industry and lay the groundwork for a future career. For community banks, they can be a tool for finding the right...
Tips for a successful PPP audit
Many community banks embraced the Paycheck Protection Program, building new relationships and deepening existing ones. While the onus of forgiveness is on the borrowers, PPP lenders need to be...
Lindsay LaNore: Lake rules for the workplace
Rules are the principles that govern conduct within an organization, and they can extend well beyond perfect attendance and dress codes.
Rebeca Romero Rainey: Use your voice
[There is a] need for strong voices to weigh in on how new regulation will affect our communities and the customers we serve.
How to navigate payments trends
The payments space can be dizzying for even the most enterprising community bank. How do you navigate the constant churn of innovations or disruptors? Experts point to a strategy built on customer...
7 ways community banks can boost profitability
A profitability strategy has a lot to factor in given today’s uncertain market. Here’s what community bankers need to know when planning their budgets for the next year.
Community banks grow alongside their ag customers
The community bankers serving agricultural communities know how to roll up their sleeves and help with harvest, move cattle and work alongside their customers. Their commitment to keeping rural...
11 hot-button issues you should know about
While the political landscape in Washington, D.C., has changed considerably over the past year, ICBA continues to work with regulators and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle for the betterment of...
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.