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Ease Reporting with Automation
Routine reporting can be time- and paper-intensive—but automation can take mundane tasks off your team’s plate and create all kinds of other efficiencies.
Elkhorn Valley Bank & Trust: The Bankers Behind the Screen
Elkhorn Valley Bank & Trust strikes a balance between personalized service and quick convenience with its growing collection of Teller On Demand kiosks.
Charles Potts: Making the Case for Responsible Innovation
The rapid pace of today’s financial services landscape pulls community banks in varied directions. You must balance technology upgrades with budgetary constraints and identify pressing priorities.
CFO Roundtable 2024: Preparation, Perspective, Diligence
This past year has been one of fluctuation for many community banks, amid inflation, rule changes and other uncertainties.
Navigating Compliance in Cannabis Banking
With potential regulatory guidance for cannabis banking on the horizon, these community banks are positioning themselves strongly and safely within this growing industry.
How To Drive Auto Loan Opportunities
By working with local car dealers and using new lending technology, community banks can boost their presence in the auto lending sector.
Charles Potts: Setting the Stage for Banking the Next Generation
In recent years, community bankers have embraced constant change to drive the future of banking.
Securing Your Cloud Banking Network
Cloud banking is rising in popularity. And as with every new technology, community bankers must learn how to limit risk and secure the platform to protect bank customers and their data.
4 CFPB Rules to Watch for This Year
From limitations on fee practices to personal financial data rights, these proposed and final Consumer Financial Protection Bureau rules could have a significant impact on the community bank industry.
Practical Tips for Community Bank Innovation
Innovation doesn’t just happen. It takes forethought, planning and follow-through.
Law Firm Evaluation for Community Banks
Community banks need to maintain a healthy relationship with their legal representatives, especially when it’s through a third party.
ICBA's Best-Performing Banks of 2024
These community banks hit their stride in 2024, and they intend to keep the momentum going with hard work, flexibility and the expertise they've built over their years of service.
Warsaw Federal Bank's Unique Path to MDI Status
Cincinnati-based Warsaw Federal Bank has just become one of the state’s two minority depository institutions, with a focus on bringing banking to the city’s underserved communities.
Banking With Heart: How Community Banks Support Customers' Dreams
In honor of Community Banking Month, here are stories from six banks about how their work helps customers achieve their dreams.
Can Community Banks Benefit from Culture Leadership Positions?
Is culture something that falls into place naturally or something that is cultivated?
Test Driving Community Bank Mobile Banking Apps
With so many mobile banking apps available, a growing number of people are looking to try them out before they sign up. Can community banks give them a “test drive” function to attract more customers?
Jim Reber: Shop Talk 2024
Another conversation with our consummate community banker, Charlie Brown.
How Santa Cruz County Bank's Technology Transforms the Customer Experience
Santa Cruz County Bank has maintained its top rank among local banks by balancing high tech and high touch and elevating the customer above all.
What Makes a Good Manager?
Even though taking on managerial duties often comes part and parcel with a promotion, not everyone is suited to it.
The Status of De Novos Going Into 2024
De novos breathe new life into the banking sector, but activity is still far below its historic highs. That said, a new crop of community banks shows there’s great potential for success.
Jim Reber: Give Credit Where It's Due
Secondary market for whole loans is deep and active.
The Lending Outlook for 2024
A pullback in lending from some institutions creates opportunities for community banks to pick up new customers.
CEO Roundtable 2024: The Year Ahead
With the economic uncertainty that defined most of 2023 showing signs of easing, community bankers are optimistic about the year ahead.
Jim Reber: Pushing the Boundaries
Cost of funds is putting pressure on bond portfolio’s net margins.
How Important Are Brick-And-Mortar Branches?
Despite the growing use of online banking and mobile apps, the branch remains an important part of community banks' retail strategy. But how are these branches changing?
Banking the Nonprofit Way
Helping their communities: It’s the community bank way, but it’s not always done through volunteering. These banks tell us how they support nonprofits in their areas, helping organizations amplify...
How to Successfully Negotiate a Fintech Partnership
Partnering with one or more fintechs can help community banks keep up with the pace of technological development. Community bankers and other experts give us their tips for finding the right fit.
How Community Banks Can Support Self-Employed and Gig Workers
Gig workers and self-employed individuals make up a growing sector of the workforce in the U.S. This group of workers has specific needs when it comes to banking. Here’s how community banks are...
Jim Reber: Don't Discount Discounts
Below-market coupons could be your friends in 2024.
Member Benefits: Tips for IT Outsourcing
For community banks that are considering or are already working with a third-party IT vendor, ICBA’s IT Outsourcing Toolkit has a collection of resources that address the process and considerations.
What Does Pay by Bank Mean for Community Banks?
Now that FedNow has launched, it’s time to put some focus on a new payments form: Pay by Bank.
Jim Reber: Monetary Policy for the WIN
The Fed was battling inflation 50 years ago, too.
Primis Bank Brings Banking to Your Front Door
Inspired by a fateful food delivery, Primis Bank launched V1BE, a banking delivery service that serves both individuals and businesses.
CFOs' Tips on a Changing Environment
Community bank chief financial officers are currently facing one of the most challenging environments in decades. Independent Banker recently spoke with community bank CFOs to see how they are...
8 Ways to Improve a Customer's Digital Banking Experience
Your customers expect a lot from your website, your app and other digital experiences. But how can community banks focus on what will really be useful to customers, rather than the latest shiny...
How Cloud Banking Benefits Customers
Customers don’t often see the inner workings of how cloud technology simplifies the banking process, but they can certainly experience the perks that come with it.
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.
Jim Reber: Returns, in Total
A wide range of market prices requires analysis.
Step-by-Step Succession Planning for Community Banks
Community bankers and other experts offer a guide to succession planning that'll ensure a seamless transition and future success for the bank and its customers for years to come.
Cedar Rapids Bank & Trust and the Road to Succession
Cedar Rapids Bank & Trust’s succession planning professionals have built up their expertise to better serve the community bank’s retail business customers.
How to Get Ready for the FedNow Service
The Federal Reserve’s FedNowSM Service is launching in July 2023. Find tips and resources in this article that can support you on your way to instant payments.
Jim Reber: Price stability or yield? Here's both
Cash-management instruments have relative value today.
American Commerce Bank's digital-only branch
American Commerce Bank in Georgia recently launched Monesty, a “digital branch” focused on security and customer engagement.
General counsel strategies for community banks
Having general counsel is critical for community banks, but what’s the right balance between in-house and external counsel? Community bankers and legal experts weigh in on how to create the right...
Member Benefits: TCM Bank's suite of credit programs
Need help building or expanding your bank’s credit services? TCM Bank, N.A. can help your community bank grow with a well-rounded selection of personal and business credit cards.
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.
Beyond Spreadsheets: Vendor Management Ideas
Community banks work with dozens of vendors at any given time. If you’re aiming to consolidate the time and effort managing third parties, consider these ideas.
Why Your Community Bank Should Offer a Switch Kit
Switching banks is a pain, making potential customers’ best intentions fall by the wayside. But modern switch kits are evolving, with personalized service and tech-driven tools making the process...
Community Bank CEO Outlook 2026: Challenges & Opportunities
Discover how community banks plan to stand out in 2026. Explore strategies for differentiation, deposit growth, fintech partnerships and loan opportunities
Public Funds as a Strategic Anchor in Modern Wholesale Funding
Public Funds as a Strategic Anchor in Modern Wholesale Funding SPONSORED | PTMA Funding links community banks and local governments, providing stable public deposits that diversify liquidity....
The IT Vendor Decision That Could Make or Break Your Bank
The IT Vendor Decision That Could Make or Break Your Bank SPONSORED | Choosing the wrong IT vendor can cost your bank in security, compliance, and growth. Discover how to evaluate your MSP and make...
Your 2026 Budget Is Complete. Now Is the Right Time to Fix What Made It Hard.
Your 2026 Budget Is Complete. Now Is the Right Time to Fix What Made It Hard. SPONSORED | Budget season is behind you, but those frustrating spreadsheet errors, manual ALM imports, and limited...
The IT Vendor Decision That Could Make or Break Your Bank
The IT Vendor Decision That Could Make or Break Your Bank SPONSORED | Choosing the wrong IT vendor can cost your bank in security, compliance, and growth. Discover how to evaluate your MSP and make...
How Will the End of the Penny Affect Community Banks?
With penny production ending, community banks must address rounding policies, teller training and system updates. Here’s how banks can manage the operational impact and support customers.
These San Diego Community Banks are Powering Local Business
San Diego’s community banks are fueling growth across life sciences, small business, and underserved communities. Three ICBA member banks share how local decision-making and mission-driven banking...
How CDFIs and MDIs Are Navigating Uncertainty
CDFIs and MDIs share how potential funding cuts and regulatory shifts could affect their ability to serve underserved communities, and why their mission matters more than ever.
Revealed: ICBA’s best-performing community banks 2019
Our annual list of the year’s go-getters is here! Read on to see the 75 community banks that took the crown, and hear from nine that shined because of their cutting-edge technology, strategic...
Community Bank CEO Outlook 2019: What’s on your peers’ to-do list?
Independent Banker’s inaugural Community Bank CEO Outlook survey asked community bank CEOs how they plan to meet their challenges this year. Read on for a glimpse of their to-do lists for 2019,...