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Who are ICBA's Top Lenders of 2024?
Whether it’s navigating tumultuous markets or providing employees with remote work options, flexibility is a key component in the success of this year’s ICBA top lenders.
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.
Opportunities in Infrastructure Lending for Community Banks
With $1 trillion in federal infrastructure funding rolling out across the U.S., community banks have a rare opportunity to enter or deepen their involvement in this dynamic sector.
Community Banks Financing Lake Country
In lake regions across the U.S., vacation homes, boats and other watersports vehicles abound—all of which present an undeniable opportunity for community banks.
Extend Customer Relationships With Better Business Payments
Consistently fulfilling commercial customers’ payments needs can make community banks indispensable to small businesses.
b1Bank Paves the Way for New Businesses
Entrepreneurs find education and capital through b1Bank’s b1 Foundation, furthering its small business relationships and the community’s economic development.
Mission Valley Bank: Giving Where You Live
Serving its community in the Santa Clarita Valley is one of Mission Valley Bank’s founding principles. Its community work is best exemplified by its Give Where You Live program for nonprofits.
6 Ways to Deepen Small-Business Relationships
When it comes to small businesses, a personal touch is needed to develop the relationship between bank and business.
Paycheck Protection Program's Impact Four Years On
Community banks went above and beyond to help customers and noncustomers alike during the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) four years ago, and they continue to reap the benefits of that service.
CRE Lending: Challenge or Opportunity?
CRE lending is down, but should community banks see it as an opportunity to win business that the megabanks won’t take?
Making Mortgages Happen Amid Higher Interest Rates
Higher interest rates are discouraging many consumers from taking out new mortgages or refinancing existing ones—but community banks are taking steps to fill their pipelines in innovative ways.
Sharing the Load With Participation Loans
When a bank wants to provide a loan above its lending limits, it’s time to turn to participation loans. But what are the benefits and risks involved for community banks?
SouthState Bank Unlocks the Doors to Homeownership
The annual income required of potential homebuyers recently experienced its largest increase on record.
Digitizing the Commercial Lending Process
With a new digital commercial loan solution, The Killbuck Savings Bank Co. has catapulted its commercial lending and loan origination system into the high-speed digital era.
The Lending Outlook for 2024
A pullback in lending from some institutions creates opportunities for community banks to pick up new customers.
Using Data to Boost Mortgage Lending
Can community banks reengage existing mortgage customers through data, or find new ones? We spoke to experts on where to find data that could increase sales—and what to do with it.
8 Ways Community Banks Can Boost Small Business Lending
Small businesses and community banks are a perfect pairing. Community banks play a key role in giving small businesses needed capital and guidance so they can survive and thrive.
Farmers and Merchants' Digital Transformation in Farm Country
Working in an agricultural community, Farmers and Merchants Bank is supporting its farm customers by innovating its products and services.
How to Excel in Niche Lending
From microbreweries to veterinary businesses, new companies pop up every day, but the needs of each business customer are different. Specialty community bank lenders describe how they serve their...
What's the Future of Ag Lending?
As technology evolves, so do the needs of farmers. From cloud usage to digital lending solutions, ag lending experts explain how community banks can best support their farming clientele.
How Choice Bank Used Tech to Recapture Ag Business
When ag retailers started offering financing options from national companies at the point of sale, Choice Bank hit back with the development of an innovative POS digital origination platform.
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...
What’s a special-purpose credit program?
In an effort to help financial institutions expand access to credit, the CFPB recently addressed regulatory uncertainty around special-purpose credit programs, or SPCPs. These programs are intended...
First Home Bank’s PPP pivot
First Home Bank doubled down on Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) lending, dedicating its entire SBA lending division and dozens of other employees to delivering much-needed funds to businesses....
Is CRE lending bouncing back?
Commercial real estate lenders had a stellar year in 2019, but the pandemic hurt that momentum. According to experts, however, some sectors of the CRE lending market are moving forward, and...
What young borrowers want in the loan journey
Younger borrowers have different expectations when it comes to how they bank and do business. The needs of these digital-first customers are leading some community banks to prioritize digital loan...
Who made ICBA's 2021 list of Top Lenders?
Our top lenders of 2021 made the most of one of the toughest years in recent memory through personal connection, ingenuity and dedication to their communities.
Will 2021 be another banner year for mortgage lending?
Even with the disruption of the pandemic, 2020 was a huge year for mortgage lending, with many community banks seeing record numbers of home loans, refinancings and more. The question is whether...
How your bank can build its construction loan portfolio
The pandemic significantly changed the landscape for construction lending, but with the possibility of economic recovery on the way, there are opportunities to grow your community bank’s...
Mark Scanlan: Fighting for ag and rural tax relief
ICBA is pushing for the Enhancing Credit Opportunities in Rural America Act, legislation that would help rural borrowers and level the playing field against unfair competition.
Growing Your Loan Portfolio with Construction Lending
SPONSORED | Community Bankers have historically considered construction loans an essential part of their loan portfolio. The current market conditions lend themselves to an opportunity of portfolio...
Community Bank CEO Outlook 2021: What's the path ahead?
No Magic 8 Ball could have predicted the year community banks had in 2020. What will 2021 bring? Independent Banker’s annual Community Bank CEO Outlook survey asked bank executives how they plan to...
2021’s lending outlook: cautious optimism
Many community bankers are cautiously optimistic that this year will bring the same, if not more, demand for loans. They also describe a year that may bring opportunities to gain market share from...
10 mobile lending UX best practices
The easier and more intuitive your mobile lending platform is to use, the more high-quality loan applications you’ll receive.
Who made ICBA’s 2020 Top Lenders list?
Our top lenders’ exceptional performance last year has set them up for success even in a time of turmoil. Read on to meet the year’s most successful loan producers in the agriculture, commercial...
Banks that found their niche lending markets
Technology has blurred community banks’ geographic borders for some lending niches—but for others, face-to-face remains the gold standard. These community banks know one size doesn’t always...
Preventing and detecting mortgage fraud
Many compliance functions are needed to detect mortgage fraud, from FACTA and FCRA to the SAFE Act. Here’s a look at the requirements.
Who made our list of top industry loan producers for 2019?
Meet ICBA’s top industry loan producers for 2019. Whether they specialize in agricultural, consumer or commercial lending, they’re keeping America’s economy moving.
Site visits still matter. Here’s why
Site visits are the key to protecting your community bank’s commercial and industrial portfolio. Here’s why.
The pros and cons of niche lending
In niche lending, your community bank’s fate comes down to expertise and passion for the work.
ICBA’s 2018 top lenders: Who made the cut?
Every year, ICBA calculates the top community bank loan producers in the agricultural, commercial and consumer categories. This year’s lending leaders point to many different success factors, but...
ICBA’s top loan producers for 2017: Find out who made the list
Every year, ICBA calculates the top community bank loan producers in the agricultural, commercial and consumer categories, broken down by asset size. Read about 2017's lending leaders.
Why Face-to-Face Lending Still Matters
Many people want face-to-face interaction when they’re on the cusp of a major financial decision.
What's the Secret to Becoming an Exceptional Lender?
Whether it’s loans for individuals or businesses, community banks’ lending activities keep America running.
Embracing Lending Transformation to Control Your Destiny
Today’s banks can gain a competitive advantage by providing a digital experience throughout the entire loan lifecycle – from onboarding to boarding to core and loan management.
Community Banks Propel Multi-Family Home Growth
During a housing shortage, community banks are using their agility, relationships and market insight to support apartment developments when larger lenders fall short.
How the MPF® Program Keeps Community Banks Competitive
Through the Mortgage Partnership Finance® (MPF®) Program, community banks gain access to the secondary mortgage market while benefiting from key competitive advantages.
What's Attracting Small Businesses to Small-Dollar SBA Loans?
Lenders are seeing an increase in small-dollar loans as demand from small business customers surges due to new SBA 7(a) program reforms and higher interest rates.
Future Commercial Lending Success Through Consumer Loans
Read Teslar’s white paper to explore why community banks need to engage consumer borrowers to grow and sustain their commercial lending pipeline—and how to do it successfully.
How Community Banks Open Doors for Local Restaurants
Restaurants, just like community banks, are a part of every local economy. And community banks know the best way to support this higher-risk industry.
Renovation Lending: The Solution to a Tough Mortgage Market?
With many prospective and first-time homebuyers buying fixer-uppers, community banks can tap into a new market to supplement their mortgage and construction portfolios.
Streamline Your Bank’s Appraisal and Vendor Management with ValuTrac
Tired of juggling spreadsheets, emails, and phone calls to manage appraisals and vendors? ValuTrac offers a unified workspace that transforms how banks manage their appraisal and valuation processes.
Loan Pricing strategies: Don’t let your bank become a Castaway.
With rapidly changing market conditions, your bank could easily find itself isolated like Tom Hanks in Castaway, on a desert island alone.
Amplifying Nashville's Booming Businesses
ICBA members are coming to Nashville, Tenn., from across the nation for ICBA LIVE, but there are plenty of community banks already in Music City.
Mitigating Risk in Construction Draw Loans
Construction projects hold great potential but also come with risks. Addressing these challenges head-on will help mitigate each loans risk.
2025 Lending Outlook: Cautious Optimism
Falling interest rates are expected to fuel borrowing activity at community banks. We examine the prospects for commercial, consumer/mortgage and ag lending in the new year.
Equip Your Leasing Finance Operations
Discover how lenders can navigate the evolving landscape of equipment lease financing with insights on risk mitigation and operational readiness.
Here Comes the Snow: Lending Support for Winter Businesses
Rain or shine, community banks are there to serve their communities. But how about snow? For some, the cold weather is more than welcome.
Rocket Pro Helped Elly Turn 'Maybe' Into 'Move-in'
Rocket Pro Helped Elly Turn 'Maybe' into 'Move-in' SPONSORED | Discover how Rocket Pro helped Elly expand her options, close more deals and turn “maybe” into “move-in” for families in her...