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Why Cybersecurity is No Longer Just an IT Issue—with Jeff Newgard of Bank of Idaho and Kevin Piette of State Bank of Cross Plains
A timely conversation about recruiting and retaining top bank talent in today’s competitive job market with Kim Kirk, COO of Queensborough National Bank & Trust Company and Tommy Marshall,...
Charles Potts: Growing small business banking
We live in unprecedented times, filled with new challenges and opportunities for small businesses. Fortunately, community banks have greater access than ever before to advanced solutions and...
3 Cybersecurity Challenges Community Banks Should Know
SPONSORED | As the year progresses, hackers are strengthening their attack methods. This article will explore 3 cybersecurity challenges facing the industry in 2022 and why your bank should...
Demystifying and Prosper: How Community Banks Find Success in Fintech Partnerships—with Greg Ohlendorf of First Community Bank and Trust and Joe Ehrhardt of Teslar Software
We have to demystify that fintech is complicated, or fintech is difficult, or fintech is risky or scary. Fintech, to me, is opportunity,” says Greg Ohlendorf, President and CEO, First Community...
3 Steps to Review Your Core Provider’s Performance
SPONSORED | With big changes happening in fintech, you need to feel confident that your core is delivering the service and support your bank deserves. Learn why it’s important to assess your core...
A community bank-fueled payments rail
A secure, open-loop, cost-saving, customer-accessible, multiplatform P2P payments network might sound too good to be true, but community bank consortium Alloy Labs Alliance hopes to achieve just...
Charles Potts: Unlocking better customer connections
When assessing providers, keep in mind that there is no one-size-fits-all marketing solution. The beauty of innovation is that it comes in all shapes and sizes. Your marketing capabilities must fit...
Why community banks should partner with fintechs
With consumer expectations seeming to evolve faster every year, community banks could consider partnering with a fintech to keep up with technological innovation.
5 Questions: Is it Time to Refresh Your Check Processing Solutions?
SPONSORED—Deciding when it’s time to upgrade your check processing and payments infrastructure can be tricky. Your aging solutions are likely still “getting the job done,” but at what cost to...
How to respond to buy now, pay later
Consumers are increasingly interested in buy now, pay later products, which are cutting into credit card usage. Here’s what community banks need to know about these products and how they can take...
Our first Innovation Conversation
Citizens Bank of Edmond evolves its innovation strategy by working with—and for—its community partners. We spoke to two of its business customers for the first article in a new series.
Charles Potts: Challenging the status quo
ICBA has preached the importance of innovation, not as a project or something to silo inside a department but as an inclusive cultural and philosophical endeavor that should be part of an...
New Era of Consumer Engagement by Mladen Vladic
Over the past 18 months, the marketplace has experienced huge disruptions. The world has changed, and so have consumers. In fact. 75% of consumers have changed their spending habits since early 2020.
Evaluate New Core Providers With Successful Vendor Management
SPONSORED | When selecting a new core provider, there are critical conversations that need to happen before signing a contract. Here are some discussion points for successful vendor management.
Charles Potts: 2021: A year of awakening
Community bankers’ awakening to new possibilities has made for an impactful year and will help position community banks to flourish in 2022 and beyond.
How 3 community banks are innovating with fintechs
The best fintech companies aren’t just service providers. They’re partners. Three community bank-fintech partnerships tell us how they’ve forged mutually beneficial relationships that thrive on a...
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...
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.
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...
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...
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.
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...
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...
Charles Potts: Integrating cybersecurity
As banks are revisiting their strategic plans and budgeting for the future, cybersecurity needs a seat at the table.
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...
How to Unlock Hidden Card Revenue with BINs
When it comes to card revenue, having the right bank identification number (BIN) type is critical.
Innovation Strategies for Community Banks
Explore how community banks can use data insights, fintech tools and innovation to stay competitive.
4 Reasons Community Banks Should Offer E-Invoicing
E-invoicing can transform community banking by increasing deposits, reducing check fraud and fostering deeper customer connections.
Should Community Banks Offer Subscription Management?
Build your customers’ financial health by helping them manage their subscriptions in-app.
Jacob Eisen: Card Programs Can Drive Community Bank Growth
As the financial services competitive landscape continues to evolve, payments have emerged as a critical component of community bank strategies. It extends beyond interchange revenue to deepening...
How Community Banks Should Evaluate New Fintech
Six ThinkTECH Accelerator fintechs explain how their products support community banks—and what bankers should prioritize when evaluating new technology partnerships.
Easing the Way: Current and Upcoming Banking Technology Trends
The best technology is the kind that supports both the customer and the community bank. We look at some key industry challenges and where tech could potentially ease pain points.
Time’s Up for Excel & Managing Credit Risk
The problem is the overuse of Excel leads many community banks to embrace terrible tradeoffs – especially in commercial lending. It’s time to ditch your spreadsheets.
Can Faster Payments Lead to Faster Fraud?
Community banks can thwart criminals’ attempts to scam people via instant payments by deploying multilayered controls, including educating customers on how to not fall for scams.
Helpful Tips for Streamlining the Core Conversion Process
At each step of the process, a core conversion will hold new challenges. Make sure you have the tools and knowledge to address these issues and support your employees through it all.
How Generative AI Can Revolutionize Cybersecurity in Community Banking
As AI grows in prominence, it’s spreading across different facets of the banking industry and its operations.
Charles Potts: How Fintech Relationships Can Lessen Compliance Burdens
Compliance consistently ranks as one of the highest business expenses for community banks, and that cost is expected to climb.
Is Your Community Bank Ahead of the Pack on Instant Payments?
Whether it’s through RTP or FedNow, many community banks are still exploring how instant payments rails can fulfill the needs of and benefit their customers.
Tips For Sending Transactions Over The FedNow® Service
By enabling customers to send instant payments via the FedNow® Service versus only receive, banks can gain a faster, stronger ROI.
Charles Potts: 4 Natural Advantages of Solution Provider Partnerships
I have been evangelizing for a while about the importance of strategic partnerships, and now, we’ve come to a place where these very relationships are bolstering community banks’ businesses.
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.
Charles Potts: How Community Bankers Are Leading the Financial Evolution
One of my favorite reads is the story of Ted Turner’s rise. I’m struck by how it points to exactly the path community bankers are taking to drive the future of financial services.
Extend Customer Relationships With Better Business Payments
Consistently fulfilling commercial customers’ payments needs can make community banks indispensable to small businesses.
Practical Tips for Community Bank Innovation
Innovation doesn’t just happen. It takes forethought, planning and follow-through.
Q&A: Is it Time to Change Your Community Bank Core?
What questions do community banks need to ask to ensure they’re getting the most out of their core?
Could a Fintech Help Your Community Bank Keep Up With Faster Payments?
The faster payments landscape is constantly evolving—but staying on top of it can provide community banks with a competitive edge. Could working with a fintech be key to that success?
Charles Potts: Convening With the Spirit of More
Thomas Edison once said, “Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.” The message resonates, but the standout word for me is “more.”
Parsing the Proliferation of Payments
Remaining competitive in the banking industry doesn’t mean you have to have your hand in every bucket and offer every available payment solution.
Navigating the Payments Solutions Maze
From BNPL and CHUCK to FedNow and embedded fintech platforms, there seems to be a limitless number of payments options. Here’s an all-in-one guide for community bank payment options.
Charles Potts: The Innovation Journey Moves into 2024
For me, the close of the year signals a time for reflection, for taking stock of our accomplishments and formulating a plan to embrace the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead.
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.
Charles Potts: The Great Digital Strategy Reset
Digital first. How many times have community banks heard that over the past few years? It’s been repetitive in ongoing banking evolution, and with it comes increasing pressure on the technology stack.
How to Boost Your Bank's Digital Payment Security
Now more than ever, cybercrime is a top priority for banking leaders. We spoke to experts on how community banks can prevent bad actors from infiltrating their systems.
How to Talk to Customers About Crypto
Most of your customers might not be investing in crypto, but their money is at risk if they do. That’s why community banks should stay current on cryptocurrency developments and be prepared to...
4 Emerging Bank Technologies (That Aren't AI)
With rapid new developments in bank technology, it’s easy to feel stressed about keeping up with them. Read on to learn what’s new and upcoming in tech and how to determine what’s worth exploring.
Member Benefits: Breaking Down Best Cybersecurity Practices
Bad actors continually find ways to commit cybercrimes. By using the ICBA Cyber Security Toolkit, community banks can make sure they’re prepared for cyber incidents.
Is Cybersecurity Insurance Worth the Higher Premiums?
Cybersecurity should be a foundational element of any community bank, but do you really need to be insured for it, especially as premiums rise? We spoke to experts to learn more about cyber insurance.
Charles Potts: Put Innovative Thinking to Work in Risk Mitigation
Risk mitigation—supported by innovative thinking—drives reward for our banks, our customers and our communities.
Risk or Reward: A Community Bank's Guide to AI
What do community banks need to know about getting started with AI, how can it boost efficiency across departments—and how to manage risk? We spoke to experts from ICBA and beyond to learn...
Tech Solutions That Can Help Stop Elder Fraud
Elder financial abuse is a rising crime across the country. Using technology, community bankers can help detect this type of fraud and protect their customers.