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How community banks can help young homebuyers
As house prices skyrocket, student loan debt grows and wages stagnate, many Gen Zers and millennials are watching their homebuying dreams move out of reach. But there are ways community banks can...
Who were ICBA's Top Lenders of 2022?
Highlighted here are some of last year’s most successful loan producers in the areas of agriculture, commercial and consumer/mortgage lending.
The DIY banking services customers expect
Prompted by the pandemic, DIY banking service offerings have grown quickly. And as consumers—especially Gen Z and millennials—continue calling for more mobile options, community banks...
Preventing Synthetic Identity Fraud
SPONSORED | How regional institutions can originate more accounts while building defenses for digital channels.
The Digital Transformation Journey Begins with the “People Factor”—with Kathy Strasser, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of IncredibleBank
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,...
40 Under 40: Emerging Community Bank Leaders in 2022
Our fourth annual 40 Under 40: Emerging Community Bank Leaders competition highlights the achievements of young community bankers across the nation, who are leading the charge on the future of...
How gamification can be a boon for community banks
Community banks are getting into gamification—and it’s been better for business. Introducing gaming elements into apps and company training tools can result in cost savings, increased...
How community banks can address cybercrime
Fraud and cyber attacks are on the rise, and at great expense to the industry. Community banks have a choice about addressing the problem: Remain vulnerable or be vigilant. Here are some ideas for...
Brad M. Bolton: Community continuation
Community continuation is not about checking a regulatory box; it means putting a name to the people who will be the future of our banks.
Jim Reber: What we hoped for?
Community bankers wished for higher rates in 2022. And now…
Customer Understanding Deepens Relationships
SPONSORED | Investing in your tech stack has never been more important. Hear from Horicon Bank how they have positioned themselves to grow using the Total Expert platform.
The effect of nonbanks in the mortgage space
Nonbank institutions continue to be serious contenders in the home lending space. We look at how community banks can counter nonbanks’ offerings through streamlined technology, customer service and...
Rebeca Romero Rainey: The power of discussion
Healthy debate helps us achieve an outcome where we’re all pushed to think beyond what might be readily in front of us.
Lindsay LaNore: Managing remote employees
As life settles into a new rhythm, you may find that some team members continue working remotely permanently or shift to a hybrid model. What are some best practices for managing this new...
Charles Potts: Being comfortable with discomfort
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...
Aaron Stetter: Start planning for August recess
With the congressional summer break right around the corner, now is the time to connect with legislators in their home districts and advocate for the issues important to community banks.
Unexpected allies
Meeting serendipitously at a ThinkTECH Accelerator showcase, Fintel Connect and Finzly prove that the best relationships allow both partners to complement each other’s strengths.
Out of Office: Tyrone Beatty
After becoming a fan of The Great British Baking Show, Tyrone Beatty, assistant branch manager at $2.3 million-asset 1st Security Bank of Washington in Mountlake Terrace, Wash., added baking to his...
Is commercial lending on the rise?
Loan providers share an infectious enthusiasm and growing optimism for one vertical’s prospects in 2022: commercial lending. Here’s how community bankers can take advantage of various...
Stealthy shopping for better service
It’s no secret why Alpine Bank’s mystery shopper program has helped the community bank meet and exceed customer expectations over the past two decades.
Jim Reber: Mayday for mortgages?
Rising borrower costs have consequences for MBS.
These Asian-American led banks are helping their communities
May marks Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month—and these Asian American-led community banks are adding to that heritage every single day by helping bring dreams within reach.
How thrift and mutual banks are benefiting their customers
Thrift banks, otherwise known as savings and loans, focus on turning deposits into consumer mortgage loans. We take a deep dive into what lies at the heart of these community banks’ business models...
Demystifying Bitcoin and Digital Assets
SPONSORED—We sat down with Thomas Grundy for a conversation on demystifying Bitcoin and digital assets. A former regulator and compliance professional, Tom shared insights on where Bitcoin...
Why Banks Should Focus on Board Security
SPONSORED | As more bank board executives, directors, and administrators adopt digital board management processes, cybersecurity risks from half-baked digital adoption make them more vulnerable to...
Are Bankers and Customers on the Same Page?
SPONSORED—Vericast surveyed financial services marketers and consumers about their banking goals, priorities, expectations and experiences. Industry experts analyzed the data and identified...
Threat Hunting for Banks: What are the Benefits?
SPONSORED—Threat intelligence is an essential component of every bank’s cybersecurity strategy. Community banks are targets for cybercriminals, which is why being proactive is critical....
Out of Office: Justin Kitzinger
Justin Kitzinger, a private banking officer at $6 billion-asset Bankers Trust in Des Moines, Iowa, dedicates 200 hours each year to volunteer firefighting.
Rhonda Thomas-Whitley: Defending overdraft protection for consumers
Overdraft programs and policies are once again in the sights of officials in Washington. ICBA takes on the fight.
Charles Potts: Back-office innovation
Community bankers are embracing innovation like never before—with impressive results. But with so much emphasis placed on customer-facing products and technologies, innovating back-office...
Brad M. Bolton: Educating future leaders
Focusing on the ‘whys’ helps employees see how decisions fit together in a perfect puzzle for high-performing success, and it motivates them to be contributors to that success.
Rebeca Romero Rainey: Community bankers are all in
Everything feeds into the customer experience, and that ability to meet and exceed customer expectations is what distinguishes us as community bankers.
Technology your remote and hybrid employees need
Remote and hybrid working was once the exception but, for some community bank employees, it’s now the norm. What technology is needed to keep remote workers productive, connected and, most of all,...
The top-performing community banks of 2021
Independent Banker’s annual listing top-performing community banks of 2021 alongside interviews with some of the winners. In true community bank fashion, each has its own story to tell and its own...
Mortgage eClosing: The Path to eSignatures
SPONSORED | The path to eClosing is complex but achievable. During this Dialogue on Demand session, we will uncover the benefits and uses of eSignatures, legislation surrounding eSignatures and...
Prepare for a purchase market and create mortgage efficiencies
SPONSORED | The mortgage industry is very volatile. How can lenders be ready? In this webinar, you’ll learn about how APIs can enhance the experience for both borrowers and lenders and preparing...
Future Security Trends to Bank On
SPONSORED—Financial institutions have a unique set of requirements for security and surveillance, beyond traditional on-premise security camera monitoring. Find out how to navigate the...
Kentucky banks stand tall
After a historic tornado rocked western Kentucky last December, a host of community banks banded together in the spirit of generosity, using their financial power to start relief funds and bolster...
Lindsay LaNore: All in. All heart.
There’s nothing like going above and beyond—but being recognized for it feels pretty great, too.
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,...
Deborah Matthews Phillips: Stop the Durbin Amendment expansion
ICBA and other trade partners join the push for Congress to gain awareness and take action against the harmful financial effects of Reg II.
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...
Rebeca Romero Rainey: Stories worth telling
This Community Banking Month, I invite you to try something new to spread your story. Share a new development, community project or initiative.
The future of workplace flexibility
The pandemic forced the issue of remote and hybrid working for many employees, and though challenges remain, many companies are looking to accommodate employees’ expectations. We asked how banks...
Long-serving community bankers and their stories
What’s the secret to professional longevity? Four long-serving community bankers share the many ways they’ve grown in their respective careers, how the industry continues to evolve and, most...
The ICBA 22/23 executive committee is all in
The 2022/23 ICBA Executive committee members tell us what advocacy issues they’ll be focused on during their terms, while board members share their words of wisdom for up-and-coming community...
Brad M. Bolton: Advancing our communities
My bank’s tagline is ‘Where dreams meet solutions,’ and it serves as my guiding inspiration at the bank and, now, at the national level. As community bankers, our customers depend on us to keep...
Niche lending ideas: Green products and services
Community banks thrive in niche markets, and lending in new spaces is just one of the ways they serve their communities. As the market for “green” products and services evolves, we asked community...
Three Essential Strategies for a Winning Contact Center Culture
SPONSORED | Contact centers are increasingly expected to deliver more, often with less time and fewer resources. Keeping pace requires going back to employee engagement. Employee and customer...
It’s Time for a Shift: From Transactional to Relational
SPONSORED—While transactions are essential and can exist almost entirely online, the business of banking is about more than transactions. Forward-looking banks are following three guiding...
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...
First Women’s Bank tackles small business inequity
Dismayed at the lack of business ownership opportunities and advancement afforded to entrepreneurial women, Marianne Markowitz spearheaded a consortium to form a women-founded, women-owned and...
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...
Can fintechs enhance your bank’s marketing campaign?
Customized, well-thought-out interactions are integral to wooing new customers and retaining existing ones. We asked several banking leaders how they’ve employed fintech to ramp up their marketing...
The women leaders inspiring future generations
Women’s History Month is an opportunity to spotlight women leaders who have crafted successful careers in community banking. This trio of executives describe the ways they achieve their goals and...
6 smart marketing moves for 2023
When it comes to customer acquisition tactics, it’s never too early to start thinking about next year’s budget. Here, experts give their take on trends that can freshen up your community bank’s...
Build your community bank's brand with swag
Promotional merchandise, or swag, has long been regarded as a no-brainer approach to branding. Community banks are shedding those thrifty connotations with a mindful approach to company gifting...