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BayCoast Bank Helps Craft a Playhouse Fit for a Princess
In June 2023, BayCoast Bank in Swansea, Massachusetts, joined forces with a network of community partners to create a playhouse for a young girl with life-limiting medical challenges.
Digital Banking for the Modern Age
For community banks, digital transformation has moved from an industry colloquialism to a punch list reality.
Scott Anchin: Keeping Up with Instant Payments Fraud
With instant payments becoming more mainstream, there are more opportunities for fraud.
Jacob Eisen: Playing Offense in Today's Fraud Environment
They say the best defense is a good offense, and with payments fraud, nothing rings truer. A proactive fraud strategy is a necessity.
Jim Reber: Whole lotta thinkin’ going on
I hope the readers of this column will excuse the lack of decorum in the title, but in reading and listening to the words of the Federal Reserve Board’s members over the past month, I hear a lot of...
Jim Reber: Manage Interest Rate Risk With Strategic Portfolio Decisions
Yield curve shape reflects bond market’s mood.
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.
Jim Reber: Buying time (maybe)
A sell-off in 2022 isn’t following previous bear markets.
Michael Benedict: Putting the 'Strategy' in 'Portfolio Strategy'
How can you use your portfolio to create operating leverage?
ICBA’s 2021/22 executive committee: Close the distance (part 2)
These online-exclusive interviews with the 2021/22 ICBA executive members gets their thoughts on their goals, on innovation at their banks, and on effective advocacy.
Let's define 'unfair, deceptive or absuive'
More than its predecessors, the Unfair, Deceptive, or Abusive Acts or Practices can be a murky regulation for compliance officers. How well do you know the ins and outs of UDAAP?
End Document Chaos and Close Loans Faster with FileInvite
Our secure platform eliminates the back-and-forth chaos of gathering documents from borrowers, guarantors, and third parties to reduce loan processing time while ensuring compliance and a better...
Customer Experience Through Strategic Innovation
Recent research from FICO shows that 88% of bank customers say experience is as important as or more important than products and services.
Best Community Banks to Work For 2024
In a tight labor market, current and prospective employees are drawn to good pay, attractive benefits and, importantly, a sense of purpose.
2025's Seismic Regulatory Shifts
Thanks to advocacy work from community bankers and ICBA, fairer regulatory compliance standards are on the horizon.
Inviting Questions to Spark Better Conversations
We all know how powerful curiosity can be. Every great leader knows that inviting feedback and questions from their team can be a highly collaborative and productive process.
How We Fought Fraud in 2025
Fraud and scams thrive not through any single vulnerability but through intricate webs connecting criminals, technology platforms, financial institutions and, unfortunately, victims.
Deposit Insurance Reform: Community Bankers' Goals
Community bankers share common goals for protecting depositors.
American Heritage Bank Offers Financial Donations, No Questions Asked
American Heritage Bank’s Community Chest program brings the community together to support those in need, one donation at a time.
Revealed: The Impact of Credit Union Acquisitions
Credit union acquisitions of community banks are leaving lasting scars on local economies—reducing small business lending, limiting mortgage access and weakening community reinvestment. But...
How to Encourage Innovation Beyond the C-Suite
Thinking outside the box isn’t only a job for the C-suite. Employees at all levels can—and should—contribute to innovation at their community banks. Here are some ideas from your peers about how to...
It's a Wonderful (Community Banking) Life
While I may be biased, I believe that being a community banker is the best profession there is.
Regulatory Expectations for Compliance Are Evolving – Are You Keeping Up?
Regulatory Expectations for Compliance Are Evolving – Are You Keeping Up? SPONSORED | As the regulatory landscape continues to change, every financial institution can use an extra hand when it...
Free IT Assessment for Banks—Limited-Time Offer
Free IT Assessment for Banks—Limited-Time Offer SPONSORED | Banks: Get a free, expert-led IT assessment covering firewalls, MFA, email security, and more. Reduce risk, boost compliance, and plan...
Defend Your Bank from Card Fraud Loss
Defend Your Bank from Card Fraud Loss SPONSORED | How are you protecting your bank and customers this holiday season? Keep your holiday cheer this season—sign up for the ICBA Payments Fraud Loss...
First Liberty Bank is Digging Deep Into Energy Lending
With tailored solutions and long-term partnerships, First Liberty Bank’s energy lending program is fostering growth for businesses, communities and the bank itself.
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...
First National Bank Colorado Fights Hunger in Its Community
Last August, team members from First National Bank Colorado in Las Animas, Colorado, got to work at the Care and Share Food Bank for Southern Colorado.
How to Unlock Hidden Card Revenue with BINs
When it comes to card revenue, having the right bank identification number (BIN) type is critical.
Do You Want to Be Featured in Out of Office?
Over the years, we’ve shined a spotlight on community bankers with hobbies ranging from skydiving and vintage shopping to winemaking and showing livestock. Now, we’re on the hunt for more...
Michael Benedict: Community Bank Growth in a New Rate Environment
A steeper yield curve brings growth strategies back into the fold.
Oxford Bank Celebrates 140 Years of Community Support
Oxford Bank in Oxford, Mich., celebrated its 140th anniversary by building relationships, investing in the community and exercising purposeful giving.
Incoming 2025/26 ICBA Chairman Jack E. Hopkins Will Bring Small-Town Sensibility to Washington
Jack E. Hopkins, president and CEO of CorTrust Bank in Sioux Falls, S.D., has been a strong voice for community banking for years.
Why Your Community Bank Needs a Disaster Recovery Plan
Community banks like Countybank face and overcome challenges every day, but what about the events banks don’t expect?
Tips for Winning the Retail Banking Game
Technology continues to evolve, and community banks must do the same. To cater to and better support young, tech-savvy customers, these local banks are partnering with fintechs to revamp their...
Preparing and Nurturing Future Bank Leaders
How can community banks foster future leaders and make sure they’re prepared to take on a managerial role? It takes a healthy dose of attention, understanding and room for trial and error.
Rebeca Romero Rainey: Marching to the Beat of Community Banking
There’s a rhythm to community banking, a steadiness amid a sea of change that keeps us centered and focused on the customers and communities we serve.
Is Data the Key to Enhancing Bank Customer Relationships?
Conversion data from social media, websites and marketing platforms can help prove whether banks are successful in their personalization, outreach and differentiation.
What Banks Need to Know About the CFPB's Open Banking Rule
ICBA’s advocacy efforts have affected the outcome of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s open banking rule. Learn about these changes and understand which guidelines apply to your bank.
Find Your Rhythm at ICBA LIVE 2025
Do you hear that? That’s the sound of community bankers across the nation heading to Nashville to learn, network and enjoy all Music City has to offer.
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.
Growth Goals: Navigating IPOs and OTC Trading
Is your community bank thinking about launching an initial public offering or over-the-counter trading of stocks to raise liquidity?
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.
Insights from ICBA's Minority Bank Advisory Council
Minority depository institutions ensure their communities have access to the financial services that will help them succeed in the long term.
4 Regulatory Developments Coming in 2025
Community bankers have a variety of new regulatory changes to prepare for in 2025, across agencies and banking functions. As always, forewarned is forearmed.
The Year in Compliance: 6 Notable Updates for Community Banks
New guidance and proposed rules from regulatory agencies in 2024 have kept community banks on the alert for forthcoming changes to compliance processes.
2025 Community Bank CEO Outlook: Balancing Between Deposits and Loans
While the business of community banking is ongoing, a new year is always a good time to take stock of the challenges and opportunities ahead.
Rebeca Romero Rainey: Nurturing the Community Bank Ecosystem
The start of a new year brings with it opportunities, and as we enter 2025, we do so with an eye toward the potential that awaits.
Stearns Bank Lays Groundwork in Minnesota's Hmong Community
Stearns Bank is fostering trust, financial empowerment and meaningful relationships with Minnesota’s sizable Hmong community by establishing a branch in one of their cultural hubs.
How Can Community Banks Ride the Digital Wallet Wave?
Looking to drive card usage and ensure continued deposit recapture? As the use of digital wallets continues to accelerate, here’s how you can participate and benefit from this trend.
Can Software Solve Your Bank's Board Management Woes?
From scheduling and information-sharing to bolstered security, board management software could smooth the bumps in the road that come with manual management processes.
Member Milestones 2024: Steadfast Banks for Modern Times
Every time a community bank celebrates a significant anniversary, it’s a reminder that our relationship-based business model transcends time and generations.
Michael Benedict: Are We There Yet?
Take a look at the nagging persistence of portfolio mark‑to‑market.
What Is Behavioral Economics, and Could It Help Your Bank Grow?
Much of our financial decision-making is driven by cognitive biases and emotions—and behavioral economics is the science behind that.
Rebeca Romero Rainey: Connected As Independent Community Banks
When you enter ICBA’s headquarters, you are greeted with a large U.S. map that contains a peg for each community bank and a singular cord linking them all together.
Rockland Trust Turns Small Business Dreams Into Reality
Through its annual Small Business, Big Dreams contest, Rockland Trust offers small businesses a chance to win up to $20,000 in funding.
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.
Could Freelancers Solve Your Bank's Staffing Problems?
During staff shortages, leaves and short-term projects, freelancers can fulfill the needs of your community bank in a variety of areas and concentrations.