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ICBA's Impact on the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act
ICBA secured 7 community bank priorities in the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, covering deposits, exams, rural banking and more.
Devon Bank's Free Nonprofit Workshop Series Forges Connections
Since 2025, Devon Bank has empowered Chicago-area nonprofits through free expert-led workshops on grant writing, donor cultivation and board development.
Certification Q&A: Jenny Bogden
Learn how ICBA certifications build credibility and close knowledge gaps. Read how Jenny Bogden leveraged them across 29 years at FIBT.
GBank's Fraud Prevention Bingo: Protecting Las Vegas Seniors
See how GBank uses Fraud Prevention Bingo to teach Las Vegas seniors to spot scams. Discover how your community bank can do the same.
This Is How ICBA Keeps Community Bankers Informed
From the NewsWatch Today newsletter to social media, ICBA delivers the industry news and resources community bankers need.
Meet the Winners of ICBA National Community Bank Service Awards 2026
From cleaning up after a devastating tornado to packing backpacks for students, this year’s National Community Bank Service Award winners give back to their communities in ways both big and small.
How Community Banks Can Navigate Today's Risk Landscape
From AI vulnerabilities to deepfakes, discover seven key risk areas every community bank should monitor, plus expert strategies to stay protected and on track.
Community Banks Win Big with Sports Sponsorships
Discover how community banks use sports sponsorships to boost brand awareness, drive organic growth and make a lasting impact in their communities.
Transforming Complex Core Evaluations into Strategic, Bottom-Line Wins
Sponsored_Brand825 2026-09-01 ICBA_FeatureImage_CoreRenewals_2000x1250_v1.png The prospect of undertaking a core evaluation feels daunting for many bank executives. After all, it is easy to view a...
What Does the New Reciprocal Deposit Legislation Mean for U.S. Banks?
What the law changes The new law amends the Federal Deposit Insurance Act to expand the amount of a bank’s reciprocal deposits that can be classified as “nonbrokered,” a designation that generally...
What 1,100 Consumers Told Us About Banking
2026-09-01 Independent Banker Featured Image.png The decisions financial institutions make today will shape the relationships they build tomorrow. Whether you're investing in new technology,...
Examiner-Ready CECL: What the OCC's 2026 Handbook Update Changes
Examiner-Ready CECL: What the OCC's 2026 Handbook Update Changes 2026-09-01 Independent Banker Article Feature Image_2000 x 1250 (1).png From vague to prescriptive The 2021 version opened with...
Rebecca Romero Rainey: The Importance of AI Security for Community Banks
Community banks face growing AI fraud threats including deepfakes and voice cloning. ICBA president and CEO Rebeca Romero Rainey explains how ICBA's AI Security Readiness Guide and advocacy efforts...
Alice P. Frazier: Team, Training and Tools for Community Bank Cyber Resilience
Learn how community banks can strengthen cybersecurity through a layered approach combining skilled staff, ongoing cybersecurity training, access controls, network segmentation and vetted solutions...
How Fidelity Bank's Zurich Classic Sponsorship Drives Community Engagement
Learn how Fidelity Bank leverages community bank sponsorship of the Zurich Classic to build nonprofit partnerships, boost brand awareness, and support Louisiana charities through its Community...
All-Green Fraud: How Community Banks Can Detect and Stop It
All-green fraud—when fraudulent transactions pass every authentication check—is the top fraud challenge for community banks in 2026. Learn how behavioral biometrics, AI fraud detection, and...
Wayne Miller: Bank Middleware and Core Banking Modernization
Learn how middleware for community banks enables core banking modernization without full replacement. Discover how banking APIs and a reusable connectivity layer reduce dependency on legacy core...
Estate Planning for Banks: A Customer Retention Strategy for the Great Wealth Transfer
Community banks are using digital estate planning platforms and fintech partnerships to retain customers during the $124 trillion great wealth transfer. Learn how legacy planning tools strengthen...
Core Conversion Best Practices for Community Banks
Community bankers share core conversion best practices—from clean data for core conversion to employee communication during core conversion—that streamlined operations and enhanced customer...
Bank Insurance Strategy: A Holistic Approach to Community Bank Risk Management
Learn how community banks can build a unified bank insurance strategy that treats coverage as a strategic asset, closes insurance coverage gaps, and strengthens enterprise risk management.
Lindsay LaNore: How to Map Your Bank's Future State
Learn how future-back thinking helps community bank leaders create a strategic roadmap. Discover a four-step future-state planning exercise to align your leadership team and drive innovation.
Bank Teller Training Strategies for Community Bank Success
Learn how future-back thinking helps community bank leaders create a strategic roadmap. Discover a four-step future-state planning exercise to align your leadership team and drive innovation.
Municipal Bond Credit Risk: Infrastructure Funding or Warning Sign?
With municipal bond issuance hitting $600 billion in 2026, community bank portfolio managers must evaluate credit risk indicators. Learn key metrics for assessing municipal debt quality.
GENIUS Act One Year Later: What Stablecoin Regulation Means for Community Banks
The GENIUS Act's first anniversary has passed, but payment stablecoin rules remain incomplete. Learn how stablecoin yield restrictions and digital assets regulation affect community bank deposits...
Community Bank Fraud Prevention: Seneca Savings Bank's Fraud Friday Initiative
Learn how Seneca Savings Bank builds customer trust through fraud education with its Fraud Friday email campaign, frontline staff training, and Positive Pay for fraud protection. A fraud prevention...
Community Bank Sponsorship in Action: Bank of Botetourt
Discover how Bank of Botetourt's community bank sponsorship of the Beaver Dam Farm Sunflower Festival drives $1.4 million in local economic impact and strengthens small business bank support across...
Community Bank Marketing: 5 PR Tips for Stronger Social Media Results
Discover proven community bank marketing strategies for PR and social media success. Learn how to build trust, create authentic content, and leverage ICBA resources for stronger engagement.
How Community Banks Teach Kids About Money and Boost Youth Financial Literacy
Discover how community banks build youth financial literacy through bank-school partnerships, Junior Achievement programs, financial education, Credit for Life Fairs, and youth banking programs.
How to Succeed in Specialty Lending
Learn proven niche lending strategies for community banks, from SBA lending and equipment finance to ESOP programs. Discover how specialty lending drives growth and loan portfolio diversification.
Community Bank Cybersecurity from A to Z: Threats, Solutions & Bank Fraud Prevention
Explore the top cybersecurity threats facing community banks—from AI-powered deepfakes to vendor risk—plus proven solutions like zero trust architecture, multi-factor authentication, and NIST CSF 2.0.
What Your Exception Reports Are Really Telling You About Commercial Lending Performance
Alogent_Sponsored What Your Exception Reports Are Really Telling You About Commercial Lending Performance SPONSORED | Exception reports do more than support compliance. They can uncover workflow...
The MVP of Bank Funding
The MVP of Bank Funding SPONSORED | Just as a great player brings both durability and flexibility to a lineup, reciprocal deposits offer a scalable, dependable source of funding that can adapt as...
Your Core Should Support Your Bank’s Strategy
Community banks are expected to deliver convenient experiences, operate efficiently and keep pace with change. For many, the biggest obstacle isn’t outdated technology. It’s a core relationship...
Rethinking Check Fraud Mitigation in the Age of AI
SPONSORED | Fraud losses are only part of the cost. For community banks, excessive reviews and false positives consume valuable staff time. AI can help prioritize risk and focus human expertise...
Alice P. Frazier: Relationship Banking vs. Transaction Speed: How Community Banks Build Trust and Loyalty
Discover how community banks balance immediate transactions with long-standing relationships. Learn why relationship-first banking, around-the-clock responsiveness, and smart digital innovation...
Rebecca Romero Rainey: Data-Driven Banking for Growth and Risk Mitigation
Learn how community banks can use a practical data strategy to drive business development, mitigate risk, strengthen data security, and streamline operations—plus how ICBA ThinkTECH Accelerator...
F&C Bank Restores Historic Downtown Clock, Celebrating Community Bank Heritage in Holden, MO
See how F&C Bank, a hometown community bank in Holden, Missouri, restored a 1960 downtown clock—preserving local history, strengthening community identity, and celebrating its 145th anniversary...
SEO, AEO & GEO for Community Banks: How to Win Visibility in AI Search
AI-powered search is changing bank digital marketing. Learn the difference between SEO vs AEO vs GEO, plus practical steps—FAQs, bullet lists, header hierarchy, and trust signals—to improve ChatGPT...
Community Banker Suzanne Broyles on BSA/AML, Internal Audit & Deposit Operations
Learn how Suzanne Broyles built a community bank compliance career—from internal audit banking to deposit operations and BSA/AML. Get practical tips on productivity, cross-training, and when manual...
Community Bank Giving Back: Commencement Bank’s Hams for the Holidays Food Insecurity Initiative
Learn how Commencement Bank organized a successful community bank holiday giving event to address food insecurity initiatives in Pierce County, WA—powered by local partnerships, employee volunteer...
New Era of Payments: Q&A with the Chief FedNow® Executive
FedNow_Sponsored New Era of Payments: Q&A with the Chief FedNow® Executive SPONSORED | In this new Q&A, Chief FedNow® Executive Nick Stanescu shares what’s driving instant payment growth and how...
Public Funds as a Strategic Anchor in a Rising-Rate Funding Market
Public Funds as a Strategic Anchor in a Rising-Rate Funding Market SPONSORED | With the Fed raising rates and Treasury yields climbing, funding costs are resetting higher. PTMA Funding connects...
Out of Office: Wes Beedon, Guitarist
A Minnesota community banker tells us why he finds joy in performing live music.
Out of Office: Cody Appell, Music Mentor
Cody Appell, VP at Anderson State Bank, gives back as a drumline instructor shaping students and strengthening his community.
Out of Office: Ben Sanders, Chainsaw Artist
In this employee spotlight, community banker Ben Sanders of The Maries County Bank shares how chainsaw sculpting helps him achieve work-life balance while contributing art to his small-town community.
Out of Office: Lincoln McKinnon, Divemaster
Meet Lincoln McKinnon, chief operating officer at Texas First Bank, and learn how scuba diving supports work-life balance in banking, reduces stress and helps bank executives avoid burnout through...
Word-of-Mouth Marketing: Community Bank Growth
Discover how community banks can leverage word of mouth to grow their customer base. Learn 10 actionable strategies to boost referrals, testimonials and engagement.
Out of Office: Colleen Beach, Fire Station Volunteer
The BSA officer at $626 million-asset Tioga State Bank in Spencer, New York, has volunteered with Community Fire & Rescue in Van Etten, New York, for 15 years, providing behind-the-scenes support...
Out of Office: A.J. King, Flyfisher
Three Rivers Bank CEO A.J. King shares how more than 50 years of fly fishing have given him clarity and joy beyond the boardroom.
Out of Office: A Drive to Remember
For over a decade, Lesa and Andrew Black of $125 million-asset Princeville State Bank in Princeville, Illinois, and Doug Parrott of $325 million-asset State Bank of Toulon in Toulon, Illinois,...
Compliance Q&A: Betty Brannock
Betty Brannock, executive vice president of risk management at Legence Bank in Eldorado, Illinois, has spent over three decades in the industry. She holds ICBA’s Certified BSA/AML Professional...
Out of Office: Karin Smith, Jewelry Maker
A California community banker on her passion for creating and selling her own jewelry.
Out of Office: Jordan Nelson, Rodeo Announcer
North Dakota banker Jordan Nelson is a rodeo color commentator.
Out of Office: Olympia Reed, Home Cook
The regional branch operations manager for Lumbee Guaranty Bank in Pembroke, North Carolina, regularly cooks for family, friends and coworkers at the $540 million-asset community bank.
Lindsay LaNore: The Power of Healthy Dissent in Leadership
Discover how healthy dissent fuels stronger teams and better decisions. Learn leadership strategies to foster dialogue and innovation.
Out of Office: Rachell Bilbrey, Interior Designer
The senior vice president and director of treasury at $1.8 billion-asset Builtwell Bank in Chattanooga, Tenn., finds creative fulfillment through conceptualizing, creating and styling home interiors.
The 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.
Multi-State Data Privacy, AI Governance & 36-Hour Breach Reporting: A Compliance Guide for Community Banks
Learn how community banks manage multi-state compliance, including changing GLBA exemptions by state, bank AI governance, and data breach notification requirements. Plus: why the OCC/FDIC 36-hour...
AI-Enhanced CRM for Community Banks: Predictive Insights, Personalization & Growth
Learn how AI-enhanced CRM for community banks uses predictive banking analytics, next best action recommendations, and generative personalization to improve customer relationships, boost...
AI Mortgage Lending: Refinance Trends, Prepayment Risk and MBS Impacts for Community Bank Mortgage Portfolios
AI mortgage lending is accelerating refinance volume and reshaping mortgage refinance trends. Learn how faster origination and AI in mortgage underwriting may increase prepayment risk, negative...