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Ponce Bank serves the underserved
Ponce Bank has brought banking services to minority neighborhoods in the Bronx and greater New York City for more than six decades with a clear focus on community investment.
Aaron Stetter: Pushing back against postal banking
ICBA is fighting a flawed proposal that would have the U.S. Postal Service enter the banking industry.
Charles Potts: Integrating cybersecurity
As banks are revisiting their strategic plans and budgeting for the future, cybersecurity needs a seat at the table.
Lindsay LaNore: Creative teambuilding
Sometimes teambuilding gets a bad rap, and busy schedules can keep it from reaching the top of the priority list, but it is something every leader should have in their repertoire.
Robert Fisher: Education is the foundation
Educated customers form stronger relationships with their community banks. They are more likely to repay loans, live within their means and maintain higher balances.
“Baby Stepping” Got Coastal Community Bank to BaaS - A Conversation with Eric Sprink, CEO
Host Charles Potts, CIO of the Independent Community Bankers of America, sits down with Eric Sprink to discuss his storied career and passion for community banking. This episode is brought to you...
Jim Reber: Balance sheet, complete
Investors have turned their sights on loan purchases.
Robert Fisher: A legacy of good
It’s our responsibility to help make our communities better places to live, to help pull people out of poverty and address issues they’re facing.
7 benefits that will make your bank stand out
Today’s competitive labor market means employers have to stand out from the pack. One strategy community banks can use is a well-rounded benefits package. Here are seven benefits that community...
Out of Office: Orvin Kimbrough
The chairman and CEO of $2.3 billion-asset Midwest BankCentre in St. Louis has been teaching students valuable leadership skills for more than a decade as a Washington University adjunct professor.
Brattleboro Savings & Loan is a force for good
Brattleboro Savings & Loan is the ninth bank in the country to become an official B Corporation, a designation that certifies the community bank’s commitment to its community, the environment and...
Rebeca Romero Rainey: Engaging with talent
The people we employ embody our banks, and the personal relationships our teams forge with our customers make us unique in the industry and keep our customers returning.
Why internships could benefit your community bank
An internship provides opportunities for young people to be exposed to an industry and lay the groundwork for a future career. For community banks, they can be a tool for finding the right...
Tips for a successful PPP audit
Many community banks embraced the Paycheck Protection Program, building new relationships and deepening existing ones. While the onus of forgiveness is on the borrowers, PPP lenders need to be...
Lindsay LaNore: Lake rules for the workplace
Rules are the principles that govern conduct within an organization, and they can extend well beyond perfect attendance and dress codes.
Rebeca Romero Rainey: Use your voice
[There is a] need for strong voices to weigh in on how new regulation will affect our communities and the customers we serve.
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...
7 ways community banks can boost profitability
A profitability strategy has a lot to factor in given today’s uncertain market. Here’s what community bankers need to know when planning their budgets for the next year.
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...
11 hot-button issues you should know about
While the political landscape in Washington, D.C., has changed considerably over the past year, ICBA continues to work with regulators and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle for the betterment of...
ICBA’s 2021 National Community Bank Service Award winners
ICBA’s National Community Bank Service Award winners for 2021 demonstrate that when their local areas need support, community banks are there with innovative, compassionate and thoughtful responses.
Robert Fisher: What it means to be a community bank
This is our moment to communicate just what it means to be a community bank.
CFOs reveal how they’re budgeting for change
In 2020, we spoke to community bank CFOs about how they were planning amid pandemic-related uncertainties. In 2021, we talked again to many of these executives to get their take on how things went...
Lindsay LaNore: The power of “I don’t know”
In the fast-moving world of social messaging, the phrase “I don’t know” has its own abbreviation. The very existence of “IDK” suggests that the state of not knowing—and being willing to admit...
Banking on minority-owned businesses
Four community banks came together to launch a $1 million interest-free loan program to help local business owners who have faced barriers to the traditional banking system.
How cryptocurrency may be going mainstream
Beyond all the hype, cryptocurrency has unequivocally gained a loyal following, and mainstream financial players are taking notice. Is it time community banks got involved in crypto? One community...
Your 2021 physical security assessment checklist
Social distancing measures had a large effect on branch security over the past year. Here’s what to look for when doing a physical security assessment to account for the latest trends in...
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...
Why community banks are acquiring nonbanks
Acquiring a wealth management firm, fintech, title business or other nonbank organization can unlock new opportunities for community banks. But experts say that finding the right business to...
Rebeca Romero Rainey: Starting a new chapter
As we enter a new chapter and start a new financial statement cycle, know that ICBA will be there to support you with tools, resources and advocacy efforts.
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...
Robert Fisher: Accelerating ahead
In today’s marketplace, we can’t be afraid to experiment and fail. Let’s embrace some out-of-the-box, entrepreneurial thinking to attack our problem areas.
Jim Reber: Pick and roll
Multiple institutional relationships influence bond yields.
Charles Potts: Embrace the digital experience
Consider ICBA your partner and advocate on the digital transformation journey. That’s why ThinkTECH exists and why we continually innovate to introduce new resources as the industry evolves.
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...
Meet 2021’s ThinkTECH Accelerator finalists
Starting in 2018, ICBA’s ThinkTECH Accelerator has helped create a new ecosystem of community bank-friendly fintechs through a rigorous incubator boot camp involving hundreds of community bankers...
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.
Out of Office: Kyle DeCicco
The executive vice president and senior loan officer at $740 million-asset Sanibel Captiva Community Bank in Sanibel, Fla., competes in Ironman triathlons, tests of endurance that involve swimming...
Chief risk officers on how they manage today’s risks
The more community banks grow, the more risk they take on. Chief risk officers are the ones behind the scenes making growth possible. Four CROs sound off on their increasingly important role within...