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ICBA's Best-Performing Banks of 2024
These community banks hit their stride in 2024, and they intend to keep the momentum going with hard work, flexibility and the expertise they've built over their years of service.
ICBA Certification Q&A: Lisa Cronk
In the first of our new Powering Potential series, we meet Lisa C. Cronk, the compliance and audit control officer at Lake Elmo Bank in Minneapolis.
7 Strategies for Raising Bank Deposits
Community banks must maintain a competitive edge to stay on top of their deposits.
Charles Potts: How Core Providers Are Becoming Core to Innovation
On February 5, the ICBA Innovation team conducted our first core day with our AP5 Accelerator cohort.
Out of Office: Ashley Burt
The CEO and president of $230 million-asset Gunnison Bank and Trust Company in Gunnison, Colo., likes to live life in the fast lane as a race car driver.
Alliance Bank Elevates Community Wellness
Last October, $440 million-asset Alliance Bank in Francesville, Ind., donated $1,000 to the Community Wellness Center of Winamac, a local gym.
How Marketing Impacts Community Banks' Recruiting
A marketing campaign could be the first thing a prospective employee sees while researching your community bank.
Jim Reber: Dialing It Back
Simple bonds find favor with portfolio managers in 2024.
Warsaw Federal Bank's Unique Path to MDI Status
Cincinnati-based Warsaw Federal Bank has just become one of the state’s two minority depository institutions, with a focus on bringing banking to the city’s underserved communities.
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?
Lucas White: Driving Community Banking's Agenda with Advocacy
I am an avid motorcyclist. In fact, I have completed two Iron Butt rides, riding at least 1,000 miles in 24 hours.
Lindsay LaNore: 10 Quick Wins For New Leaders
Here’s the scenario: You’ve just been put in charge of a new team or new project. No matter how seasoned a leader you are, that can be daunting.
Dieterich Bank Inspires Young Entrepreneurs
Dieterich Bank’s KidPreneur Pop Up Shop program has taught the younger generation how to build and run their own businesses.
Rebeca Romero Rainey: Why the Community Bank Story Matters in Advocacy
As we enter Community Banking Month, I am thrilled to honor the ways community banks step up to champion the needs of their communities.
Banking With Heart: How Community Banks Support Customers' Dreams
In honor of Community Banking Month, here are stories from six banks about how their work helps customers achieve their dreams.
Can Community Banks Benefit from Culture Leadership Positions?
Is culture something that falls into place naturally or something that is cultivated?
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?
Out of Office: Beth Whitehead
The executive vice president and chief administrative officer of $9.2 billion-asset American Savings Bank (ASB) in Honolulu has more than 100 pairs of Converse shoes, also known as Chucks.
A Shadow Day for Students at State Nebraska Bank & Trust
State Nebraska Bank & Trust in Wayne, Neb., recently showed local high school students the ins and outs of community banking.
CRE Lending: Challenge or Opportunity?
CRE lending is down, but should community banks see it as an opportunity to win business that the megabanks won’t take?
John Coleman: An Opportunity for Advocacy at ICBA Capital Summit
As the ICBA Capital Summit approaches, it’s more important now than ever that community bankers understand what impact their stories can have on legislation.
Meet ICBA's 2024/25 Board of Directors
The 2024/25 ICBA board of directors is raring to go. With their eyes set on community bank advocacy, they have high hopes of what they can achieve during their term.
Community Banks' Best Defense Against Ransomware
Ransomware incidents are skyrocketing, and while banks are less likely to be hit, that doesn’t mean they can rest on their laurels. Constant vigilance is key.
Member Benefits: ICBA PAC
ICBA PAC is the only federal political action committee dedicated entirely to community bank causes. See how ICBA PAC elevates you—the community banker—and ensures your voice is heard.
How to Curate Your Community Bank's Social Strategy
Between Facebook, Instagram, X and other social media platforms, it can be difficult, if not impossible, to successfully follow every social trend when it comes to your marketing.
Test Driving Community Bank Mobile Banking Apps
With so many mobile banking apps available, a growing number of people are looking to try them out before they sign up. Can community banks give them a “test drive” function to attract more customers?
Charles Potts: Today's Data Marketing Mindset
Business planning functions as a life cycle. Strategy overlies everything, but it’s discovery that informs, leading to tactics and activation.
Lindsay LaNore: Purposeful Abandonment and the Art of Letting Go
There’s a great deal of pressure on organizations to be innovative. And in a constantly changing world, that can sometimes be daunting.
Derek Williams: Continuing the Community Bank Legacy
As I reflect on my year as ICBA chairman, I’m proud to say that it’s been a big win for ICBA and for community banks across the country, as our “one mission” has been on full display.
Traditional Advertising's Place in Community Bank Marketing
Marketing success is often measured against website traffic, comments and likes these days, but there’s still a place for traditional ads.
Rebeca Romero Rainey: Putting the Person in Personalized Marketing
When it comes to community bank marketing, it’s about the person, not the product.
Anne Balcer: What Have We Learned One Year After the SVB Failure?
For the past year, ICBA has remained steadfast in advocating for community banks in the wake of Silicon Valley Bank’s collapse. Here are the results of those advocacy efforts.
Meet Lucas White, 2024/25 ICBA Chairman and Fourth-Gen Community Banker
Lucas White, fourth-generation family banker and president of The Fountain Trust Company in Covington, Ind., begins his term as the 2024/25 ICBA chairman.
Jim Reber: Shop Talk 2024
Another conversation with our consummate community banker, Charlie Brown.
How Santa Cruz County Bank's Technology Transforms the Customer Experience
Santa Cruz County Bank has maintained its top rank among local banks by balancing high tech and high touch and elevating the customer above all.
Update: Check Re-Presentment Guidance
Check re-presentment fees have resulted in violations of Section 5 of the FTC Act for some banks. Will updated guidance from the federal regulators make things clearer?
Crossbridge Community Bank's Golden Opportunity for Seniors
Through its Golden Community Club program, Crossbridge Community Bank goes the extra mile for its senior customers and offers an array of social and educational resources.
Making Mortgages Happen Amid Higher Interest Rates
Higher interest rates are discouraging many consumers from taking out new mortgages or refinancing existing ones—but community banks are taking steps to fill their pipelines in innovative ways.
5 Tactics to Turbo Boost Your Marketing
It can feel impossible to keep up with shifts in social media and other digital marketing channels.
What Makes a Good Manager?
Even though taking on managerial duties often comes part and parcel with a promotion, not everyone is suited to it.
Legends Bank Gives Local Charities a Real Shot
Thanks to Legends Bank, local charities have financial support to bolster their efforts.
Member Benefits: Be Proactive With Crisis Preparedness
ICBA’s Crisis Preparedness website offers resources to help community bankers plan for and mitigate the effects of a catastrophe, whether it’s a natural disaster, a cyberattack or an in-person threat.
Final Updates to Debit Cards Rules
In October 2022, the Federal Reserve Board finalized updates to the Board’s rule for debit card transactions, which went into effect July 1, 2023.
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.”
Sharing the Load With Participation Loans
When a bank wants to provide a loan above its lending limits, it’s time to turn to participation loans. But what are the benefits and risks involved for community banks?
SouthState Bank Unlocks the Doors to Homeownership
The annual income required of potential homebuyers recently experienced its largest increase on record.
Lindsay LaNore: Developing Drive
Drive. It’s a quality we all need and a characteristic we look for when hiring new employees, considering who to promote and identifying leaders within the bank. Yet, it’s often elusive.
Out of Office: Curtis Anderson
The executive vice president of $12.6 billion-asset Veritex Community Bank in Dallas, Texas, relives his childhood through his collection of unique vending and self-service machines from decades past.
Jim Reber: The Big Chill
Might the bond market be range-bound in 2024?
Countybank's Half-Century of Charitable Giving
In a show of unwavering support, Countybank founded the Countybank Foundation more than 50 years ago to fulfill its mission to improve every community it serves.
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.
Rebeca Romero Rainey: The Spirit of Community
As it’s often stated, “A rising tide lifts all boats.” When applied to community banking, that sentiment couldn’t be truer. We come together as a community of bankers, having one another’s best...
The Status of De Novos Going Into 2024
De novos breathe new life into the banking sector, but activity is still far below its historic highs. That said, a new crop of community banks shows there’s great potential for success.
From Vision to Reality: How CDFIs and MDIs Fund Their Important Efforts
Minority-owned banks are a lifeline to their communities—but their needs often outstrip deposits. These MDIs are securing the capital and resources to LIFT UP their communities.
Schooling Customers on Student Loan Fraud
With student loan payments recently unpaused, cybercriminals have new ways of scamming banks and their customers. Here’s what community banks and their customers need to know.
Derek Williams: The Meaning of "Here for Good"
As our ICBA LIVE theme points out, community banks and bankers are “here for good,” and that phrase works in multiple ways.
Paul Merski: ICBA Advocacy and the Year Ahead
Learn about the legislative issues ICBA is prioritizing in 2024—and how you can help.
Out of Office: Ilene Baker
The vice president, human resources manager, of $2.2 billion-asset First Western Bank & Trust in Minot, N.D., and her husband run an organic farm and have even started a local farmers market.
Member Benefits: Educated Investing With ICBA Securities
In partnership with its exclusively endorsed broker Stifel, ICBA Securities offers practical and educational investment resources for community banks across the nation.
What Bank Swag Does Gen Z Want?
Financial institutions are vying for Gen Z’s business, and if you want to attract this new cohort of customers, you need to think about incentives beyond bank-branded beer koozies and keychains.