Leadership & Succession

Nominations for 40 Under 40: Community Bank Leaders 2026 are now open!

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. However, the ways in which we solicit questions can vary—as can the results.

Creating succession plans for family-owned community banks can be complicated in all sorts of ways, but having hard conversations and setting goals will ensure your family’s pride and joy will continue for years to come.

There’s a rule that applies on the basketball court that can also be applied in the workplace. It’s called the 95% rule, and this is how it works.

Payments have transformed into a strategic opportunity. They no longer simply perform a routine function. Instead, they offer revenue potential, enhanced customer experiences and more.

SPONSORED | Is your bank’s board ready for AI? Take the 2025 survey to benchmark your readiness, explore what peers are doing, and request a VIP seat at our exclusive webinar with ICBA’s Charles Potts.

What’s special about community banking is the support and growth young bankers see throughout their careers. These community bankers stuck with the industry, garnering knowledge and banking expertise that brought them from an ground-floor positions to their current executive roles.

Good leadership is about much more than one individual’s impact on the bottom line. It’s not even just about having the “soft skills” that make people want to work on your team. It’s about how effective leaders use these skills both internally and in the community to build a stronger bank. Here, community bankers and experts give insight into what this can look like.