Independent Banker

FEBRUARY 28, 2023

From left: Coastal Heritage Bank staff Pat Driscoll, Sondra Krieg, Lisa Levy, Janet Joyce, Diane Calabro and Scott Ambroceo. Photo by Mike Ritter Spurred by social distancing and shutdowns during the pandemic, many community banks turned to virtual financial advisory services, and these new practices are expected to stick around. By Katie Kuehner-Hebert The pandemic shutdowns expedited community banks’ digital transformation journeys—including the adoption of virtual financial advisory services.

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Independent Banker

FEBRUARY 28, 2023

Valley Bank offers financial literacy education to women through Hoving Home. Valley Bank is working side by side with Walter Hoving Home, a place of refuge for women struggling with addiction and other personal challenges, to offer residents financial empowerment. By Roshan McArthur For Valley Bank in Wayne, N.J., success brings with it an obligation to help others succeed, too.

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Independent Banker

FEBRUARY 28, 2023

By Lindsay LaNore, ICBA The theme for ICBA LIVE 2023 is “Light the Fire. Light the Way.” As leaders, that’s a huge part of what we do: spark enthusiasm, encourage creativity and guide our teams on the paths to success. But inspiration doesn’t always happen spontaneously, or even daily, so it’s incumbent upon us to develop strategies and create environments that inspire and motivate our teams, all while making sure we stay inspired ourselves.

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Independent Banker

FEBRUARY 28, 2023

BankOnBuffalo president Michael Noah says the bank’s mobile branch will provide service to those who don’t have easy access to banks. Photos by Luke Copping Photography BankOnBuffalo has hit the road with its new mobile bank, BankOnWheels, to meet the needs of underserved communities. By William Atkinson Name: BankOnBuffalo Assets: $1.1 billion Location: Buffalo, N.Y.

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Independent Banker

FEBRUARY 28, 2023

Photo by Ismail Rajo/iStock The time has come for the long-awaited FedNow launch. As community banks navigate this process, there are plenty of resources available to answer questions and provide guidance. By Colleen Morrison Between May and July of this year, non-pilot instant payment transactions will be live on FedNow, the first new Federal Reserve payment rail in more than 40 years.

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Independent Banker

DECEMBER 31, 2022

Elder financial abuse costs seniors billions of dollars a year. But there are tools to fight it. Photo courtesy of CRA Partners/SHCPF. Billions of dollars are lost to elder financial exploitation each year. Equip your team with the skills needed to protect your customers. From 2019 to 2020 alone, the amount of money involved in elder financial abuse rose by nearly a billion dollars—the largest year-over-year increase since 2013.

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Independent Banker

DECEMBER 31, 2022

Illustration by Jack Hudson. We recently spoke with community bank CEOs from across the country to gain insights on how they’re proactively positioning to manage risks and take advantage of growth opportunities in the coming year. By Beth Mattson-Teig. Following some respite in 2022, community bankers are bracing for a tougher economic landscape ahead in 2023.

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Independent Banker

DECEMBER 31, 2022

Illustration by Monster Ztudio/Adobe. From new fee practices to peer-to-peer fraud, keep an eye on what regulatory changes could be developing in the new year. By Mary Thorson Wright. While the pace of bank regulatory changes has diminished from a few years ago, several issues will either become effective or likely develop in 2023. Community banks must continue to stay focused on regulatory discussions and remain nimble to respond to proposals and address requirements quickly and accurately.

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Independent Banker

DECEMBER 31, 2022

Photo by Pressmaster/Adobe. The skills needed to succeed in the workplace are changing, with companies placing greater value on soft skills like communication and leadership. In response, community banks have an opportunity to revisit hiring policies and training programs. By Roshan McArthur. The use of digital technology and artificial intelligence has changed the workplace dramatically in recent decades, but the pandemic accelerated this shift by forcing remote working and driving online comme

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Independent Banker

DECEMBER 31, 2022

Photo by Nebojsa/Adobe. By Lindsay LaNore, ICBA. In a rapidly evolving world, it’s more important than ever to commit to lifelong learning, but it’s just as challenging to make time for it. Expanding education beyond the classroom, however, can be as easy as planning a reading list, starting a departmental book club or gifting each member of your team a book that you love.

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Independent Banker

DECEMBER 31, 2022

First Reliance Bank’s founder and CEO Rick Saunders with his wife, Tiffany, and three children. To help ease the process, First Reliance Bank offers assistance for associates who welcome a foster or adopted child into their family. By Rachel Hatcher. Quick Stat. 76%. of adults considering international adoption are concerned about being able to pay for it.

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Independent Banker

DECEMBER 31, 2022

(L-R): Union Savings Bank’s executive vice president, Rick Judd; vice president of digital channels Chris Barlow; and director of USB Innovation Center Peter Scotch at USB’s historical Main Street Danbury, Conn., location. Photos by Mike Yamin. By partnering with fintechs, Union Savings Bank has rolled out an innovative digital tool that uses AI to help customers achieve financial wellbeing.

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Independent Banker

DECEMBER 31, 2022

Photo by Chris Williams. One of our greatest assets is our reputation as relationship bankers. When things get tough, people want to be able to talk to their banker. I’ve always been a glass-half-full guy, and though 2023 is expected to be a challenging economic year, it also brings opportunity. We simply need to remember what makes us special as community bankers, and with that as our foundation, we can embrace this season of change in four primary ways: 1.

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Independent Banker

DECEMBER 31, 2022

Photo by Juan Moyano/Stocksy. The payments landscape is evolving, and customers’ needs are changing. Here’s how community banks can enhance their payments offerings. By Colleen Morrison. Quick Stat. 30%. of banks’ revenues come from payments. Source: EY. Payments account for up to 30% of bank revenue, and that income stream is under attack. Increased competition signals that the payment relationship with the customer is up for grabs by a growing group of challengers.

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Independent Banker

DECEMBER 31, 2022

Photo by Chris Williams. 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. The beginning of a new year feels like a fresh start, a new chapter in our stories. We have a blank page on which we can write our narrative over the course of the year, with new milestones filling the pages ahead.

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Independent Banker

NOVEMBER 30, 2022

From blending differing values to choosing a new chairman, there are many challenges that can arise after a merger or acquisition. We spoke with legal and financial experts about what questions community bank leaders should ask themselves pre-merger, what issues they may face and how they can build an even stronger financial institution. By Bridget McCrea.

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Independent Banker

NOVEMBER 30, 2022

Photo by Nate Smallwood. First National Bank and Black Tech Nation Ventures teamed up to support minority-owned startups in the Pittsburgh community and beyond. By Elizabeth Judd. Driven by her goal to cultivate a supportive community for diverse tech startups, Kelauni Jasmyn founded the fiscally sponsored nonprofit Black Tech Nation in Pittsburgh in 2018.

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Independent Banker

NOVEMBER 30, 2022

Photo by MirageC/Getty Images. As community banks grow, their vendor partnerships usually also do, which can lead to challenges with organization, data security and more. To address these issues, some community banks have turned to artificial intelligence. By Elizabeth Judd. The dazzling possibilities of artificial intelligence (AI) have captured the public imagination.

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Independent Banker

NOVEMBER 30, 2022

Clockwise from top left: Grand Ridge National Bank, Wheaton, Ill.; Community Financial Services Bank, Benton, Ky.; Bank of Montana, Missoula, Mont.; CNB Bank, Berkeley Springs, W.Va.; Midwest Bank, Norfolk, Neb. What great resignation? In our annual workplace survey, employees of ICBA’s best community banks to work for told us they benefit from engaging cultures, opportunities for advancement and innovative benefits. » LESS THAN $250 MILLION.

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Independent Banker

NOVEMBER 30, 2022

Illustration by Jess Rodriguez/Adobe. In 2022, ICBA’s award-winning ThinkTECH Accelerator program reached more community banks with innovative solutions and partnerships than ever before. By Charles Potts, ICBA. For ICBA and our community bank members, 2022 was a year full of potential. We not only continued to grow and improve on our iconic, award-winning ThinkTECH Accelerator program; we also reached more community banks with innovative solutions and partnerships than ever before.

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Independent Banker

NOVEMBER 30, 2022

Stacy Watkins (left), president and CEO, and Hilary Nelson (right), senior vice president and director of operations and compliance, at the Las Vegas Strip. Photo by Sammy Tillery. When it comes to supporting outliers in the Las Vegas community, Lexicon Bank knows how to play its cards. By Tom Groenfeldt. Name: Lexicon Bank. Assets: $237.6 million. Location: Las Vegas, Nev.

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Independent Banker

NOVEMBER 30, 2022

Photo by goir/Adobe. The end of the year is the perfect time to share your appreciation for the hard work and successes of the year gone by. By Lindsay LaNore, ICBA. It’s the end of the year, a time for leaders to reflect on goals, metrics and performance over the past 12 months. It’s a time to set goals and a vision for the year ahead. And it’s also a perfect time to say, “thank you,” and share your appreciation for all the hard work and successes of the year gone by.

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Independent Banker

NOVEMBER 30, 2022

Artwork by ra2 studio/Adobe. Convenience is a growing desire from consumers everywhere. Across the world, people are using super apps to send messages, purchase tickets and, of course, bank online. What are they, and how can community banks stay on top of this trend? By Colleen Morrison. Super apps, or apps that aggregate online or mobile user experiences into one central location, have taken off globally.

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Independent Banker

NOVEMBER 30, 2022

Photo by Chris Williams. People want to be a part of something bigger than themselves, and community banks provide that opportunity. Community banking is about serving the greater good. As community continuators, we are part of something bigger than ourselves. We support civic clubs, Lions Clubs, the Relay for Life, our local schools and so much more, because these issues matter to the communities we serve.

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Independent Banker

NOVEMBER 30, 2022

Photo by Chris Williams. How we hire, retain, recruit and advance our missions amid momentous change will remain a key topic for community bank leaders and will influence our plans for the future. December creates a natural opportunity for reflection, and as I look back on our efforts over the past year, I’m struck by one core truth: It’s the people who make the bank.

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Independent Banker

OCTOBER 1, 2022

Shielding sensitive customer information from prying eyes remains a chronic industry challenge. But as the prevalence of security breaches grows, so do the opportunities for community banks to position themselves as guardians of their customers’ personal data through compliance, technology and relationship building. By Katie Kuehner-Hebert. Data privacy and security is a hot topic and is only getting hotter.

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Independent Banker

OCTOBER 1, 2022

Illustration by Tommy/iStock. The leading causes of burnout include dealing with unclear expectations, and feeling overworked, underappreciated or unsupported by a manager or team. Combat burnout by renewing your bank’s focus on well-being. By Lindsay LaNore, ICBA. Among its many side effects, the COVID-19 pandemic has made us hyperconscious of worker safety.

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Independent Banker

OCTOBER 1, 2022

Community banks are at a critical juncture when it comes to cybersecurity. ICBA has extensive knowledge, expertise and education you can tap into to help you chart the path ahead. By Charles Potts, ICBA. Every year, ICBA surveys the industry and its members to identify their top concerns as part of its innovation strategy. Without fail, cybersecurity ranks among the top three, making it a clear priority for our organization.

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Independent Banker

OCTOBER 1, 2022

North Easton Savings Bank president and CEO Rich Spencer (left) with recipients of the bank’s annual college scholarships. College-bound high school students in Massachusetts were asked to complete essays about the intrinsic value of community banks for a chance to win a scholarship from North Easton Savings Bank. By Paul Sisolak. The testimonials written by local high school students were worth their weight in gold to North Easton Savings Bank.

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Independent Banker

OCTOBER 1, 2022

Neil Zick, president and CEO of Twin City Bank, helped Tim Norris obtain financing to start The Link Cannabis Co. Photo: Susan Seubert. While the legal status of banking cannabis-related businesses remains fuzzy at the federal level, community banks in some states are finding that, with proper controls, they’re able to enter this niche market and offer banking services to these local businesses.

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Independent Banker

OCTOBER 1, 2022

An event at EMS in June brought together (L–R) Clear Mountain Bank president/CEO Dave Thomas, ICBA president Rebeca Romero Rainey, FHLBank Pittsburgh president/CEO Winthrop Watson, and Tim Critchfield, EMS owner/president. The West Virginia community bank is helping small-business customers get the financing they need while continually seeking new ideas to plan for its own future.

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Independent Banker

OCTOBER 1, 2022

Photo by Chris Williams. “The knowledge we have cultivated over years of circumventing attacks means that we have a depth of understanding about cyber and data security that the general population doesn’t—and those are lessons we can share.”. When it comes to fraud, you don’t know what you don’t know, and what you don’t know can greatly influence your bottom line.

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Independent Banker

OCTOBER 1, 2022

As digital crime evolves, cyber insurance could be part of the solution. We explore how it can protect banks against financial losses and provide resources in the event of a cyber attack. By Beth Mattson-Teig. Big organizations like Microsoft, Colonial Pipeline and the Red Cross have notably been hit by cybercrime, but in this case, smaller doesn’t necessarily mean safer.

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Independent Banker

OCTOBER 1, 2022

Financial fraud and cyber attacks aren’t a one-age-fits-all scenario. By identifying the preferred banking and spending habits of different generations, scammers can tailor how they reach their targets. We look at community banks’ options for fighting this type of crime. By Katie Kuehner-Hebert. Fraudsters will find ways to attack as many people as possible in as many different ways, but often their methods are different depending on a person’s age.

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Independent Banker

OCTOBER 1, 2022

Photo by Chris Williams. “While there’s no cyber or data security silver bullet, by bringing the theoretical into a true banking environment, we can begin to establish action plans that speak to real-world attacks.”. Cyber and data security have long been areas of emphasis for community banks, but in today’s escalating digital environment, that focus has grown.

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Independent Banker

JULY 31, 2022

Following their stints as interns, Malvern Bank retained the talents of (L to R) Cody Sorenson, Keegan Wederquist and Adam Konfrst, hiring them as full-time, mid-level team members. Photo: Colin Conces. A mass exodus of the U.S. workforce during the pandemic brought challenges in recruiting entry- to mid-level staff. These community banks share how they have (or haven’t) altered their hiring strategies.

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Independent Banker

JULY 2, 2022

L to R, Arkansas governor Asa Hutchinson, FNB president/CEO Sam T. Sicard and Fort Smith, Ark., mayor George McGill. It may be celebrating its 150th anniversary, but First National Bank of Fort Smith didn’t want presents this year. Instead, it gifted $500,000 to its local Boys & Girls Club for an ambitious renovation. By Paul Sisolak. Just as much a part of western Arkansas history as its hometown, $1.84 billion-asset The First National Bank of Fort Smith (FNB) was founded on Feb. 29, 1872—j

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