With the producer price index down, can we say we are past peak inflation? Not really. Getting behind the reason for the decline of the overall PPI indicates inflation will be here for quite some time.

We are at the very beginning of exploring the opportunities the metaverse may provide. And while the path forward may be long, financial institutions need to start assessing what those opportunities look like for them.

Community banking is a cyclical industry, and its earnings have some correlation to market interest rates. Discounts are the story of the day, so let’s review how discount-priced bonds can be used strategically to improve portfolio performance.

Big things are happening in the Community Banker University online training world and for you as a subscriber! Please read through this newsletter carefully and contact Community Banker University with any questions.

The Venture Center, ICBA’s leadership bankers, and our ThinkTECH Accelerator cohorts demonstrated the importance of community bank-fintech collaborations at last month’s VenCent Summit. It was an opportunity to showcase the evolution of our Accelerator alumni and reiterate the value of our ThinkTECH initiatives.

In 2020, nearly 18 million Americans were defrauded via digital wallets and person-to-person (P2P) services, according to Javelin Strategy & Research. With numbers like that, P2P solutions like Zelle have come under fire, and issues are escalating.

In this episode, Tim (a 40 Under 40 winner) joins host Charles Potts to discuss his role as an innovator — leading implementation of an online platform that overhauled the bank’s customer experience.

It’s no secret that community banks have plenty of social capital due to their charitable work and community involvement. But they’re not in it for the PR. What sets them apart is that community banks tailor their giving to local needs.

Talent recruitment and professional development has always been a critical issue for community banks, but today’s job market is different. The impact of the “Great Resignation” has placed the workforce in the driver’s seat. Even so, as nimble, local decision makers, community banks have a big opportunity to stand out from the crowd of potential employers.

This October, subscribers can expect streamlined course catalogs that are easier to navigate, plus 45 new Power Skills courses. Just a reminder that Standard Plan, Custom Plan, and Bank Compliance Bundle subscriptions end Sept. 30, 2022.