This week marks my first year as CEO. It has been an exciting and gratifying whirlwind during which time our industry has achieved important advocacy gains while continuing our push toward common-sense regulations, innovation and differentiation of community banks.

Beyond highlighting the positive role community banks serve in funding small businesses, the Federal Reserve Bank's Small Business Credit Survey uncovers opportunities for greater engagement with customers through payment products and services, such as credit cards.

Nearly two-thirds of all Americans could not pass a five-question financial literacy test on everyday economic topics, a stat that community banks are striving to reverse by working within their communities to improve financial literacy.

Ahead of Wednesday’s House Financial Services Committee, the megabanks are working to bolster their reputations by picking and choosing which data best fits their narrative—leading to skewed articles focused on low- and moderate-income communities and consumer sentiment.

Thanks to technological disruption, industry consolidation, and multi-generational workplaces, the traditional career ladder—in community banking and elsewhere—is a splintered artifact of the past. ICBA's Lindsay LaNore shares why this isn't necessarily a bad thing and offers four tips community bankers can use to realize their career aspirations.

Despite megabank advantages borne out of economies of scale, regulatory loopholes, or even tax-advantaged status, community banks continue to flourish by putting relationships first and doing right by their customers and communities.

ICBA's Kevin Tweddle talks diving into data with ThinkTECH Accelerator finalist KapitalWise. Zach Pettet of nbkc in Kansas City, Mo., offers perspective on removing silos.

ICBA's Kevin Tweddle talks ramping up digital services with ThinkTECH Accelerator finalist Agora.

ICBA's Kevin Tweddle talks maneuvering complicated processes across multiple systems and platforms with ThinkTECH Accelerator finalist Teslar. Brad Bolton of Community Spirit Bank in Red Bay, Ala., offers perspective on integrating systems for efficiency.

ICBA’s new white paper on industrial loan companies takes a deep dive into the long history of this obscure charter type and its transformation of recent years.