Main Street Matters Blog

Having the right rewards program to match your existing and targeted cardholder customer base is more important than ever. That’s why ICBA Bancard, in partnership with TCM Bank recently released, “Cultivating the Strategic Value of Credit Card Rewards Programs,.

Studies show most Americans have too much debt and not enough savings. Being prepared doesn’t have to be a chore or a burden. With a few simple steps you can start stockpiling a nest egg that will carry you through life’s unexpected twists and turns.

Economic security rapidly evaporated for many households in 2020 as the coronavirus imposed an indelible mark on our nation’s economy. While the consequences were unprecedented, data continues to affirm the vitality of community banks.

In a time of ambiguity, you take notice when there’s unilateral consensus, as was the case at last month’s ThinkTECH Policy Summit. During the summit, assembled regulators, legislators, and community bankers all agreed that community bank innovation will drive the future of financial services.

Community bankers have hit the ground running this year with another round of Paycheck Protection Program lending, Economic Impact Payment processing, and the everyday business of supporting local communities during the pandemic.

In our industry if you’re not moving forward, you’re in danger of falling behind. It’s why we created the ICBA ThinkTECH Accelerator program—to foster community bank innovation.

We have had to juggle countless responsibilities this year—to our families, to our businesses, to our communities, to each other. With so many simultaneous demands, we have had to make no shortage of sacrifices.

As we near the close of 2020, we’re all crossing our fingers and hoping that 2021 brings a stronger sense of stability and normalcy. No matter how we define it, “normal” will differ dramatically from this point forward.

Bitcoin’s market cap is larger than the economies of some of the world’s smaller nations. The prices of popular cryptocurrencies continue to soar to new heights. Meanwhile, several financial institutions and tech giants announced significant digital asset initiatives.

As you know, there are currently two forms of central bank money in America: paper currency and money held by institutions on deposit at the Federal Reserve Banks. CBDC would be a new, third form — a “digital form of central bank money that is different from balances in traditional reserve or settlement accounts.”