NEWSROOM

Main Street Matters Blog

Find out what's happening in communities across America, from grassroots advocacy efforts, to fintech innovations and everyday successes of Main Street banks.

Main Street Matters

Assessment Credits Bring a Happy New Year

Dec 18, 2018
With the holidays almost here, community banks recently received some good news that has been years in the making. The FDIC announced that the Deposit Insurance Fund reserve ratio has surpassed 1.35 percent, triggering approximately $750 million in assessment credits for community banks with assets under $10 billion.

Agencies Improving Appraisal Regs

Dec 13, 2018
The federal banking agencies recently responded to industry requests with a proposed rule to increase the threshold where bankers could use a property evaluation in lieu of a full appraisal—completed by a licensed or certified appraiser—for mortgage loans they retain in portfolio. The agencies are proposing to increase this threshold from $250,000 to $400,000.

Shared Values Bring Shared Success

Dec 10, 2018
Community bankers, you outdid yourselves in 2018. As we near the end of this significant year in community banking, it is worth taking a moment to look back and reflect on what we’ve achieved together.

Career Development: A Priority for Today’s Modern Workforce

Dec 6, 2018
Employees expect transparency and want to know their employers’ plans for growth and how they fit in. One way to address this shift in corporate ethos is to make sure that professional development is a part of your community bank’s compensation package.

ICBA 2018 Election Analysis

Nov 7, 2018
Voters delivered narrow control of the House to Democrats, sharpening oversight of the Trump administration and bringing a raft of new policy initiatives. In a special post-election analysis, ICBA examines key results and what the divided Congress will mean for community banks and the 116th Congress.

Investing in the Future of Community Banking

Nov 2, 2018
ICBA this week kicked off the next chapter in our journey to create and promote an environment where community banks flourish with the launch of the ICBA ThinkTech Accelerator.

Subchapter S Sit-down

Nov 1, 2018
ICBA has been working with policymakers to ensure the new Subchapter S tax deduction is workable for community banks. Main Street Matters sat down with ICBA’s Alan Keller, first vice president of legislative policy, and Steve Keen, vice president of congressional relations, to check in on the issue.

Do Not be Spooked by Cyber Threats

Oct 31, 2018
Today’s cybercrime is masked in various forms and unassuming emails as criminals look to best the system for financial gain.ICBA is doing its part to help community banks address this growing threat—arming our members with information, resources and partnerships to safeguard their institutions and their customers.

ICBA Out Front on Community Bank Advocacy

Oct 10, 2018
Just as community bankers establish symbiotic relationships with their customers and communities, ICBA and the community banking industry maintain strong bonds with policymakers of all political stripes who write the laws and regulations we live by.

Taking Stock of Your Core Processor Relationship

Oct 5, 2018
Three banks sound off on using ICBA's Core Processor Resource Guide as a blueprint for managing this complex, critical and expensive technology investment and creating a strategic relationship in line with their business objectives.