New organizational structure supports year-round programming in Atlanta
Washington, D.C. (Sept. 27, 2022) — The Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) today announced plans to bring its award-winning, community banker-led ThinkTECH Accelerator program in-house with a new, dedicated office based in the innovation hub of Atlanta. The move to scale and increase investment in ThinkTECH initiatives reflects community bank embracement of the program and ICBA’s goal to develop and bring to market targeted, innovative solutions tailored specifically for community banks and their diverse customer base.
“Following four successful fintech accelerator programs and the tremendous interest in our Accelerator program, the natural next step is to bring ICBA ThinkTECH’s full-time operation and expanded innovation content in-house," ICBA Chief Innovation Officer Charles Potts said. “Our members have been vocal in their need for unified programming, and ICBA is paving the way with this new model to ensure that innovation remains an obtainable, strategic priority for the nation’s nearly 5,000 community banks."
Since its inception in 2019, the ICBA ThinkTECH Accelerator program has connected the most innovative, cutting-edge fintech companies in the world with more than 1,000 community bankers and industry leaders — to design workable solutions that solve for 21st century banking needs.
“Community banks have always been innovators, focused on meeting the needs of their communities without losing sight of our relationship-banking roots,” said ICBA Chairman Brad Bolton, president and CEO of Community Spirit Bank in Red Bay, Ala. “The level of engagement from community bankers to interact and partner with innovative entrepreneurs has highlighted the opportunity that exists for ICBA’s innovation program and its future success, which will create greater access to best-in-class products and services that ultimately benefit the customers and communities we serve.”
As part of the 2023 rollout of the new ICBA in-house accelerator program, ICBA will develop an office space in Atlanta and hire additional staffing to build out the year-round innovation programming — all in the effort to further support ICBA’s mission of creating and promoting an environment where community banks flourish.
For more information about the ICBA ThinkTECH Accelerator, visit www.icba.org/accelerator
About ICBA
The Independent Community Bankers of America® creates and promotes an environment where community banks flourish. ICBA is dedicated exclusively to representing the interests of the community banking industry and its membership through effective advocacy, best-in-class education, and high-quality products and services.
With nearly 50,000 locations nationwide, community banks constitute roughly 99 percent of all banks, employ nearly 700,000 Americans and are the only physical banking presence in one in three U.S. counties. Holding more than $5.8 trillion in assets, over $4.9 trillion in deposits, and more than $3.5 trillion in loans to consumers, small businesses and the agricultural community, community banks channel local deposits into the Main Streets and neighborhoods they serve, spurring job creation, fostering innovation and fueling their customers’ dreams in communities throughout America. For more information, visit ICBA’s website at www.icba.org.
