Fiserv joins as lead sponsor, helping advance community bank-fintech partnerships

Washington, D.C. (Feb. 21, 2024)—The Independent Community Bankers of America® (ICBA) announced three-year agreements with Fiserv, TrueNorth, Wipfli, and Ncontracts to sponsor ICBA’s acclaimed ThinkTECH Accelerator and other innovation programming. The agreements are part of ICBA’s ongoing efforts to advance community bank innovation and create and promote an environment where community banks flourish.

“These companies are recognized leaders and valued contributors in their respective fields,” ICBA Executive Vice President and Chief Innovation Officer Charles Potts said. “We extend our deepest thanks to Fiserv as lead sponsor and to TrueNorth, Wipfli, and Ncontracts for supporting our vision to elevate community banking innovation through ICBA’s ThinkTECH initiatives. Their participation through this multi-year engagement is an investment in our industry’s future and is instrumental in leveraging community bank-fintech collaborations that benefit consumers and support a diverse and dynamic financial services sector.”

Through their support of the ThinkTECH Accelerator program, the sponsorship also provides the opportunity for these companies to further connect with community banks and fintechs, sharing their respective expertise as ICBA works to solve for community bank pain points and business opportunities. Sponsors include:

  • Fiserv, lead sponsor and a global provider of payments and financial technology that enables banking and commerce.

  • TrueNorth, a premier sponsor and leader in fintech services, enabling cutting-edge digital banking solutions for the financial services industry.

  • Wipfli LLP, a premier sponsor and a leading advisory firm that offers a roadmap to help community banks build, refine and expand their digital offerings.

  • Ncontracts, a content sponsor and fintech providing integrated vendor, risk, and compliance management solutions that help community banks confidently manage their enterprise risk and vendor management workload.

“Innovation is essential for the survival of community banks,” said John Gibbons, head of the Financial Institutions Group at Fiserv. “In a world where consumer and business expectations are continually changing, we’re committed to supporting initiatives like the ICBA ThinkTECH Accelerator to help community banks serve their customers in new ways, bringing new solutions to market more quickly, connecting to in-demand third-party capabilities and adding value to the one-to-one relationships for which community banking is renowned.”

“Our engagement with the ICBA ThinkTECH Accelerator reflects TrueNorth's dedication to fostering an ecosystem where technology and community banking intersect to create unparalleled value for consumers," TrueNorth CEO Alex Gonikman said. "Together, we are setting the stage for the next generation of banking, marked by agility, customer-centricity, and innovation."

“Our extensive financial institution practice and support for FI innovation make partnering with the ICBA Innovation initiatives a natural fit,” Wipfli Principal Mike Morris said. “As a mentor and guide, we have developed deep relationships within the cohort companies as well as the ICBA team. Wipfli has supported the ICBA ThinkTECH Accelerator since it started, and to see it growing and expanding to include an innovation center is exciting.”

“As a company committed to fostering innovation in banking, Ncontracts is thrilled to support the ICBA ThinkTECH Accelerator,” Ncontracts CEO Michael Berman said. “We share the accelerator's mission to propel forward-thinking solutions that address key challenges faced by community banks. Together we can enhance the resilience, efficiency, and strength of the community banking industry.”

In addition to their support via multi-year sponsorships, Fiserv, TrueNorth, Wipfli and Ncontracts sponsored the ribbon-cutting ceremony and reception commemorating the ICBA Center for Innovation’s opening on Feb. 15. The companies will also participate in various ICBA ThinkTECH events, including ICBA Solutions Forums, ThinkTECH Thursdays, ThinkTECH Connect and future showcases, based on their area of expertise. Additional sponsorship opportunities are also available.

Fintech companies interested in participating in future innovation programming can apply now. For community bankers, more information about ICBA ThinkTECH Innovation programming and opportunities at the ICBA Center for Innovation can be found at icba.org/thinktech.

About ICBA

The Independent Community Bankers of America® has one mission: to create and promote an environment where community banks flourish. We power the potential of the nation’s community banks through effective advocacy, education, and innovation.

As local and trusted sources of credit, America’s community banks leverage their relationship-based business model and innovative offerings to channel deposits into the neighborhoods they serve, creating jobs, fostering economic prosperity, and fueling their customers’ financial goals and dreams. For more information, visit ICBA’s website at icba.org.

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