ICBA ThinkTECH Accelerator Cohort Revealed

First of two planned ICBA accelerators designed to drive community bank innovation in 2025

Washington, D.C. (Dec. 16, 2024) — The Independent Community Bankers of America® (ICBA) today announced the selected companies for its eighth ICBA ThinkTECH Accelerator program (AP8). The solutions represent a wide range of offerings, including vendor management, check fraud prevention, integration, digital banking for families, conversational AI, and commercial lending, to support the continuous advancement of innovation in community banking.

“As community banks adapt to meet evolving customer needs and market demands, ICBA is fostering the connections that help reimagine what’s possible,” ICBA Executive Vice President and Chief Innovation Officer Charles Potts said. “When paired with promising fintechs — the focus of our Accelerator program — we can empower the nation’s community banks to respond to shifting market dynamics and strengthen customer relationships.”

Finalists were chosen from hundreds of applicants following a rigorous selection process in which they were evaluated for overall sustainability, including the team’s strength, product maturity, and product-market fit. During the 10-week program, the companies will collaborate with industry experts and community bank leaders to refine their solutions for community bank adoption. The AP8 cohort includes:

  • Coverbase Inc. – Automates 90% of third-party risk assessments, allowing banks to focus on improving security and compliance.

  • Fin3 Technologies Inc. – Provides advanced solutions to reduce check fraud and streamline treasury operations for financial institutions.

  • Fintegrate LLC – An integration-as-a-service offering that reduces the costs and processes associated with technology integrations for improved operational efficiency.

  • Incent.net – A youth digital banking platform designed to help banks retain deposits and offer families valuable financial education.

  • Posh AI – An AI-driven platform empowering frontline banking staff to transform customer interactions with smart, conversational tools.

  • Vine Financial – An AI-powered commercial lending platform to help lenders focus on building relationships and achieving financial goals.

“Community banks are known for exceptional service, and leveraging technology to enhance and personalize the customer experience has never been more important,” said Greg Ohlendorf, chairman of the ICBA ThinkTECH Selection Committee and president and CEO of First Community Bank and Trust in Beecher, Ill. “The ICBA ThinkTECH Accelerator embodies the partnership between fintech innovation and community banking, enabling us to strike the ideal balance of high-tech solutions and high-touch service that our customers value and deserve.”

Since its inception, the ICBA ThinkTECH Accelerator has connected the most innovative fintech companies with more than 1,400 community bankers and industry leaders — identifying and designing workable solutions that solve modern banking needs.

The ICBA ThinkTECH Accelerator program will kick off Jan. 13, 2025, and conclude with a showcase at ICBA’s annual convention, ICBA LIVE in Nashville, Tenn. The LIVE Showcase will also include ThinkTECH alums from AP7.

For more information about the ICBA ThinkTECH Accelerator, or to apply or nominate a fintech for future accelerators, visit icba.org/accelerator.

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.