Episode 21: Connect With Your Fellow Community Bankers — with Leah Brink
Release Date: 11/30/2023
Independent Banker
We’ve seen a lot of shifts and change this year—the continued uptick in check fraud, the election, credit union acquisitions, etc.—but we community bankers are as steadfast, scrappy and resilient as ever. In fact, we show no signs of slowing down. According to Rebeca Romero Rainey, ICBA president and CEO, we’ve had a very successful year for ICBA’s advocacy and grassroots efforts. Take the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s Section 1033, for example, where ICBA helped secure an exemption for community banks under $850 million. “What this this exemption tells me is that...
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As the holidays approach, it’s time to stay even more vigilant against fraud. That’s because fraudsters are more likely to seek out vulnerable, lonely or busy people at the end of the year. How can community bankers get ahead of year-end fraud and raise awareness among consumers? “I think that's the responsibility of community banks,” says Kausar Kenning, global head of payment systems intelligence for VISA. “Make sure that you're taking all those safety precautions, make sure that you're being proactive in your effort, and you're helping to prevent it from before it even...
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If you’re looking to advance your career, you may be thinking, “Where do I start?” But options abound—you just have to know where to look. Alexander Price, CEO of Citizens State Bank in Ouray, Colo., pursued further education and career development at the Graduate School of Banking at Colorado, which is just one of the options available to bankers. “[School is] one of those things where you just have time, you have space, to think about things and to talk about things. It's worth its weight in gold,” Price says. “I would also say the Graduate School of Banking, its...
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Check fraud isn’t new, but it has re-emerged as an appealing way for fraudsters to target community banks and their customers. That’s why ICBA has brought check fraud to the forefront of its conversation with its members, to discuss the ways they can band together to solve this issue. “The one advantage that we have—which is a really, really strong advantage—is that we have an incredibly dedicated and engaged membership of folks who are working on the frontlines of check fraud, and who understand the problem, and who are ready to really roll up their sleeves and dive in and...
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As technology and customer expectations change, fintechs must adapt and pivot to meet the needs of the community banks they work with. Whatever community banks are looking for—streamlining data collection, cutting down operation costs, etc.—there should be a fintech stepping up to provide a solution. But that means they must know exactly what the community bank customer desires. “The majority of the conversations that I am having on this topic is a function of helping that fintech founder connect the products, which are usually amazing, to real, tangible, deep balance sheet...
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Whenever you hear stories from people who have been to ICBA LIVE for the first time, they're just blown away from the atmosphere, from the camaraderie, from that one mission focus … It just makes such an impression that you will never be the same once you come to this event,” says Brad Bolton, former ICBA chairman and president and CEO of Community Spirit Bank in Red Bay, Ala. In March 2024, Orlando plays host to thousands of community bankers looking forward to connecting, learning and pushing the industry forward. Bolton and Lindsay LaNore, ICBA’s senior executive vice...
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Technology is ever advancing, and it’s critical for community bankers to stay ahead of it. According to Dharmesh Mistry of FinTech Futures, a media platform dedicated to global banking and the fintech industry, three of those trends are generative AI, faster payments and the cloud. “2024 can continue to be a transformative year for community banks. Cloud is a way to pursue that to drive down some of the costs, create some more efficiencies,” Mistry says. “It’s not just about pure expense reduction and revenue growth but creating more efficient operations, and I think that's a...
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Connection is at the heart of what community bankers do. That’s one of the reasons that the social networking platform ICBA Community was created. And it’s not only creating online connections, it’s helping bankers build relationships with each other outside of the forum. “It's been helpful right now just to have others that you can go to and really connect with,” says Leah Brink, marketing and training director of BankStar Financial and co-lead of ICBA Community’s marketing group. “I've seen examples to where people are reaching out to each other through the through the...
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With hundreds of millions of cyberattacks happening each year, it’s critical for community banks to fortify their cybersecurity operations. While it may be tempting to go after the hottest new cyber protections, it’s important not to forget the basics, says Adlumin Inc.’s CEO, Robert Johnston. “If you get the blocking and tackling done correctly, 85% of threats you can take off the table,” he says. “Get that right and you will save yourself a lot of pain from just brilliance in the basics.” It can be daunting to figure out how to best keep your cybersecurity...
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AI technology is growing exponentially. While it can bring many advantages to community banks, some bankers may have concerns about possible security issues. So, why take the risk if your bank is performing well? BAC Community Bank in Stockton, Calif., which worked AI-specialist fintech Agent IQ, was able to develop a thorough understanding of the technology and create better systems that benefited both staff and customers. “We weren't really trying to solve a problem,” says Jackie Verkuyl, EVP/CFO of BAC Community Bank. “But it gave us this opportunity—that we could have better...
info_outlineConnection is at the heart of what community bankers do. That’s one of the reasons that the social networking platform ICBA Community was created. And it’s not only creating online connections, it’s helping bankers build relationships with each other outside of the forum.
“It's been helpful right now just to have others that you can go to and really connect with,” says Leah Brink, marketing and training director of BankStar Financial and co-lead of ICBA Community’s marketing group. “I've seen examples to where people are reaching out to each other through the through the app, but then they're probably taking some of their conversations offline and direct. And that's, to me, the essence of a good networking group.”
This episode, Charles Potts and Brink discuss the positive impact ICBA Community has fostered and how community bankers can make the most out of the platform.
This episode is sponsored by FIS.
- ICBA Community already has over 1,700 members and continues to grow. Join the conversation today.
- Check out the November issue of Independent Banker for more information on what ICBA Community can help you accomplis