ICBA: ICBA Opposes OCC’s Approval of Five National Trust Charter Applications
The Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) today expressed opposition to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency’s conditional approval opens in a new tab of five national trust bank charter applications from nonbank fintechs. ICBA has repeatedly said in letters to the OCC that the agency lacks statutory authority to expand trust powers under Interpretive…
ICBA: ThinkTECH Accelerator Debuts 10th Cohort to Continue Driving Community Bank Innovation
The Independent Community Bankers of America® (ICBA) today announced the selected companies for the 10th iteration of its award-winning ICBA ThinkTECH Accelerator program (AP10). The solutions span a broad array of offerings – from responsible AI for compliance to tools that accelerate small business growth, modernize lending, expand investing options, and strengthen fraud defenses –…
Agencies Issue Proposal to Enhance Community Banks’ Ability to Serve Their Communities While Maintaining Strong Capital Requirements
The federal bank regulatory agencies today invited public comment on a proposal that would implement changes to the community bank leverage ratio framework in accordance with statutory authority. By incorporating these changes, the revisions would reduce regulatory burden and provide community banks with greater flexibility and optionality in their capital management approach. The proposal reflects…
ICBA: New ICBA White Paper Calls on Policymakers to Close Industrial Loan Company Loophole
The Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) today released a comprehensive white paper detailing why policymakers should close a legal loophole that allows industrial loan companies and their parent companies to skirt regulatory oversight, endangering consumers and the economy. In “Closing the Industrial Loan Company Loophole: An Urgent Priority to Prevent Systemic Risk and Consumer Harm,” ICBA…
ICBA: Statement on Ending Goverment Shutdown Issued
The Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) issued the following statement on the federal government shutdown. “While the nation’s community banks continue working every day to support economic growth in the local communities they serve, the ongoing government shutdown threatens to harm economic growth and Main Street economies. ICBA and the nation’s community bankers encourage…
ICBA: ICBA Supports Bill to Strengthen Deposit Insurance While Minimizing Costs to Community Banks
The Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) expressed support for legislation to strengthen the nation’s deposit insurance system while minimizing additional costs for community banks. Introduced by Sens. Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.) and Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), the Main Street Depositor Protection Act would provide expanded deposit insurance coverage of up to $10 million per depositor for noninterest-bearing transaction…
OCC: Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Issued to Simplify Community Bank Licensing Amendments
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) is proposing to amend its regulations to simplify licensing requirements for corporate activities and transactions involving national banks and federal savings associations that have less than $30 billion in total assets and satisfy certain conditions. The proposed rule is intended to reduce burden on these institutions….
OCC: Actions Announced to Reduce Regulatory Burden for Community Banks
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) today announced guidance to banks and proposed rulemakings to reduce regulatory burden for community banks. These actions build upon the OCC’s continued efforts to tailor its regulatory and supervisory frameworks to minimize burden for its regulated institutions and promote economic growth. “Community banks have an outsized…
ABA: California Banker Elected as Chair of ABA’s Community Bankers Council
The American Bankers Association has elected Jon Sisk as chair of ABA’s Community Bankers Council for the 2025-2026 association year. Sisk is executive vice president and chief banking officer of West Coast Community Bank. “Jon Sisk brings a deep understanding of community banking and a strong commitment to industry leadership,” said Rob Nichols, ABA president…
OCC: Agency Announces Updates to Organizational Structure
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) today announced a new organizational framework for bank supervision and updates to the structure of its Office of the Chief National Bank Examiner. Effective October 1, three distinct lines of business will replace the Bank Supervision and Examination group: Large and Global Financial Institutions, Regional and…