January 2025

Community banking has always been more than just managing transactions — it is about building relationships, fostering trust and empowering the communities we serve. In 2025, as the financial landscape continues to evolve rapidly, the ability to plan strategically and align with both community needs and industry trends is critical for success.

In the world of financial lending, institutions need to have multiple checks and balances in place to protect their assets, their customers and the future of their organization. Sadly, some individuals try to use our fair nature against us for deceptive gain. Efforts to obtain funding through fraudulent means can often be recognized during the initial application review or customer interaction. Outlined here are several methods to support your institution in recognizing fraudulent activities.

Curious about the top marketing trends for 2025? We’ve compiled a list of both digital and non-digital trends by analyzing patterns among our clients and cross-referencing insights from reputable sources like Forbes, HubSpot and the American Marketing Association.

Answering the question about the future of community banking has almost become a rhetorical exercise, as there are many variables but no clear answer. There are, however, several long-term trends that have been impacting this industry from which we can draw from in our attempt:

Most representatives of the broker-dealer industry have been suggesting to their customers, especially community banks, that their collection of bonds could be situated to perform pretty well in 2025. You can be forgiven for rolling your eyes if you’ve heard this. And I get it: Persistently stubborn inflation forced the Federal Reserve to hike rates, and now to keep them elevated, for the foreseeable future. This, of course, has kept the market values of your portfolio depressed for what is going on three years now.

Over the last two decades, a trend of mergers and evolving customer preferences have radically altered the community banking sector in the U.S. While regional banks have expanded by 50% over the past two decades, the number of community banks has halved, declining from nearly 7,500 in 2004 to roughly 4,000 in 2023.

Discover how too many vendors impact your financial institution or business. Boost efficiency by partnering with a single trusted vendor for streamlined risk management and simplified processes.

Helping borrowers secure lower interest rates on their owner-occupied commercial real estate isn’t just good business — it’s a game-changer for their financial health and your lending portfolio. The SBA 504 refinance programs empower you to provide clients with long-term, fixed-rate solutions while generating new lending opportunities. It’s a win-win for everyone involved. What is

ICBA Live

The start of the new year brings with it a fresh slate and a collective reset on priorities. As we develop annual objectives, we need to be mindful of what is transpiring within our banks, but also what is transforming the industry around us and how we can effect positive change. That’s why advocacy must