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Investing in the Next Generation of Iowa Community Bankers — Michael Gathman, CEO of Community Bankers of Iowa Our mission has always been clear: to equip Iowa’s independent community banks with the tools, advocacy, and connections they need to thrive. But the future strength of community banking doesn’t rest on policies alone. It rests on […]

F&M Bank Celebrates 100 Years of Service and Leadership For a century, F&M Bank has been a steadfast presence in the communities it serves, known not just for its financial strength but for its deeply personal approach to banking. As the bank celebrates its 100-year milestone, its leadership, values, and commitment to community remain stronger

Leading with Heart:How Bankers Trust Became Iowa’s “Most Giving Company” When Bankers Trust was named one of Iowa’s “Most Giving Companies” in 2024 by the Grateful Giving Foundation, it wasn’t just a feather in the cap of an already respected community bank—it was a resounding affirmation of one of their core values: community. With more

Flourish:Conversations must determine our innovation budgets — Rebeca Romero Rainey, CEO ICBA Innovation is one of those line items that can be hard to wrap our heads around. There’s no formula or silver bullet to determine how much to spend, so we annually face that Goldilocks conundrum of determining what’s too little, what’s too much

From The Top:Turning Vendors Into Partners with ICBA — Jack Hopkins, ICBA Chairman, President & CEO, CorTrust Bank, Sioux Falls, SD We’ve all been there: We identify a technological or operational need in our banks, and the work to find a provider begins. That effort extends far beyond identifying a fitting, affordable solution. We also

Fraud Watch:How to Prevent Wire Fraud —Scott Anchin, Senior Vice President of Strategic Initiatives and Policy, ICBA With electronic payments increasingly the norm, wire fraud is becoming more common and varied in format. Wire fraud generally involves the use of electronic communication to defraud another person by phone, fax, telegram or, most commonly now, the

High Anxiety: Yield Curve Shape Reflects Bond Market’s Mood — Jim Reber, CEO, ICBA Securities Let’s start this month’s column with a dose of banality: Be careful what you wish for. For at least four years, all manners of bond market participants—including analysts, consultants, pundits and, not least, investors—have been predicting and hoping for a

Thank You for Making the 2025 CBI Annual Convention a Success! We’d like to share a sincere thank you to everyone who joined us this past July at beautiful Arnolds Park for the CBI Annual Convention! Your energy, enthusiasm, and dedication to advancing community banking in Iowa made this year’s event one to remember. We

Cyber Insurance Coverage Checklist for Regulated Industries: How to Get Started Written by: Ben Potaracke Businesses in regulated industries must take proactive steps to mitigate cyber risks. From financial services to healthcare, organizations handling sensitive data face stricter compliance requirements and an increasing likelihood of cyber threats. One essential component of a comprehensive risk management strategy

CBI Annual Convention: Registration is Now Open! “Whether you’re a teller, executive, or board member, this convention offers something for everyone, and we invite all to attend.” Wow. It is already April, and Spring is here, and Summer is on its way. With that, I’m excited to officially invite you to the CBI Annual Convention,