Main Street Matters Blog

After 12 fully immersive weeks and hundreds of meetings with community bankers, core vendors, regulators and venture capital firms, the ICBA ThinkTECH Accelerator 2021 cohort revealed a glimpse into the future of banking with high-tech solutions tailored for community banks and their customers.

If you don’t know what third party cookies are, you’re in luck. They’re on their way out. But you’re not completely off the hook — first party cookies and first party data still matter — now more than ever.

Countries are racing to create central bank digital currencies, or so it appears from the constant stream of reports, articles, and speeches by officials. Various surveys show 86 percent of central banks are actively researching an official digital currency. So, what exactly is a central bank digital currency?

ICBA and The Venture Center gave particular attention to identifying innovative back-office solution providers for this year’s ICBA ThinkTECH Accelerator cohort. These solutions run the gamut from robotic process automation for online lending to cybersecurity oversight through an automated governance solution.

Last year I flew to Little Rock, Ark. to participate in the ICBA ThinkTECH Accelerator program and found it to be a meaningful and constructive use of my time. But this year’s virtual forum raised the bar to a whole new level and allowed me to bring my entire team into the process — something we were all excited about.

In a world where technology has made it possible for instant gratification in customer and business relationships, community banks have had to find new ways to expand and deepen customer connections.

Recently, ICBA Bancard, in partnership with TCM Bank, released the white paper, “Cultivating the Strategic Value of Credit Card Rewards Programs. ICBA Bancard President & CEO Tina Giorgio continue her discussion with rewards expert Damon Moorer, president and CEO of TCM Bank, about rewards programs.

Having the right rewards program to match your existing and targeted cardholder customer base is more important than ever. That’s why ICBA Bancard, in partnership with TCM Bank recently released, “Cultivating the Strategic Value of Credit Card Rewards Programs,.

Studies show most Americans have too much debt and not enough savings. Being prepared doesn’t have to be a chore or a burden. With a few simple steps you can start stockpiling a nest egg that will carry you through life’s unexpected twists and turns.

Economic security rapidly evaporated for many households in 2020 as the coronavirus imposed an indelible mark on our nation’s economy. While the consequences were unprecedented, data continues to affirm the vitality of community banks.