— Megan Olson, President  & CEO, ICBSD As the year comes to a close, the holiday season offers a wonderful opportunity to reflect and give thanks. At ICBSD, we are grateful for you—our dedicated members—who work tirelessly to strengthen South Dakota’s communities through independent community banking. Your hard work and commitment make a real difference […]

— Jodi Eich, Chairwoman of ICBSD, Vice Chair and Chief Operating Officer, Rivers Edge Bank As 2024 comes to a close, it’s the perfect time to reflect on the achievements of South Dakota’s community banks and the strides we’ve made together as an industry. This past year has shown just how resilient and adaptable our […]

— Rebeca Romero Rainey, President & CEO, ICBA As I reflect on the impact community banks have had this year, I revel in this notion that we have created something special, a dynamic ecosystem that centers on people. We have taken the time necessary to invest in relationships and their development, growth and long-term sustainability, […]

— Josh Hogue, Immediate Past Chairman of ICBSD & ICBA Federal Delegate, President, Reliabank Dakota As the ICBA federal delegate, I strongly encourage every South Dakota community banker to consider attending the ICBA LIVE 2025 event. Set for March 11-14, 2025, in Nashville, this event offers an invaluable opportunity for community bankers to come together, […]

— Lucas White, ICBA Chairman,  President, The Fountain Trust Company, Covington, IN This year’s list of Best Community Banks to Work For made me think about what it takes to be a great employer. No two community banks are exactly alike, but we share a common sense of purpose, a focus on relationship banking and a […]

— Mark Scanlan, SVP of Agriculture and Rural Policy, ICBA      Scott Marks, Assistant VP of Congressional Relations, ICBA A comprehensive piece of legislation, the farm bill is currently being redrafted after its 2023 expiration and extension through Sept. 30, 2024. Signed into law in 2018, the farm bill covers a range of programs […]

— James Reber, CEO, ICBA Securities While we in the financial services sector start thinking about monetary policy in the coming year, there’s a new wrinkle to consider. Many Fed-watchers, rate prognosticators, economists and even investors had been betting on substantially lower rates in 2025 for many months. It looked like the corner had been […]

From managing a community bank to shaping state legislation, Hugh Bartels has demonstrated that the skills and relationships built in community banking are valuable assets in public service. His journey—from community banker in South Dakota to the Speaker of the House—has been defined by his ability to foster connections, understand regulations, and make decisions that […]

– BHG Financial Institution Network Collaborations between financial services technology firms (fintechs) and financial institutions are occurring more frequently than ever. Many financial companies see fintechs as an affordable, nimble solution to their technology gaps. Others partner with fintechs for assistance with compliance and regulatory governance. The fastest-growing fintech segment enables financial institutions to diversify […]