The Correspondent: Recent Episodes
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The Correspondent is the community banker’s go-to source for community banking content from trusted voices in the banking space. Listen to episodes on topics that will help your community bank thrive.
The second quarter of 2026 has been eventful from an economic and geopolitical standpoint, and community banks are left to navigate the fallout. ICBB CFO Chris Dew, Chief Lending Officer Brandon Feltner, and Scott Kimel from FNBB Capital Markets return to discuss how community banks move forward in the uncertainty.
Helpful Links:
Register for LINK OH: LINK (OH) | ICBB Courses
Blog Post on Competing with Megabanks: The Hyper-Local Blueprint—How Community Banks Win Against Big Tech and Megabanks - ICBB
For years, there's been a fundamental language barrier in banking. Marketers talk about 'impressions,' engagement,' and 'brand awareness.' But the C-suite and the board? They talk about efficiency ratios, loan-to-deposit balances, and return on equity. Today's episode tackles one of the toughest internal challenges in the industry: how to transition bank marketing from a perceived 'cost center' into a documented 'revenue driver'. Eric Cook, known for marketing agency WSI, The Linked Banker, and communitybanking.ai, discusses how to 'market your marketing' to your C-suite and board, so that they can see the value of the marketing team.
Helpful Links
Follow Eric on LinkedIn: (14) 🤘 Eric Cook, MBA | LinkedIn
WSI: Digital Marketing & AI Solutions for Community Banks | WSI
The Linked Banker: Become a Better Banker Online Today | The LinkedBanker
CommunityBanking.ai: CommunityBanking.ai - AI Adoption for Community Banks
As technology continues to evolve, community bankers often fear losing the personal touch that sets community banks apart. But the convenience technology provides doesn't have to be at odds with relationship banking. This episode features Joan Marsili, a longtime banker and chief growth officer at Marsili Growth Advisory. She recently co-hosted a webinar about leveraging what she calls "unreasonable hospitality" to prove marketing ROI and drive bank growth. She outlines an approach that focuses on the customer experience and personal touch, while still satisfying the desire to see a return on investment.
Helpful Links:
Follow Joan on LinkedIn: (2) Joann Marsili, MBA, CFMP | LinkedIn
With economic uncertainty in the air, managing risk in the loan portfolio can feel like navigating a minefield. It's more important now than ever to move from a reactionary approach to a proactive one. In this episode Michael Wear, a consultant and speaker at the upcoming Ohio LINK event, discusses moving from reactive to proactive risk management, along with chief lending officer Brandon Feltner, and correspondent loan officer Nick Bigley.
Helpful Links
Register for LINK (OH): LINK (OH) | ICBB Courses
Follow Michael Wear on LinkedIn: (3) Michael Wear, CRC | LinkedIn
ICBB Commercial Lending Solutions: Commercial Lending Solutions - ICBB
Running a community bank in 2026 can feel like a minefield, with constant change and constant challenges that are difficult to predict from one moment to the next. In this episode, host Madison Caplinger interviews Neil Stanley, founder and CEO of the CorePoint, on deposit strategy, AI, and innovation across the financial space.
Helpful Links:
Follow Neil Stanley on LinkedIn: (1) Neil Stanley | LinkedIn
Follow The CorePoint on LinkedIn: (1) The CorePoint: Overview | LinkedIn
AI is everywhere, and Agentic AI solutions are being sold to bankers right and left. But what is it, and what can it do for community banks? This episode features Angela Murphy, better known as "Payments Elsa," sought-after speaker and VP of Marketing and Innovation at Pidgin discussing Agentic AI with host Madison Caplinger and ICBB customer experience manager Chasity Bruce. This episode also serves as a preview for her presentation at LINK (TN) in Murfreesboro, TN on June 30, and at BOOM in Bowling Green on November 13.
Helpful Links:
Register for LINK (TN): LINK (TN) | ICBB Courses
Register for BOOM: BOOM West | ICBB Courses
The end of 2025 and beginning of 2026 have been eventful months for the economy. In this first market update episode of 2026, ICBB CFO Chris Dew, chief lending officer Brandon Feltner, and Scott Kimel from FNBB Capital Markets discuss mounting economic uncertainties and their effects on markets and community banks.
Helpful Links:
Register for LINK TN: LINK (TN) | ICBB Courses
Ladies LINK is fast approaching, and the lineup includes a topic that's key to career advancement but makes many want to run the other way: negotiation. As a preview of her session at Ladies LINK, Nan Gesche, speaker and author of "Ladies Let's Negotiate!" discusses how bankers, especially women, can reframe negotiation from competition to collaboration.
Helpful Links:
Ladies LINK | ICBB Courses
At ICBB, March is Women in Banking month. Three years ago, the team founding Fortuna Bank, a woman-owned bank in Columbus, Ohio, was interviewed on The Correspondent about the process of starting a bank and the need for women-owned banks. Now, Fortuna Bank has opened its doors, and CEO Ilaria Rawlins, and chief lending officer Michelle Haslinger have returned to give an update.
Helpful Links
Register for Ladies LINK: Ladies LINK | ICBB Courses
Learn more about Fortuna Bank: Home - Fortuna Bank
Follow Ilaria on LinkedIn: Ilaria Rawlins | LinkedIn
Follow Michelle on LinkedIn: Michelle Haslinger | LinkedIn
The Federal Reserve recently announced it will be sunsetting its Foreign and Canadian Check Service by year-end 2026, driven by declining transaction volumes and changing market demand, and community banks are racing to find alternative options. While Canadian checks are a small part of business for most banks, even services used infrequently can still play an important role for community banks and their customers. In this episode, Dan Caputo from ICBB's international payments partner, Ascendant, and customer experience manager, Chasity Bruce, discuss the transition and how community banks can prepare.
Helpful Links
Learn more about International Services: International Services - ICBB
Register for Ladies LINK: Ladies LINK | ICBB Courses
Register for BOOM: BOOM West | ICBB Courses
Everyone loves a good story. But how can storytelling help community banks break down complicated finance topics for their customers and communities? This episode answers that question with Emily Schwartz, music educator turned bank marketer. Emily is the director of financial education at MidFirst Bank, based in Oklahoma City, an instructor at the ABA's Bank Marketing School, and a highly sought after keynote speaker.
Helpful Links
Register for Ladies LINK: Ladies LINK | ICBB Courses
Follow Emily on LinkedIn: Emily Schwartz, Ph.D. | LinkedIn
Learn about Bank Marketing School: Bank Marketing School | American Bankers Association
Instant payment technologies have taken the banking world by storm, disrupting the status quo of operations in the process. What does treasury management look like for community banks in a 24/7/365 world? In this episode, Madison discusses treasury management in the age of instant payments with CFO, Chris Dew, and Seth Marlowe of the Treasury Whisperer podcast. Seth is a consultant, former banker, and former corporate treasurer with 30+ years of experience in payments and treasury, making him a "treasury unicorn."
Helpful Links:
InstantPay Connect: InstantPay Connect - ICBB
Check Fraud webinar: The Evolution of Check Fraud: How Financial Institutions Can Use Technology to Protect their Institution | ICBB Courses
Follow Seth on LinkedIn: (18) Seth M. Marlowe | LinkedIn
The Treasury Whisperer Podcast: (18) Treasury Whisperer's Talkcast Podcast: Overview | LinkedIn
Follow Chris on LinkedIn: (18) Christopher Dew | LinkedIn
As community bankers kick off 2026, they're considering new opportunities and grappling with continuing challenges like shifting customer expectations, the rapid development of new technologies, and changes in staff and leadership. In this episode, ICBB CEO and president Derek Hetherington, chief correspondent banking officer Todd Beers, and correspondent banking manager Zac Bodenheimer discuss how bankers can set themselves up for success in the new year.
Helpful Links:
The Evolution of Check Fraud Webinar: The Evolution of Check Fraud: How Financial Institutions Can Use Technology to Protect their Institution | ICBB Courses
Like much of 2025, Q3 has been an economically eventful quarter. In this market update podcast, chief lending officer Brandon Feltner; CFO Chris Dew; and Scott Kimel from FNBB Capital Markets discuss issues like recent drops in interest rates, political pressure on the Federal Reserve, and the effects on bank liquidity and loan demand.
Community banks are in a prime position to serve the small businesses in their communities. Merchant services are one tool that not all bankers are utilizing. In this episode, Chris Claxon from EasyPay, partner for ICBB Merchant Services, discusses the benefits of a merchant services program and how to set it up for success.
Helpful Links:
ICBB Merchant Services: Merchant Services - ICBB
Follow Chris on LinkedIn: (1) Chris Claxon | LinkedIn
In the digital age, bankers need digital tools at their disposal to succeed. For business bankers, LinkedIn can be an invaluable business development tool. But how can already-busy lenders effectively and efficiently harness its power? We asked the expert; Jack Hubbard serves as a highly sought-after consultant; Chairman Emeritus at St. Meyer & Hubbard; the host of The Modern Banker podcast; and faculty at Graduate School Banking at Wisconsin. In this discussion, he outlines how business bankers can leverage LinkedIn to build their pipeline.
Helpful Links:
Follow Jack on LinkedIn: (10) Jack Hubbard | LinkedIn
Follow The Modern Banker: (10) The Modern Banker: Overview | LinkedIn
Both brand-new bankers and seasoned leaders bring innovative ideas to their institutions and need to present them to the right people. But how do they get those people to listen? Alyson Van Hooser, president and CEO of Van Hooser Leadership and a highly sought-after speaker, offers her flagship presentation, Earning the Right to Be Heard, to answer that very question. Van Hooser is not only extremely knowledgeable, but an engaging and energetic presenter. Listeners will walk away from her feeling ready to take on the world.
Helpful Links
Follow Alyson on LinkedIn: (1) Alyson Van Hooser, CSP | LinkedIn
Van Hooser Blog: Blog - Van Hooser Leadership
Van Hooser Training: Custom Leadership Training - Van Hooser Leadership
Bank Operations Opportunities Meeting, or BOOM, is coming up on September 5 and features a lineup of expert speakers. One such speaker is Coy Ogle of Finovifi, a fintech company built to help community banks detect and fight check fraud. His presentation, previewed here, is titled “Check Fraud: Will it Continue to Increase?” Ogle and his team are extremely knowledgeable about the check marketplace and its accompanying fraud.
Helpful Links
BOOM Registration: Bank Operations Opportunities Meeting | ICBB Courses
Follow Coy on LinkedIn: (5)
Much has happened politically and economically in 2025, and especially in the second quarter. Host Madison Caplinger discusses issues like interest rates, inflationary pressures, and loan demand trends with Scott Kimel from FNBB Capital Markets, ICBB CFO Chris Dew.
Helpful Links:
Q1 Market Update: The Correspondent - Banking Podcast from ICBB
ICBB/FNBB Investment Services: Investment Services - ICBB
ICBB Participation Loans: Bank Participation Loans Services - ICBB
Follow Chris on LinkedIn: (2) Christopher Dew | LinkedIn
Follow Scott on LinkedIn: (2) Scott Kimel | LinkedIn
This episode is a replay of a session hosted by the Payments Professor, Kevin Olsen, at our 2025 annual credit conference.
Helpful Links:
InstantPay Connect - ICBB
In this episode of The Correspondent, recorded live from ICBB's annual credit conference, chief lending officer Brandon Feltner and correspondent loan officer Paul Loxley present updates on the participation loan market.
Helpful Links:
Participation Loans: Bank Participation Loans Services - ICBB
Holding Company Loans: Holding Company Loans for Banks - ICBB
Bank Organization Loans: Bank Organization Loans - ICBB
This episode of The Correspondent was recorded live at our annual credit conference. In uncertain times, bankers must consider new strategies. ICBB CEO Derek Hetherington and CFO Chris Dew discuss a strategy called ‘right-sizing’ the balance sheet.
Helpful Links:
Participation Loans: Bank Participation Loans Services - ICBB
Since 2022, deposit strategy has taken center stage for community banks. With the Federal Reserve’s rapid rate hikes, the competition for deposits has intensified, and banks are feeling the squeeze. Balancing liquidity needs, funding loans, and staying competitive on rates without eroding profitability is no small feat. This episode features Neil Stanley, the CEO and Founder of The CorePoint, a platform helping banks source fixed-rate deposits more strategically. Listen as he and host Madison Caplinger discuss the current deposit landscape, what community banks can do to stay competitive, and how technology can play a role in reshaping deposit strategy.
Helpful Links:
Follow Neil on LinkedIn: (2) Neil Stanley | LinkedIn
The CorePoint: The CorePoint
The economy has been a hot topic for most of the first quarter, and uncertainties have left community banks unsure of how to respond. Host Madison Caplinger discusses the prevalent issues with chief lending officer, Brandon Feltner, new chief finance officer Chris Dew, and Scott Kimel from FNBB Capital Markets.
Helpful Links
ICBB/FNBB Investment Services: Investment Services - ICBB
ICBB Participation Loans: Bank Participation Loans Services - ICBB
Follow Brandon on LinkedIn: Brandon Feltner | LinkedIn
Follow Scott on LinkedIn: Scott Kimel | LinkedIn
Follow Chris on LinkedIn: Christopher Dew | LinkedIn
ICBB’s annual credit conference, “New Frontier: Banking Credit in a Transforming Landscape” is coming up May 14-16 in Lexington, KY. Joe Pigg, senior vice president and senior counsel for the American Bankers’ Association, will present a session on CRA and ESG for community banks. Listen to a preview of that discussion here and register now for this and other timely presentations on credit, lending, and other banking topics.
Helpful Links
Register Now: https://www.icbbcreditconference.com/event-details/new-frontier-banking-credit-in-a-transforming-landscape-1?utm_source=the-correspondent&utm_medium=show-notes&utm_campaign=credit-conference-2025
Follow Joe on LinkedIn: (3) Joe Pigg | LinkedIn
Women have made great strides toward inclusion in banking, business, and financial literacy over the past few decades. However, pronounced disparities still persist in all of these areas. In this episode of The Correspondent podcast, host Madison Caplinger interview with Britney Campbell, senior vice president of marketing and public relations at Legends Bank in Nashville, Tennessee, and founder of Her Bank, a bank brand by women, for women. Britney and the Her Bank team are dedicated to empowering women with the financial tools and knowledge they need to succeed, both personally and as entrepreneurs.
Helpful Links
Learn More About Her Bank: Home - Her Bank by Legends Bank
Follow Britney on LinkedIn: (15) Britney Campbell, CFMP | LinkedIn
March is Women's History Month, and at ICBB, we’ve declared it Women in Banking month. While more and more women are represented at every level in banking, there is still room to grow. In this episode, Natalie Bartholomew, of The Girl Banker blog and podcast, discusses how female bankers can build their careers, navigate challenges, and professionally advocate for themselves.
Helpful Links
Check out The Girl Banker: The Girl Banker
Follow Natalie on LinkedIn: (5) Natalie Bartholomew | LinkedIn
The payments landscape is changing quickly, and with it come evolving risks. How can community banks build a payments risk management program that mitigates ever-changing threats? Nanci McKenzie, a payments expert with the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, discusses how banks can build an effective payments risk management program.
Helpful Links:
Follow Nanci on LinkedIn: (10) Nanci McKenzie | LinkedIn
Register for our Credit Conference: New Frontier: Banking Credit in a Transforming Landscape | ICBB Cred Conference
Participation loans represent an opportunity for community banks to grow or manage their loan portfolio without exceeding their legal lending limit. But how does participation lending work at ICBB? In this episode, a participation loan panel, including chief lending officer Brandon Feltner; correspondent loan officer Paul Loxley; loan operations manager Beth Soard; and senior credit manager Michael Searcy break down the participation process step by step. Listen here, or wherever you get your podcasts.
A new year brings many new opportunities, but also some uncertainty. In this episode, host Madison Caplinger discusses the issues and trends community bankers should consider in 2025 with CEO and president Derek Hetherington, and sales manager and account executive Zac Bodenheimer.
Changes in interest rates, regulations, and consumer preferences can make community bank lending a challenge. One tool to manage a bank’s loan portfolio is to utilize participation loans—something with which ICBB is well acquainted and ready to help. In this episode, host Madison Caplinger discusses participation lending with chief lending officer Brandon Feltner; correspondent loan officer Paul Loxley; and loan operations manager Beth Soard.
Helpful Links:
Contact Brandon: bfeltner@icbb.bank
Contact Paul: ploxley@icbb.bank
Contact Beth: bsoard@icbb.bank
Participation Lending with ICBB: Bank Participation Loans Services | ICBB
In this Q3 market update episode, host Madison Caplinger discusses recent interest rate moves by the Federal Reserve, upcoming regulatory changes, and more with ICBB CFO Eli Barber, chief lending officer Brandon Feltner, and Scott Kimel from FNBB Capital Markets.
Helpful Links:
Contact Scott Kimel: skimel@bankers-bank.com
ICBB Participation Loans: Bank Participation Loans Services | ICBB
Contact Brandon Feltner: bfeltner@icbb.bank
In light of the upcoming presidential election, policy is a hot topic in the news and in the minds of bankers. Part of the value our state bankers’ associations provide is legislative advocacy. In this episode, ICBB CEO Derek Hetherington and Ballard Cassady, CEO of the Kentucky Bankers Association, discuss upcoming legislation that will affect community banks in Kentucky and nationwide.
Helpful Links
Kentucky Bankers’ Association: Kentucky Bankers Association (kybanks.com)
Follow Ballard on LinkedIn: (2) Ballard Cassady | LinkedIn
Follow Derek on LinkedIn: (2) Derek Hetherington | LinkedIn
The use of AI is on the rise across industries, and community bankers must decide if and how they are going to incorporate it into their operations. But how do they ensure safety and compliance in all its uses? In this episode, host Madison Caplinger discusses with Milton Bartley, CEO of ImageQuest, how to develop an AI Policy at your bank.
Helpful Links:
Register for BOOM: https://www.icbbcourses.online/event-details/boom-compliance-shattering-expectations-1?utm_source=the-correspondent&utm_medium=show-notes&utm_campaign=boom-2024
Follow Milton on LinkedIn: (4) Milton Bartley | LinkedIn
Follow ImageQuest on LinkedIn: (4) ImageQuest LLC: Overview | LinkedIn
Interest rate SWAPs are a loan pricing tool often used by large financial institutions to manage their interest rate risk and offer customers long-term, fixed rate loans. But how do they work, and what opportunities do they represent for community banks? Madison discusses these questions with CEO Derek Hetherington and CFO Eli Barber.
Helpful Links
Contact Derek: dhetherington@icbb.bank
Contact Eli: ebarber@icbb.bank
Follow Derek on LinkedIn: Derek Hetherington | LinkedIn
Follow Eli on LinkedIn: Eli Barber | LinkedIn
In this quarterly market update episode, Eli Barber, chief finance officer at ICBB; Brandon Feltner, chief lending officer at ICBB; and Scott Kimel from FNBB Capital Markets discuss the state of community banking, the economy, and capital markets, as well as recurring issues like the interest rate environment, liquidity, and inflation trends.
Contact Brandon Feltner: bfeltner@icbb.bank
Follow Brandon on LinkedIn: (3) Brandon Feltner | LinkedIn
Contact Eli Barber: ebarber@icbb.bank
Follow Eli on LinkedIn: (1) Eli Barber | LinkedIn
Follow Scott on LinkedIn: (3) Scott Kimel | LinkedIn
Community bankers consistently name changing regulatory requirements as a top challenge in today’s climate. Managing compliance risk can be an expensive and difficult component of the life of a community bank. In this episode, host Madison Caplinger engages Charles LeFevre, principal consultant at Stanford Hill, instructor at the ABA’s Bank Marketing school, and sought-after speaker on compliance topics on upcoming regulatory changes such as new FDIC logo regulations, consumer protection legislation, and enhanced requirements for operational and financial resilience.
Helpful Links
Follow Charles on LinkedIn: (1) Charles LeFevre | LinkedIn
Visit Charles’ Website: Big Easy Advisors – Make Banking Simple (bigeasybanking.com)
FDIC Logo Update Press Release: FDIC Finalizes Rule to Modernize Official Signs and Advertising Statement Requirements for Insured Depository Institutions | FDIC
Fraud attempts are on the rise, with consumers reportedly losing more than $10 billion to fraud in 2023. Artificial intelligence can make these attempts more sophisticated and harder to identify. So how can community bankers protect their customers from the devastating effects of fraud? Listen as host Madison Caplinger and Scott Augenbaum, retired FBI agent, cybersecurity trainer, public speaker, and author of The Secret to Cybersecurity, discuss fraud in the age of AI, cybercrime, and how bankers can protect their customers.
Helpful Links
Connect with Scott on LinkedIn for a FREE copy of The Secret to Cybersecurity: Scott E. Augenbaum | LinkedIn
Visit Scott’s Website: Building a Cyber Secure Mindset-Scott Augenbaum
The mission of ICBB has always been to protect, promote, and support the community banking model. The Community Bankers Association of Ohio has a similar mission, and they just celebrated their 50th anniversary. To celebrate with them, Madison Caplinger and Derek Hetherington to discuss with Aza Bittinger, president of the CBAO, the evolution of the CBAO, its goals and future, and the state of community banking.
Helpful Links
Learn more about the CBAO: HOME (cbao.bank)
Visit ohio.bank: Home (ohio.bank)
Follow Aza on LinkedIn: (2) Aza Bittinger Jr | LinkedIn
This episode comes live from our 2024 annual credit conference on May 9, 2024. How can we build tomorrow’s lenders and preserve the future of community banking? Host Madison Caplinger discusses this topic with a panel including Maggie Abney, director of Eastern Kentucky University’s Evans Banking and Financial Services program; Jamie Beaulieu, senior vice president of executive education for the ABA; and ICBB Chief Human Resource Officer Britney Leach.
Helpful Links
Follow Maggie on LinkedIn: Maggie Abney, CTP | LinkedIn
Follow Jamie on LinkedIn: Jamie (Matlin) Beaulieu, CAE | LinkedIn
Follow Britney on LinkedIn: Britney Carter Leach | LinkedIn
EKU Banking & Financial Services Program: Finance, Bachelor of Business Administration with a Concentration in Banking and Financial Services (B.B.A.) < Eastern Kentucky University (eku.edu)
ABA Training & Events: Training & Events - Online & In-Person Training for Bankers | American Bankers Association (aba.com)
What is a brand? And how does a community bank build one that resonates with their customers and stands the test of time? Host Madison Caplinger and Amber Farley, partner at Financial Marketing Solutions in Nashville, discussed this topic. Amber is a faculty member for the Stonier Graduate School of Banking, ABA Banking Marketing School, and a highly sought-after speaker in the bank marketing space. Listen here, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Helpful Links
Follow Amber on LinkedIn: (7) Amber Farley | LinkedIn
Follow FMS on LinkedIn: (7) FMS: Overview | LinkedIn
Learn More About FMS: Home - FMS (financialmarketingsolutions.com)
In the first market update episode of 2024, host Madison Caplinger discusses events and trends of the first quarter with Brandon Feltner, chief lending officer at ICBB; Eli Barber, chief finance officer at ICBB; and Scott Kimel from FNBB/ICBB Capital Markets. Listen here, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Helpful Links
Register for our Credit Conference: https://www.icbbcreditconference.com/?utm_source=the-correspondent&utm_medium=show-notes&utm_campaign=credit-conference-2024
ICBB/FNBB Investment Services: Investment Services - ICBB (Independent Correspondent Bankers Bank, Inc)
Follow Brandon on LinkedIn: (4) Brandon Feltner | LinkedIn
Follow Eli on LinkedIn: (4) Eli Barber | LinkedIn
Follow Scott on LinkedIn: (4) Scott Kimel | LinkedIn
Our upcoming annual credit conference, “Breaking Barriers: Adapt, Evolve, Overcome,” will feature insights from experts in credit and lending. One of those experts, Dev Strischek of Devon Risk Advisory Group, joined the podcast to discuss his presentation topic: “Evaluating a Borrower’s Ability to Survive Inflation and Recession.” Listen here, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Learn More About Our Credit Conference: https://www.icbbcreditconference.com/?utm_source=the-correspondent&utm_medium=show-notes&utm_campaign=credit-conference-2024
Follow Dev on LinkedIn: (3) Dev Strischek | LinkedIn
Dev Strischek’s Webinars: DEV STRISCHEK (grceducators.com)
To wrap up Women in Banking Month, this episode of The Correspondent features the ABA’s Most Powerful Women in Banking for 2023. Jill Castilla has been a prominent figure in community banking nationally since working with Mark Cuban in 2020 to help her customers at Citizens Bank of Edmond in Edmond, Oklahoma. She has since founded an online bank for military members called ROGER. She and ICBB president and CEO, Derek Hetherington, discussed innovating as a community bank, leading through change, serving niche populations effectively, and more. Listen here, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Helpful Links
Register for Our Credit Conference: https://www.icbbcreditconference.com/?utm_source=the-correspondent&utm_medium=podcast-show-notes&utm_campaign=credit-conference-2024&utm_term=s2-e6
Contact Jill Castilla: jcastilla@mycitizens.bank
Follow Jill on LinkedIn: (2) Jill Castilla | LinkedIn
Citizens Bank of Edmond: Citizens Bank of Edmond | Committed to Our Community (mycitizens.bank)
Citizens Bank of Edmond on LinkedIn: (2) Citizens Bank of Edmond: Overview | LinkedIn
ROGER: Roger | Mobile Banking | Command Your Future
ROGER on LinkedIn: (2) ROGER Bank: Overview | LinkedIn
March is Women’s History Month, and at ICBB, we’ve declared it women in banking month. This month’s episodes of The Correspondent will highlight women who are making waves in banking. In this episode, host Madison Caplinger has a conversation with Ilaria Rawlins and Lisa Berger, part of the team founding Fortuna Bank: Ohio’s first woman-owned bank and one of three of its kind in the country. Listen for a discussion on the process of founding a de novo bank, the unique financial needs of women and female entrepreneurs, and what community banks can do to help meet them.
Helpful Links:
Register for the Credit Conference: https://www.icbbcreditconference.com/event-details/breaking-barriers-icbb-annual-credit-conference-2024-1?utm_source=the-correspondent&utm_medium=podcast-ad&utm_campaign=credit-conference-2024
Follow Fortuna Bank (in organization) on LinkedIn: (2) Fortuna Bank (in organization): Overview | LinkedIn
Follow Ilaria Rawlins on LinkedIn: (2) Ilaria Rawlins | LinkedIn
Follow Lisa Berger on LinkedIn: (2) Lisa Berger | LinkedIn
ICBB De Novo Services: De Novo Banking Services | ICBB
Many community banks express hesitation about embracing social media, citing compliance concerns, resources, reputational risk, and more. But for some community banks, the benefits have far outweighed the risk. For example, Paducah Bank in Paducah, Kentucky, was an early adopter of social media marketing and has gained attention from The Financial Brand for their efforts. In this episode, Susan Guess, chief marketing officer at Paducah Bank, and Madison Caplinger discuss the benefits of investing in social media and other creative marketing strategies for community banks.
Register for the Credit Conference: icbbcreditconference.com
The Financial Brand Article on Susan and Paducah Bank: Social Media Savvy Stokes Outsize Customer Engagement for This Bank (thefinancialbrand.com)
Follow Susan on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/susan-guess-16bb7913/
Follow Paducah Bank on Facebook: www.facebook.com/PaducahBank
Learn More About Paducah Bank: Paducah Bank | KY Mortgage Loans | Checking & Savings Accounts
Community banks aren’t just competing with other banks for deposits, but with fintechs, neobanks, and other non-bank challengers. How can a community bank remain competitive with limited resources in such a rapidly changing environment? Maybe it’s not the platform, but the product. In this episode, Ron Shevlin, chief research officer at Cornerstone Advisors and author of the Forbes column, Fintech SnarkTank, highlights a growing need to redefine banking products, community, strategy, and innovation.
Follow Ron Shevlin on LinkedIn: (3) Ron Shevlin | LinkedIn
Cornerstone Advisors: Expert Banking Consultants - Cornerstone Advisors (crnrstone.com)
Follow Ron Shevlin on Forbes: Ron Shevlin (forbes.com)
Ron’s “What’s Going on in Banking” Podcast: What's Going On In Banking on Apple Podcasts
Providing for the financial wellness of staff is an important retention and recruitment tool for community banks. Navigating retirement savings offerings can be so complex and costly that it seems out of reach. However, ICBB is partnering with Lincoln Financial and Envisage Wealth Advisors to offer community banks a solution called a MEAP Plan. This plan can alleviate administrative burden while remaining cost effective for your institution. Listen as Madison discusses that option with Britney Leach, Chief Human Resource Officer for ICBB; Aaron Wiseman, from Lincoln Financial; and Neil Howard from Envisage Wealth Advisors.
Helpful Links:
Discovering FedNow Instant Payments: Insights for Community Banks with the Payments Professor: https://www.icbbcourses.online/event-details/discover-fednow-instant-payments-insights-for-community-banks-with-the-payments-professor?utm_source=the-correspondent&utm_medium=podcast-ad&utm_campaign=fednow-event-2024
Follow Aaron Wiseman on LinkedIn: (4) Aaron Wiseman, QKA, QPFC | LinkedIn
Follow Neil Howard on LinkedIn: (4) Neil H. | LinkedIn
Envisage Wealth Advisors: Envisage | Your Wealth Experts | Lexington KY (envisagewealthadvisors.com)
Contact Britney Leach: bleach@icbb.bank
January is Financial Wellness Month, and financial wellness for community banks starts with strategic planning. But how can you get more out of your strategic planning process than just checking a box for the regulators? CEO Derek Hetherington, who solidified a proactive approach to strategic planning at ICBB after becoming CEO in 2020; and CFO Eli Barber, who served a community bank as an executive during the Great Recession, the pandemic, and an acquisition, discussed the ins and outs of effective, proactive strategic planning. Listen here, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Helpful Links:
Discover FedNow Instant Payments: Insights for Community Banks with the Payments Professor: https://www.icbbcourses.online/event-details/discover-fednow-instant-payments-insights-for-community-banks-with-the-payments-professor?utm_source=the-correspondent&utm_medium=podcast-ad&utm_campaign=fednow-event-2024&utm_content=s2-e1
Follow Derek Hetherington on LinkedIn: (1) Derek Hetherington | LinkedIn
Follow Eli Barber on LinkedIn: (1) Eli Barber | LinkedIn
In the final episode of 2023, Madison Caplinger is joined by chief credit officer Stephanie Oerther, CEO and president Derek Hetherington, and Scott Kimel from our partners at FNBB Capital Markets to discuss the trends of Q3 and the outlook for Q4 of 2023.
Talent acquisition and retention have recently been a challenge for organizations across all industries, and uniquely so for community banks. How can community banks attract and keep young, entry-level talent? Maggie Abney, director of the Evans Banking & Financial Services program at Eastern Kentucky University, and Britney Leach, human resources director at ICBB, discuss this question in this week's episode.
Since the launch of the Federal Reserve’s FedNow instant payments rail, the topic of faster payments has been front and center on bankers’ radars. Some institutions have enthusiastically embraced it, while others have taken a more cautious approach. In this episode, Madison joins ICBB chief operations officer Becky Sisco, product development specialist Todd Beers, and payments influencer and executive, Kevin Olsen to discuss the implications of FedNow from its benefits to its challenges and strategies to implementation. In addition to his role as a senior vice president of innovation and strategy at Pidgin, Kevin Olsen creates content on social media as “The Payments Professor,” explaining complex payments topics in an engaging, down-to-earth way.
Kevin’s Webiste:
FedNow, RTP, and ACH Electronic payments Education simplified (paymentsprofessor.com)
Follow Kevin on Social Media:
Payments Professor "Kevin Olsen" | LinkedIn
Payments Professor - YouTube
Learn More about Pidgin:
Pidgin - Faster Payments Platform
Our friends and customers and Richwood Bank in Richwood, Ohio recently received national recognitiont as one of the Independent Community Bankers’ Association’s Top Agriculture Lenders for 2023. Chief operations officer Brian Gehres and senior agriculture lender Kent Kramer share some of their expertise on the unique technical aspects of agriculture lending, such as the market, risk management, and concentration risk. But mostly, this lending specialty is build on the same foundation as all community banking: trust and relationships.
Richwood Bank Agriculture Lending: Agriculture Loans - Richwood Bank
Bankers' Agricultural Finance Service: Agricultural Mortgage Financing Options - Independent Community Bankers Bank (icbb.bank)
September in National Mortgage Professionals Month, and we’re taking the month to celebrate and empower community bank mortgage professionals. The current rate and economic environment present significant challenges to mortgage professionals. In this episode of the Correspondent, we're joined by ICBB's Missy Harrod, assistant vice president of mortgage, and Zack Stanifer, vice president of residential lending at Citizens Bank in Mount Vernon, Kentucky, to discuss secondary market mortgages, a complex but important part of community bank mortgage lending.
ICBB's annual Bank Operations Opportunities Meeting (BOOM) is coming up in October and this episode provides a taste of the relevant, engaging and educational content it provides. Chasity Bruce, customer service specialist, interviews BOOM speaker Angelica Larranga from ePay resources. Angelica covers key operations topics like preventing fraud and suspicious activity reporting.
BOOM Registration: Bank Operation Opportunities Meeting | ICBB Courses
Today’s episode of The Correspondent joins a conversation that has been taking the banking world, and the world at large, by storm: artificial intelligence, or AI. Some find it exciting, and some find it scary, but AI opens up a world of possibilities. Eric Cook, a digital strategist for a WSI digital marketing agency serving community banks and mentor to community bankers, discusses the possibilities and the challenges of AI for banks.
Eric’s Newsletter, The Recovering Banker: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/6866358235738234880/
Check out The LinkedBanker: Digital & Social Training for Banking Professionals | The LinkedBanker
Eric’s Digital Marketing Agency: Digital Marketing and Online Strategies for Community Banks (poweredbywsi.com)
In this second market update episode of The Correspondent, Madison Caplinger and chief credit officer Stephanie Oerther, president and CEO Derek Hetherington, and president of Sapphire Fiduciary Advisors Paul Stropkay reflect on Q2 of 2023. Topics include the changing lending landscape, best practices in underwriting, inflation and interest rates, and the continuing post-pandemic liquidity crisis.
Sapphire Fiduciary Advisors, LLC: Investment | Sapphire Fiduciary Advisors, LLC | Louisville
ICBB Participation Loans: Bank Participation Loans Services | ICBB
Follow Derek, Stephanie, and Paul on LinkedIn:
(21) Derek Hetherington | LinkedIn
(21) Stephanie Oerther | LinkedIn
(21) Paul Stropkay, CFA | LinkedIn
In today's competitive environment, every part of your customer’s journey matters. This is especially true of the onboarding process. How can your bank onboard customers effectively, remaining efficient while maintaining that personal touch that community banks do so well? Kyle Herschberger, president of Cross Financial in Omaha, Nebraska, shares valuable insight on this topic.
Cross Financial: Sales and Marketing Development Services for Financial Institutions - Cross Financial
Connect with Kyle on LinkedIn: Kyle Hershberger | LinkedIn
A question that seems to be heavy on the minds of community bankers, and especially community bank marketers, is how to capture the business of the younger demographic. Generation Z comprises 40% of US consumers, and Millennials are not far behind them. But growing up with technology means their consumer and banking behavior can be quite a bit different than the older generations. So how does a community bank get their business? In this episode, Brian Reilly, Digital Marketing Nerd at BankBound, a digital marketing agency for financial institutions, and Madison discuss this very question.
This special episode of The Correspondentit was recorded live from ICBB's 2023 Annual Credit Conference. It features a panel discussion on loan review and risk management with CEO Derek Hetherington, professor Maggie Abney from Eastern Kentucky University, and Don McFadden and Matt Evans from ICBB affiliate, Bankers’ Service Corporation.
This episode marks the first first quarterly market update, where Madison is joined by chief credit officer Stephanie Oerther, senior lender Brandon Feltner, and president and CEO of ICBI affliate Sapphire Fiduciary Advisers Paul Stropkay, to discuss trends, current events, and other issues that have arisen over the past quarter.
Many community banks are hesitant to offer international payments services to their customers, perceiving it to be risky and not worth the investment. But without them, they may risk losing their best customers to a larger institution. Madison Caplinger, along with Dan Caputo, VP of Global Treasury for AscendantFX, and Chasity Bruce, Customer Service Specialist for ICBB, discuss the need for international services and dispel foreign transaction myths that many bankers believe.
Ransomware and other cyber crimes are an ever-increasing (and very expensive) threat to community banks and their customers. There are many ways to prevent such an attack, but cybercriminals are getting smarter every day. What do you and your team do when the worst happens? In this se ondpart of a two-part episode, cyber banking attorney Bill Repasky and IT Manager Jared Luyster discuss in more detail the community bank's incident response plan.
Ransomware and other cyber crimes are an ever-increasing (and very expensive) threat to community banks and their customers. There are many ways to prevent such an attack, but cybercriminals are getting smarter every day. What do you and your team do when the worst happens? In this first part of a two-part episode, cyber banking attorney Bill Repasky and IT Manager Jared Luyster discuss the effects of ransomware attacks, how they happen, and how a community bank should respond to minimize the damage.
Now more than ever, finding and keeping great credit and lending staff is a difficult but necessary part of successful community banking. But what if great lenders and analysts are made, not born? In honor of our upcoming credit conference, we spoke to Derrick Jackson, Chief Credit Officer at First Saving Bank, Indiana, and keynote speaker at Still Standing: 2023 Annual Credit Conference, about the importance of-- and best practices for-- training solid lending and credit teams.
Register for the Credit Conference: ICBB Credit Conference 2023: Still Standing | ICBB Cred Conference
For the past few years, community bank lenders have had to contend with a lot of uncertainty and rapid changes in the lending environment. How can they effectively manage their credit risk? On this episode, we discuss managing credit risk in an uncertain environment with Matt Evans, president of ICBI-affiliate Bankers' Service Corporation, and Allen North, Vice President at the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.
Customer service is a cornerstone of community banking, but it's also a high-turnover profession. How can community banks build a culture that keeps quality tellers and customer service people from quiet quitting or joining the Great Resignation? In this episode, you'll hear from Chasity Bruce, customer service specialist III at ICBB, and the leadership team from First United Bank & Trust in Madisonville, KY, #31 on the ABA's Best Banks to Work For list 2022, about how their organizations have built a culture that not only keeps frontline employees, but keeps them happy at work.
Employee turnover is a pervasive and costly problem for community banks. In this episode of The Correspondent, marketing associate Madison Caplinger interviews Britney Leach, Human Resources Director at ICBB, and Kathy Leombruno of Citizens Bank West Virginia, which was recently named #29 on the American Bankers' Association's 2022 Best Banks to Work For list. Both share their strategies for employee retention and engagement.
Welcome to the first-ever episode of The Correspondent, a YouTube-exclusive podcast from ICBB! In celebration of the bankers' bank's 35-year anniversary, this episode features interviews with inaugural CEO, Bill Fallon; second CEO, John Clark; and current CEO, Derek Hetherington on the past, present, and future of ICBB.