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

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.

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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.

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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)