Considered one of our best belongings is our status as relationship bankers. When issues get powerful, folks need to have the ability to speak to their banker.

I’ve at all times been a glass-half-full man, and although 2023 is predicted to be a difficult financial yr, it additionally brings alternative. We merely want to recollect what makes us particular as neighborhood bankers, and with that as our basis, we are able to embrace this season of change in 4 major methods:

1. Demonstrating the neighborhood financial institution distinction.
Considered one of our best belongings is our status as relationship bankers. When issues get powerful, folks need to have the ability to speak to their banker. They need to come into the financial institution and say, “We’d like your assist to determine issues out.” With neighborhood bankers by their sides, they’ve an actual connection to somebody who can assist clear up their issues, and we’re capable of finding artistic options to work with them in making an attempt occasions. That’s the neighborhood financial institution distinction, and we ought to be proud to reiterate it all year long.

2. Gaining advocacy wins.
Neighborhood bankers have confirmed vocal advocates on quite a few points going through our business, together with pushing to advance a hashish banking protected harbor, shut the commercial mortgage firm loophole, oppose an extension of Durbin Modification restrictions to bank cards and form the controversy over the regulation of crypto belongings. I encourage you to hitch us and lend your voice to supporting these and different advocacy efforts, which is able to form the coverage panorama.

My Prime Three

Priorities for a profitable 2023

1. Advocacy: Get each worker concerned
2. Innovation: Implement new digital options
3. Training: Decide to neighborhood bank-focused coaching for next-generation leaders

3. Embracing modern choices.
Know-how is a prime focus, as a result of now we have to be able to reside the place our clients reside: on their telephones. This climbing emphasis on digital options is why ICBA introduced all ThinkTECH programming, together with the Accelerator, in-house to make sure year-round assist for neighborhood banks. ThinkTECH firms assist us serve our clients higher, broaden our footprint right into a extra various buyer base and create higher adoption of providers by way of know-how.

4. Uniting with different neighborhood bankers.
I’m an enormous proponent of the ability of many in advancing neighborhood financial institution objectives and targets. There’s nothing extra impactful than convening neighborhood bankers with a one-mission focus. This yr, gathering for ICBA LIVE in Hawaii and bringing our collective forces to Washington within the spring to advocate for our priorities will help in making certain neighborhood banks proceed to flourish.

Whereas nobody can predict simply how the yr will go, I do know that by staying true to who we’re as neighborhood bankers, we’ll come out on prime. And that’s why I’m wanting ahead to all we’ll collectively accomplish in 2023.

Brad Bolton, Chairman, ICBA
Brad Bolton is president and CEO of Neighborhood Spirit Financial institution in Pink Bay, Ala.
Join with Brad @BradMBolton