Ag stays positive but concerns lie ahead
The Rural Mainstreet Index posted its seventh straight month above growth neutral, marking a return to brighter days. Concerns about drought and inflation, however, are beginning to surface in the central states dependent on ag and energy. The RMI index decreased to 70.0 from last month’s record high 78.8, and ...
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A clear-eyed vision for the future
Jason MacDuff, the fervent leader and vice president of Greenpenny Bank, moved to California from Decorah, Iowa, when he was ...
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Navigating the perils of Reg O
Most community bankers are familiar with Regulation O, the Federal Reserve’s set of rules intended to prevent abuse of bank ...
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Apples-to-apples comparisons are less fruitful these days
To say banking is competitive today is a revelation as surprising as acknowledging that the Pope is Catholic. So why, ...
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Chronicles
InBank expands in Colorado
New Mexico’s InBank is expanding with an LPO in Boulder, Colo., a first step toward full-service branches in the area, ...
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Illinois-based HBT expanding to Iowa
HBT Financial, in Bloomington, Ill., is moving into Iowa via a deal for NXT Bancorporation, Inc., in a cash and ...
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FDIC votes not to raise assessments
The FDIC board voted not to raise deposit insurance assessments on banks in order to recapitalize its insurance fund ...
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Wisconsin DFI recognizes World Elder Abuse Day
The Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions reminded the community to be on guard for signs of exploitation, including that potentially ...
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Illinois targets financial services as way to achieve racial equity
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed into law a series of bills aimed at tackling racial and income inequality in the ...
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Stearns acquires South End Capital
Minnesota-based Stearns Bank acquired South End Capital Corporation to expand its financing options and business banking services ...
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People
Merchants names VP
Rob Pyle has joined Merchants Bank as a vice president and commercial banker in its Lakeville, Minn., office ...
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Dubuque bank names president
Tyson Leyendecker has been named president and CEO of Iowa's Dubuque Bank & Trust, effective July 1. ...
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Long named OCB market president
One Community Bank in Oregon, Wis., has promoted Thomas Long to market president of its Sun Prairie, Wis., location ...
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Opinion
Change is real
Fourteen months after the coronavirus paralyzed the country, it seems we are returning to pre-pandemic normalcy. Most of the people ...
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What you can protect… and what you can’t
The rise in ransomware attacks among financial institutions has shown no signs of slowing down. Cybersecurity threats have been rampant ...
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The unique COVID-19 challenges of Asian-owned small businesses
As small businesses look back on 2020 and forward into the rest of 2021, economic hope remains on the horizon ...
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Community Relations
WBF awards scholarships
The Wisconsin Bankers Foundation has handed out four scholarships totaling $2,000 to college students in the state ...
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Centier donates to Boys and Girls Club
Indiana’s Centier Bank recently presented a $75,000 donation to the Boys and Girls Club of Northwest Indiana as part of ...
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Indiana bank funds education expansion
The Bippus State Bank in Huntington, Ind., recently donated $25,000 towards the development of the Heartland Adult Education Career Center ...
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