Independent Banker - January 2020 - 5

FLOURISH
" Our resolution is to
continue to bring you the
very best support for your
prosperity, growth and
success in the new year. "
Rebeca Romero Rainey
President and CEO, ICBA
As we enter a new year, we're fi lled with a sense
of anticipation for everything that will unfold in
the coming 12 months. We see a world full of
potential, which is exactly what inspires us to set
our New Year's resolutions.
However, it takes hard work to hold onto
those goals. Staying optimistic and committed in
the face of day-to-day pressures and challenges
takes tenacity and strength of character. But it's
worth it. A Harvard Medical School publication
reported that long-lasting change is most
possible when it's self-motivated and rooted in
positive thinking, according to experts who study
behavior change. Lucky for us, community bankers
know a thing or two about staying the course.
We continue our work precisely because we
know that when we set our sights on something,
we achieve it. From successes in getting the Federal
Reserve involved in real-time payments
to our ongoing eff orts to wake up Washington
to credit union injustices, we are present, committed
and confi rmed in our eff orts to level the
playing fi eld for community bankers.
We see this same degree of passion refl ected in
community bank plans. Unlike other institutions,
community banks develop business strategies
that place customers fi rst. This focus enables
community banks to maintain their true north
amid continuous market changes.
Where I'll be
this month
I'll be kicking
off the second
iteration of
our ThinkTECH
Accelerator
at the Venture
Center in Little
Rock, Ark.
Yet, community banks do not rest on their laurels;
they continue to evolve. So, as your bank
looks to set its annual business goals, think of
ICBA as your partner. For example, if you are
looking to establish or evolve your payments plan,
the ICBA Bancard Digital Payments Strategy Tool
and Guide off ers a resource to provide direction.
If you'd like to dive deeper into emerging topics
in fi nancial services, Community Banker University
off ers education on some of the year's most
pressing subjects. When it comes to innovation,
our ThinkTECH Accelerator and ThinkTECH
Network place a spotlight on fi ntechs that are
providing products and services for community
bankers. And to make a diff erence in regulation
and legislation, our Be Heard grassroots action
center off ers the latest tools to make sure your
voice is amplifi ed.
As you peruse this issue of Independent Banker,
I hope you'll refl ect on our future with pride and
determination, taking note of this year's opportunities.
Our resolution is to continue to bring you
the very best support for your prosperity, growth
and success in the new year, and I'm looking forward
to all we'll accomplish in 2020.
Connect with Rebeca @romerorainey
independentbanker.org Q 5
http://www.independentbanker.org
Independent Banker - January 2020

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