ICBA LIVE!

I had the opportunity to join several of our bank presidents in San Diego during the first week of March for the ICBA LIVE — and it truly was an outstanding experience. The event offered an impressive range of sessions, workshops, learning labs, a robust tradeshow and countless networking opportunities with bankers from across the country.

I found particular value in sessions focused on artificial intelligence and digital strategy, stablecoins, expanding small business opportunities and evolving cybersecurity risks. The keynote speakers were equally engaging and insightful. Montana was well represented throughout the conference, and it was great to connect with our bank presidents at various events and gatherings during the week.

Capital Summit

We also attended the ICBA Capital Summit in Washington, D.C., held April 29 through May 1. Despite the last-minute schedule shuffle, we had a solid crew attending this year, and I’m very happy that everyone could accommodate the date switch. With all the critical issues currently front and center, it was a vital time for us to be on the ground. There is a great deal happening at the federal level, and it’s essential that our Congressional delegation hears directly from our bank members in-person. Currently, the House-passed housing and banking package remains at a standstill because the Senate favors — and only passed — a housing-only approach. Simultaneously, we remain closely engaged on next steps related to stablecoin policy, particularly concerning market yields, interest or rewards.

H.R. 6644 — Housing for the 21st Century Act

The House-passed Housing for the 21st Century Act includes several key provisions that strongly support community banks (source: ICBA), including:

• Allowing community banks to hold additional custodial and reciprocal deposits without them being classified as brokered deposits.
• Providing an 18-month exam cycle and other regulatory relief for banks with up to $6 billion in assets.
• Promoting the formation of de novo community banks by streamlining the application process.
• Establishing a two-year pilot program to encourage new bank formation — especially in rural areas — by offering greater regulatory, capital and lending flexibility.
• Creating a Treasury Financial Agent program to foster partnerships among minority depository institutions, rural community banks and other financial institutions.

Convention

The Montana Independent Bankers’s 59th Annual State Convention is just around the corner, and we’re excited to host it this year in Butte at the Copper King Hotel & Convention Center.

We strongly encourage every member bank to send team members to attend. There is truly something for everyone — whether you’re in executive leadership, middle management, IT or just starting your career in banking. The convention is designed to deliver both valuable educational content and meaningful relationship-building opportunities, while highlighting the critical role our community banks play across Montana.

This year’s sessions will cover a wide range of timely topics, including AI in banking, innovation strategies, interest rate risk management, and both national and Montana economic outlooks. We’ll also hear directly from the banking commissioner with an important regulatory update.

We’re especially excited to welcome two outstanding keynote speakers: Shon Myers, ICBA’s vice chairman and president, CEO & chairman of Farmers & Merchants Bank in Miamisburg, Ohio; and Chris Fisk, a renowned Butte historian whose passion for storytelling brings Montana’s history to life in a truly engaging way.

Convention registration is available online at mibonline.org/convention. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at shane@mibonline.org.

We’re looking forward to seeing everyone in Butte!