Once we assemble at LIVE, it’s about coming collectively to ignite the eagerness for neighborhood banking on behalf of our communities in a method that strikes the trade ahead.
The Hawaiian phrase for household is ‘ohana, and as we put together to move to Honolulu for ICBA LIVE subsequent month, I’m struck by how a lot that phrase describes this neighborhood. We’re a household of neighborhood bankers, supporting each other and our communities by our shared mission, imaginative and prescient and values.
In lots of instances, we’re not solely a selected household; we’re associated by blood as nicely. Many people are fourth- or fifth-generation neighborhood bankers, embodying an extended household custom of caring for neighborhood. We’re passing that ethos down, too. The truth is, we now have extra youngsters attending LIVE this yr than we now have up to now, and I can’t assist however consider the rising neighborhood financial institution leaders which may be proper in entrance of us and all they’ll carry to the trade.
The place I’ll be this month
I’ll be sharing the neighborhood financial institution perspective and talking on the Federal Reserve Financial institution of Atlanta’s Again to the Future: 2023 Banking Outlook Convention.
So, it’s becoming that this yr’s theme for ICBA LIVE is “Gentle the Fireplace. Gentle the Manner.” Not solely are we wanting on the subsequent technology of leaders amongst us; we’re additionally specializing in what we will do at present to protect and develop neighborhood banks’ impression. It’s by no means been extra essential to maintain that flame of neighborhood banking spreading all through the nation.
Our communities want our continued help by these difficult financial instances. They want us to stay advocates for his or her wants. They want us to proceed to serve them as folks, not as transactions. So, once we assemble at LIVE, it’s about coming collectively to ignite the eagerness for neighborhood banking on behalf of our communities in a method that strikes the trade ahead.
As we take a look at the continued tempo of change, we’re met with our fair proportion of challenges but additionally nice alternatives. Once we come collectively, the vitality that arises helps us collectively establish the trail ahead. Then, we carry our heads up and handle the technical and nuanced elements of what we do with a give attention to the long-term way forward for the trade. We create progress and momentum.
However presumably essentially the most rewarding a part of LIVE is the chance to satisfy fellow neighborhood bankers from across the nation. These hallway conversations the place we share anecdotes and make new connections exemplify who we’re as neighborhood bankers. That sense of ‘ohana shines by, as a result of in neighborhood banking we’re extra than simply enterprise leaders. We’re a household, and I hope to see you at LIVE to assist us construct the relationships that may form the way forward for the trade.
Rebeca Romero Rainey
President and CEO, ICBA
Join with Rebeca @romerorainey