The Correspondent

Community banks are in a prime position to serve the small businesses in their communities. Merchant services are one tool that not all bankers are utilizing. In this episode, Chris Claxon from EasyPay, partner for ICBB Merchant Services, discusses the benefits of a merchant services program and how to set it up for success.

Helpful Links:

ICBB Merchant Services: Merchant Services - ICBB

Follow Chris on LinkedIn: (1) Chris Claxon | LinkedIn

In the digital age, bankers need digital tools at their disposal to succeed. For business bankers, LinkedIn can be an invaluable business development tool. But how can already-busy lenders effectively and efficiently harness its power? We asked the expert; Jack Hubbard serves as a highly sought-after consultant; Chairman Emeritus at St. Meyer & Hubbard; the host of The Modern Banker podcast; and faculty at Graduate School Banking at Wisconsin. In this discussion, he outlines how business bankers can leverage LinkedIn to build their pipeline.

Helpful Links:

Follow Jack on LinkedIn: (10) Jack Hubbard | LinkedIn

Follow The Modern Banker: (10) The Modern Banker: Overview | LinkedIn

Both brand-new bankers and seasoned leaders bring innovative ideas to their institutions and need to present them to the right people. But how do they get those people to listen? Alyson Van Hooser, president and CEO of Van Hooser Leadership and a highly sought-after speaker, offers her flagship presentation, Earning the Right to Be Heard, to answer that very question. Van Hooser is not only extremely knowledgeable, but an engaging and energetic presenter. Listeners will walk away from her feeling ready to take on the world.

Helpful Links

Follow Alyson on LinkedIn: (1) Alyson Van Hooser, CSP | LinkedIn

Van Hooser Blog: Blog - Van Hooser Leadership

Van Hooser Training: Custom Leadership Training - Van Hooser Leadership

Bank Operations Opportunities Meeting, or BOOM, is coming up on September 5 and features a lineup of expert speakers. One such speaker is Coy Ogle of Finovifi, a fintech company built to help community banks detect and fight check fraud. His presentation, previewed here, is titled "Check Fraud: Will it Continue to Increase?" Ogle and his team are extremely knowledgeable about the check marketplace and its accompanying fraud.

Helpful Links

BOOM Registration: Bank Operations Opportunities Meeting | ICBB Courses

Follow Coy on LinkedIn: (5)

Much has happened politically and economically in 2025, and especially in the second quarter. Host Madison Caplinger discusses issues like interest rates, inflationary pressures, and loan demand trends with Scott Kimel from FNBB Capital Markets, ICBB CFO Chris Dew.

Helpful Links:

Q1 Market Update: The Correspondent - Banking Podcast from ICBB

ICBB/FNBB Investment Services: Investment Services - ICBB

ICBB Participation Loans: Bank Participation Loans Services - ICBB

Follow Chris on LinkedIn: (2) Christopher Dew | LinkedIn

Follow Scott on LinkedIn: (2) Scott Kimel | LinkedIn

This episode is a replay of a session hosted by the Payments Professor, Kevin Olsen, at our 2025 annual credit conference.

Helpful Links:

InstantPay Connect - ICBB

In this episode of The Correspondent, recorded live from ICBB's annual credit conference, chief lending officer Brandon Feltner and correspondent loan officer Paul Loxley present updates on the participation loan market.

Helpful Links:

Participation Loans: Bank Participation Loans Services - ICBB

Holding Company Loans: Holding Company Loans for Banks - ICBB

Bank Organization Loans: Bank Organization Loans - ICBB

This episode of The Correspondent was recorded live at our annual credit conference. In uncertain times, bankers must consider new strategies. ICBB CEO Derek Hetherington and CFO Chris Dew discuss a strategy called 'right-sizing' the balance sheet.

Helpful Links:

Participation Loans: Bank Participation Loans Services - ICBB

Since 2022, deposit strategy has taken center stage for community banks. With the Federal Reserve's rapid rate hikes, the competition for deposits has intensified, and banks are feeling the squeeze. Balancing liquidity needs, funding loans, and staying competitive on rates without eroding profitability is no small feat. This episode features Neil Stanley, the CEO and Founder of The CorePoint, a platform helping banks source fixed-rate deposits more strategically. Listen as he and host Madison Caplinger discuss the current deposit landscape, what community banks can do to stay competitive, and how technology can play a role in reshaping deposit strategy.

Helpful Links:

Follow Neil on LinkedIn: (2) Neil Stanley | LinkedIn

The CorePoint: The CorePoint

The economy has been a hot topic for most of the first quarter, and uncertainties have left community banks unsure of how to respond. Host Madison Caplinger discusses the prevalent issues with chief lending officer, Brandon Feltner, new chief finance officer Chris Dew, and Scott Kimel from FNBB Capital Markets.

Helpful Links

ICBB/FNBB Investment Services: Investment Services - ICBB

ICBB Participation Loans: Bank Participation Loans Services - ICBB

Follow Brandon on LinkedIn: Brandon Feltner | LinkedIn

Follow Scott on LinkedIn: Scott Kimel | LinkedIn

Follow Chris on LinkedIn: Christopher Dew | LinkedIn