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Cyber Agency Warns of Iranian Activity

The Department of Homeland Security warned of a recent rise in malicious cyber activity directed at U.S. industries and government agencies by Iranian regime actors and proxies.

In a statement, the department's Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency cited an increase in "wiper" attacks that seek to take down entire networks. These efforts are often enabled through common tactics such as spear phishing, password spraying, and credential stuffing.

“In times like these it’s important to make sure you’ve shored up your basic defenses, like using multi-factor authentication, and if you suspect an incident—take it seriously and act quickly," CISA Director Christopher Krebs said.

DHS said anyone who has relevant information or suspects a compromise should immediately contact the department at NCCICCUSTOMERSERVICE@hq.dhs.gov. Additional community bank resources are available on the ICBA website.

Read the CISA Statement
Access Tips from DHS
Access ICBA Resources

Key Senators See Bipartisan ‘Beneficial Owner’ Reform

BANK SECRECY ACT
The heads of the Senate Banking Committee said there is growing bipartisan support for reforming how companies disclose their “beneficial owners.” At a committee hearing, Chairman Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Ranking Member Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) cited recently introduced legislation to establish a federal database for beneficial ownership information.

In a written statement for the hearing, ICBA continued its call for Congress to pass legislation that would require companies to disclose their beneficial owners when they are formed.

ICBA cited last week’s House Financial Services Committee passage of Rep. Carolyn Maloney's (D-N.Y.) Corporate Transparency Act (H.R. 2513). That bill would require certain small businesses to disclose their beneficial owners to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network when they are formed, relieving community banks of the burden of collecting this information from customers.

Access ICBA’s Statement
View the Hearing

Urge Congress to Investigate Credit Union Acquisitions

ICBA is calling on community bankers to urge their members of Congress to investigate the troubling trend of large credit unions buying up community banks. Community bankers can use ICBA's Be Heard grassroots action center to send in custom messages asking lawmakers to use their oversight authority to rein in credit union abuses.

Meanwhile, ICBA continues encouraging community bankers to send in examples of credit unions' egregious actions to exposingcreditunions@icba.org. Community bankers can also access ICBA's customizable op-ed and talking points to raise awareness of the acquisition trend and its cost to taxpayers in local news media.

Tell Congress to Investigate
Access Additional ICBA Resources

VACB Bankers Engage Congress for Community Banks

Virginia's community bankers turned out in force on Capitol Hill in late April to advocate for Virginia's community bank priorities as participants in the 2019 ICBA Capital Summit. Almost two dozen VACB member bankers - another record turnout - met with members and staff of the Virginia Congressional delegation throughout the day on Tuesday April 30 - thirteen individual meetings in one day. The group included four first-timers - all of whom had taken part in the ICBA/VACB advocacy training recently offered in Richmond.

Issue #1 was BSA reform - increasing CTR and SAR thresholds, and re-directing the burden of Beneficial Ownership. Other issues discussed included:

reforming CRA

leveling the playing field with credit unions and Farm Credit

fixing the Community Bank Leverage Ratio at 8%

subjecting all participants in the payment system to GLBA-like standards

preserving community bank access to the secondary market in any GSE reform plan and

creating a safe harbor for cannabis banking.

Our heartfelt thanks to those bankers who invested their time and financial resources to make this chapter in VACB Congressional relations so successful.

2019 VACB Security Officer Workshop Offered October 17
Security Management: Robbery & Active Threat Preparedness

The Virginia Association of Community Banks (VACB) is pleased to present our Fall Security Officer Workshop. We are partnering with Jim Rechel, president of The Rechel Group, Inc. to deliver this timely and relevant program.

This workshop has been developed to provide you with information that enables you to address current threats, while also preparing you for future threats and potential solutions to active threats and robbery.

To learn more about the program and to register, click the photo on the left.

Congratulations to our 2018 Community Banking Award Winners

John Perry from SHAZAM with our Community Banker of the Year, Dean Withers, Farmers & Merchants Bank, Timberville

Community Banker of the Year - Dean Withers

Dean joined F&M Bank as Vice President of Loans in 1993 and worked his way through the ranks to become F&M Bank’s President and CEO in 2004. During his tenure, he has led F&M through tremendous growth and success. At Dean’s helm, F&M Bank has more than doubled its asset size, from approximately $350 million to a current value of $770 million.

Dean takes pride in seeing the potential in his staff and positioning them for success. Dean is well known at F&M Bank for being approachable, a good listener, and a champion of encouragement for personal and professional growth, as well as the impetus for active community involvement for which F&M Bank employees have come to be known.

Community Bank Rising Star 2018 - Carolyn Kline

Carolyn Kline is Vice President and Chief of Retail Operations of Virginia Partners Bank in Fredericksburg, VA. Ms. Kline received her undergraduate degree in Business Administration from the University of Mary Washington and continued at her alma mater to obtain her Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a concentration in Human Resources earlier this year. She is a graduate of William Monroe High School in Stanardsville, VA. She is considered a Key Volunteer for the Marine Corps Marathon and has volunteered over 500 hours with them since 2013 throughout various races in Virginia and DC. Prior to beginning her career in banking, Ms. Kline worked as a Manager of Chick-fil-A for 5 years.