Independent Banker - December 2022 - 24

PORTFOLIO INNOVATION STATION
2022: Awakening to
the art of the possible
By Charles Potts, ICBA
laid since its inception to reach even
more community bankers, assure
bankers of consistent-quality products
and services, and extend innovation
programming year-round.
Our commitment to creating and
promoting an environment where
community banks fl ourish is unwavering,
and this signifi cant investment is just the
next step in ICBA's innovation journey.
We ask that you continue to share
your time and experience as we work
collaboratively to shape innovative
solutions that make community banks
stand out in a competitive market.
As we refl ect on 2022 and celebrate
our successes, we look to the future with
or ICBA and our community
bank members, 2022 was a
year full of potential. We not only
continued to grow and improve on our
iconic, award-winning ThinkTECH
Accelerator program; we also
reached more community banks with
innovative solutions and partnerships
than ever before. To build on
these successes, ICBA announced
plans to bring the ThinkTECH
Accelerator program in-house with
a new, dedicated offi ce based in the
innovation hub of Atlanta.
Here are just a few of the program's
successes since its inception:
 The ICBA ThinkTECH Accelerator
was named Finovate's 2020 Best
Fintech Accelerator
 It has connected the world's most
innovative fi ntech companies
with more than 1,000 community
bankers and industry leaders
 Year over year, the program has
grown by leaps and bounds-
increasing the number of bank
participants by more than 350%
F
since its launch in 2019
 This year, we increased the number
of new attendees by more than 50%,
generating nearly 600 hours of
thoughtful discussion
That's what I would call creating a
legacy of success. Others are taking
notice as well; the program-and
our cohort alumni-continues to
receive coverage in infl uential media
outlets like American Banker, Forbes,
Reuters and Yahoo.
In step with community bankers
None of this would have been possible
without community bankers who
have worked diligently to advance
their own innovation strategies and
continue to provide critical thought
leadership. They have helped make
the program a refl ection of the needs
of our members, and by extension,
their customers.
By bringing the ThinkTECH
Accelerator program in-house, we
can build on the solid foundation
great anticipation.
" The accelerator is a great exercise
for bank management to start thinking
about what could be, rather than what
is, " says Charles Flurry, CIO at First
Financial Bank in El Dorado, Ark.
I couldn't agree more. Community
banks can take heart in the knowledge
that as we advance, we will apply
lessons from the past while aligning our
program's goals to address the unique
needs of community banks by providing
targeted solutions.
ICBA extends its heartfelt thanks
to the many community banks that
have invested time and resources into
the ThinkTECH Accelerator program,
enabling us to bring innovative solutions
and partnerships to banks of all sizes.
We ask community bankers to stay
engaged and continue to lean in, provide
feedback and take advantage of available
resources as we work to reimagine the
future of banking through innovation.
Innovation doesn't stand still. And
neither can we. 
Charles Potts (charles.potts@icba.org)
is ICBA executive vice president and
chief innovation off icer
24 Q ICBA Independent Banker Q December 2022
Illustration by Jess Rodriguez/Adobe
Independent Banker - December 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Independent Banker - December 2022
