Resources for Bankers
The majority of banks headquartered in the Federal Reserve’s Eighth District are considered community banks, meaning they have $10 billion or fewer in total assets. A summary of Eighth District financial institutions by charter type can be found on our District Highlights page.
Community banks are a critical component of the U.S. financial system and economy. They meet a diverse array of consumer and commercial credit needs and are important partners in the economic stability of their communities.
Over the years, community banks have successfully adapted to changing consumer and business preferences and challenges in local and national economies.
The Federal Reserve System and the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis conduct several programs and offer resources to assist community bankers and to help enhance public awareness of this important business sector. These include:
- The Community Bank Research Conference and policy conference: An annual community banking research and policy conference that is sponsored by the Federal Reserve, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. and the Conference of State Bank Supervisors.
- Community Banking Connections: The Federal Reserve System’s Quarterly Magazine highlighting supervisory and regulatory matters of interest to community banks.
- Board of Director Training (PDF): The Federal Reserve System's free online training curriculum designed to allow bank directors to quickly develop an understanding of their role in performing bank oversight responsibilities.
- The Community Depository Institutions Advisory Council: A 12 member council of executives from smaller financial institutions headquartered in the Eighth District. The council meets twice a year to advise the St. Louis Fed president on the credit, banking and economic conditions facing their institutions and their communities. The chair of each District Bank's council also has the responsibility of reporting twice yearly to the Federal Reserve Board of Governors in Washington, D.C.
- Cyber Talk: A six-part video series for bank executives and board members that can be used as a tool to facilitate discussions on cybersecurity.
- Ask the Fed® is a webinar program designed for insured depository institutions, bank and thrift holding companies, supervisory regulators and banking associations. Program sessions feature Fed experts and guest speakers presenting on, and answering question about, the top banking and regulatory issues of the day. Ask the Fed® has become a key mechanism by which the Federal Reserve System communicates with its supervised institutions on supervisory and regulatory matters.
- Federal Reserve Bank Services provide financial services to depository institutions including banks, credit unions, and savings and loans, much like those that banks provide for their customers. These services include collecting checks, electronically transferring funds, and distributing and receiving cash and coin.
- Federal Banking Regulations is a resource created by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis to track banking regulations. It tracks significant rules and guidance affecting depository institutions and their holding companies issued by federal agencies responsible for bank supervision.
- The CECL Resource Center is a one-stop resource for smaller financial institutions as they prepare for the changes associated with the Current Expected Credit Losses (CECL) method.
- The St. Louis Fed provides an archive of banking supervision and regulation email alerts.
