CSBS Community Bank Case Study Competition

Overview

Banks play a critical role in the U.S. economy by providing credit and financial services to businesses and consumers. Community banks play an especially important role by delivering essential banking services — particularly in rural areas — and supporting the economic vitality of communities across the country.

The CSBS Community Bank Case Study Competition provides undergraduate students in all fields of study an opportunity to gain valuable, first-hand knowledge of the banking industry. The competition pairs student teams with community banks to conduct original case studies focused on timely topics.

The top three teams are awarded scholarships and are published in the Journal of Community Bank Case Studies. The winning team is also invited to attend and present their work at the Community Banking Research Conference, co-sponsored by CSBS, the Federal Reserve, and the FDIC.

Competition Goals

The CSBS Community Bank Case Study Competition is designed to:

• Build a deeper understanding of the community banking business model and the role community banks play in local economies.
• Connect academics with the banking industry to foster research on community banking.
• Help undergraduate students gain insight into the field of community banking, potentially steering them toward careers in community banking or financial regulation.

Many students who participate in the competition go on to accept positions at community banks or state regulatory agencies.

2027 Competition Information

Topic

How is innovation changing the way community banks develop products and services, protect consumers, and optimize operations?

The 2027 CSBS Community Bank Case Study Competition asks teams to select a community bank and learn about how it is responding to innovation across three areas: developing products and services, protecting consumers, and optimizing operations. The full 2027 competition topic will be available the week of Oct. 12.

Statements of Interest

University professors interested in sponsoring a student team must submit a Statement of Interest during the open application period, which opens on Oct. 12 and closes on Dec. 31.

Faculty are encouraged to use the remainder of the fall term to identify student candidates and secure a community bank partner. As the faculty advisor, professors are responsible for selecting their team of between three to five students and coordinating the team’s community bank partner. Click here to view more information about Bank Partner eligibility and participation.

Student & Bank Partner Registration

Faculty advisors must ensure that each student and bank partner registers for the competition no later than 11:59 p.m. ET on Friday, Jan. 29, 2027. Registration will open to faculty who submit a Statement of Interest.

Case Study Development

Student teams, under the guidance of their faculty advisor, will produce both a case study paper and a five-minute video summarizing their findings.

Teams are recommended to meet with their bank partner's executive team at least twice (either in person or virtually) to collect the information needed to address the competition topic.

Each team must submit:

• A paper (up to 25 pages) thoroughly analyzing the case study topic.
• A five-minute video highlighting their key findings.

The submission deadline for both the paper and video is 12 p.m. noon ET on Friday, April 9, 2027. The grading rubric used by judges will be provided to help guide paper and video development.

Resources

• Bank Partner Eligibility & Participation
• 2026 Journal of Community Bank Case Studies

Judging Period & Announcement

Submissions will be evaluated by state bank regulators and industry professionals through a multi-round judging process. Judging will take place from April 12 through May 5, 2027, with finalists advancing through each successive round.

The winning team will be announced via livestream from the State-Federal Supervisory Forum in Detroit, Michigan, on May 13, 2027.

Key Dates:

• Judging Period: April 12-May 5, 2027
• Winners Announced: May 13, 2027

Awards

• First Place: $1,000 CSBS scholarship for each student and faculty advisor, plus an invitation to present at the Community Banking Research Conference.
• Second Place: $750 CSBS scholarship for each student and faculty advisor.
• Third Place: $500 CSBS scholarship for each student and faculty advisor.

The top three teams will have their case studies published in the Journal of Community Bank Case Studies.

The top three teams will have their case studies published in a journal of academic research. Click here to view the 2026 Journal of Community Bank Case Studies.

Please contact the Competition Manager, Shannon Lucernoni, if you have any questions at [email protected].