In July, the Community Banking Research Conference planning committee named three graduate students as the 2025 Community Banking Research Conference Emerging Scholars. The program supports the next generation of community banking researchers by selecting Ph.D. students who are exploring or planning dissertations on banking-related topics. Recipients are invited to attend the annual Community Banking Research Conference—co-sponsored by CSBS, the Federal

Congratulations to the team of students from the University of Tennessee at Martin, which edged out 35 other teams to win this year’s CSBS Community Bank Case Study Competition. The team partnered with Carroll Bank & Trust in Huntingdon, Tenn., to examine the impact of interest rates and inflation, focusing on how the bank planned for the future through branch

Washington, D.C. – Community banker sentiment reached a peak in the third quarter results of the Conference of State Bank Supervisors (CSBS) Community Banking Sentiment Index (CBSI). The latest CBSI gained seven points from last quarter to 133 points, a record high since the survey’s inception in 2019. The monetary policy indicator also reached an all-time high, improving 16 points

“Trust in Financial Supervision” Community Banking Research Conference Opening Remarks CSBS Chair Tony Salazar St. Louis, Oct. 7, 2025­­ Thank you, Jim. Good morning. Welcome to the thirteenth annual Community Banking Research Conference. As chair of the CSBS Board of Directors, I also want to thank our co-sponsors, the Federal Reserve System and the FDIC, and I want to especially

On Liberty, Limited Government, and Bank Supervision by Brandon Milhorn CSBS President and CEO at The Community Banking Research Conference St. Louis, Missouri October 7, 2025 One of my favorite periods of history is the American Revolution. It fascinates me. The confluence of events, ideas, leaders, and pure luck that led an ill-organized, agrarian collective of states to declare their

Safety and Soundness Certification Certified Large Institution Examiner (CLIE) Candidates for the CLIE designation must provide evidence of the following: Expected to have skills and experience associated with CEIC level or equivalent. Senior examiner experience aligned with skills for large bank specialties considered on a case-by-case basis. Training should include large bank focused course, including training from FDIC, FRB, FFIEC

Mortgage Certification Certified Mortgage Examiner (CME) CME is step 1 in the CSBS mortgage credentialing program; CSME is step 2 and CMEM is step 3 Objectives of the CME Certification Program: To achieve recognition of the foundational skill level required for the examination and review of mortgage providers for compliance with state and federal laws and regulations, including those related

Mortgage Certification Certified Senior Mortgage Examiner (CSME) CSME is step 2 in the CSBS mortgage credentialing program; CME is step 1 and CMEM is step 3 Objectives of the CSME Certification Program To recognize the advanced skill level required for the examination and investigation of large, complex, and multistate mortgage providers and their compliance with state and federal laws and

Mortgage Certification Certified Multistate Mortgage Examiner-In-Charge (CMME) Objectives of the CMME Certification Program To recognize the advanced leadership and technical skills required to serve as Examiner-in-Charge on complex, multistate mortgage examinations. To promote consistent, high-quality supervision of multistate mortgage entities through effective use of the State Examination System (SES) and interagency coordination. To support continued professional growth in areas such