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

Mortgage loan originators (MLOs) comprise the majority of NMLS users. On Sept. 20, their individual licensing experience will improve significantly. The enhancements will roll out in NMLS Connect, a new component of NMLS. Individuals will apply for and manage licensing activity directly in NMLS Connect while still having access to the classic system. What’s New? “My NMLS” homepage: A central

On Sept. 20, we’re launching a redesigned Resource Center built for speed, simplicity, and a frustration-free experience. The current state and federal Resource Centers will retire, making way for one modern, intuitive hub that puts answers at your fingertips. What’s New? Navigation made simple: Resources organized by user type and task. Smarter search: Quickly find accurate, up-to-date information. No more

Along with all my colleagues at CSBS, I want to express my sincere appreciation to Jon Scott, Emeritus Professor of Finance at Temple University, for his exceptional contributions to CSBS the past seven years. Jon recently retired from Temple and is completing a one-year term as a member of CSBS’s Economic Research and Policy Scholars. Jon’s deep expertise in business

By CSBS Chief Economist Thomas F. Siems, Ph.D. Community bankers indicated both greater optimism and more uncertainty in the CSBS first quarter 2025 survey. While optimism and uncertainty generally move in opposite directions, future expectations for three of the index’s components seem to create a thought-provoking narrative in these uncertain times. Community bankers’ optimism stems primarily from hopes that the

By CSBS Chief Economist Thomas F. Siems, Ph.D. Last week, CSBS announced the results of the CSBS fourth quarter 2024 Community Bank Sentiment Index (CBSI). Driven mainly by expectations for a more-balanced regulatory environment and better future business conditions, the CBSI surged to its most optimistic reading since the survey’s debut in 2019. What caused this sudden positive outlook? Chart