ICBA, Financial Crimes Investigators Release Guide on Partnerships to Combat Fraud

Washington, D.C. (July 1, 2026) - The Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) and the International Association of Financial Crimes Investigators (IAFCI) today released a guide on how community banks and law enforcement can build effective partnerships that help hold fraudsters and scammers accountable.

"Community Banks and Law Enforcement: A Partnership Framework for Mutual Success" offers a framework for information sharing and reciprocal support between community banks and law enforcement to help prevent and prosecute financial crimes, promote community outreach, and expand public awareness of fraud and scams.

"Collaboration between community banks and law enforcement through intelligence sharing, timely reporting, public education, and ongoing dialogue is essential to combating the threat of fraud and scams," ICBA President and CEO Rebeca Romero Rainey said. "ICBA is proud to add this new joint resource to our library of tools to help fight back against financial crimes. We look forward to continuing to work with IAFCI as we battle the growing threat of fraud to our nation's consumers and small businesses."

ICBA testified before Congress earlier this year on legislative and regulatory recommendations to help community banks combat fraud and scams, noting the fraud problem must be fought through coordination among financial institutions, law enforcement, and government at every level. Further, ICBA has spearheaded and strongly supports numerous efforts to combat check fraud, including by:

• Partnering with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and working with the U.S. Postal Service to offer community banks educational materials to help consumers safeguard their financial assets.

• Creating practical fraud prevention resources for community bankers, including a guide for how to escalate concerns to regulators.

• Supporting the Trump administration's efforts to address the Treasury Department's use of paper checks to reduce check fraud.

• Spearheading a Fraud and Scams Task Force of community bankers and state association partners focused on information sharing and industry collaboration.

• Helping to develop "Mitigating Check Fraud Risk in the Modern Financial Ecosystem," a free report that provides actionable strategies to mitigate fraud risk.

• Supporting the growth of instant payments options like the FedNow Service, which allows for efficient payments and immediate funds settlement while mitigating risks to the financial system.

A recent blog post from ICBA details how community banks are making progress in the fight against check fraud through sustained advocacy, strong partnerships, and policy successes. ICBA looks forward to continuing to work with law enforcement and policymakers on countering the rise in fraud.

About ICBA

The Independent Community Bankers of America® has one mission: to create and promote an environment where community banks flourish. We power the potential of the nation's community banks through effective advocacy, education, and innovation.

As local and trusted sources of credit, America's community banks leverage their relationship-based business model and innovative offerings to channel deposits into the neighborhoods they serve, creating jobs, fostering economic prosperity, and fueling their customers' financial goals and dreams. For more information, visit ICBA's website at icba.org.