Community banks play a vital role in the functioning of the U.S financial system and the broader economy, from lending to small business owners and farmers, to providing critical banking services in small towns and rural communities across the nation. As the lead federal regulator for community banks, the FDIC monitors industry trends and provides technical assistance in a variety of ways, including training videos, research, and workshops. Research published to this site is based on data available as of the date of publication. These data are subject to periodic revision and update.
2020 Community Banking Study
The 2020 Community Banking Study is an update to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation’s (FDIC) first community banking study, published in 2012, and covers the period from year-end 2011 through year-end 2019. This study retains the definition of community banks that was established in the earlier edition and updates several areas of analysis including community bank financial performance, trends in community bank consolidation, and community bank lending focus. The current study also covers demographic changes affecting community banks, an analysis of the effect of regulatory changes on community banks and an account of community banks’ adoption of new technologies.
- Press Release: FDIC Releases New 2020 Community Banking Study
Community Banking Leverage Ratio (CBLR)
The community bank leverage ratio (CBLR) framework is an optional framework that is designed to reduce burden by removing the requirements for calculating and reporting risk-based capital ratios for qualifying community banking organizations that opt into the framework. The framework provides a simple measure of capital adequacy for qualifying community banking organizations, consistent with section 201 of the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief and Consumer Protection Act.
- Staff Study: FDIC CFR Staff Study 2020-03 - Analyzing the Community Bank Leverage Ratio
- Fact Sheet: Overview of the Community Bank Leverage Ratio Framework
- CBLR Guide: Community Bank Compliance Guide
- Press Release: FDIC Finalizes Rules to Simplify Capital Calculation for Qualifying Community Banking Organizations and to Early Adopt Certain Related Simplifications to the Regulatory Capital Requirements
Latest Updates
Quarterly Banking Profile
Third quarter 2020 comprehensive summary of financial results for all FDIC-insured
institutions.
Reference Data
The Community Banking Reference Data have been updated to reflect community bank
designations as of September 30, 2020, as well as structural changes that occurred
during the First Quarter of 2020.
Community Bank Search
Community Bank Search results have been updated to reflect community bank
designations as of September 30, 2020.