Lead Bank, in partnership with The Venture Center, an early-stage startup acceleration and investment firm, announces their involvement in the Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) annual ICBA ThinkTECH Accelerator. The ICBA ThinkTECH Accelerator program is the world's only community bank-focused fintech accelerator that fosters a fintech/community bank collaboration, leading to the creation of community-bank specific technology that benefits the customers they serve.

With technology evolving at a dizzying pace, Lead Bank has successfully kept pace with technology and their customers' diverse and ever-changing needs for over 90 years. The third-annual ThinkTECH Accelerator 2021 program was held this past January during a one-day virtual event. During this event, the 2021 10 ICBA-selected fintechs were introduced, and banks and technology partners were brought together to discuss industry innovations, forge new partnerships and cultivate fresh ideas. "To stay relevant and competitive, Lead Bank must continue to challenge ourselves to be at the forefront of imagining bank products in different ways so that we can better serve our clients. ThinkTECH provides an open forum for evolving technology companies to share their concepts and bank partners to gain access to a wide variety of FinTech related solutions. It's a win-win," said Michael Beattie, Chief Technology Officer of Lead Bank. "We're excited to get to work developing the solutions of tomorrow that will support our mission-driven innovation approach and contribute to the health and prosperity of our local community," Beattie added.

"Innovation has become a key focus of the financial services landscape, and forums like the ICBA ThinkTECH Accelerator program help ensure our industry's continuous progress and resiliency," said Charles Potts, Senior Vice President and Chief Innovation Officer of ICBA. "We're thrilled to create an environment to help foster these pivotal connections and anticipate a long and productive relationship that delivers on the promise of innovation for future generations."

Wayne Miller, Executive Director of The Venture Center, said, "We are proud to partner with the ICBA in selecting the cohort to help speed innovation efforts of community bankers for their customers across the nation. Community banks serve a vital role in our economy, and we're honored to be pivotal in their efforts." 

To learn more about the ICBA ThinkTECH Accelerator program, visit icba.org/thinktech/accelerator.

About Lead Bank
Lead Bank is a community-minded, independent commercial bank, recognized for its innovative approach to community banking and unique banking solutions that allows real people, real businesses, and their communities to thrive. Serving communities with treasury management and lending services, consumer client products, digital consumer banking, and innovative financial technology services, Lead Bank is the first choice for those looking for a future banking partner. Headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, yet serving clients digitally throughout the United States, Lead Bank is known for being a small business advocate, having outstanding client service, and creating financial pathways for those, who in the past, have been unbankable. 2020 member of the Global Alliance for Banking on Values (GABV), an international network of banking leaders worldwide committed to advancing positive change in the banking sector. For additional information, call (816) 220.8600 or visit http://www.lead.bank/

About ICBA
The Independent Community Bankers of America creates and promotes an environment where community banks flourish. ICBA is dedicated exclusively to representing the interests of the community banking industry and its membership through effective advocacy, best-in-class education, and high-quality products and services.
With 50,000 locations nationwide, community banks constitute 99 percent of all banks, employ more than 700,000 Americans, and are the only physical banking presence in one in three U.S. counties. Holding more than $5 trillion in assets, over $4.4 trillion in deposits, and more than $3.4 trillion in loans to consumers, small businesses, and the agricultural community, community banks channel local deposits into the Main Streets and neighborhoods they serve, spurring job creation, fostering innovation, and fueling their customers' dreams in communities throughout America. For more information, visit ICBA's website at www.icba.org.
About The Venture Center
The Venture Center's immersive accelerator programs are designed to accelerate the growth of early-to-late-stage companies and help validate their solutions for real-world problems. Our methodology provides a unique opportunity to connect with community bank executives, receive seed investment, and learn from a comprehensive curriculum aiding in strategically addressing go-to-market, business, and financial challenges. Learn more at http://www.venturecenter.co/. Follow The Venture Center on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter (@VentureCenter), and Instagram.