10 JULY / AUGUST 2018 COVER STORY Rebeca Romero Rainey Writing the next chapter at ICBA Earlier this year, Rebeca Romero Rainey took on the top leadership role of the Independent Community Bankers of America as president and CEO. She follows in the footsteps of Camden R. Fine, who had been leading ICBA since 2003 before retiring effective May 5. A lifelong banker, Romero Rainey is the third generation of her family to serve in community banking. Before joining ICBA, she was chairman and CEO of Centinel Bank of Taos, New Mexico. During her tenure with the bank, she served the larger banking community as president of the Independent Community Bankers of New Mexico in 2007-08. On a national scale, Romero Rainey became engaged with ICBA through committee service. She was the first chairman of ICBA’s Minority Bank Council, and she also served on ICBA’s Executive Committee and as ICBA chairman in 2016-17. She has also been active with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., serving on the Advisory Committee on Community Banking, and on the Kansas City Federal Reserve Community Depository Institution Advisory Council. A community advocate, Romero Rainey is the cofounder of the Bridges Project for Education. She was selected as Taos Citizen of the Year in 2009 and has been awarded the New Mexico Governor’s Award for outstanding women. Romero Rainey is a graduate of Wellesley College and of the Pacific Coast School of Banking. For Hoosier Banker readers, Romero Rainey addresses the following questions about her service to community banking as leader of ICBA: What are your responsibilities as president and CEO of the Independent Community Bankers of America? “As president and CEO of ICBA, my mission is ICBA’s mission – to create and promote an environment where community banks flourish. As a third-generation community banker, I’m honored and passionate about leading community banks as we continue to build on our solid reputation and legacy of consumer trust. “As a former ICBA chairman, I’ve had such an advantage coming into this position, knowing so many community bankers and our state association executives. Over the past weeks, I’ve had several opportunities to visit state association conventions and catch up with bankers and state association leaders, which I’ve enjoyed immensely. I’ve also had the opportunity to forge new relationships with members, which is a highlight. “In my eyes, this is a very exciting time to be a comThis article featuring Rebeca Romero Rainey, president and CEO of the Independent Community Bankers of America, is the second in a two-part series highlighting leadership at the national bank trade associations. The May/June Hoosier Banker featured Robert S. Nichols, president and CEO of the American Bankers Association.
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