Welcome to March, Community Bankers!
We're a quarter of the way through 2026, and the ripple effects of global events are already being felt across markets and financial institutions. New sanctions tied to the Iran conflict, crypto exchange Kraken securing access to a Federal Reserve master account, and a growing regulatory debate over stablecoin "rewards" (see this month's meme) — the year is shaping up to be just as consequential as the last, if not more so.
And yet, some things hold steady. Community banks continue to outperform superregionals and large institutions in customer satisfaction — a reminder that fundamentals still matter.
This month's Community Banking Champions features First Federal Savings and Loan CEO Jim Schlotfeldt, who has built one of the healthiest community banks in the country by staying grounded in relationships while remaining open to change. His message: even in volatile times, trust and connection are what keep community FIs relevant.
Here's what's inside this issue:
CEO Damon Magnuski traveled to Vermont for FreshTracks Capital's Peak Pitch event — reconnecting with investors, meeting fellow founders, and, somewhere between the ski runs and the sessions, delivering an impromptu slam poetry piece on AI.
Co-Founder and Chief AML Officer Sarah Beth Felix headed to Puerto Rico to speak at the Asociación de Bancos de Puerto Rico. Her session, "Crypto, Fintechs & Digital Assets," walked attendees through what these structural shifts mean for traditional financial institutions — and how to navigate both the risks and the opportunities.
Fishing the high lakes of Oregon and the stretches of the Columbia River takes patience, preparation, and an intimate knowledge of the conditions. For avid angler and community bank CEO Jim Schlotfeldt, those same qualities have defined his approach to banking.
First Federal Savings and Loan was founded in 1922 and has earned a reputation as one of the strongest community banks in the nation. Under Jim's leadership, the institution has maintained that standing through disciplined risk management and a commitment to lasting client relationships.
In his profile, Jim covers:
Why he works in community banking
What has sustained First Federal through more than a century of change
Why dependable international payment infrastructure matters for local manufacturers, wineries, and agricultural producers
How he thinks about adopting new technology
Why financial discipline underpins both performance and talent retention
"If we can expand while maintaining the feel of community banking, we'll remain relevant."
Transparency is a core value at Acceleron, and that extends to what's happening behind the scenes with our platform. Starting this quarter, we're introducing regular product updates to give clients and partners a clearer window into our engineering progress.
Our primary focus across recent releases has been reinforcing disaster recovery and business continuity. That work spans recovery testing, infrastructure improvements, and keeping our codebase current.
On the usability front, we've updated the client dashboard — reorganizing items under the Reporting and Configuration menus based on how features are actually used. Navigation is now more intuitive and aligned with real workflows.
Most significantly, we've begun integrating with Unit 21 and Castellum as part of our path toward becoming a bank — foundational steps for meeting regulatory and anti-money laundering compliance requirements.
More updates are on the way. Stay tuned.
March delivered another set of developments with lasting implications for financial services:
A crypto firm reached a milestone in the fight for Fed master account access
New fintech and global platform entrants advanced their bank charter applications
The White House offered guidance on stablecoin yields and regulatory scope
New rules reduced compliance burdens for community banks
Community banks again outperformed larger institutions in customer satisfaction
AI investment among large banks continued to accelerate
Read on for a breakdown of each development and what it means for community bank strategy.
Cross-border payments are moving into new territory. In the opening months of 2026 alone:
Central banks are piloting tokenized settlement infrastructure
Global financial institutions are deepening blockchain integration
Stablecoin rails are drawing closer to core banking systems
Card networks are forging direct connections into digital wallets
Correspondent banking isn't going away — but the bar for what clients expect is rising. This quarter's Global Correspondent Banking Monitor breaks down what these developments mean for community financial institutions and how updating payment infrastructure can protect and grow non-interest income.
Contact us if you want to find out more about how international wires automation can work for your community financial institution. No pressure, just information.
Banking Meme of the Month
Sometimes, a little humor cuts through the noise.
The debate over stablecoin "rewards" versus traditional deposit interest has become one of the more contentious regulatory questions of the year. At its core:
Crypto platforms are offering yield-like returns on stablecoin balances
Regulators are questioning whether that structure effectively constitutes deposit-taking
A Treasury estimate put the potential deposit migration from yield-bearing stablecoins at up to $6.6 trillion
The line between "interest" and "rewards" is blurring — and regulators, banks, and crypto firms are all watching carefully to see where it lands.
If it looks like interest and functions like interest… is a different label really enough?
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Acceleron builds patented software that allows community banks and credit unions to conduct international payment transactions profitably through a foreign exchange (FX) marketplace. Serving over 200 financial institutions and orchestrating more than $1 billion in international payments annually, Acceleron helps small banks generate non-interest income through automation and compete more effectively with high-fee big banks.
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Warm regards, The Acceleron Team
Note: This newsletter is intended for general informational and educational purposes only and does not provide financial services advice. It should not be considered a substitute for professional guidance.