Conference and Request For Papers
Community Banking in the 21st Century

October 2-3, 2013, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

The Federal Reserve System and the Conference of State Bank Supervisors invite the submission of papers for Community Banking in the 21st Century, a research and policy conference that will take place October 2-3, 2013, in St. Louis, Missouri, at the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.

In recent years, community banks have faced many difficult challenges. Yet many community banks continue to thrive, adapting creatively to an ever-changing business and regulatory environment while maintaining the traditional advantages that derive from their deep community ties and ability to offer customized financial solutions to their clientele.

The purpose of this conference is to bring together academics, policymakers, bank supervisors, and community bankers to focus on the challenges and opportunities that community bankers face in the 21st Century.

TOPICS: We invite the submission of papers that explore all aspects of community banking, including, but not limited to:
- the role that community banks play in our financial system,
- the importance of these banks to the communities they serve,
- the sources of community bank strength,
- the challenges that community banks face in the current business and regulatory environment, and
- the outlook for the future of community banking.

We welcome theoretical, empirical and policy-oriented papers.

PAPER SUBMISSION PROCEDURE: The deadline to submit a detailed abstract or completed paper is June 15, 2013. Please send your submissions by email to communitybankingconference@stls.frb.org. Authors of accepted papers will be notified by August 1, 2013.

Additional information is available at the conference website: http://www.stlouisfed.org/banking/community-banking-conference