Federal Reserve Board Chair Jerome H. Powell delivered pre-recorded welcoming remarks for the Board’s Community Bank Conference, underscoring the role of community banks in the US financial system and signalling continued supervisory tailoring to reduce unnecessary burden while maintaining safe and sound operations. Powell highlighted community banks’ close ties to local households and businesses and their direct knowledge of local economic conditions, drawing on his experience leading the Board’s community and regional bank subcommittee and as a community-bank customer. He framed the conference as a forum for Federal Reserve leaders to hear directly from community bankers about operational and supervisory issues, and thanked Vice Chair for Supervision Miki Bowman for hosting the event.