Independent Banker - April 2021 - 43

There are more than 70 new faces
on Capitol Hill and countless others
in the administration. It's the ideal
time to reach out to elected offi cials
and their key staff and tell them
about the important role community
banks play in the economy, especially
during the pandemic. From helping
small businesses access emergency
funding through Paycheck Protection
Program (PPP) lending to working
with distressed customers and
deferring payments, community
bankers have been a lifeline for
customers. Lawmakers are eager to
hear how community bankers helped
their constituents and learn what
community banks need to continue to
serve their communities.
It begins with the Capital Summit
kickoff on April 27 from 11 a.m.
to 1 p.m. Eastern. That's when
key policymakers will address
the summit, inviting community
bankers to listen as they share their
legislative and regulatory priorities,
goals and initiatives with a focus
on policies aff ecting the community
banking industry and its customers.
Past speakers have included Senate
and House banking committee
leaders, regulatory agency heads and
political observers, among others.
Later in the week, ICBA and its
44 affi liated state community bank
associations will be facilitating
virtual meetings between community
bankers and their members of
Community bankers have always been their
own best advocates. When a community banker
shares a personal story ... it has a real impact.
Congress. It's an opportunity to
advocate for the ICBA legislative
platform outlined in ICBA's Feb. 1
open letter to Congress (see it at
bit.ly/icbaagenda2021) and build
support for enduring, bipartisan
solutions that will strengthen
community banks, their customers
and their communities.
This includes pandemic relief
legislation to address short-term
economic weaknesses, as well as
post-pandemic provisions to promote
economic growth, job creation and
a competitive landscape. On the
pandemic front, ICBA will continue to
advocate for legislation that includes
renewing, refi ning and strengthening
Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic
Security (CARES) Act programs like
the PPP, capital and accounting relief,
and appropriate tax relief.
Looking ahead to when the
pandemic recedes and recovery
begins, ICBA is advocating for
longstanding policy priorities that
would empower community banks
to better serve those who depend on
them while leveling the regulatory
playing fi eld.
ICBA Capital
Summit:
Stay up to date
For the latest information
on confirmed speakers and
to register, visit
icba.org/capitalsummit
Community bank advocacy goals
ICBA staff will provide coaching and
talking points to help community
bankers make the most of virtual
visits with members of Congress and
their staff .
For example, congressional leaders
need to know that community banks
were responsible for making 60% of
PPP loans, supporting the retention
of more than 3.7 million employees.
They also need to hear the real-life
stories behind those loans-stories
only community bankers and their
customers can tell.
Community bankers have always
been their own best advocates.
When a community banker shares
a personal story of how their bank
helped a small business save jobs,
worked to keep a family in their
home or led initiatives to help their
local community grow and thrive, it
has a real impact.
These conversations allow
community bankers to build
relationships with those new to
Congress while reinforcing existing
relationships with returning
members. This year, you won't even
have to leave home to do it.
There's still time to register to
join ICBA and fellow community
bankers for the 2021 Capital Summit
and help advocate for change that
will ensure vibrant and resilient
communities. Don't miss this
opportunity to hear directly from
those in power and make the case for
your industry. 
Aaron Stetter (aaron.stetter@
icba.org) is ICBA's executive
vice president, policy and
political operations
independentbanker.org Q 43
http://www.bit.ly/icbaagenda2021 http://www.icba.org/capitalsummit http://www.independentbanker.org
Independent Banker - April 2021

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