Independent Banker - April 2021 - 50

ICBA 2021/22 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Deckard: ICBA has a good opportunity
to capitalize on our lobbying over
the years during this Congress,
particularly in passing the Safe
Banking Act. We were able to
get the legislation passed out
of the House Financial Services
Committee, and I am hopeful that
we will see the Senate pass the bill
and have the president sign it into
law. The Treasury Department and
Small Business Administration
relied upon ICBA's expertise and
feedback to make needed changes
to the PPP program. Our team
was effective in communicating
the challenges of this massive
new package, and I think we can
continue to convey our suggestions
to smooth the processes of loan
approval and loan forgiveness.
Aiken: I see huge opportunity for
small business lending. Community
banks really stepped up during the
COVID crisis, and that is evident
for all to see. It should be obvious
to policy makers that the key to
getting our economy back on track
is to allow community banks to do
our thing. Cybersecurity is another
big issue, especially in terms of
applying equal safeguards to thirdparty
data aggregators. That also
is something that seems to have
bipartisan support.
Wilcox: There will be opportunities to
advance our pro-community banking
agenda. However, it will be highly
likely that we will play defense as
well. Both of these fronts will require
strong grassroots advocacy for us to
be the most successful.
Kennedy: There are lots of new
faces, and old faces in new places,
so it is vital to establish lines of
communication with the new
Congress and administration. ICBA
will lead eff orts to communicate
I believe we will
see the largest
gains in the
cannabis debate
and support of
minority-owned
depository
institutions,
but we will have
opportunities with
many other issues
that will come
down the pipeline
in the next year.
-RUSSELL L. LAFFITTE, CEO,
PALMETTO STATE BANK, HAMPTON, S.C.
the issues that are important to
community banks.
Zimmerman: The issues we are
advocating are not dependent on
which of the parties is in the majority.
ICBA has always worked in a
bipartisan way, so we will continue to
do that. We will identify which issues
have the best chance to be acted on
and proceed accordingly.
Hartings: First, I think it's essential
that we don't see the legislative
gains we have achieved the past few
years evaporate. I believe we may
have an opportunity in the next 12
months to get some relief on cannabis
banking issues with a safe harbor,
and we may see the SAFE Act or
something similar get passed. I would
also hope that we can fi nally get the
ILC loophole closed and eliminate
corporate shadow banking. You never
know what issue might be next;
no one had heard of PPP at 2020's
ICBA LIVE.
How and why did you get involved in
grassroots advocacy?
Fisher: As a fi fth-generation
community banker, I've been involved
with grassroots advocacy for what
seems like my entire life. Our bank
was one of the fi rst banks to sue
CUNA over share drafts and paying
interest on checking accounts back
in the mid-1970s. I've been traveling
to Albany, N.Y., and Washington D.C.
throughout my entire career to fi ght
for what is right for our industry.
Advocacy is critical for community
banks. While we may continue to see
some headwinds, the more we are
engaged, the greater the likelihood
that we can prevail. I truly enjoy
advocacy, and it is what fi rst attracted
me to ICBA. ICBA is clearly focused
on who it represents, which is also
important to me.
Bolton: I learned advocacy from my
father, Billy Bolton, as well as being
encouraged to become involved by
some strong Alabama community
bankers. During the great recession
of 2008, I saw fi rsthand how
government overreach can negatively
aff ect the way we can serve our
customers. It was also clear then,
and now, why it is so important for
community banks to have their own
unique voice speaking on our behalf,
and that is only done via ICBA.
In sum, I advocate because I am
dedicated to the unique and exclusive
message that is community banking.
Grassroots advocacy is necessary
because we matter to Main Street
and the customers we serve. I am
50 Q ICBA Independent Banker Q April 2021
Independent Banker - April 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Independent Banker - April 2021
