Independent Banker - April 2023 - 35

knowledge of the community banking
industry-but they are eager to learn.
Tasked with learning about a huge
array of issues, members of Congress
and their staff are seeking resources
to help them understand economic
trends and policy, financial products
and services (including high-profile
topics like cryptocurrency) and
constituent needs. Community
bankers and ICBA can increase their
influence by showing we are an
informed, helpful source that can play
a pivotal role in making it easier to
understand these complicated topics
and their real-world impact.
Outline how onerous regulations
affect your bank's ability to serve
consumers. Share the story of how
you helped a small business owner
launch a new business when other
institutions wouldn't, or how you
assisted a customer with a loan during
the pandemic.
You're not on your own:
ICBA's advocacy training
Effective communication is key to
making the most of these meetings,
and no one prepares community
bankers for these conversations
Community bankers and ICBA can increase
their influence by showing we are an informed,
helpful source that can play a pivotal role in
making it easier to understand [economic trends
and policy] and their real-world impact.
better than ICBA. From premeeting
coaching to briefs breaking
down talking points on key issues,
community bankers walk the halls of
Congress confidently and prepared to
meet lawmakers and their staff.
Training focuses on how to turn
abstract policy issues into examples
and stories that demonstrate
why these issues matter to
community banks and how they
affect constituents. You'll also have
empowering conversations on how
to " make the ask " -anything from
introducing, cosponsoring or voting
for a bill-so that you enter meetings
with a clear goal and leave with a
point to follow up on.
Register for the
Capital Summit now
Sign up to attend the ICBA
2023 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 and
community. To register, visit
icba.org/capitalsummit
Capital Summit agenda preview
One of the highlights of the Capital
Summit is hearing from expert
speakers, including legislators,
regulators and pundits. Last year
featured Consumer Financial
Protection Bureau director Rohit
Chopra, Senate Banking Committee
member Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.)
and breakout sessions with other
regulatory agencies.
This year, ICBA has invited Senate
Banking Committee chairman
Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) and House
Financial Services Committee
chairman Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.)
to speak. Senior leadership from the
regulatory agencies are also invited.
This year's agenda will include
critical issues such as:
¡ Ensuring any crypto regulation is
effective in preventing contagion
of the traditional financial system
¡ Opposing community bankadverse
climate risk regulation
and legislation that would create
credit card routing mandates and
force an overhaul of the payments
landscape at huge cost to
community banks and consumers.
¡ Urging passage of a robust 2023
Farm Bill
¡ Pushing back against unfair credit
union and Farm Credit System
competition
ICBA actively advocates for these
issues, but our government relations
team can't do it alone. Legislators
and their staff want to hear from
you. Don't let other industries and
their agendas push community
bankers out of the conversation.
Lend your voice to ICBA's agenda
to protect your community and the
value of your franchise.
Aaron Stetter (aaron.stetter@
icba.org) is ICBA's executive
vice president of advocacy and
strategic engagement
independentbanker.org // 35
http://www.icba.org/capitalsummit http://www.independentbanker.org
Independent Banker - April 2023

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