Independent Banker - January 2020 - 39

push to see the Federal Reserve develop what has since
been announced as FedNow, a planned real-time payments
settlements system. Coleman helped mobilize community
bankers in reaching out to their congressional delegation
and the 12 Federal Reserve Bank presidents. The result
was hundreds of letters demonstrating support among
community banks.
" It was a great campaign to sink my teeth into, " Coleman
says. " It was a huge win with amazing teamwork and so
many moving parts. "
Yet, Coleman knows there is a lot more that needs to
be accomplished, including passing cannabis safe harbor
legislation in the Senate, common-sense Bank Secrecy
Act and anti-money laundering (BSA/AML) reform, and
permanently closing the industrial loan company (ILC)
loophole. To do all that, community bankers will have to
be involved.
" The legislative team can tee up legislation, go over the
numbers and help members of Congress and their staff
understand it, but the person who really matters is the one
who votes in the district, " Coleman says.
To that end, he's working on developing ICBA's targeted
efforts to reach out to elected leaders and those who
influence them, including staff. Studies have shown that a
constituent's voice is eight times more effective than that of
a lobbyist, Coleman notes. " Having a personal relationship
with a staffer in an office is the best way to get things done, "
he says.
Coleman is looking for bankers who already have those
relationships, or are good at cultivating relationships, and
are interested in moving policy forward.
He's also working to make the advocacy process less
intimidating. He was on the team that recently revamped
ICBA's Take Action: Be Heard advocacy toolkit. The toolkit
is focused on how to get a lawmaker to tour a community
bank, including a how-to guide on what to say and what
points to make. " It walks you through how to get your lawmaker
to your bank and gives you a structure to help you
tell your story, " Coleman says.
Now, he's creating online and in-person advocacy training
programs covering everything from how to set up a
meeting to what to do when visiting a member of Congress
in Washington, D.C.
A grassroots origin story
Coleman began his advocacy career working for the District
of Columbia city government at the grassroots level
while he was at George Washington University. One of his
most memorable achievements was helping constituents
install a speed bump to calm traffic, a task that involved
" I feel like we are doing
good and fighting for a
community that deserves
to be represented and
has a compelling story
to tell. "
-John Coleman, ICBA
leading a team of interns and going door-to-door to collect
signatures. " If you organize people, listen to them and give
them the right tools, you can do some cool things, " he says.
After a stint on Capitol Hill, he moved to grassroots advocacy
for the Ambulatory Surgery Center Association and,
later, the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, a cause close
to his heart after losing his
grandmother to the disease.
While there, he worked
directly with patients, a
rewarding task that also
meant facing the loss of a
quarter of his constituents
to cancer each year. " It's
really hard to deal with, but
motivating in its own way, "
he says.
The tools you need
Find the Take Action:
Be Heard advocacy
toolkit and other
useful information at
icba.org/advocacy
Coleman sees joining
ICBA from the American
Bankers Association in June 2019 as a chance to speak up
for community banks. " There is a purity of mission that is
very motivating mixed with a team culture of discipline and
trust that enhances our ability to do the job, " he says. " I
feel like we are doing good and fighting for a community
that deserves to be represented and has a compelling story
to tell. "
Coleman aims to use data to get specific with advocacy,
including deducing which people to talk to and what to say
to them.
" Our goal is to have a very agile program so we can
react, and react the right way, very quickly, " Coleman says.
" We have a great group of engaged bankers and a great
team here. "
Kelly Pike is a writer in Virginia.
independentbanker.org Q 39
http://www.icba.org/advocacy http://www.independentbanker.org
Independent Banker - January 2020

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