Independent Banker - January 2020 - 7

FROM THE TOP
" Working together, we
will ensure the vitality of
community banks far into
the future. "
Preston Kennedy
Chairman, ICBA
Preston Kennedy is president and CEO of
Zachary Bancshares Inc. in Zachary, La.
Every January, I cast an eye toward what's
heading our way in the coming months. And, as
I look at this year, I can sum it up in one word:
growth. Community banking opportunities will
grow in 2020, and we, as the leaders within
our organizations, need to be ready to support
those developments.
sumers and small businesses. We need to grow
that way again.
First, we have a calling to grow as advocates for
our industry. It's up to us to ensure our voices resonate
with the decision makers in Washington. We
have to tackle tough topics, those that hold us back
and create an unfair playing fi eld. For example,
we must address credit union injustices, lending
restrictions and regulatory burdens.
I know that confronting these enormous issues
can seem overwhelming, but we've been able to
move mountains in the past. Just look at our successes
with real-time payments, regulatory relief
and taking on industrial loan companies. Our
collective voices make a diff erence, and we do
eff ect change.
However, our potential extends beyond advocacy
alone. This year off ers us a platform to drive
the formation of de novos. While the number of
banks has declined over the years, the formation
of new community banks has ensured continued
access to fi nancial services for all communities.
Community bankers have traditionally stepped
up to meet the credit and banking needs of conMy
Top
Three
I'm passionate
about our growth,
so my New Year's
resolutions
include:
1. Reaching every
member of our
congressional
delegation
2. Encouraging
new generations
of community
bankers to become
advocates
3. Visiting more
ICBA aff iliates
throughout the
country
This road to growth takes us full circle, back
to advocating for regulatory reform. Despite a
modest uptick in new banks beginning in 2018,
de novo formations remain well below levels
preceding the Wall Street fi nancial crisis. Regulations
should be streamlined to encourage de novo
formation, spark healthy competition and drive
increased investment in communities, rather
than putting up roadblocks.
It's up to us to make that vision a reality. Community
bankers, from the C-suite to the front
line, need to continue advocating for positive
change. For our banks to remain fi xtures in our
communities for decades to come, we need to
act today. After all, isn't our collective goal to see
community banks increase infl uence and reach?
Working together, we will ensure the vitality
of community banks far into the future, and the
path to our growth as an industry lies in advocacy
and action. So, this year, let's take up that call and
make advocacy a priority. Let's bring these predictions
to fruition and instate 2020 as the year
of community bank growth.
Connect with Pres @BankPres
independentbanker.org Q 7
http://www.independentbanker.org
Independent Banker - January 2020

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