Independent Banker - January 2025 - 5

FLOURISH
Nurturing the community
bank ecosystem
he start of a new year brings with
it opportunities, and as we enter
2025, we do so with an eye toward
the potential that awaits. For years,
we've been seeking balance across
a number of areas, encouraging
regulators and legislators to initiate
more proportionate rulemaking,
embracing innovation for our banks
to become nimbler and more efficient,
and engaging in education to expand
our knowledge in today's banking
environment. This year, we'll see
results through focused strategy and
hard work.
Without a doubt, advocacy serves
as the most critical piece of our
mission in 2025. With a shift in
control in Congress and the White
House, our focus will be on regulatory
relief and proportionate rulemaking.
We want to amplify the impact of
community banks at the local level
and champion issues ranging from
rethinking the de novo framework to
seeking regulatory relief on DoddFrank
Act Sections 1071 and 1033
and beyond.
Our messages this year center
on both right-sizing regulation and
demonstrating the community bank
difference. We're moving from a
defensive position of responding
to thousands of pages of new
regulation to an offensive one where
we can be proactive and speak to
community-friendly and community
bank-forward rulemaking. We have
the opportunity to instigate a more
balanced approach to regulation,
supporting a vision that considers
T
effects on consumers in the context of
the ability to do business.
This balanced approach is critical
for industry viability moving forward.
The moment is now to effect real
change. But the reality is that there
are a lot of pressing needs with
policymakers as the year begins,
so it's our job to ensure that our
issues are prioritized and our voices
are heard.
Of course, while we are speaking up
for the interests of our communities
and our banks, we also need to
continue growing as businesses,
adapting to a changing industry.
From new fintech innovations to
better understanding the risk and
compliance requirements of today's
environment, ICBA Innovation
and ICBA Education stand ready to
ensure you have the information you
need to advance your business plans
this year.
It's with that in mind that I
encourage you to join us at ICBA
LIVE, taking place March 11-14
in Nashville, Tenn. There, you can
explore what's next on our advocacy
agenda, how our innovation programs
can support your bank, and what you
and your team need to know to be the
change you seek in 2025.
This year is about recommitting to
ICBA's pillars of advocacy, innovation
and education, and embracing the
potential that awaits. I, for one, am
feeling very optimistic.
Connect with Rebeca @romerorainey
Rebeca Romero Rainey
President and CEO, ICBA
" Without a doubt,
advocacy serves
as the most critical
piece of our mission
in 2025. With a shift
in control in Congress
and the White House,
our focus will be
on regulatory relief
and proportionate
rulemaking. "
Where I'll be
this month
We will be hosting state
association colleagues at our
Innovation Center in Atlanta,
and I'll be making a trip to
Minnesota to visit the ICBA
team in Sauk Centre.
independentbanker.org // 5
Photo by Chris Williams
http://www.independentbanker.org
Independent Banker - January 2025

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Independent Banker - January 2025
