Independent Banker - November 2018 - 9

FROM THE TOP
" Our advocacy efforts
extend well beyond
campaign season. "
Tim Zimmerman
Chairman, ICBA
Tim Zimmerman is CEO of
Standard Bank, Monroeville, Pa.
As voters head to the polls this month, it is
comforting to know that community bankers
have laid a solid foundation for ourselves in the
political sphere. With so many important issues
at stake on Election Day, ICBA and the nation's
community banks have done everything in our
power to advance policies that will benefit localized
lending and economic growth.
Our advocacy efforts extend well beyond campaign
season. We have a Government Relations
team in Washington that is second to none. And
due to our industry's sterling reputation, community
bankers are our own best advocates.
In many meetings with members of Congress
in their districts during the August recess and in
recent weeks, community bankers have brought
our most pressing policy priorities directly to
lawmakers. Meanwhile, community bankers
nationwide have used ICBA's Be Heard Action
Center to contact policymakers on issues ranging
from the Subchapter S tax deduction and fair
lending to the Bank Secrecy Act and more. These
messages from community bankers make a real
difference in Washington, so keep them coming.
We're directly engaging constituents as well.
ICBA recently delivered tens of thousands of
mailings to the constituents of 13 pro-community
bank members of Congress to increase awareness
of their critical role in the passage of the S.2155
Did you
know?
ICBPAC-the
only federal
PAC dedicated
exclusively to
representing
community
banks-
contributed $1.9
million to more
than 300 federal
candidates and
committees
for the 2015-16
election cycle.
regulatory relief law and other policies benefiting
Main Street communities. (See this month's
Checks & Balances for more on that project.)
These examples show the culture of advocacy
that we've developed-and need to preserve. At
ICBA Community Banking LIVE last March, I challenged
everyone to go back home, identify bankers
who are not involved and show them how easy it is
to be heard in Washington. We must be both advocates
and mentors to preserve our franchises.
That's why I was so pleased to attend ICBA's
recent advocacy training session in Pittsburgh.
There, nearly 30 community bankers from several
states learned how to more effectively communicate
with policymakers. This kind of education will pay
long-term dividends as our policy battles continue.
Our mission is to create and promote an environment
where community banks flourish, which
we accomplish through teamwork at the national,
state and local levels. While I will be comforted
on this Election Day by our many policy accomplishments,
we cannot be tempted to rest on our
laurels. Community bankers must ensure we stay
fully engaged in the policymaking process today,
next year and for generations to come.
Connect with Tim @TimZimPgh
independentbanker.org Q 9
http://www.independentbanker.org
Independent Banker - November 2018

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Independent Banker - November 2018
