Independent Banker - September 2019 - 7

FROM THE TOP
" The value of ICBA
membership extends
beyond dollars
and cents. "
Preston Kennedy
Chairman, ICBA
Preston Kennedy is president and CEO of
Zachary Bancshares Inc. in Zachary, La.
Over my 40-plus years as a community banker,
I have developed countless budgets, and they still
come down to this fundamental principle: We
must effi ciently allocate our limited resources.
Take ICBA membership. When I fi rst became
the CEO of a community bank 25 years ago, I had
our investment portfolio dropped into my lap.
Outside of a course I took at banking school, I
knew little about bank investments, so I quickly
became acquainted with ICBA Securities. I knew
it was governed by community bankers, which
gave me comfort. And when I reached out, they
didn't " sell " to me-they educated me. It was that
positive experience that sparked my involvement
in ICBA and led me to where I am today.
The tangible value of ICBA membership extends
to the many advocacy initiatives that continue to
bear fruit. From the ongoing implementation of
S.2155 to the Fed's community banking seat, our
collective voice generates positive gains that help
lessen our regulatory burdens and directly benefi
t us and the communities we serve. Further,
ICBA gives us resources to advance our advocacy
goals, such as the Be Heard grassroots action
center and annual Capital Summit.
Yet, our regulatory environment remains
complex, and ICBA's Compliance Vault helps
us navigate it. This searchable database allows
us to drill down on specifi c regulations. Having
My Top
Three
Here are ICBA's
most memorable
advocacy
victories:
1. Defeat of
Walmart's
Industrial Loan
Charter (ILC)
application
2. Changes to
FDIC premium
assessment
calculations
3. Passage of the
Economic Growth,
Regulatory Relief,
and Consumer
Protection Act
(S.2155)
that type of recall on our desktops saves hours of
research, and it's now a free member benefi t.
But the value of ICBA membership extends
beyond dollars and cents. As we look to the future
of our banks and of our industry, we must invest
in the next generation of leaders. The LEAD
FWD Summit, set for this month in New Orleans,
allows us to do just that by giving attendees the
knowledge they need to become better leaders.
And leadership in today's environment means
innovation. That's why ICBA is again partnering
with The Venture Center for the second ICBA
ThinkTECH Accelerator, which helps community
banks partner with early stage fi ntechs. Meanwhile,
the ICBA ThinkTECH Network provides
anytime access to an online database of fi ntechs
geared toward community banks.
No matter how you look at it, the benefi ts we
receive in banding together as an organization of
community banks far exceed the costs of ICBA
membership. Together, our voices are amplifi ed,
and we're able to achieve goals that benefi t community
banking now and into the future.
The way I see it, you can't aff ord not to be
a member.
Connect with Pres @BankPres
independentbanker.org Q 7
http://www.independentbanker.org
Independent Banker - September 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Independent Banker - September 2019
