ORLANDO, Fla.–The nation’s community bankers are meeting here this week and the group’s president saying elected officials have never been more receptive to its message, including on credit unions.
The Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA), which has become increasingly outspoken in its opposition to the credit union tax exemption and to credit unions acquiring banks, is hosting its national convention, ICBA LIVE, at the Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center. The ICBA said the event is the largest, most comprehensive educational and networking event for the nation’s community bankers, with seven different learning tracks that will sound quite familiar to credit unions as the bankers tackle lending and deposits, risk, regulation and exams, individual growth and leadership, and technology, payments and innovation.
In opening remarks, ICBA CEO Rebecca Romero Rainey noted several recent ICBA victories over the past year, pledging to build on that momentum and bipartisan support in Washington to advance several top-priority legislative initiatives and regulatory issues, including Bank Secrecy Act reform, a cannabis-banking safe harbor, and Current Expected Credit Loss relief. She also noted ICBA’s ongoing efforts to level the playing field with others in the financial system, the bank group said.
‘Waking Up Congress’
“Never before have we seen such a reception to our advocacy on credit unions, the Farm Credit System, industrial loan companies, and other issues," Romero Rainey said. "We are truly ‘Waking Up’ Congress on these and other issues."
Romero Rainey said the ICBA’s “bold vision” for 21st century banking extends beyond advocacy, Romero Rainey said, embodying the innovative spirit of the nation’s community banks.
“Each of us must fulfill the important role we have within our bank and as part of our beloved industry,” Romero Rainey said. “If our customers are successful, then the bank is successful. If the bank is successful, the community is successful. And if the customers and banks and communities are successful, then our country flourishes.”