Pub. 5 2015-2016 Issue 5

6 O V E R A C E N T U R Y : B U I L D I N G B E T T E R B A N K S - H E L P I N G C O L O R A D A N S R E A L I Z E D R E A M S A Word From CBA... 2016 is Full Speed Ahead – and so are our Advocacy Efforts As 2016 ramps up to full speed ahead, so do our continued efforts toward regulatory relief for banks. Despite the fact that we understand that this year’s short Congressional calendar and upcoming presidential election present limited opportu- nity, your advocates here in Colorado and in Washington D.C. will do all we can in 2016 and to pave the way to meaningful change in 2017. Negative developments on Capitol Hill at the end of 2015, coupled with what some have called “misguided and unfortu- nate” anti-bank rhetoric from presidential candidates will re- quire the industry to redouble its efforts toward true regulatory relief, via a unified front. Until a new president and Congress take their oaths of office next year, bankers are reassessing every aspect of how we do business inWashington and working to become more muscular politically. Here in Colorado, we are working toward that goal as well. In January we launched our fourth year of the Center for Bank Ad- vocacy Training Practicum, our yearlong learn-by-doing course in industry and policy advocacy. Our largest class ever has now taken up the cause of defending and promoting their industry and their voices are needed more than ever as lawmakers settle into office and begin mapping their courses of action. CBA’s 2016 chairman, Mark Bower of Home State Bank, championed that idea when speaking to the advocacy group in January. “We’ve barely scratched the surface,” in banker education and activation, he said. They, in turn, can use their skills to rally their customers to the cause of banking advocacy by educating them on how policies help or hurt them. “In banking, advocacy is not unlike customer development and customer relations,” FirstBank’s David Kelly – CBA’s chairman-elect, told the advocates. He is exactly right. By build- ing relationships with lawmakers and other key influencers, we can influence decisions by becoming trusted educators and advisors on industry related issues. Additionally, CBA has undertaken an internal review of our advocacy efforts at the state and federal levels to ensure we stay as effective as possible. We will be implementing additional op- portunities for bankers to get involved in the process. Building and maintaining a relationship with public officials and having an open dialogue with them that includes first-hand information and anecdotes from real bankers are the most crucial compo- nents of effective advocacy. CBA hosted here in Colorado early in February a roundtable discussion and reception with FDIC vice chairman TomHoenig, regarding his concept which provides some regulatory relief to banks that meet higher capital standards and other factors. While CBA has concerns about the amount of relief the bill could provide Colorado banks, we are hopeful that the conversations we had will help to move forward proposals that are of utmost benefit to bankers. We continue to support the TAILOR Act, sponsored by Rep. Scott Tipton of Colorado, supported by state bankers associa- tions across the country. That proposal hopefully will get marked up in the House Financial Services Committee, beginning its movement to the House floor and on to the Senate.  Don Childears President and CEO Colorado Bankers Association