PACB/PBA Letter to PA State Senate Delegation

September 16, 2005

The Honorable ...
Main Capitol
Harrisburg, PA 17120

Dear Senator ...:

On behalf of the Pennsylvania Association of Community Bankers and the Pennsylvania Bankers Association, we are writing to request your co-sponsorship of legislation being circulated by Senator Mike Waugh (R-York) that would designate robbery on the premises of a financial institution a felony of the first degree.

Our financial institution members know first hand that the impact on the people who experience a bank robbery can be quite traumatic. Both bank employees and the general public experience a period of anxiety and general distrust after a bank is robbed. Continuing efforts by the State to improve the quality of life in Pennsylvania’s communities are dampened by bank robberies that reduce the economic vitality of an area, creating the public perception that certain neighborhoods and communities are not safe. Bank robbery is a blind crime - it affects people of all ages and income levels in urban, suburban and rural communities.

Statistics provided by the Violent Crimes/Fugitive Unit of the FBI demonstrate that bank robberies in Pennsylvania are on the rise. Pennsylvania has seen a steady average increase of 22 more bank robberies per year since 2001. Thus far in 2005, 420 bank robberies have been recorded, 27 more robberies than in 2004. One item of particular note is the modus operandi utilized during these robberies: in 2004 nearly 70% of bank thefts involved the use of a demand note, while 26% utilized a firearm.

In the post September 11th world we now live in, the FBI has other enforcement priorities and has declined primary investigatory and prosecution responsibility of bank robberies. Ultimately these new responsibilities have been delegated to the states. We believe it is time for the Pennsylvania General Assembly to increase the state penalties for bank robberies and work to make our financial institutions a safer place for customers, employees and their communities.

Senator Waugh has developed a rational, sensible approach that would make robbery on the premise of a financial institution a felony of the first degree, giving law enforcement the tools they need to properly prosecute this damaging crime. Respectfully we urge your co-sponsorship of this important initiative.

Please feel free to contact either one of us if you have any questions or would like additional information.

Sincerely,

Dave Transue
Government Affairs Consultant
Pennsylvania Association of Community Bankers

Dan Reisteter
Vice President Government Relations
Pennsylvania Bankers Association