Community Banker Alert
To: PA Community Bankers
From: Frank A. Pinto, President/CEO
Subject: Senate Passes Bank Robbery Legislation, Call Your House Member to Support SB 605
Date: April 1, 2009
Community bankers have been waging many legislative battles on multiple fronts during the first quarter of 2009. We have met with success, and we anticipate success in future battles. I am happy to report another "win" for the community banking industry.
The Pennsylvania Senate passed SB 605 this morning by a vote of 49-1. This bill is our bank robbery legislation, which strengthens the penalties for bank robbers. If you recall, this bill has successfully passed the Senate in the past few sessions, only to fail in the PA House of Representatives. Not this year! Pennsylvania continues to be one of the highest ranked states for bank robberies--not a ranking to be proud of! We have heard from bankers across the Commonwealth asking for help in dealing with this issue, and SB 605 will hopefully reduce the number of attempted bank robberies. SB 605 increases the penalty for any type of bank robbery (armed and unarmed)--deterring possible bank robbers and keeping recidivist robbers in prison.
Call or email your PA House member, and ask them to support SB 605. PACB will continue to work with key members of both Republican and Democratic House leadership to navigate this bill to passage. Please contact Kristine Warner at 717-231-7447 for your legislator's contact information. Please remember to copy PACB on your emails and letters!