Community Bank Advocacy 2020

Create Your Bank’s Advocacy Plan
Using PACB’s Advocacy Calendar, community bankers should take pen to paper and plan out your advocacy efforts with real dates convenient for your bank. Scheduling these events in advance ensures that advocacy does not get overlooked in the day to day grind of your busy schedules. Contact Allison Coccia at allison@pacb.org to receive a SAMPLE 2020 Advocacy Calendar.

Designate Your Bank’s Advocacy Liaison
Recruit someone from your bank or designate yourself to participate in advocacy efforts, the PACB Legislative Committee and the PACB Legislative Update Emails and Conference Calls. PACB Members and therefore your bank and customers, benefit from a diverse committee with banks of all asset sizes, geographic locations and types. Your bank’s participation ensures that you are more informed on the cutting-edge issues that could affect financial institutions and your communities.

Lunch or Coffee with a Lawmaker
Invite your Executive Team or Board and your State Legislator or Congressman to lunch! This small gathering is a great way to get to know or catch up with a new or current lawmaker. This is an informal way of discovering your mutual connections and community projects. Exchange contact information and keep an open line of communication. Invite them to your events, and ask them what method is best way to keep them informed, i.e. email, social media, phone calls, etc.
US House Session Calendar
US Senate Session Calendar
PA State Senate Session Calendar
PA State House Session Calendar

Take Your Legislator to Work Day
Invite your state legislator or congressman or woman to your bank. Take them on a tour of the building and discuss the bank’s history. Ask them to sit down with your executive team to learn about the bank’s community projects and invite them to speak to all of your employees and/or mix and mingle over coffee and doughnuts. It is a great outreach opportunity for both your legislator and your bank. This is also a great media opportunity. Email Allison Coccia at allison@pacb.org to for sample agendas and ideas.

ICBA Capital Summit, Washington DC
The 2018 Election brought Pennsylvania eight new Congressmen and women, new district lines and a change in the political leadership in the US House of Representatives. It is imperative that Pennsylvania community bankers attend ICBA’s Capital Summit with PACB. Participating community bankers will travel to Washington DC April 28-May 1, 2019 to receive educational offerings, hear from regulators and meet with their respective Congressmen and others from their geographic region to advocate for community banks’ regulatory and legislative priorities. Email allison@pacb.org for more information.

Monthly Legislative Update Conference Calls
PACB’s Monthly Legislative Update calls occur on the second Wednesday of every other month and are open to all members. We discuss the most recent state and federal legislative activity as well as current legal/compliance issues. Calls include representatives from PACB, ICBA, FHL Bank of Pittsburgh, and other relevant agencies. PACB members will receive a reminder and tentative agenda approximately 1-2 weeks prior to each call. Participants must RSVP in order to receive the dial-in information. Please RSVP to Evelyn at evelyn@pacb.org or (717) 231-7447.

Take Action via an ICBA or PACB Grassroots Action Alert
Some legislative or regulatory efforts may require phone calls, letters, or emails to legislators or regulators. PACB or ICBA may ask you to take action via emailed Action Alerts. Your participation in these efforts helps elected officials go beyond lobbyists and shows legislators that you are paying attention while helping them relate to the issue by hearing from someone from home. PACB will provide sample scripts and contact information. Reach out to Allison Coccia at allison@pacb.org for more information.

Write a Pro-Community Bank Op-Ed
Being an effective community bank advocate means showing off the great things community banks do every day. It is important for community members to know that you are not like other banks. Spreading the positive community bank message helps elected officials and others understand what you do!

PACB Legislative Committee
The PACB Legislative Committee is tasked with establishing the 2019-2020 state and federal legislative and regulatory priorities for the PACB membership. As a legislative committee member, you will play an important role in crafting the policy positions and objectives of your fellow community bankers. Please contact Allison Coccia at allison@pacb.org for more information.

PACB Weekly Legislative Update Emails
PACB’s weekly legislative update emails are sent out at the beginning of every week. They include updates on state and federal legislative and regulatory activity as well as PACB related news and articles related to community banking. Please contact allison@pacb.org to sign up or for more information.