Over the past year, I have been honored to serve as ICBA chairman and have gained so much from the experience. From new advocacy opportunities to the passion I’ve seen from community bankers around the country, it has been an inspiring time to be part of leadership at ICBA.

And what a year it’s been! We have successfully achieved some big wins on the advocacy front.

For instance, we’ve seen the rollback of oversized regulations, like an exemption from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s 1071 proposed rule for the vast majority of community banks and a complete overturning of the bureau’s overdraft rule. We’ve witnessed new forms of tax relief, including a 25% exclusion under the ACRE Act for agricultural and rural lending. And regulators have put forth proposals to lower the Community Bank Leverage Ratio, revise the supervisory appeals process and rescind the 2023 Community Reinvestment Act rule.

We have been able to successfully advocate for these adjustments because of you and your role as community leaders, industry experts and valued constituents. These shifts happen at the local level, and it has taken you, standing up for what you believe and ensuring policymakers understand the community bank difference, to drive the change.

Your voice delivers results, and I’ve seen just what we can do when we are all actively engaged. I hope these successes stick with you, and even more, that you stay committed to championing community banks.

A Rallying Cry for Community Bank Advocacy in 2026

After all, our work is far from complete. We have continued this work in 2026, recognizing that many issues still need resolution. We need to remain steadfast with the same level of tenacity and engagement we have had over the past year, precisely because there’s more to come.

My goal as chairman was to leave ICBA in a stronger position than when I came into the role, and on some level, I think we’ve done that, but there are always ways to improve. So, while I might be handing over the baton as chairman, I plan to keep fighting, because it’s up to this community of community bankers to direct legislators and regulators to achieve a level playing field. That mission sits at the heart of ICBA, and as one member of this community, I plan to remain a part of the solution. I hope you’re inspired to do the same.