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Policy Positions

ICBA powers the potential of the nation’s community banks through effective advocacy, education, and innovation so that community banks can continue to strengthen, invest, and provide opportunities for the people and families in the communities they serve.

Helping community banks flourish

These resolutions, approved by the ICBA Policy Development Committee and the Board of Directors, broadly describe the association’s major policy objectives for 2025. The resolutions are designed to provide policy guidance for ICBA officers and staff and general policy direction for ICBA standing committees, the Federal Delegate Board, councils, and task forces.

These resolutions reflect ICBA's core principles: Community banks support fair competition in financial services; support the separation of banking and commerce; believe in a balanced financial system that does not favor any segment of the financial services sector; support the dual banking system; and oppose the concentration of economic and financial services resources. ICBA is a democratically governed association where each member bank has a voice and a vote.

These resolutions are complemented by ICBA’s “Advocacy in Action,” a two-page, dashboard-style document describing the association’s advocacy on issues currently before Congress and the agencies. This document, which is updated quarterly, also highlights “Real Results for Your Bank,” the recent favorable results of ICBA’s advocacy.

Aligned with ICBA’s Repair, Reform, and Thrive plan, these resolutions also aim to modernize regulations, promote equitable economic growth, and empower community banks to serve their customers and communities effectively.

Promote a balanced and competitive financial services landscape for American consumers and businesses

Consumers, businesses, and the broader economy can only thrive in a competitive landscape for financial services. Robust competition among numerous providers and a level playing field ensure favorable pricing and innovative, quality services and minimize systemic risk. The competitive advantages enjoyed by tax-exempt credit unions and Farm Credit System lenders warrant special scrutiny.

Advocate for commonsense and appropriately tailored laws and regulations for community banks

ICBA believes that regulation should be calibrated to risk posed to consumers and to the financial system. Regulation that may be appropriate for a large, systemically risky bank with dedicated and expansive compliance resources is an unwarranted burden for a community bank and a diversion of critical resources. We urge policymakers to further refine and calibrate regulation of community banks so that they may better serve their communities.

Champion fair and equitable access to the financial system

ICBA is committed to creating fair and equitable access to the financial system for marginalized individuals and communities. Solutions should build on the strength of community banks which possess first-hand knowledge of their customers and create customized products and services for the communities they serve.

Advance responsible innovation

ICBA embraces financial innovation as a means of reaching new customers and delivering faster, streamlined and tailored services more quickly. Community banks are poised to lead in the development and implementation of such services. Policymakers must ensure that such innovation does not create systemic risk or undermine the competitive landscape essential to consumers and the broader economy.

Protect the safety and soundness of the financial system

ICBA urges policymakers to be proactive in addressing longstanding as well as emerging threats to safety and soundness. Anticipating and preventing systemic failure must be a priority – whether it stems from poorly functioning markets, the exploitation of technology by nefarious actors, widespread fraud or other sources.

Strengthening our political voice