Florida Banking June 2023

GOVERNMENT RELATIONS

WHY WE NEED YOU TO GET TO KNOW YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS

BY ANTHONY DIMARCO, FBA EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT AND DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS

T he 2023 Session has been one like no other. For example, an amendment was filed to let credit unions take public deposits if just ONE bank does not wish to renew or is unable to renew as a qualified public depository (QPD) under the new ESG law. Luckily the Senate removed this language and the House passed the bill without it. Moreover, House Bill 987 granting the credit unions the ability and mechanism to take public deposits moved further than ever. For the first time, the bill moved through all of its House committees and was ready to be heard on the floor. Thankfully, the Senate never heard SB 1360, so the bill died. But they will be back! Your FBA works hard every day to represent our industry in the halls of DC and Tallahassee. Our year is planned around how to help our members. We plan big and small events for elected officials and regulators to meet and understand the issues that are of the utmost concern. The FBA also works to pass legislation or regulations proposed by our members or in response to legal or regulatory issues. However, we must also defeat bad proposals like public deposits. This is why you are needed. Our industry must do a better job getting to know our elected officials before Session. Much of our success in years past can be credited to the relationship between a legislator and his local banker; legislators have told me when they were influenced by their local banker who shared their stance on a particular issue. It does not matter whether you work in a small or large bank. Legislators want to get to know and learn from their constituents. Getting to know them is a year-round commitment, but it is not hard to do. Talk to your elected official at an event you are attending. It can be a church event, a charity, or a conversation over a cup of coffee. Invite them to the bank to meet your staff and board and

let them know what issues are important to us. You can also explain the difference between a bank and a credit union. Many do not understand the difference. We would be happy to send you talking points to help you get the conversation going. We can also attend, if available, to help facilitate the meeting. Attend an FBA lunch or Leadership Dinner to solidify these relationships. However, you cannot wait until Session or a Call to Action to do any of this because it will be too late. Another way is to commit time and treasure to a campaign. Legislators do not forget when a local banker is one of their first supporters in an election. Unfortunately, many legislators do not know their local bankers. There is no reason for this. Even members who may not always vote with us must hear from a local banker or they will never vote for us. Remember, we are here to advocate for banking, not other issues. We have had liberal Democrats and conservative Republicans supporting our issues that will not agree on much else. Also, please answer our Calls to Action and have your fellow bankers and board members do so as well. The number of responses can help sway a legislator if they are undecided. We have also seen success when a board member explains to a legislator how the proposed legislation would hurt or help banks. As a non-banker, the board member gives a different perspective. Attend Capitol Day or accompany us on a DC Trip. The legislator takes notice when a banker comes all the way from home to meet and to inform them about issues important to our industry. However, the meeting will be even more beneficial if you have gotten to know the legislator prior to coming to Tallahassee or DC. Stopping the credit union bill and other bad legislation is always tough, and it will only get tougher if you do not help us. This is why you are needed.

WWW.FLORIDABANKERS.COM JUNE 2023 — 13