Pub. 3 2015 Issue 1

www.uba.org 6 energy and valuable insights to the debates shaping our industry. The 100-plus that gathered for ABA’s Emerging Leaders Forum, which is a growing part of our annual Government Relations Summit in March, certainly proves that to be true. The trend is also evident in the number of emerging leaders participating in the ABA-State Association Washington Visit Program, which brings more than 1,400 bankers to the nation’s capital every year to advocate for the industry, and in grass- roots programs. It’s especially important to encourage tomorrow’s leaders to engage in such activities since grassroots advoca- cy has become a core responsibility in a banking leader’s job description. Anyone who plans a future in banking needs to be developing relationships now with the very people who could dictate it. That means Congress and regulatory agency leaders. And as the faces of Congress continue to change and become more diverse, our industry’s advocates must reflect that change. Remember that these officials are often advised by younger staffers – staff- ers who, depending on how long their member of Congress has been in office, may know very little about banking. What better way to introduce them to our issues – and how policies established in Washington affect banks’ customers and communities – than through a conversa- tion with a banker who is much closer to being their own peer. There is nothing but “upside risk,” as the Fed might say, to turning today’s young bankers into advocates for the industry. Between the state associations and ABA, we have abundant resources to help make it happen. From schools and conference planning committees to financial literacy and grassroots contact programs – the demand for young banker talent is high. Let’s continue to develop that talent to- gether. Young bankers represent the future of our industry, and judging by what I’ve seen, it is in very capable hands. n © 2015 American Bankers Association. All rights reserved. Reprinted with permission. I ’ve noticed a growing trend in Washing- ton that bodes well for our industry: An increasing number of young bankers coming to the capital to participate in bank visits and industry conferences oriented toward advocacy. This infusion of talent is a sign of great things to come, and it is largely attributable to the diligent work state associations have been doing to iden- tify and develop emerging leaders. The presence of young bankers in the halls of Washington – and at gatherings all around the country – is reminiscent of ABA’s origins. In fact, 140 years ago, it was a young Missouri banker named James Howenstein, who at the age of 33 took the initiative to organize a gathering of bankers in New York that led to the for- mation of the American Bankers Associ- ation. He and 16 other bankers – many of them what we today would call “emerging leaders” -- gathered to “put their heads and hearts together to bring into a union of business interest and hearty affection the bankers of our country for a better bankerhood.” These bankers recognized the importance of networking and engagement, even if they didn’t call it that. Whether it’s participating in a panel discussion on “The 21st Century Banker” – as Katie Boyd, from FirstCapital Bank in Texas; Tom Richards, from Owingsville Banking Company in Kentucky, and Siya Vansia, from ConnectOne Bank in New Jersey, did at ABA’s Annual Convention in Dallas last fall – or participating in state young banker divisions and leadership programs – these young leaders bring fresh The Future is in Good Hands By Frank Keating, President and CEO, American Bankers Association WASHINGTON UPDATE E-mail Frank Keating at keating@aba.com