Press Release: Washington, D.C. (April 29, 2024)—The Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) today is kicking off the 2024 ICBA Capital Summit in Washington with the release of new polling data showing Americans support community banker views on the pressing issues attendees will be discussing with policymakers this week.

“As community bankers representing local communities nationwide gather in Washington this week for in-person meetings with their members of Congress, new ICBA polling demonstrates that Americans from coast to coast support our views on key policy issues,” ICBA President and CEO Rebeca Romero Rainey said. “With polling conducted by Morning Consult showing Americans understand the importance of these issues in ensuring continued access to locally based banking, ICBA is proud to continue helping community banks advocate in Washington and power the potential of local communities nationwide.”

The ICBA polling conducted by Morning Consult found:

Americans Support Tax Relief to Bolster Rural Lending

  • 70% of Americans say providing tax relief to lending institutions in rural communities — in line with the bipartisan Access to Credit for our Rural Economy (ACRE) Act — would help preserve family farms if these benefits are passed along to borrowers.

  • 59% of voters said promoting lower interest rates on loans for borrowers in rural communities would have a positive impact on these communities.

Americans Oppose Overhauling the Credit Card System

  • 66% of adults say allowing big merchants to pick card transaction networks that are the least costly to them — as laid out by the Credit Card Competition Act (S. 1838/H.R. 3881) — would lead them to choose cheaper, less secure networks.

  • 71% say changing the technology that is used to conduct credit transactions at the register is risky.

Americans Support Reforming Credit Union Policies

  • 68% of adults say credit union customers should have the same consumer protections that banks provide, such as those provided by the Community Reinvestment Act.

  • 54% say Congress should investigate whether the credit union tax exemption is still warranted.

Americans Support Cannabis Banking Policy Reform

  • 64% of Americans agree that the SAFER Banking Act’s provisions allowing cannabis-related businesses to access the banking system would help improve public safety.

  • 54% agree that opening the banking system to cannabis-related businesses would help underserved communities.

Americans Support Restricting the Sale of Mortgage “Trigger Leads”

  • 69% of Americans support legislation to restrict credit reporting agencies from selling consumers’ contact information when they apply for a residential mortgage.

Americans are Skeptical of Crypto and CBDCs

  • 63% of adults say cryptocurrencies should be regulated at least as stringently as banks.

  • 60% say a U.S. central bank digital currency would negatively affect community banks.

This week’s Capital Summit also will feature influential speakers who will address community bankers as they advocate in Washington, including:

  • Senate Banking Committee member Jon Tester (D-Mont.).

  • House Financial Services Committee Vice Chairman French Hill (R-Ark.).

  • FDIC Chairman Martin Gruenberg.

  • Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Director Rohit Chopra.

  • ICBA President and CEO Rebeca Romero Rainey.

  • Dave Fishwick, whose story inspired the Netflix hit “Bank of Dave.”

About ICBA
The Independent Community Bankers of America® has one mission: to create and promote an environment where community banks flourish. We power the potential of the nation’s community banks through effective advocacy, education, and innovation.

As local and trusted sources of credit, America’s community banks leverage their relationship-based business model and innovative offerings to channel deposits into the neighborhoods they serve, creating jobs, fostering economic prosperity, and fueling their customers’ financial goals and dreams. For more information, visit ICBA’s website at icba.org.

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