New ICBA Chairman’s Message to Community Bankers: Build on Our Strong Foundation

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Las Vegas (March 16, 2018)—Timothy K. Zimmerman, CEO of Standard Bank in Monroeville, Pa., who becomes chairman of the Independent Community Bankers of America® (ICBA), encouraged ICBA Community Banking LIVE® 2018 national convention attendees to leverage their political might to fight for additional reforms.

“It’s up to us, all of us, to work together—through ICBA and our great state associations—to push through and achieve goals that are clearly within our grasp,” Zimmerman said.    

In his remarks, Zimmerman reminded the community bankers of their role in helping create a pathway for bipartisan community bank regulatory relief. He encouraged them to build upon the strong foundation created over years of advocacy to:

  • get regulatory relief legislation to the president’s desk and signed into law,
  • ensure a level regulatory playing field in the financial services industry,
  • preserve equal and unlimited community bank access to the secondary mortgage market, and
  • stop the credit union and Farm Credit System mission creep.

“Community bankers hold the seeds to America’s economic prosperity in our hands. Let’s go ahead and plant them—one seed at a time,” Zimmerman said. “Our customers, our communities and our nation will thank us.”

Zimmerman thanked ICBA President and CEO Cam Fine for transforming ICBA into one of the most influential and respected organizations in the nation. He said Fine’s successor, Rebeca Romero Rainey, is the right person to help lead the association into the future.

In closing, Zimmerman implored the community bankers to mentor the next generation of industry talent, showcase the difference community banks are making locally, and foster a resurgence of de novo institutions to meet customers’ evolving needs.

“The future holds great promise, but it is up to us to make sure that promised is realized,” Zimmerman said.

For more information about Zimmerman, including his biography, visit www.icba.org.

About ICBA

The Independent Community Bankers of America®, the nation’s voice for nearly 5,700 community banks of all sizes and charter types, is dedicated exclusively to representing the interests of the community banking industry and its membership through effective advocacy, best-in-class education and high-quality products and services. For more information, visit ICBA’s website at www.icba.org.

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