Independent Banker - June 2020 - 33

This funding reserve simply
wouldn't have been possible
without the proactive eff orts
of community bankers who
spoke up to add their voices
to ICBA's grassroots eff orts.
less than $50 billion in assets.
That's in addition to community bankers who made their
voices heard by picking up the phone to call their members
of Congress or the members' key staff ers. These eff orts
made a massive diff erence.
Congress heard ICBA's community bankers. The second
round of funding authorized $310 billion in PPP funds,
with at least $60 billion set aside exclusively for loans made
by community fi nancial institutions, including minority
deposit institutions, credit unions and community development
fi nancial institutions.
Specifi cally, the bill dedicates at least $30 billion for
loans from institutions with less than $10 billion in assets
and another $30 billion for those with between $10 billion
and $50 billion in assets.
It's a testament to the dedication of community bankers
who, despite the many frustrations of the PPP rollout, have
persevered. They're working all hours of the day and night
to serve their small business customers.
This funding reserve simply wouldn't have been possible
without the proactive eff orts of community bankers who
spoke up to add their voices to ICBA's grassroots eff orts.
More than advocating for themselves, they are advocating
for a lifeline for their small business customers and, in
turn, the communities they serve.
ICBA's lobbying team supported these eff orts with direct
lobbying, reaching out to members of Congress to keep
the pressure on. Through video conferencing, phone calls,
emails and letters, ICBA pushed for more community bank
PPP funding, aligning with 29 state-affi liated state associations
to call for funds designated for community banks as
soon as the fi rst round of funding began to run out. The
association also urged the Treasury Department and Small
Business Administration (SBA) to immediately prepare to
administer the community bank funding allocation.
As we move forward through the COVID-19 crisis, the
collective might of community banking's voice will remain
critical to supporting America's small businesses and promoting
economic recovery. ICBA's Grassroots Advocacy
Center will continue to provide of-the-moment grassroots
tools and talking points to make it easy for community
bankers to speak up.
Make sure you are adding your voice to the chorus. Your
voice matters.
Make sure Congress knows
your community's needs
Whether it's making sure community banks
have dedicated funds under the Paycheck
Protection Program or supporting economic
recovery eff orts, community bankers need to
be in touch with their members of Congress
during the COVID-19 crisis.
Be sure to regularly check the ICBA
grassroots action center webpage to see
sample letters and information on the
industry's most pressing advocacy issues.
Find it at icba.org/beheard
A look at the
unprecedented
grassroots
eff orts on
the PPP
4,007
community bankers
reached out to their
members of Congress
12,413
letters were sent to
members of Congress
and their staff
438
congressional off icers
received these letters
independentbanker.org Q 33
http://www.icba.org/beheard http://www.independentbanker.org
Independent Banker - June 2020

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