Pub. 5 2015-2016 Issue 1

O V E R A C E N T U R Y : B U I L D I N G B E T T E R B A N K S - H E L P I N G C O L O R A D A N S R E A L I Z E D R E A M S July • August 2015 5 Advocacy Begins at Home In recent months, there has been a lot of talk about suc- cession planning. As leaders in our industry edge toward retirement, concern is rising over who will take their places. But as much focus as is being placed on that issue, we must also pay close attention to success planning. It’s our duty to ensure those who will lead our banks into the future are well versed not only in the skills of running prosperous institutions, but also in the skill of advocating for their industry and their jobs. The ranks of bankers who can stand up and effectively lobby for and against proposals either beneficial or harmful to their banks and industry is dwindling. What’smore, those ranks have often been relegated to C-level executives. But we know advocacy doesn’t stop at the boardroom table, or even at the office. Bankers are questioned about policies internal and external to our institutions on a daily basis as they are out in their communities. But how often can they accurately answer them? If we can’t speak about – and for – our industry in an educated and effective way, there is little hope of our banks seeing any real relief from crushing regulation, or worse, increasing their potential to succeed in the future. Over the past few years, the Colorado Bankers Associa- tion has redoubled its efforts to educate bankers on how to increase banks’ influence on lawmakers and the public that influences their decisions. We are currently in the middle of our third year of the Center for Bank Advocacy, a yearlong training practicum aimed at just that. Since its inception, participants have developed advo- cacy programs internal to their own banks, and have been tapped by CBA to present as experts at educational events for members. And, CBA has recently formed an alumni group to keep participants informed and involved after their time in the training practicum has ended. As CBA has increased its efforts, it’s caused many of us to look internally at our own banks through the lens of industry support. At my own bank, I was embarrassed to find some of my employees didn’t fully understand the value of a community bank to their own local economy. Education needs to start at the bank level so that we can share that information and reasoning with our customers. Their perspective and their voices are the most surefire way to get our legislators’ attention. CBA has developed a three-step approach toward ad- vocacy: a Banking Advocacy and Policy Playbook to help us implement programs in our banks toward that effort. They are: • The Engagement Toolkit which provides the basic tools for broad engagement by your employ- ees, directors, shareholders, customers and third parties. • The Banking Policy Advocacy Playbook which provides the next level allowing you to establish an advocacy program internal to your bank to do a stronger job of supporting and promoting your job and your bank. • The Center for Bank Advocacy: A Training Practicum to create advocacy experts in your banks who can assist you in leading your internal advocacy program. Contact CBA at any time to learnmore about or to access those tools. In the meantime, CBA will continue to fight and win for you and your bank. But keep in mind, we are stronger and better, together. Your voice is neededmore than ever to fight back and protect and defend your job and your industry.  Mark Bowers Home State Bank CBA Chairman