16 Hoosier Banker December 2015 FEATURE Well before I began my tenure as president and chief executive officer of the American Bankers Association, I had a sense of the crucial role that banks play in their communities. I knew, because when I was first running for governor of Oklahoma, I logged hundreds of miles visiting towns in every corner of the state. And in each of those towns, the local bank shone like a beacon. It was always the best-maintained, most respectable facility on Main Street. To me, that was a symbol of hope and prosperity, a vote of confidence in the town’s future. After five years at ABA, I can tell you that my early impressions were spot on. Hometown banks – and the good men and women who work for them – are the biggest investors in their communities. They are the reasons for good things happening in cities and towns across the country. It has been an honor to become part of such a noble profession. I leave my post proud of what we have accomplished together, and confident that ABA’s new leader, Rob Nichols, will continue to move our Agenda for America’s Hometown Banks forward. I have known Rob for several years and can vouch for his stellar credentials, policy background and established relationships with policymakers – all of which will serve you and our industry well. The current policy environment – featuring a chaotic session of Congress and intimidation of thoughtful policymakers who dare to consider corrections to the flawed Dodd-Frank Act – often forces us to measure progress in inches, not miles. But every inch or section of a rule that we make more workable for banks and their customers – as we did with several “qualified mortgage” provisions and other rules, such as Basel III and the Volcker Rule – is important. And every chink we put in the armor of our government-subsidized competitors can help us in our long-term efforts to level the playing field. There’s no changing policy affecting banks without first changing the conversation about banks and the vital role they play in our economic ecosystem. That’s something we have Proud to Have Served America’s Hometown Bankers "For an Objective Assessment Assessment of Your Challenges and Professional Execution Execution of Your Opportunities" Michael A. Renninger Renninger Principal (317) 695 (317) 695- (317) 695 7939 (317) 695-7939 mrenninger@renningerllc.com Securities offered through Ausdal Financial Partners, Inc., 5187 Utica Ridge Road Davenport, IA, 52807 (563)326-2064 Member: FINRA, SIPC. Renninger & Associates, LLC and Ausdal Financial Partners, Inc. are independently owned and operated. www.renningerllc.com
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