wvbankers.org 6 West Virginia Banker Visit us online! WVBANKERS.ORG participated in the campaign and sent 195 emails to our West Virginia delegation. • During the 2021 WV Legislative session, we successfully shut down a provision that would have imposed a new 8.5% tax on computer hardware and software, digital goods, advertising, and electronic data processing, and a 3% tax on legal, accounting, and other professional services. West Virginia bankers sent 514 messages of opposition to West Virginia legislators. When it comes to laws and regulations, banks are in it together. A law that is bad for one bank is bad for all. I am an ardent advocate of uniting the voices of banks of all sizes to move the industry forward while protecting and serving local communities and businesses. No industry can do what we do in economic growth and job creation. Effective advocacy requires everyone’s involvement. To that end, we are working to provide meaningful opportunities for our members to engage in that process. Finally, I cannot talk about advocacy without mentioning the continuing importance of your WVBankPAC contributions. Like it or not, raising money is crucial to getting the attention and support of legislators and getting in front of them when we call. We are more focused than ever on supporting candidates who support banking, and we have seen real, very tangible, and positive results. More than ever, we need your personal support, and especially the support of your directors, senior officers, and your entire team. Every year will bring new legislative and regulatory challenges. WVBankers will continue to actively advocate on whatever issue comes our way. None of this would be possible without a strong membership and a unified voice. We encourage you to stay informed and engaged. I am an ardent advocate of uniting the voices of banks of all sizes to move the industry forward while protecting and serving local communities and businesses. Continued from page 5
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