LEGISLATIVE | INDEPENDENT COMMUNITY BANKERS OF MN

You are here: Home > Legislative

guys studying ICBM is the only banking association in Minnesota that offers exclusive State Capitol representation for independent community banking.

We also offer members access to events like the annual Bankers on Capitol Hill Day; Capitol Link, a weekly newsletter published during Session; legislative summaries; ag banking news; and opportunities to meet face-to-face with legislators during special meetings and events.

Questions and comments are welcome. Please contact David Skilbred, VP of Government Relations at dskilbred@communitybanks.org. To read more about David Skilbred, click here.

ICBM Bankers on Capitol Hill Day

Click here to view the photo gallery

The annual ICBM Bankers on Capitol Hill Day was held on Thursday, Feb. 1, 2007. More than 50 member bankers and associates attended and spent the day meeting newly elected officials in the House and Senate, and spreading the word about the importance of independent community banking in Minnesota.

The day's events included special guest speakers; small-group meetings between bankers and their legislators; and lunch under the Capitol dome. Featured speakers included State Auditor Rebecca Otto; State Attorney General Lori Swanson; House Ag Chairman Al Juhnke, DFL-Willmar; House Commerce Chair Joe Atkins, DFL-Inver Grove Heights; House Minority Leader Marty Seifert, R-Marshall; House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher, DFL-Minneapolis; and Senate Minority Leader David Senjem, R-Rochester.

Legislative publications, resources, and links

To read the latest news on this year's Legislative Session, click here for Capitol Link.
For expert advice on the latest legal issues facing banks, click here for Legal Link. (Content provided by the banking group at Fredrikson & Byron, P.A.)
To send an automated letter to your Congressperson, go to Contact Your Legislator.
For additional legislative resources, go to Legislative Links.

Action Alerts

Oppose the Home Depot ILC application
To oppose the Home Depot ILC application, please send a letter to the FDIC via regular mail. Send your letter to John Carter, Regional Director at the FDIC San Francisco Regional Office, 25 Jessie St., Ecker Square, Suite 2300; San Francisco, CA 94105.

Download a sample letter (PDF): Oppose Home Depot ILC - sample letter

Note: To download a sample letter for use on your bank's letterhead, click the "Select" button or go to "Edit /Select All" (or Ctrl+A) then highlight or "copy" the text in the PDF and paste it into a separate Word document to print out on your own letterhead.
Not Too Late to Oppose Wal-Mart ILC application
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. applied to the FDIC in July for a Utah industrial bank or industrial loan company charter (ILC) and federal deposit insurance. Although the FDIC's official comment period ended, they will still read your letters until a decision is made. ICBM adopted a resolution in 2004 opposing the mixing of banking with commerce. Consistent with that resolution it has sent the FDIC a letter opposing this application.
Although the FDIC's official comment period ended on Sept. 23, they will still read your letters until a decision is made on the application. Bankers may address letters to: FDIC San Francisco Regional Office, Director John F. Carter, 25 Jessie Street at Ecker Square, Suite 2300, San Francisco, CA 94105.

For background information or to view a sample letter: Background | Oppose Wal-Mart ILC - sample letter
Note: To download a sample letter for use on your bank's letterhead, click the "Select" button or go to "Edit /Select All" (or Ctrl+A) then highlight or "copy" the text in the PDF and paste it into a separate Word document to print out on your own letterhead.
Encourage Support for Communities First Act
The "Communities First Act" provides targeted regulatory and tax relief for community banks and their customers and frees up resources to be used for community lending and other worthwhile purposes. Momentum is growing in the House and Senate. H.R. 2061 was introduced by Rep. Jim Ryun (R-KS) on May 3. On July 29, S. 1568 was introduced by Sens. Sam Brownback (R-KS), Pat Roberts (R-KS), and James Inhofe (R-OK). This initiative has been endorsed by 43 state banker associations, including the Independent Community Bankers of Minnesota (ICBM).
To read a summary about this Act, go to Latest News.

ICBM hopes you will send a letter to your U.S. Representative and Senators, thanking them for co-sponsoring this act, or asking them to become a co-sponsor. Please Contact Your Legislator to download pre-drafted letters to send to your legislator. For a current list of co-sponsors in the House, visit www.icba.org.

2007 Bankers on Capitol Hill Day | Photo Gallery

For the Record

Congressman Collin C. Peterson helped pay tribute to independent community banking by entering into the U.S. Congressional Record the text of "Paying Tribute to and Honoring 75 Years of Independent Community Banking." To read the full text, click here (PDF).

Also of note: Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty has proclaimed May 9 Independent Community Bankers of Minnesota Day, commemorating the founding of an association for community bankers. On May 9, 1930, a group of Minnesota community bankers held their first official meeting in Glenwood. Click here to view the Proclamation.

Home | Membership | Technology | Legislative | Education

Partners & Associate Members | Events | Leadership

Press Releases | Search

Independent Community Bankers of Minnesota

2600 Eagan Woods Drive, Ste 200

Eagan, MN 55121

(651) 687-9080 Fax: (651) 687-9387