This year, the IBA launched a new grassroots initiative designed to bring Indiana bankers and state lawmakers together outside of the legislative session. “Take Your Lawmaker to Work Day” gives legislators a firsthand look at the important role banks play in supporting local businesses, families and economic growth, while providing bankers with an opportunity to discuss the issues affecting their institutions.
Since launching the initiative just a few months ago, the IBA has already hosted several successful bank visits across the state. The response from both bankers and legislators has been overwhelmingly positive, reinforcing the value of creating opportunities for lawmakers to see banking in action rather than simply hearing about the industry during committee hearings or at the Statehouse.
By inviting a legislator into your bank, you can showcase the people, services and mission-driven decisions behind your institution. Whether it is touring the facilities, introducing staff, discussing community economic trends or highlighting investments in local businesses and families, these visits help legislators better understand the day-to-day realities of banking and the impact public policy has on institutions and their customers.
Take Your Lawmaker to Work Day is about more than discussing legislation, it is about building lasting relationships. Conversations do not have to center on a specific piece of legislation. Instead, bankers can share their experiences and explain regulatory and economic challenges facing their communities. Hosting your state senator or representative in an informal setting creates opportunities for authentic conversations while positioning your bank as a trusted local resource on financial services issues. These relationships often prove invaluable when questions about banking arise during the legislative session.
The IBA Government Relations team is available to assist throughout the entire process. We can help identify the legislators who represent your bank’s locations, coordinate schedules, extend invitations on your behalf and be present to help facilitate productive discussions. Whether you have a single branch or 20 locations, we will work with your institution to determine how best to structure a visit. Our goal is to make participating in the program as simple and successful as possible for every IBA-member bank.
One of the strengths of the initiative is that every visit is unique. Some banks choose to host a brief tour and conversation over coffee, while others incorporate branch visits or discussions with members of their leadership team. Regardless of the format, the objective remains the same: give legislators an understanding of how banks serve their communities and why legislative decisions matter to their customers.
Although Take Your Lawmaker to Work Day is still in its early stages, it has already become a valuable addition to the IBA’s grassroots advocacy efforts. Engaging lawmakers during the interim creates opportunities to discuss banking issues before the fast pace of the legislative session and gives policymakers a better foundation for understanding those issues when they arise.
We encourage every IBA-member bank to consider participating in Take Your Lawmaker to Work Day. By opening your doors and sharing your story, you are helping educate lawmakers, strengthen the banking industry’s voice and build relationships that will benefit both your institution and the banking profession for years to come.
We look forward to working with you as we continue to grow this exciting new initiative and expand opportunities for Indiana bankers and legislators to connect in meaningful ways.
