We are excited to roll out the IBA’s new Strategic Plan that will guide us through 2028. Your Association is meeting the next chapter in its history with new approaches to grassroots advocacy; workforce development; fostering engagement among our members and their employees; and streamlining our own processes to best utilize your member dues and provide the top-tier benefits you have come to expect.
We’ve already started rolling out some of these changes and new opportunities, including new grassroots activation options for government relations like our new Take Your Lawmaker to Work Day. This is part of a broader emphasis on reinvigorating banker-lawmaker relationships.
Any industry is only as strong as its next generation. The IBA is investing great resources into identifying, attracting and cultivating new bankers through the entire lifecycle of interest and growth: our new Financial Services Academy has placed around 30 high school apprentices across 17 of our member-banks; the BankLEAD program and our university partnerships are designed to strengthen those relationships at the collegiate level; and the Future Leadership Division focuses on those already in the industry looking to move up to the next level of leadership within their institutions.
We rolled out updated Five Star Member requirements this year to better reflect these evolving priorities and better engage our members. You will also soon see a new IBA website designed for a better user experience.
You may have also seen the news in late August that we are joining with 39 of our fellow state bankers associations across the country to launch the new BankChain Alliance, an industry-owned, industry-designed and industry-governed network built on a common blockchain platform. This network will allow participating financial institutions the ability to provide emerging banking capabilities while maintaining the regulatory standards, security and trust that customers expect from their banks. This represents one move toward establishing new and augmenting existing external partnerships as we focus on improving Association operations.
We will detail this new strategic initiative in future communications, including at our Regional Meetings this fall. For now, know that regardless of how the political winds blow or what new competitive challenges arise, our mission remains the same: to grow stronger banks and stronger communities.
