The American Bankers Association Tuesday announced plans to hold a two-day conference to help train bankers interested in running for state or federal office,
The ABA will hold a two-day Candidate School intended to provide bankers with information on such issues as filing the necessary paperwork, the media, fund raising, research, developing a targeted message and get-out-the-vote efforts.
“It’s critically important that those casting votes on banking policy fully understand and appreciate the impact their decisions will have on a community and its residents,” ABA President Rob Nichols said, in announcing the program, which will be held Sep. 13-15 in Washington, D.C. “When it’s time to set banking and economic policy, we strongly believe nothing beats real-world banking experience.”
The cost of the ABA program is $250 plus lodging and transportation.
The program is only being offered to prospective 2018 or 2020 candidates for state or federal offices, but not for those interested in running for more local offices, school boards or judgeships.
CUNA has held a series of campaign schools in conjunction with state credit union leagues since 2000.
Carrie Hunt, NAFCU’s executive vice president of government affairs and general counsel, said political candidates don’t have to have a credit union background to understand the importance of the financial institutions.
“Those candidates may happen to have direct credit union experience themselves, but direct credit union experience is not required to see how not-for-profit mutual cooperatives provide the best in financial services for American consumers and businesses,” she said.
The Congressional Research Service recently reported that there are 18 members of Congress in the 115th Congress who have banking experience—14 in the House and four in the Senate.
However, CRS does not break out which members worked for credit unions and which worked for banks.
